(Almost) Win or Go Home

So, here we are. The last full week of October and we head to win or go home season. By my count, we are down to 25 teams (all of them play volleyball) in the state that can “lose and advance” in sub-districts this week. By Thursday that will be over and we will have district final matches set, as well as the Class A state tournament.

Last week was a busy one. A little softball and tennis. Some 8-man football. State cross country and the final week of regular season football. A bracket reveal show!! We had a little of everything on not very much sleep.

A weekend Newsletter recap that’s fit for anyone that loves tenacity and grit. Did you guys believe?

The Final Friday

DEFENSE RULES THE DAY: In many games on Friday night, it came down to defenses making play after play to get big wins. At Mike Sautter’s Pinnacle Bank game of the week between Elkhorn South and Omaha North — a battle of two Class A playoff teams — the Storm held the Vikings in check all night during a 10-0 shutout victory.

The touchdown? A defensive one of of course. This Dylan Kingston pick-six in the third quarter. Sautter with South coach Guy Rosenberg post game.

THE OTHER BIG NEWS: Mike Sautter caught up with Caleb Benning and his commitment to Nebraska on Friday. Hail Varsity

PLAYING THEIR WAY IN: Man, were there some big wins on Friday for teams to get into the Nebraska football playoffs. A few to highlight and the information we found on them.

Chadron 28, McCook 21. The Cardinals led early and never looked back, leaving the Bison at home for the first time since 1999, if we see it correctly. Chadron got 197 yards and three touchdowns from junior Quinn Bailey. McCook played six playoff teams in their nine-game schedule and beat overall 6th seed Adams Central, but went winless in the other five.

Bishop Neumann 12, Aquinas 0. After self-reporting playing an ineligible player to the NSAA after a 69-7 win over David City, Neumann was in a near win-or-go-home game with Aquinas for a playoff spot. The Cavs responded with a 31-carry, 270-yard effort from Nebraska commit Conor Booth in the win. But, the Cavs are now a road team in the playoffs — they travel to Mitchell on Friday.

Malcolm 16, Wilber-Clatonia 14. Quarterback Maddox Meyer connected with tight end Tristen Boehle (picture below) in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers secure a district title over the Wolverines. While both teams made the playoffs, it gave the Clippers a home contest. W-C gets a rematch with undefeated Fillmore Central.

Surviving

Near-record heat greeting the 860 survivors who made it to the 2023 state cross country championships at Kearney Country Club. We had repeat winners, we had upsets and we had dominant team championships. Here is a quick recap of each of the eight races. Chats with the champions.

Class A Boys. Juan Gonzalez of Fremont kept the pace quick as he cruised to a 12-second win over Millard West’s Jack Witte finishing in 15:26.6 for the fastest boys’ time of the day in the day’s fourth race. The team race went to runner six and Creighton Prep did consistent work to upend Fremont after they tied with 82 points. The Jays — with seven seniors — got Andrew Sauer in at 31st to secure the team win. Results

Class A Girls. Iowa State commit Claire White finished her high school career in style as she pulled away from teammate Stella Miner and defending champion Mia Murray just past the 4,000 mark while winning in 18:32.5. Murray was clearly effected by the heat before finishing in 5th, but it was still enough to lead the Spartans to a sixth consecutive team title. The Spartans, who had three in the top-10, scored 55 points to edge Millard West by 12. Results

Class B Boys. Some things never change and that seemed to be the case in the Class B boys race; the third of the day. Norris standout — and Nebraska commit — Riley Boonstra outkicked Gretna East’s Braden Lofquest in the final 600 meters for he second consecutive Class B title. In the team race, Skutt and Lexington battled once again with the Skyhawks taking the team title 37-42. Skutt got two runners in — Tommy Rice and Jack Wade — just ahead of the Minutemen’s top pair of Miguel Cruz-Mendoza and Isac Portillo-Munoz. Results

Class B Girls. All Norris, all the time. We are witnessing a special group in the Norris girls, who MEDALED all six runners and cruised to the team title with just 21 points. They also got an individual title from junior Kendal Zavala who finished in 19:03.21. Elkhorn North, with medalists Ella Ford and Leah Robinson, was second with 37 points. How dominant was Norris? An all-star team from every other school in the meet would have only beat the by four points. Results

Class C Boys. In a class that has seen just two champions in the last seven years (what??) it was Gus Lampe of Omaha Roncalli who took in the individual title in 16:33.8 edging Gothenburg freshman Tyler Hetz. However, Hetz and his teammates captured the team title over Lincoln Christian, who had third place finished Carter Hohlen, with 38 points. Results

Class C Girls. Ogallala’s Lindee Henning completed a dominate fall with the “cherry on top” state title as she was the only Class C runner to break 20:00 as the heat continued to rise in the afternoon. It took it’s complete toll in the team race that had five teams from 76 and 99 points. It was hometown Kearney Catholic that handled it best as they edged Auburn for the team title with favorite Columbus Scotus experiencing ending heartbreak in the final 400 meters (more on that below). Results

Class D Boys. Perkins County’s Mason McGreer and the North Platte St. Patrick boys team had dominated just about every race this season. No reason to change on Friday afternoon. McGreer won the boys race in 16:46.6 with freshman teammate Elijah Goodell in second. The Irish boys put four in the top-10 for a dominating team win over second place Freeman. Jarrett Miles was third for the champions. Results

Class D Girls. Four-time champions are the rarest of birds in cross country. But, many thought that Crofton’s Jordyn Arens would be a safe bet on Friday. Unfortunately, life throws us curveballs sometimes. Just past the two-mile mark, Arens began to struggle opening the door for Ainsworth’s Katherine Kerrigan who won the race in 20:00.19 which bolstered the Dawgs to a team runner-up finish. Hemingford repeated in a close team race with 33 points, while Ainsworth had 36 and Crofton 39. Results

One Stop Shop

As the football playoffs continue on, or just get started, we hope that you’ll find our headquarters pages for each class an easy place to keep up on scores, streams, radio links and stories. As always, if you find them valuable, share with a friend.

Class A/B Headquarters // Class C-1 and C-2 Headquarters // Eight-Man Headquarters // Six-Man Headquarters

Parting Shot: “So Amazing”

If you know the Newsletter, it’s a horrible secret that our family has fallen in love with the sport of cross country. We make no apologies. On Friday, it ended again. Our third high school season, and fifth overall. We have been fortunate enough that each of the high school seasons has ended in Kearney.

The hours we spend scouring times throughout the year, is a tradition I’ll likely miss in a few years. But, I also feel like it will take on a new life of it’s own when our runner is off to college. Maybe the group text will continue. Hopefully.

It usually starts shortly after Labor Day, this time watching. This admiring.

We ran in Overton. “Kearney Catholic looks like they could be pretty good,” we said. The Stars showed up on Friday.

We ran in Aurora. “Kassidy makes it look so easy dad,” she said. But we know what’s behind all the work and effort too. The color of a medal will never define anyone — definitely not a cross country runner.

And on the same day, we saw the results from the Rumble. “Did you see what Norris did,” the group text comes, “they are so amazing.”

Our runner went down at Elkhorn Mt. Michael. No time in our first big race with those top runners from the east. A disappointment, but not a setback. A chance to get better. “Elkhorn North, wow. They are so good, too.”

And, I’d love to tell you it’s contained to looking at all the amazing Class B girls runners. But it's not. It’s all of them, male and female.

We wanted to see Mia Murray and Lincoln East. And, Juan Gonzalez. And Jordyn Arens. We cheered when we saw Claire White was going to keep running at Iowa State. And again when Riley Boonstra committed to Nebraska, our jaws drop each time we see “the kick.” And, even yesterday when Ellie Thomas pledged to South Dakota. Or when dad is constantly screwing up Henning and Kenning; a running joke at our house.

It goes on and on.

But those two words. Almost always what get’s said when we see a time. Or a close race. Or a new girl or boy freshman who comes in and makes their mark. “So amazing.”

“So amazing.”

All 862 of them that ran at Kearney and the many more that didn’t even make it. They’ll all be winners. I don’t think it’s possible to fully put into words the effort they put in and the inspiration they give EACH OTHER. The ones they are trying to beat. What other sport does that? I mean, really does it.

“Every year, she was just an inspiration to me,” Ainsworth’s Katherine Kerrigan said of Jordyn Arens after she won the Class D girls race and saw the three-time champion overcome by heat before finishing 16th. “I just wanted to do what she did and I was always so impressed with her. I am so thankful that I had her to constantly push me.”

What other sport does that? Not many.

The race doesn’t always end how you want it to, we have learned that multiple times. We will probably learn it again. You might not finish. You might fall down and then get back up. Or, you might feel the excitement of a personal best.

Friday’s test in Kearney probably had more disappointment than joy. More heartbreak than many of the runners probably deserved. Our friend Jay Slagle, the Prep Running Nerd, summed it up so beautifully yesterday when he wrote “Drop Your Shield.” It deserves a few minutes of your time.

And, maybe next fall, a cross country meet will call you for some reason. You’ll head out on a whim and see these kids — all different shapes and sizes — fight and scratch and claw just like the football and volleyball and softball teams do.

We’d love to have you. Or your kid if they aren’t doing a fall sport right now. You never know, it might make you a better person, a better parent or your kid a better student, a better future mom or dad or employee.

Joining the group text? Completely optional.