Central Nebraska Prep Sports
STATE TRACK MEET REWIND
Another State Track Meet in the books, and a new experience for me in the Press Box. I sorely missed not being able to be down by the action to talk to some of the kids, but the old man can’t go like before and the “Box” was better than missing it altogether. In fact, I was very impressed at how well we were treated up there. Yes, it WAS warm and the sun prevented you from seeing your screen in the AM and early PM, but these things can’t be helped. I felt privileged to be there and applaud the people at Burke and the NSAA for their tremendous hospitality…pure class.
Instead of leaving it alone, I’m going to take a peak at how my teams picks fared. Good or not so good, have to face the music, right?
Class A
My picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Kearney 93........................Kearney 88.5
Millard West 63.................Millard West 66
Lin. North Star 45.................Fremont 56
Lin. NE 42.........................Omaha Burke 45
Fremont 38.........................Lincoln NE 41
Omaha Burke 38.................Omaha North 40
CLASS B
My Picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Lexington 54...................Boys Town 65
GINW 51.........................Lexington 38
Scottsbluff 49...................Norfolk Catholic 36
Boys Town 44 (?????).......Scottsbluff 36
Gothenburg 44....................GINW 34
Blair 38..............................Waverly 34
CLASS C
My Picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Burwell 58.................................Burwell 50
Laurel Concord 58....................Hastings St. Cecilia 43
Wisner-Pilger 34....................Thayer Central 37
Hastings St. Cecilia 34...............Loup City 35
Tri-County 26..............................Wisner-Pilger 34.5
Loup City 26.............................Laurel Concord 33
Thayer Central 26.......................Randolph 28
***********************************************************
Well, sports fans, 2 out of 3 “ain’t” bad, but if you want to know the truth, this guy thinks Track is difficult to predict. I knew Kearney would be tough, Burwell had the horses to do it, but I had question marks on Boys Town, because in my heart I figured they could explode if everybody performed up to par. You know the rest of that story. Another team that was a sleeper (in my mind) was St. Cecilia. Question I am posing myself these days is “what AREN”T the Bluehawks good at? Football, Basketball, Golf, Track………If the school added LaCrosse or Trapshooting, they’d probably take home the hardware in that. Norfolk Catholic snuck up on me, GINW didn’t get the points I thought, Laurel Concord I really overestimated, but otherwise it wasn’t all bad.
There are so many great performances to mention, you could spend a day and still omit some, but these are the things that lingered in my mind during the rainy trip back to GI.
*The Burwell Longhorns not even being on the score sheet after day one…..not to worry, they came through just like the Burwell faithful who were waiting at the gates before the sun came up to get into Burke……you people were a blast, by the way!
*My friend Ty Evans of Waverly whipping one of the most OUTSTANDING 100 Meter dash fields in Class B I’ve seen in 35 seasons. Incredible. Same goes for Ty Wullenwaber in the 200! What kind of a competitor is he? The fatigue must have gotten to him pretty good because he asked me if he won the 200 when I talked to him immediately following the race. He had no legs for the Finals of the Long Jump and still won it with his 22-9 ¼ prelim leap. Too bad, he had the clear shot at the All Class Gold, but next year he’ll be looking at breaking the State Record….trust me, then again, who thought he's whip that "All-Star" 200 field?
*O’Neill St. Marys John Kersenbrock grabbing FOUR Gold medals. The kid that I hope to look like when I wake up in the morning (never works) just amazed me. He won the Long Jump, Triple Jump, 200 and 400 meters. He was even 5th in the LJ and 3rd in the TJ in the Gold medal standings. 40 points is a pretty nifty two day’s work, I’d say.
*Talk about a youth movement, how ’bout those two 9th grade gals from Millard South in the 400! Clara Nichols, and Mogan Woitzel ripped off a :56.059 and a :56.135 to slam that quarter. They also teamed up to come within freckle of winning the 1600 Relay.
*Another tough competitor is Wood River’s Hurdle sensation, Morgan Fischer. Man, oh man, did she ever put ’em in the aisles with that win in the 100 meter Hurdles! The Eagles moved up to “B” this year in track, but no problem for Morgan. She whipped one of the State’s best athletes in McKenzie Fujan of Bishop Neumann with a furious lunge at the tape. Fischer’s :15.257 placed her 5th in the Gold Medal standings behind the record setter, LaQue Moen-Davis of Omaha Central, who became the first Nebraska school girl the break :14 seconds in this flight of hurdles. (and she can’t even drive yet!)
*The entire Boys Town Track team. WOW! This squad enjoyed a top notch 2008-2009 athletic year! They reached the State Finals in Football, got to the State Basketball Tournament, had a stellar Wrestling season, and made shambles of the “B” field this weekend. A heck of a tribute to a program that is too be HIGHLY respected, not only because of their athletes, but the way EVERYTHING is handled by their Coaches and those in command……superb and unsurpassed.
*McCool Junction’s Boys track Team. There’s only 71 kids in school, for cryin’ out loud. Some schools have folded all around them and I have nightmares and heartbreaking thoughts about the future of some of these schools like the Black & Gold Mustangs. Good for guys like Chase Chrisman, Preston Bolte, and Dalen Hall. This team has long taken some thumps in High school Sports, but recently has enjoyed well deserved successes. Take a long look at that trophy guys and cherish the thought and carry it with you for years….was the first and never know, maybe the last. Hope not.
*KEARNEY BOYS………It was amazing to see how worried Hits 106’s Dave J. was late in the day about Kearney’s boys chances for a title. He even said he heard Dr, Maher say it didn’t look good. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, but I’ll guarantee Roger Mathiesen was calm as a cucumber. That’s why I call Kearney “The King’s of Track” They’re also know in some circles as the “Executioners”. Nice job, boys. All in a day’s work for that bunch.
*A wisdom wish for all the little gals I see EVERY year at Burke that have shoulders burnt to a “cherry red” crisp. Hasn’t work so far and I’ve been to 35 of them.
*Also another “hats off” to the NSAA and Omaha Burke for the wonderful job they do. It’s the best we have in this State for this event and they make upgrades and improvements all the time. Remember, I heard it’s the THIRD largest State Track Meet in the Nation as far as attendance is concerned. It’s the best it can be and they DO listen when people talk, I promise. Can’t say much about the food choices, but where would you put more vendors?
*I know, it’s a rule, but the DQ’s for “dragging the foot around the Hurdles” thing gets old. Keeney was going to win the 300s anyway….what a shame. Happened to a wonderful young man from GI years back also.
*Speaking of GI, what a great accomplishment Alex Armes pulled off by winning her third straight 200 title! I got such a kick out of hearing her interview after that race. What a full of energy, bubbly gal she is! Born to run the curve. Good Luck at Wayne State, girl.
And now a moment of silence. The High Sports season ends with State Boys Golf next week…..now what? I’ll sit here and twiddle my thumbs. Wait, hold on, hold the phone, man. Cancel the silence minute……the first HS Football game is only 97 days, 1 hour and 6 minutes, 33 seconds away! Hallelujah
Instead of leaving it alone, I’m going to take a peak at how my teams picks fared. Good or not so good, have to face the music, right?
Class A
My picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Kearney 93........................Kearney 88.5
Millard West 63.................Millard West 66
Lin. North Star 45.................Fremont 56
Lin. NE 42.........................Omaha Burke 45
Fremont 38.........................Lincoln NE 41
Omaha Burke 38.................Omaha North 40
CLASS B
My Picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Lexington 54...................Boys Town 65
GINW 51.........................Lexington 38
Scottsbluff 49...................Norfolk Catholic 36
Boys Town 44 (?????).......Scottsbluff 36
Gothenburg 44....................GINW 34
Blair 38..............................Waverly 34
CLASS C
My Picks.......................ACTUAL FINISH
Burwell 58.................................Burwell 50
Laurel Concord 58....................Hastings St. Cecilia 43
Wisner-Pilger 34....................Thayer Central 37
Hastings St. Cecilia 34...............Loup City 35
Tri-County 26..............................Wisner-Pilger 34.5
Loup City 26.............................Laurel Concord 33
Thayer Central 26.......................Randolph 28
***********************************************************
Well, sports fans, 2 out of 3 “ain’t” bad, but if you want to know the truth, this guy thinks Track is difficult to predict. I knew Kearney would be tough, Burwell had the horses to do it, but I had question marks on Boys Town, because in my heart I figured they could explode if everybody performed up to par. You know the rest of that story. Another team that was a sleeper (in my mind) was St. Cecilia. Question I am posing myself these days is “what AREN”T the Bluehawks good at? Football, Basketball, Golf, Track………If the school added LaCrosse or Trapshooting, they’d probably take home the hardware in that. Norfolk Catholic snuck up on me, GINW didn’t get the points I thought, Laurel Concord I really overestimated, but otherwise it wasn’t all bad.
There are so many great performances to mention, you could spend a day and still omit some, but these are the things that lingered in my mind during the rainy trip back to GI.
*The Burwell Longhorns not even being on the score sheet after day one…..not to worry, they came through just like the Burwell faithful who were waiting at the gates before the sun came up to get into Burke……you people were a blast, by the way!
*My friend Ty Evans of Waverly whipping one of the most OUTSTANDING 100 Meter dash fields in Class B I’ve seen in 35 seasons. Incredible. Same goes for Ty Wullenwaber in the 200! What kind of a competitor is he? The fatigue must have gotten to him pretty good because he asked me if he won the 200 when I talked to him immediately following the race. He had no legs for the Finals of the Long Jump and still won it with his 22-9 ¼ prelim leap. Too bad, he had the clear shot at the All Class Gold, but next year he’ll be looking at breaking the State Record….trust me, then again, who thought he's whip that "All-Star" 200 field?
*O’Neill St. Marys John Kersenbrock grabbing FOUR Gold medals. The kid that I hope to look like when I wake up in the morning (never works) just amazed me. He won the Long Jump, Triple Jump, 200 and 400 meters. He was even 5th in the LJ and 3rd in the TJ in the Gold medal standings. 40 points is a pretty nifty two day’s work, I’d say.
*Talk about a youth movement, how ’bout those two 9th grade gals from Millard South in the 400! Clara Nichols, and Mogan Woitzel ripped off a :56.059 and a :56.135 to slam that quarter. They also teamed up to come within freckle of winning the 1600 Relay.
*Another tough competitor is Wood River’s Hurdle sensation, Morgan Fischer. Man, oh man, did she ever put ’em in the aisles with that win in the 100 meter Hurdles! The Eagles moved up to “B” this year in track, but no problem for Morgan. She whipped one of the State’s best athletes in McKenzie Fujan of Bishop Neumann with a furious lunge at the tape. Fischer’s :15.257 placed her 5th in the Gold Medal standings behind the record setter, LaQue Moen-Davis of Omaha Central, who became the first Nebraska school girl the break :14 seconds in this flight of hurdles. (and she can’t even drive yet!)
*The entire Boys Town Track team. WOW! This squad enjoyed a top notch 2008-2009 athletic year! They reached the State Finals in Football, got to the State Basketball Tournament, had a stellar Wrestling season, and made shambles of the “B” field this weekend. A heck of a tribute to a program that is too be HIGHLY respected, not only because of their athletes, but the way EVERYTHING is handled by their Coaches and those in command……superb and unsurpassed.
*McCool Junction’s Boys track Team. There’s only 71 kids in school, for cryin’ out loud. Some schools have folded all around them and I have nightmares and heartbreaking thoughts about the future of some of these schools like the Black & Gold Mustangs. Good for guys like Chase Chrisman, Preston Bolte, and Dalen Hall. This team has long taken some thumps in High school Sports, but recently has enjoyed well deserved successes. Take a long look at that trophy guys and cherish the thought and carry it with you for years….was the first and never know, maybe the last. Hope not.
*KEARNEY BOYS………It was amazing to see how worried Hits 106’s Dave J. was late in the day about Kearney’s boys chances for a title. He even said he heard Dr, Maher say it didn’t look good. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, but I’ll guarantee Roger Mathiesen was calm as a cucumber. That’s why I call Kearney “The King’s of Track” They’re also know in some circles as the “Executioners”. Nice job, boys. All in a day’s work for that bunch.
*A wisdom wish for all the little gals I see EVERY year at Burke that have shoulders burnt to a “cherry red” crisp. Hasn’t work so far and I’ve been to 35 of them.
*Also another “hats off” to the NSAA and Omaha Burke for the wonderful job they do. It’s the best we have in this State for this event and they make upgrades and improvements all the time. Remember, I heard it’s the THIRD largest State Track Meet in the Nation as far as attendance is concerned. It’s the best it can be and they DO listen when people talk, I promise. Can’t say much about the food choices, but where would you put more vendors?
*I know, it’s a rule, but the DQ’s for “dragging the foot around the Hurdles” thing gets old. Keeney was going to win the 300s anyway….what a shame. Happened to a wonderful young man from GI years back also.
*Speaking of GI, what a great accomplishment Alex Armes pulled off by winning her third straight 200 title! I got such a kick out of hearing her interview after that race. What a full of energy, bubbly gal she is! Born to run the curve. Good Luck at Wayne State, girl.
And now a moment of silence. The High Sports season ends with State Boys Golf next week…..now what? I’ll sit here and twiddle my thumbs. Wait, hold on, hold the phone, man. Cancel the silence minute……the first HS Football game is only 97 days, 1 hour and 6 minutes, 33 seconds away! Hallelujah
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