Sports

Sara Sutherland (center) is Aurora’s new strength and conditioning coach and has taken over the block zero weights class as well as the summer lifting program.

Sara Sutherland (center) is Aurora’s new strength and conditioning coach and has taken over the block zero weights class as well as the summer lifting program.

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Sutherland strength is now Husky power

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Sara (Wolff) Sutherland commands any room she walks into. One of the spaces she feels most comfortable involves the gym and weight room.Many of her defining moments growing up came in the very weight room she now commands as Aurora schools’ new strength and conditioning coach.
HPC seniors Emma Brown (far left), Courtney Carlstrom (middle) and Rylee Ackerson comfort one another after the D1-4 district final game against Superior.

HPC seniors Emma Brown (far left), Courtney Carlstrom (middle) and Rylee Ackerson comfort one another after the D1-4 district final game against Superior.

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Storm falls in district final

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
One of the best seasons in HPC girls history couldn’t overcome a buzz saw Superior team.For the second consecutive season, HPC fell one game short of the state tournament, losing at Superior 73-33 in the D1-4 district final Friday night.
Booker Scheierman throws down one of his two first-quarter dunks that brought the home crowd to life. However, Gretna East survived the early onslaught from Aurora and came back to defeat the Huskies 50-40 in Monday’s B-8 district final.

Booker Scheierman throws down one of his two first-quarter dunks that brought the home crowd to life. However, Gretna East survived the early onslaught from Aurora and came back to defeat the Huskies 50-40 in Monday’s B-8 district final.

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Second half slump dooms Huskies in district final

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
It was a long wait for the Huskies to re-emerge from the locker room following Monday’s B-8 district final.Cheers of victory and triumph were instead replaced with tears, hugs and plenty of encouraging remarks.
Haden Helgoth played in his final game for HPC basketball last week, one of four seniors that helped turn the Storm program around.

Haden Helgoth played in his final game for HPC basketball last week, one of four seniors that helped turn the Storm program around.

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High Plains falls to Fullerton

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
After a rough second half of the year, High Plains entered the D2-3 subdistrict tournament as healthy as could be.A three-point barrage in the second half spelled doom for HPC, though, as Fullerton picked up its second win of the season over the Storm, 60-46 Feb.
Aurora freshman Jaxson Slagle goes up strong for two of his team-high 16 points in Thursday’s dramatic 49-48 win over Omaha Skutt. Slagle hit the game-winning shot as time expired.

Aurora freshman Jaxson Slagle goes up strong for two of his team-high 16 points in Thursday’s dramatic 49-48 win over Omaha Skutt. Slagle hit the game-winning shot as time expired.

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Slagle heroics spark comeback victory over Skutt

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Jaxson Slagle was one cool cucumber when it counted on a frigid night in February. The Aurora freshman stepped up when his teammates needed him, and then some, scoring 10 clutch points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to shock Class B’s No.
Gage Friesen let some rare emotion come out after his state championship victory while coaches Martin Phillips (right) and Corbey Grause celebrate in the background.

Gage Friesen let some rare emotion come out after his state championship victory while coaches Martin Phillips (right) and Corbey Grause celebrate in the background.

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The Friesen season

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Gage Friesen can’t shoot a basketball. Never really gave wrestling a shot growing up, either.His dad really wanted him to try wrestling. At the time, new High Plains wrestling coach Martin Phillips begged him to give it a go in middle school. “My dad wanted me to try wrestling,” Friesen said.
Aurora’s Logan Svoboda finished second in Class B’s 126-pound bracket at the State Wrestling Tournament in Omaha.

Aurora’s Logan Svoboda finished second in Class B’s 126-pound bracket at the State Wrestling Tournament in Omaha.

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Silver for Svoboda at state

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The Svoboda family knows what it’s like to win a state wrestling championship. Father and son -- Chad and Caden -- also know the devastation of losing one. Dad and older brother knew exactly how Logan Svoboda felt Saturday night, falling just short of a state championship victory.
HPC wrestler Gage Friesen gets a celebratory embrace from coach Martin Phillips after winning the 150-pound Class D weight class at the state tournament.

HPC wrestler Gage Friesen gets a celebratory embrace from coach Martin Phillips after winning the 150-pound Class D weight class at the state tournament.

The BigRich Sports Report

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The curse hanging over the High Plains wrestling team and maybe more specifically coach Martin Phillips was lifted Saturday night. That’s written with a bit of jest, but also with each yearly blow in the state wrestling finals felt all the more real.
Hampton’s Gavin Gilmore is closely defended by Giltner’s Avery Reeson.

Hampton’s Gavin Gilmore is closely defended by Giltner’s Avery Reeson.

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Hawks and Hornets: The great rivalry

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
The season records didn’t matter Friday night when Giltner and Hampton’s girls basketball teams locked wings.The lead swapped back and forth for much of the night before a second-half run from the Hawks was too much for the Hornets to overcome.
Logan Svoboda won his second district championship over the weekend in Blair.

Logan Svoboda won his second district championship over the weekend in Blair.

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Huskies qualify five for state

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Logan Svoboda’s trip to a district title Saturday wasn’t nearly as treacherous as the weather conditions outside.The Husky sophomore won his second district championship Saturday in Blair, highlighting five wrestlers qualifying for this week’s state wrestling championships.