Varsity Corner

girl soccer player

The Drive to Succeed

Grace Barker, Elkhorn Athletic Association 2020 Scholarship Award Recipient When Grace Barker began playing soccer in kindergarten, the game didn’t come easily at first. “I wasn’t the most coordinated, but I really loved playing! I worked hard each year to improve more and more.” Her father, James Barker, agreed. “That […]

young lady softball and soccer player

Family First

Payton Cooley, Elkhorn Athletic Association2020 Scholarship Award Recipient Elkhorn Athletic Association (EAA) 2020 scholarship winner Payton Cooley gains strength from her family. “My family is my rock,” she said. “I don’t think there is anything like seeing my great-grandparents or parents in the stands.” She stays motivated to be a […]

young lady athlete

Game Changer

Katie Thompson  |  Senior Boys Town Female Athlete of the Year Being athletic comes naturally to senior Katie Thompson, Boys Town’s 2020 Female Athlete of the Year. She competed on the volleyball, basketball, and track teams at Boys Town, but she’s torn when asked which sport is her favorite. “Volleyball […]

young male football player

Striving for Excellence

Jay Ballard  |  Sophomore Boys Town Male Athlete of the Year Sophomore Jay Ballard, Boys Town’s 2020 Male Athlete of the Year, joined the wrestling and track teams when he came to Boys Town two years ago. But football is his sport. He’s been playing the game since he was […]

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Olympic Aspirations

Lauren Mayo | Senior | Elkhorn South High School Swimming is a way of life for Elkhorn South senior Lauren Mayo. “Swimming has brought me a bit of stability, so I center my life around it emotionally, too,” she said. “It gives me a purpose besides working hard in school.” […]

young male basketball player

Focused on the Future

Max Murrell | Senior | Millard North High School When Millard North senior Max Murrell started playing on the freshman basketball team, he never imagined he’d be recruited by Division I schools from as far away as California, Virginia, and Texas. “I never really envisioned myself as someone playing at […]

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A Militant Mindset

Paige Fixemer | Senior Millard South High School No one was more surprised than Millard South senior Paige Fixemer when her Premier volleyball coach Sarah Hughbanks pulled her aside two years ago and suggested she consider playing volleyball for the Army. “West Point? Me? No,” she recalled. Hughbanks, who previously […]

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A World of Opportunity

Jakason Burks  |  Senior Burke High School When Jakason Burks started wrestling at five years old, he never imagined that someday he’d be traveling across the world to represent the United States. “I’m nothing special. Just a regular kid and a wrestler.” But in 2018, he and his older brother […]

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Dominating the Line

When Elkhorn South High School junior Teddy Prochazka committed to play football for the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL), he texted the football program but kept it a secret from the coaches. Right before the Ohio State game, Teddy went down on the field to tell Coach Scott Frost in person. […]

young lady softball player

Life-long Love of the Game

Syd Nuismer, a senior at Elkhorn High School, is all about family. “My uncle played UNK (University of Nebraska Kearney) baseball, so I grew up playing in the dirt at the baseball fields,” she said. Her dad has been her coach from the beginning and is still coaching her in […]