OrthoNebraska believes creating the best experience for each patient begins by listening to their healthcare needs, lifestyle and goals to create truly personalized care. At OrthoNebraska, patients are able to see an orthopedic specialist same day across multiple locations, leading to a quick diagnosis and faster return to the things they love. Whether it be sidelining injury or just a desire to perform better, athletes benefit from the comprehensive care and an easier, more confident road to recovery and competing at their best. OrthoNebraska is your team behind the team and a proud supporter of Nebraska high school athletics.

The Spring Sprint

There are few things more exhilarating (and exhausting) than getting through the spring sports season and their respective championships for us. Starting with soccer and concluding with state golf (which spreads from Scottsbluff to Columbus) the 20-ish days of May state championships are a grind.

(And, why we sometimes need a little reset.)

We were again honored, and humbled, to put together a team to help share the stories and recaps of each state championship for the Nebraska School Activities Association.

If you missed any, we are glad you subscribed. Here they are for you to read just in case as 17 state team champions were crowned in May.

SOCCER: It was a return to the top for both Lincoln Southwest and Gretna in the boys state championships. The same could be said for the girls side, as Omaha Marian and Lincoln Pius X claimed state titles. Our Nick Rubek had all the coverage. You can also read Nick’s season recap here. 

STATE TRACK AND FIELD: The four-day run of state track at the new and improved Omaha Burke stadium was full of “new flags” in the north end zone. The Wednesday and Thursday session had Class A state titles for Lincoln North Star (boys) and Papillion-LaVista South (girls) and in Class B the teams title went to Waverly (boys) and Bennington (girls). In all, 12 state or state meet records we set in the Class B meet.

More dominating performances came on Friday and Saturday in the Class C and D meets. In Class C, the Kearney Catholic girls won their third straight title while Chase County returned to the top of the boys race. In Class D, Dundy County Stratton completed their second consecutive boy-girl sweep of the team titles.

BASEBALL: With a wet Friday poised for Omaha, the state baseball finals were delayed one day, but it didn’t dampen the effect on the games which saw three one-run decisions in the finals. And, state championships for Millard North, Omaha Skutt Catholic and a first for Lincoln Lutheran in Class C. Our Terry Douglass had all the coverage.

GIRLS TENNIS: Lincoln East kept their stranglehold on the Class A state tennis field winning their fourth Class A state title in the last five years, while scoring 56.5 of 60 possible points. In Class B, Gretna East’s “team title” (with no champions) led to a first title in school history. Our Chris Basnett had all the coverage at girls state tennis.

BOYS GOLF: The state boys golf championships had a little bit of everything to cap the 2025-26 championship season. Team title repeats for Lincoln East (Class A) and Creighton (Class D), a historic first for Bennington and in Class C, Bergan outlasted Adams Central in a team playoff.

🍌🍌 Banana Ball

The fearless of the Newsletter house is a big fan of the Savannah Bananas. So, when we were able to score club tickets to the game on Thursday night at Haymarket Park there was definite excitement in the air.

We are sure some of you went to the stadium show last night, too.

This Bananas thing is, well, bananas. Super fun and self made by ringleader Jesse Cole. You’d do well to listen to this podcast with Cole and Ryan Hawk. The show he has built — this is not a baseball game, though you get the sense that both Bananas and the Firefighters are competing to win — is out of this world.

If you ask me — a non-baseball aficionado — its more fun than baseball. Doesn’t means it’s America’s Pastime, but it is fun, no doubt. The 11 “Banana Rules” bring a sense of pace and excitement to the game as well.

Our favorite? The sprint that occurs on the fourth ball call. The batter can go as far as they want while the fielding team must have all nine players touch the ball before they can make an out. While this usually results in the batter just reaching first, it’s a hoot to see the infield play around the horn at mach speed while the outfield sprints in from their position.

And, while they keep the traditional score (we forget to even right it down, maybe it was 8-7 Firefighters) it’s winning innings that matters most in Banana Ball. Win an inning, get a point. That’s how the Firefighters 4-2 win was determined.

Better yet? Go up 1-0 in the bottom of an inning? Inning over. Other team can’t win. Switch sides. The game moves so quick (and has a two-hour time limit, if needed).

Rating out of 10 bananas? We give our Banana Ball Experience a two thumbs up 10.

Odds and Ends

If you know the Newsletter you know that golf and basketball are high on the list. So a few things we are following and followed so far this summer.

TOP-10 TEAM CAMP: Kearney (Class A, B, C1) and Bloomfield (C2, D1, D2) were the winners at the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase Top-10 Camp earlier this week in Kearney.

The Bearcats are loaded. And they should produce a team that is equal to or better than their 2025-26 version that advanced to the state semifinals in Class A. Returning starters Augusta Ganz, Hallie Garner, Libby Province formed a good nucleus and that has added Alma transfers Kinley Ford and Kam Scott as well as Elm Creek standout Kendal Cavanee.

The Bearcats beat O’Neill in the final. We were super impressed with Eagle Hannah Hilker in the title game. The senior-to-be averaged 16.9 points per game last season.

On the small school side, Bloomfield got past Centura in the final game. The Queen Bees made quite a statement in 24 hours after losing in the Class D-1 state final in March.

Behind sisters Kennedy and Madyson Mlady, Bloomfield beat Pender twice (in pool play and in the semifinals) before topping the Centurions in the final. Centura had two big wins of their own topping Class D-1 champion Howells-Dodge twice (in pool play and the semifinals).

If we saw a Saturday in March that included these four teams it would not be overly surprising. But, it’s funny how brackets work out.

THESE KIDS ARE GOOD: You might watch a little golf, but the Nebraska Junior Amateur this week at Oakland Golf Club was sensational golf.

Creighton Prep’s Tommy Kelley and York’s Jaxson Hinze (both Nebraska commits) staged an epic dual down there stretch with Kelley winning by one on 14-under par in a record-setting tournament.

On the girls side, another Nebraska pledge — Brooke Thiele — claimed her second title with a 6-under par winning score. Thiele, who played for the Bishop Neumann boys team and was a Class C medalist.

Both players will advance to the US Junior and US Girls Junior this summer with their victories.

Indeed, these kids are GOOD.

📸📸 From Spring

“Discipline, drive, and dedication. Competitive spirit. A commitment to constant improvement. These qualities make great athletes and coaches. They also make great financial advisors. Northwestern Mutual advisors educate clients to make important decisions to live differently and achieve their goals of financial security. Learn more about joining our team. Karges Financial Group and the Great Plains District are proud supporters of Nebraska high school athletics.