Heading into the weekend like Kayma Carpenter scoring her first career goal for the Huskers as finished their exhibition season with a win over Oklahoma.

“I just want our guys to be around winning.” — Matt Rhule

Let’s see if we can give you a winning newsletter.

Delayed in Elkhorn

A 3-hour rain delay on Friday spilled the cut into this morning. The remainder of the field that is finishing their second round is just getting started right now at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Pinnacle Bank Championship.

WHAT TO KNOW: There is firepower at the top setting up a fantastic weekend. John VanDerLaan and Jacbo Bridgeman are tied for the lead at 12-under par with Bridgeman having two holes remaining in his second round. Both are fighting for their PGA Tour cards at 44th and 29th in the points race, the top-30 earn a card for 2024.

Former Texas standout Pierceson Coody has wrapped his card up, but is still chasing money and is one back and finished. He is ranked 104th in the world; pretty high for a player you’d see in Omaha. Four players are at 9-under and leading a pack at 8-under is Tour member Lanto Griffin who has nearly $8 million in Tour earnings.

Some great golf to enjoy this weekend. The Newsletter will be inside the ropes, we’ll see if we can get you some “volunteer” content.

LOCAL FLAIR: McCook native Brandon Crick is comfortably into the weekend on 6-under, with Omahan and Tour bound Scott Gutschewski on that number as well with four holes to play this morning. It appears the cut will be at 3-under par as of now and Omaha’s Carson Schaake will need 2-under on his home nine in the morning to survive.

Noah Hofman (1-under), Luke Kluver (1-over) and Nate Vontz will miss the 36-hole cut.

Tennis: New Innovation

After 2022 saw the most dominant state tournament performance in history from Lincoln East, the Spartans return nearly the whole gang in hopes to do it again in 2023. In this newsletter, we preview the 2023 Nebraska boys’ tennis season. as well as share a new, exciting meet that will take place before the state tournament.

Class A: Lincoln East’s dominant run to a state championship last year, likely leaves most of us wondering who might compete for the team runner-up trophy again this season. Last year, Kearney, by an 1/8th of a point, claimed second over Lincoln Southwest with Lincoln Southeast and Creighton Prep also factoring.

The Spartans went undefeated at every position last year and bring back five of their six varsity team members. Sophomore Hunter Nelson (41-0) was champion at No. 1 singles with fellow sophomore Samarth Sajeesh also 41-0 at No. 2 singles. Nelson defeated Kearney senior Asher Saulsbury in the championship match. In doubles, to-be junior Caden Haar teamed with with Kirby Le — East’s only senior — for a 45-0 mark and at No. 2 doubles junior Joseph Bucknell and sophomore Kayden Le ended 43-0.

Returning Medalists (No. 1 singles): Nelson, Saulsbury, Andrew Nelson (Elkhorn South), Markus Rutledge (Lincoln Southwest), Aaron Shefsky (Westside), Camden Hjermstad (Lincoln Southeast), Rowan Lunning (Creighton Prep).

Returning Medalists (No. 2 singles): Sajeesh, Barrett Warner (Lincoln Southwest), Benjamin Clausen (Creighton Prep), Miles Mollring (Millard West).

Class B: McCook rode both of their doubles teams to state championships last year en route to their first state team title in school history as they outscored Elkhorn North 50-35.75 for the team title.

The Bison return seniors Nathaniel Miller (2nd, No. 1 singles), Kaden Porter (8th, No. 2 singles) and Lincoln Michaelis (1st, No. 1 doubles) for their chance at a title defense. They look to be pushed by last year’s runner-up Wolves, who bring back five of their six players from a season ago.

Both singles champions return as well. Crete’s Aidan McDowell finished 37-2 at No. 1 singles a year ago and South Sioux City’s Christian Perez was 31-2 at No. 2 singles for a state title.

Returning Medalists (No. 1 singles): McDowell, Miller, Austin Staab (GICC), Eli Shada (Elkhorn North).

Returning Medalists (No. 2 singles): Perez, Ryan Mensch (Elkhorn North), Royce Klucas (Waverly), Patrick Berry (Mt. Michael), Noah Scherr (Lexington), Porter.

Head-to-Head: Multiple coaches from around the state have developed a Nebraska state dual championship that will take place this year in Kearney for the first time in 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.

“Throughout our meetings we have had great conversations about meeting the needs of all schools,” Elkhorn coach Jon Holtz told Flatwater Sports. “It has been a challenge as we had to think about all sorts of teams and how this could be the best for all schools.

“Our plan is not perfect, but it is a start.”

Coaches who are current members of the group that formed the initial event are Troy Saulsbury (Kearney), Mariana Hurst (Papillion-LaVista), Nolan DeWispelare (Pius), Jason Rodenberger (Millard South), Holtz (Elkhorn), Lance Kush (Elkhorn North), Matt Wiemers (McCook) and Darren Emerick (Scottsbluff).

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. Standings will be updated weekly and be released in the newsletter as well as on social media.

We Should Chat Baseball

Despite everyone getting ready for fall sports, we still have a little baseball action hanging on in August. Some quick baseball bites below.

BOEVE’S BAT: Is anyone now following the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Twitter? Change that. Omaha standout, and Hastings native, Mike Boeve was drafted in July as the Milwaukee Brewers second overall pick and his bat is terrorizing opponents so far. After a move up from Arizona rookie league, he homered in his first at bat for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in High A on Tuesday night.

LINCOLN EAST RUGS: The Class A state champion — spring and summer — Lincoln East baseball team is at the American Legion World Series after advancing through the Nebraska state tournament and the midwest regional. In their opener, they stranded 10 runners and lost to Florence, SC 3-0 late on Thursday night. The “Rugs” are back in action later today. A game thread from our good friend Chris Basnett. 

LATEST HUSKER: Millard South pitcher Noah Gartner pledged his commitment to Nebraska baseball on Wednesday.

Shameless plug for commits. Our Dante Boelhower would love to work with you a commitment graphic. Hit him up: Twitter / Instagram.

UP NEXT: We will dive into a Nebraska softball preview in our next newsletter on Wednesday, and, oh year, six days until high school football. If you are enjoying this content, we’d love it if you shared this on social media or forwarded to a friend.

Parting Shot

KLUVER KRUE: Norfolk grad and University of Oklahoma redshirt junior Luke Kluver made quite a run at the cut at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Pinnacle Bank Championship on Friday afternoon. He finished with a 2-under 69 on day two and 1-over par 142 for the two days at Indian Creek. There is no rest for the weary, however. Kluver is back at it in Denver on Monday at 7:44 AM; his tee time in the first round of the US Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.