Urkoski, Smith flip rivalry into friendship

  • Giltner’s Taylor Smith (37) and High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski (9) posed for a photo together following Saturday’s 47th annual Sertoma 8-man all star game played at Hastings College.
    Giltner’s Taylor Smith (37) and High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski (9) posed for a photo together following Saturday’s 47th annual Sertoma 8-man all star game played at Hastings College.
  • HPC grad Wyatt Urkoski lays the wood from his linebacker spot during Saturday’s 8-man all-star game. At right, Giltner’s Taylor Smith carries the ball late in the game.
    HPC grad Wyatt Urkoski lays the wood from his linebacker spot during Saturday’s 8-man all-star game. At right, Giltner’s Taylor Smith carries the ball late in the game.
    The friendship between Wyatt Urkoski and Taylor Smith doesn’t make sense on the surface. Upon further review, they have a whole lot more in common. Two athletes are from rival high schools -- High Plains Community and Giltner. They’ve played in that rivalry. They’ve crashed shoulder pads. They also shook hands and became friends as time goes on.Urkoski and Smith were opponent...

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