Sports

Wyatt Urkoski picked up two wins Thursday for a spot in the Class D semifinals.

Wyatt Urkoski picked up two wins Thursday for a spot in the Class D semifinals.

High Plains state wrestling day 1

Richard Rhoden
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Wyatt Urkoski penciled his name into Friday night's semifinal round with a pair of wins to begin the Class D state wrestling championships Thursday morning.
The Giltner bench celebrates after defeating Hampton 47-45 Friday night.

The Giltner bench celebrates after defeating Hampton 47-45 Friday night.

Hornets hold off Hawks in another nail-biter

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
For the third time in a row dating back to a season ago, a rivalry game between Giltner and Hampton came down to the final second.  For a third time in a row it was the same result -- a Giltner victory. How we got there Friday night, though, wasn’t the same.
Aurora’s Carlos Collazo signed with Concordia University Feb. 8 to play college football alongside his parents, Eric and Nikki as well as Aurora football coaches Kyle Peterson and Cole Ashby.

Aurora’s Carlos Collazo signed with Concordia University Feb. 8 to play college football alongside his parents, Eric and Nikki as well as Aurora football coaches Kyle Peterson and Cole Ashby.

Collazo set for college football at Concordia University

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
From Huskies to Bulldogs, Carlos Collazo isn’t done making defenders look silly on the gridiron.  Collazo signed with Concordia University Feb. 8 to continue his academic and football career just down I-80.
At left: Camden Holliday signed with Hastings College for baseball alongside his parents, Gregg and Roxann, Aurora Post 42 coach Jeremy Burgener and Hastings coach Joel Schipper. At right: Devin Otto signed with Hastings College for baseball alongside his parents, Jay and Michelle, Aurora Post 42 coach Jeremy Burgener and Hastings coach Joel Schipper.

At left: Camden Holliday signed with Hastings College for baseball alongside his parents, Gregg and Roxann, Aurora Post 42 coach Jeremy Burgener and Hastings coach Joel Schipper. At right: Devin Otto signed with Hastings College for baseball alongside his parents, Jay and Michelle, Aurora Post 42 coach Jeremy Burgener and Hastings coach Joel Schipper.

Aurora duo to join Hastings Baseball

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Otto thrilled about opportunity with Hastings College It’s hard to find someone who loves baseball more than Devin Otto.  He’s grown up around the diamond, playing catch and chasing pop flies. That’s not going to change any time soon.
Gahvi Lesiak looks for an open teammate out of an East Butler halfcourt trap during HPC’s dominant 54-17 win Friday night.

Gahvi Lesiak looks for an open teammate out of an East Butler halfcourt trap during HPC’s dominant 54-17 win Friday night.

Lindburg, Storm carry hot shooting night past East Butler

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Friday was a good night to be Hailey Lindburg, or at the very least wearing the same red, white and blue uniform.  The HPC senior was lights out, scoring 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting as the Storm put together its best offensive performance of the season, defeating East Butler 54-17 in Polk.
Richard Rhoden

Richard Rhoden

Smiling through it all

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Girls wrestling is still fresh in Nebraska, but you wouldn’t know it looking around Saturday at the A-1 district meet in Fremont.  Both Aurora and High Plains were there competing for spots at next week’s state wrestling championships in Omaha and emotions were through the roof.
HPC’s Dakota Gress tussles with Aurora’s Emily Bohlman duirng their consolation match Saturday at Fremont, a match Gress won.

HPC’s Dakota Gress tussles with Aurora’s Emily Bohlman duirng their consolation match Saturday at Fremont, a match Gress won.

Gress finishes one win away from state championships

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
In a wildly stacked A-1 girls district wrestling event, HPC’s Dakota Gress came up one win short of making her first state championships.
Driver Scott Bergmark in front of his derby vehicle on the left and brother Jamie’s on the right, that they ran at Cornhusker’s Chaos in Kearney this year, on a trailer near his Phillips home. Bergmark started racing as an 11-year-old child and competed in demolition derby since 2016.

Driver Scott Bergmark in front of his derby vehicle on the left and brother Jamie’s on the right, that they ran at Cornhusker’s Chaos in Kearney this year, on a trailer near his Phillips home. Bergmark started racing as an 11-year-old child and competed in demolition derby since 2016.

Bergmark races, wrecks ahead of competition

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Scott Bergmark of Phillips has been racing for about 15 years and crashing in demolition derbies for the past seven, enjoying every minute of it.  “All in all, racing/derbying is in my blood,” Bergmark wrote via email. “Once you do it, you just can’t stop.
Denae Nachtigal fights for and saves an offensive possession for Aurora in the second half of a close 34-31 loss at Lakeview Jan. 24. Nachtigal tallied eight points, five rebounds and four steals in the game.

Denae Nachtigal fights for and saves an offensive possession for Aurora in the second half of a close 34-31 loss at Lakeview Jan. 24. Nachtigal tallied eight points, five rebounds and four steals in the game.

Aurora girls rally falls short at Columbus Lakeview

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Aurora’s girls were prime for an upset to begin the Central Conference tournament, but ultimately came up a play or two short in the final seconds.  The Lady Huskies pushed Columbus Lakeview to the brink, but the host Vikings held on for a 34-31 win Jan.
Emily Ackerson doesn’t get a lot of room to operate down low on offense in HPC’s 55-22 loss to Meridian in the CRC quarterfinals.

Emily Ackerson doesn’t get a lot of room to operate down low on offense in HPC’s 55-22 loss to Meridian in the CRC quarterfinals.

Storm fall to Meridian at CRC

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
After a wild first round win in the CRC tournament, the small in numbers HPC girls squad met its match in the quarterfinals.  High Plains couldn’t slow down a potent Meridian attack as the Mustangs defeated the Storm 52-22 in the CRC quarterfinals Jan. 24 at the York City Auditorium.