Sitting at a kitchen table trying to process watching the 2024 Nebraska State Track Meet online (for the past week) and, well, it was still amazing. Can’t imagine what is was like to be there, so thought we’d try to put together a few words on a huge NSAA state championship spring and the fantastic media coverage we got from around the state.

To be in this era of Nebraska high school sports is truly special. The student-athletes are doing such amazing things and taking our sports to great heights. Things that seemed unattainable are now commonplace it appears. Let’s see if we can find a story or two or a tweet or two or a Facebook post or two to share with you.

And, while we are remembering all of the great spring sports today we also remember and are thankful for those who have served our great nation. Simply, thank you.

First Things First

The Nebraska state soccer tournament continues to improve each and every year and this year was no different. The full coverage on Nebraska Public Television and semifinal coverage from the great team at Striv Sports has helped boost interest. And, the venue. Oh the venue at Morrison Stadium; a truly awesome setting.

Class B Girls. The newbies — the Gretna East girls — well, how inexperienced was that group, really? Not very. A first of likely many items in the state trophy case for the Griffins. Sonora Defini set the single-season record for goals (55) and GE dominated Omaha Duchesne 6-1 to win their first state title during their first year as a school.

Class A Girls. It was a first for Lincoln Southwest as well. The Silverhawks got their first state title in a dramatic all-Lincoln final as they tied the game on a Thea Martin goal in the final minute of regulation and then, after a scoreless overtime period, won the title on penalty kicks.

Class B Boys. One for the thumb for Omaha Skutt Catholic as the Skyhawks got nine saves in goal from Morgan Finkbiner in their 2-0 win over Lexington. Benjamin Schendt scored in the 7th minute getting Skutt off to a fast start. PHOTOS

Class A Boys. It was a repeat in the finale as well, when Creighton Prep got two goals from Jack Johnson in their 3-1 win over Lincoln Southwest in the Class A title game on Tuesday night. It was the 11th — ELEVENTH — state title for the Junior Jays.

They Played Baseball, Ray

Speaking of improving state tournaments, the Nebraska state baseball tournament continues to shine (also with awesome television coverage). The one great discussion that may take place over the next few years, is a separate site for Class C or a way to extend the tournament to avoid playing at high school fields. Losing Haymarket Park and adding a class of a baseball make the logistics very difficult.

Class C. Storybook ending for the Malcolm Clippers as they repeated as champions with a 3-2 walk off winner from Noah Gonyea. Down to their last out and down 2-0, Malcolm rallied after Elkhorn Mt. Michael was forced to pull starting pitcher Ashton Schroder after he reached the 110-pitch limit. PHOTOS

Class B. Norris scored five runs in the first inning only to see Gretna East come all the way back to tie the Class B title game at 7-7. Then the Titans erupted again. Jordan Monroe’s double keyed a five-running sixth inning as Norris won their second state title in school history.

Class A. A sweet change of fortune for Millard West in the 2024 state title game. After losing in the finals to Lincoln East a year ago, the Cats got a 4-3 victory this time around in front of a packed Werner Park. The two teams were the class of Class A this season, finishing a combined 65-7 on the year. This time around, Millard West plated two in the third inning and never trailed.

Runners. Track Stars.

We have had well over a week to think about the state track meet and we still don’t think we will quite find the words to do the whole thing justice. We are in an amazing time to be watching these athletes compete. So, we picked five things (out of so many) to highlight (yes, we know we missed some).

NATION’S BEST. Sidney’s Karsyn Leeling was likely disappointed in her final high jump attempt’s of the season, as she won Class B with a jump of 5-9 and missed setting the state meet record when she failed at 5-11. (LOL, failed at 5-11). Still, her 6-1.25 leap earlier this spring led the nation and she has now qualified for the U20 national championships next month. Hayward is pretty darn cool Karsyn. If you missed our “basketball” story on Karsyn and track mate Chloe Ahrens you can catch it here.

NUMBER JUAN. They are known for building great middle-to-distance runners in Fremont. We might just be looking at the best one ever in junior Juan Gonzalez. He ripped off a state-meet record 8:56.34 in the 3,200 on Wednesday and followed is up with a meet and state record 4:08.61 (US No. 40 this year) in the 1,600 on Thursday. Not too bad. Since? Just an 8:47, 3,200 at the Garman Running Lane meet in Alabama over the weekend. Sheesh.

ONE FOR THE AGES. The Class B girls, 4×800 meter relay kicked off the four-day meet with the fastest race in the history of the event (remember, a special time). Conference mates Elkhorn North and Norris both hit the top-25 charts nationally in setting meet and state records. The Wolves — with Sydney Stodden in the anchor finished in 9:11.08 and Norris — with future 800 champ Ellie Thomas (that was another record) in 9:12.86.

SEEING STARS. The Kearney Catholic girls team - with no track at their school - was impressive (and then some) in winning the Class C girls race. A state-record in the 400 meter relay and another from Hazel Haarberg in the 100 meters (11.73!!!). She won three all-class gold medals. In all, five event wins at 86.5 points.

FOUR FOR FOUR. Overton senior Will Kulhanek made quite an impression in his final meet as an Eagle. Four golds (100, 200, 400 and long jump) and three meet records included state Class D records in the 100 (10.54) and 400 (48.09). Blazing….

Also, this is where we tell you if you are not following the great work of the Prep Running Nerd team then it’s now time. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

At the Net

Lincoln East and Elkhorn North won girls tennis state championships in an “extended” event this year that saw both events in Lincoln. The Spartans won the Class A title on Thursday and Friday (May 16, 17) while Class B was moved to Monday and Tuesday (May 20, 21) due to the normal Omaha site (Tranquility Park) not being available.

The Spartans took state championships in No. 1 singles and both doubles teams en route to a 54.125-40.5 win over Elkhorn South for the team title. Freshman Briana Rademacher won No. 1 singles with Gibsen Chapman and Belinda Rademacher teaming for the No. 1 doubles title and Adeline Fornander and Stacia Jacobsen winning No. 2 doubles.

In Class B, Elkhorn North put both singles and both doubles in state championship matches to cruise to a state title over Grand Island Central Catholic. They won three of four matches with junior Sophia Jones winning No. 2 singles. The pairs of Camryn Jacobsmeier and Haylee Wolf (No. 1 doubles) and Macy Falconer and Grace Jesske (No. 2 doubles) were state champions. Bennington’s Kailee Bailey became the first state champion in school history when she won the No. 1 doubles title.

Bouncing Back

The four site state golf championships that were contested last Tuesday and Wednesday — which capped the 2023-24 school year — were about fighting, staying patient and bouncing back from some disappointment. Here is how they shook out.

CLASS A: Odds on favorite Omaha Westside had to scratch and claw their way to victory after a first round struggle at Norfolk Country Club in the rain. After opening with a 309 team score, the Warriors were just two shots ahead of fifth and 10 back of leader Lincoln Southeast before blitzing the field on Tuesday.

The Warriors got matching 69s from Florida recruit Trevor Gutchewski and Tye Treadwell, a 1-under 71 from Nebraska pledge Jackson Benge in a 7-under team score of 281 that was the best of the day by 12 shots in edging the Knights by two strokes for the team title.

UTEP commit Connor Jasso-Steichem birdied the final hole for a one-shot win over Gutchewski for the individual title.

CLASS B: Norris went back-to-back, but had to grind their way to a five-shot win over host Scottsbluff. They were just seven clear of York and 12 of Elkhorn North in a tight team race after rounds of 311 and 319 for a 630 total.

While the Titans had individual champion Carson Thurber (2-over, 146), they may have won the team title on the focus and effort of Cale Baker. After an 81 on Tuesday, Baker opened with a 9 on Wednesday and shot 45 on the front nine. With Scottsbluff, York and Elkhorn North all charging, Baker came home in 37, including a birdie on the 17th hole to help Norris hang on.

CLASS C: Heavy rains in Columbus forced a one-day event with Kearney Catholic edging Centennial Conference mate Scotus 322-323 for the team title. St. Paul was third and Grand Island Central Catholic.

St. Paul senior Sam Wells defeated Kearney Catholic’s Nash Malone on the first playoff hole for the individual title after both carded 1-over par 73s at Elks Country Club.

CLASS D: After placing third in a highly competitive district, Overton bounced back at Lake Maloney Golf Club south of North Platte to win the team title. The Eagles had a second day 319 total - best of the day by eight shots - to beat Hitchcock County, which beat them at districts.

Sandy Creek senior Jake Dane won the individual title by 1-shot over Hitchcock County’s Jack Baker.

Signing Off

Thank you for being with us during our first year of “Harvest Sports” and the newsletter. We are looking forward to continuing our work and storytelling during the next school year and you might even see us a little bit over the summer.

We’d like to thank our awesome friends at Tom Dinsdale Automotive for lending us their support this year. As always, we’ll venture all of our content to be free for anyone who wants to view and we do that through sponsorships. If you’d have any interest in being a part of the Harvest Sports platform, we’d love to have a conversation with you.