Why Sports

There is a recording on my phone from the first Friday of March. I asked Adams Central girls basketball coach Evan Smith for a some time on the concourse during halftime of the Class B girls semifinals.

About 24 hours earlier, Sidney’s Karsyn Leeling had ripped his team’s heart out with a left wing triple that sent the Raiders to the semifinals. (We had a blast following the Patriots this year.) A year earlier, it was Smith’s Patriots who had done the same to Bridgeport; this time senior Kadi Kimberly the hero.

I sometimes wonder why coaches put themselves and their families through all the ups and downs (and headaches) of being a coach. It is — usually — the lessons and the impact that sports and coaching have on so many. The lifelong relationships you build with kids.

“You always have questions coming into every season,” Smith said. “And it usually come downs to what kind of kids do you have, what kind of seniors do you have. Will they do all the little things you need to be successful on and off the court?

“Our program has been really lucky. We had a group this year that did everything for us.”

In a week, Evan Smith has some graduation parties to go to, he’ll see a heavy dose of former players in some college games over the next few years. And, after that some weddings. He’s been doing this for 19 years now.

“It’s so fun to watch the kids mature and grow,” the coach said. “But to see them get married and be wives and moms is truly special. They all seem to remember when I smashed a marker on the floor, but the things we remember about our time together is so much more than the wins and losses.”

He keeps doing it now, because of the impact it also has on him as a father and a husband. His wife, Barb, usually by his side keeping the scorebook in a big game and his daughters watching their heroes from the bench. Soon, they’ll put on a Patriot uniform.

“The relationships that our daughters have made through this have been amazing,” Smith said. “They look up to our players like they are older sisters. For me as a dad, that’s pretty cool.”

He trails off. He doesn’t have to say anything else.

We do sports because of the relationships we build, the lessons we learn. Sometimes that’s all that matters.

The Girls Hoops Power 20

We know it’s been awhile, but we felt that we owed you a final girls hoops Power 20 for 2024. What a fantastic season it was as the talent and coaching level in Nebraska keeps rising each year it seems.

We send a great crop of seniors off to Division I schools where it will be a joy to follow them. And, the players coming back? Well, that should be fun, too. See you again six months.

1 - Millard West (27-1): The Class A champions after a thrilling 58-55 win over Bellevue West (preseason No. 1). Since the season was over? Juniors Neleigh and Norah Gessert have committed to Creighton. A good bunch back. Last ranking: 1.

2 - Elkhorn North (25-1): One of the more heralded classes in Nebraska history — four Division I athletes in three different sports in the starting lineup — as the Wolves capped off four straight state titles in classic, come from behind fashion against Omaha Skutt. Last ranking: 2.

3 - Omaha Skutt Catholic (27-2): Don’t let the final loss to Elkhorn North taint your opinion on a fantastic season from the Skyhawks. The possible Class B favorites next season with all-stater Molly Ladwig returning. Last ranking: 4.

4 - Bellevue West (20-7): After a 6-6 start, coach Dane Bacon’s crew won 14 in a row to reach the Class A final against Millard West. Their last three losses? Twice to the Cats and Omaha Skutt. Senior standout Naomi White will be a fun watch at the next level. Last ranking: 9. 

5 - Lincoln Southwest (22-4): The young Silverhawks rode the stellar play of Kennadi Williams all the way to the Class A semifinals where they lost to Bellevue West. Tim Barada’s young supporting cast will take on a lead role next year. Last ranking: 3.

6 - Lincoln North Star (20-6): Another breakthrough season for North Star after they made state for the first time in school history in 2023. And the young talent keeps on building. Maybe the top team in the Capital City next year on early paper. Last ranking: 6.

7 - Millard North (17-8): The wild card for the Class A state tournament after a district final loss to Omaha Central, doesn’t take much away from the Mustangs season that included a trip the Metro Conference tournament semifinals. Last ranking: 5.

8 - Omaha Central (19-7): Won their first 11 games before a brutal stretch of games late. After a late season loss to Bellevue West won four in a row to advance to Lincoln where the state champs ended their season. Last ranking: 13.

9 - Papillion-LaVista South (17-8): The Titans may have been the surprise group of the 2023-24 season in Class A and will return a solid nucleus next year. Seven of their eight losses to state tournament teams. Last ranking: 7.

10 - Lincoln Christian (25-2): Needed a dominant state tournament run to jump to this spot and they got it. Three double digit wins included a defensive marvel against Sidney in the Class C-1 final. Last ranking: 12.

11 - Lincoln Northeast (18-7): Excellent season for the Rockets ended in a district final loss to Papio South. They barely — barely — edge out qualifier Lincoln Southeast here on the head-to-head win, though it was a night after the Knights had beat Lincoln Southwest. Also had a win against Millard North. Last ranking: 8.

12 - Lincoln Southeast (18-7): Great to have the Knights back in the state tournament. Just missing out to Northeast here on head-to-head and just one win over the Class A tournament field. A very deep Class A this season. Last ranking: 17.

13 - Lincoln Pius X (17-7): We keep thinking, how good was Class A this year? The Bolts had wins over Bellevue West, North Star and Lincoln Northeast, but we can’t find much more room for them. Last ranking: 10.

14 - Gretna East (19-8): Not a bad debut for “Weekday” Wade’s Griffins, who has most of his stars now contending for a Class B state soccer title. Twenty of 27 games were against Class A teams. Last ranking: 15.

15 - Beatrice (20-6): An excellent late season run for Jaylen Weeks’ Lady Orange that included a thrilling 50-49 win over Norris in the quarterfinals of the Class B tournament and a gritty loss to Elkhorn North in the semifinals. Last ranking: NR.

16 - Norris (19-6): All six losses to state tournament qualifiers and a Class A win over Bellevue East. Beat Beatrice twice, so we could argue the flip flop for this spot, I guess. Last ranking: 16.

17 - Sidney (26-2): The Red Raiders team of athletes (you have seen what Karsyn Leeling is doing this spring, no?) reeled off big win and after big win on their way to the Class C-1 state title game where they ran out of gas against Lincoln Christian. Last ranking: 11.

18 - Pender (28-1): As dominant a small-school season as we have seen in sometime as they won the Class D-1 title after winning Class C-2 in 2023. A lone loss to GACC near the end of the year, used as a re-focus. The bad news for everyone else in Class C and D? The Pendragons need just to replace Avery Wegner. Everyone else is back. Last ranking: NR

19 - Yutan (24-2): The Chieftains rolled through the Class C-2 field including a massive 55-36 win over then, No. 20 Crofton in the state championship game. Their last loss of the season? To Pender, in the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase in early January. Last ranking: NR. 

20 - Bridgeport (27-1): Another special season in the panhandle for the Bulldogs as they came to Lincoln unbeaten after winning at Sidney in their sub-district final. Lost to Lincoln Christian in the semifinals before edging GICC, 36-32, in the third place game. Olivia Loomis-Goltl ended a fantastic career as a 2,000 point career scorer. Last ranking: NR.

Special Mention (listed alphabetically by class): Bellevue East (16-8), Omaha Marian (16-8), Omaha Westside (14-13), Scottsbluff (16-10), South Sioux City (16-10), Waverly (18-5), GICC (24-4), Crofton (27-1), Guardian Angels CC (23-3), Southern Valley (28-2), Overton (28-1).

New Here??

Despite our absence (it’s been a fun, crazy spring season so far!) we have picked up some new subscribers. Big thanks to you all for coming to see what we do. Just in case you haven’t gone jumping through the archives here a few of our favorites from the winter sports season.

STILL FIGHTING: Like their coach Brad Feeken, who lost his battle with cancer in December, the Gretna boys basketball team continues to fight. It's how they honor the man who taught them the game they love. Gretna Basketball

A FINAL THANK YOU: Elkhorn North's Britt Prince ended her high school basketball career on Saturday. Now, a 'thank you' for being a hero to many. Thanks, Britt

BASKETBALL’S LASTING RELATIONSHIPS: Over 30 years ago, Ogallala and coach Mark Etzelmiller authored one of the great upsets in state tournament history. Tonight, with the memory of his father in his pocket, his son Mike leads Millard North to a fifth straight finals appearance. The Etzelmiller’s

THE LONG ROAD TO OMAHA: Northwest wrestler Emma Harb brings a story with her to the state wrestling tournament this week. One of courage, toughness and strength. But, most importantly, faith. Most importantly, faith.

Girls Tennis Rankings

Rankings are available for the new Nebraska state dual championships that will be held in Kearney this spring the week before the state tournament. While this will not be an NSAA sanctioned event, coaches hope to make that proposal if the event is successful. Elkhorn coach Jon Holtz provides rankings each Sunday and they are listed below.

The qualifiers will be determined by a points system that is used in most NSAA activities and loosely based on the current state wrestling duals criteria. So far, 231 matches have been entered and only teams choosing to participate in the new format are included in these rankings. 

CLASS A

1. Lincoln East (7-1), 44.875

2. Kearney (6-1), 44.571

3. Elkhorn South (10-1), 44.363

4. Westside (3-2), 43.8

5. Lincoln Southwest (6-2), 43.5

6. Millard North (11-2), 43.461

7. Gretna (6-0), 43

8. Millard West (5-3), 42.5

9. Grand Island (4-1), 42.4

10. Fremont (2-2), 42.25

CLASS B

1. Duchesne (4-0), 47

2. GICC (17-0), 45.235

3. Elkhorn North (7-0), 44.857

4. McCook (16-2), 44.444

5. Bennington (7-2), 43.555

6. Elkhorn (7-2), 43.222

7. Skutt (1-1), 43

8. Lexington (4-2), 42.333

9. Adams Central (9-4), 41.769

10. Gross (4-2), 41.333

Before We Go; A Favor

For some years (well more than 10, I am getting old the Newsletter has golfed in the Central Nebraska FCA Golf Marathon in early May. This event has helped raised money each year so that student-athletes can attend impactful summer leadership camps to encounter Christ.

In the summer of 2022, we lost our central Nebraska director Josh Reynolds unexpectedly, so we now play to honor him as well as send kids to camp. It’s an emotional, yet gratifying, day for us. Josh was a standout athlete at Lexington High School and Hastings College and served FCA for nearly 20 years.

If you have enjoyed our free content for most of this school year, or if FCA has impacted you, your team or those around you, I humbly ask that you might consider even the smallest donation to our cause. A direct link to my fundraising page is here. 

A Final Message for the Record Setters

The number (18) has an asterisk beside it on the Prep Running Nerd website because it seems like the state records have fallen at a prolific rate this spring. So, yeah, it’s been quite a spring. You can recap all of them here. And, if you aren’t following everything the Nerd group does, well, it’s not our fault. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

As we hit championship season over the next few weeks, you track stars, we can’t wait to see what you do. But, we also want every, single runner to know that if you are out competing, you are winning. You have WON. Getting to Omaha this year is no small feat; the races (and the field events) there will be truly elite.

We also know that many runners and their teammates have been through more than we could ever fathom in the past few days. And, so, for some just to be out running and fighting is a truly championship performance. We are reminded of this by Bennington distance runner Lilly Dahl.

“Good news, coach. I found the jersey in a tree.”

We have so many things to be thankful for on a daily basis. And, I don’t know if this will reach her or the good people of Bennington, but the Twitter DM’s are open. I’d love to meet you and share your story, Lilly!!