 Recent Boone County graduates were all over the field Saturday at the Northeast Nebraska Football Classic at Norfolk’s Memorial Field. Boone Central’s Brenden Beierman, Will Frey, Jon Merten and Weston Choat joined Riverside’s Ty Martinsen on the White squad. Holding a 10-0 lead late in the first half, Martinsen jumped a pass and took 49-yards to the house to give the White team a 17-0 advantage at the break. “I was drifting over into my zone and next moment later, he threw it right to me,” Martinsen recalled. “I hauled my butt down the field.” After a Connor Clayton field goal gave the White team a 20-0 lead, the Red squad responded with 13 unanswered points. O’Neill St. Mary’s Grady Semin recovered an onside kick with two second remaining in the game to give the Red team a chance to tie the ball game or take the lead. The Red squad executed a perfect hook-and-ladder, but the White team’s last line of defense, Oakland-Craig’s Robby Mayberry, brought down Randolph’s Noah Scott to prevent him from finding pay dirt and ending the game. Martinsen was named defensive MVP for the White team. The former Charger collected seven tackles and an interception for a touchdown. “It was a great experience and I loved this week,” Martinsen stated. “The key to the game was the defense being aggressive and making their reads.” Frey also recorded seven tackles, Merten tallied three tackles, Beierman notched two tackles, while Choat anchor the offensive line and played on numerous special teams. Martinsen competes at the Sertoma 8-man all-star game June 15 at 6 p.m. at Hastings College.  Riverside senior Alixzandra Bloom capped off one of the best track and field careers in the state at this past weekend’s Class D state track and field meet at Omaha Burke Stadium. Bloom captured three state titles in her final high school meet. The senior sprinter defended her 100 and 200 meter crowns, while also winning the long jump. “It feels amazing,” Bloom stated. “I’ve gone up every year. Sophomore, junior and senior year; I ended it out strong. That’s how I wanted it to go.” Entering both the 100 and 200 as the two-time defending state champion, the Lady Charger held off a competitive field in both events. Bloom placed first in the 100 with a time of 12.55 and captured the 200 crown after crossing the finish line at 25.93. Bloom also won the long jump with a leap of 17-7.75 and placed 11th in the triple jump after recording a jump of 33 feet. After adding three gold medals from Saturday, Bloom wraps up her high school career with eight state championships (three in the 100, three in the 200, one in the 4x100 relay and one in long jump). “Everyone in my family told me it’s so hard to get three championships in a row,” Bloom commented. “I wanted to do that here and break that.” Also in Class D, St. Edward Lainey Werts took sixth in the 400 with a time of 1:02.19 and eighth in the 800 with a time of 2:29.66. Werts also competed in the high jump, clearing 4-8. The Beavers Jacob Riggs-Ramage cleared 6-0 to place 10th and Trevor Rasmussen ran a 17.64 in the 110 hurdles. Riverside’s Jeffrey Schmeits placed sixth in the long jump with a leap of 20-3.75 and was 10th in the triple jump with a jump of 41-0.5. Ryan Berger finished 15th in the 3200 with a time of 10:58.59. For the Lady Chargers Hope Schalk cleared 8-0 to place 15th in pole vault. In Class B, Boone Central/Newman Grove had several medalists. Jordan Soto-Stopak claimed two medals at state. Soto-Stopak was the runner-up in the 3200 (11:58.2) and placed fifth in the 1600 (5:29.93). Jon Merten placed third in the shot put with a heave of 53-0.75. The Lady Cardinals 4x800 relay team of Soto-Stopak, Autumn Simons, Lauren Pugh and Samantha Weeder finished seventh with a time of 10:24.6. Also competing for the Cardinals were Dalton Rasmussen in the shot (46-4.5), Wyatt Nissen in the 100 (11.47) and 200 (23.86), Ryan Kramer in the 300 hurdles (42.92) and Lauren Hedlund in the 100 (13.26) and 200 (27.61)  The crazy and hectic spring season has struck again as the NSAA announced today that the Wednesday's district track and field meets have been postponed.
Due to the forecasted weather across Nebraska for Wednesday, all Class A and Class D District track meets have been rescheduled for Friday, May 10th. There is no change to the Class B and Class C District Meets on Thursday.  Several area gridiron seniors were selected to play in the Sertoma 8-man all-star game June 15 at 6 p.m. at Hastings College.
Elkhorn Valley’s Josh McFarland and Neligh-Oakdale’s Austin Rice each earned spots on the East squad. Clearwater/Orchard seniors Chris Kester and Jacob Long will play for the West team, led by head Jeff Shabram. For Knox County, Wausa’s Ghatlin Hegge and Bloomfield’s Mitchell Mackeprang will suit up for the East team. Riverside senior Ty Martinsen was tabbed to play for the West squad, while West Holt coach Steve Neptune will serve as an assistant on the team. EAST: Edwen Baptista, Exeter-Milligan/Friend; Drew Bippes, Falls City Sacred Heart; Noah Boersen, Nebraska Christian; John Christensen, BDS; Koby Dillon, Palmyra; Braden Freudenburg, Humphrey St. Francis; Lane Hegemann, Howells-Dodge; Ghatlin Hegge, Wausa; Lane Heikkinen, Lawrence-Nelson; Anthony Heiman, Osmond; Grant Hollinger, Cross County; Michael Jensen, Winside; Jacob Kneifl, Emerson-Hubbard; Ethan Koch, Hartington-Newcastle; James Lesiak, Fullerton; Mitchell Mackeprang, Bloomfield; Josh McFarland, Elkhorn Valley; Austin Rice, Neligh-Oakdale; Jacob Schoenholz, BDS; Jake Sharp, Lawrence-Nelson; Kyle Smith, Allen; Jake Twogood, Nebraska Christian; Jarrett Weidner, Humphrey St. Francis; Connor Wilcox, Luth. High Northeast. COACHES: Head--Ryan Haughton, Fullerton; Asst--Carl Ostrand, Ne. Christian; Asst--Corey Uldrich, Hartington-Newcastle; Asst--Eric Frenzen, Fullerton. WEST: Gentry Anderson, Arapahoe; Bennet Floyd, Sutherland; Schuyler Brown, Overton; Alex Chapa, Ravenna; Ryan Denkert, Kenesaw; Caid Doetker, Wauneta-Palisade; Lane Edis, Mullen; Gage Haake, Sandhills-Thedford; Dayne Hinrichs, Giltner; Jordan Holen, Bertrand; Jarred Ivey, Amherst; Tanner Kauk, Alma; Chris Kester, Clearwater-Orchard; Jacob Long, Clearwater-Orchard; Ty Martinsen, Riverside; Colton Munger, North Central; Cade Payne, Hemingford; Riley Racicky, Pleasanton; Gavin Robertson, South Loup; Chad Samuelson, Palmer; Zac Sweet, Mullen; Josh Urbanovsky, Burwell; Issaac Wahls, Loomis; Austin Wolfe, Medicine Valley. COACHES: Head--Jeff Shabram, Clearwater-Orchard; Asst--Steve Neptune, West Holt; Asst--Scott Jorgensen-Paxton; Asst--Mark Dethlefs, Bertrand.  Five Boone County football players have been selected for the 7th Annual Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic in Norfolk this summer.
Area selections are Weston Choat, Brenden Beierman, Will Frey and Jon Merten of Boone Central and Ty Martinsen of Riverside. The rosters were announced Wednesday by Mike Sunderman, president of the event’s board of directors. “We are proud of the coaching staffs we have chosen for this game and are excited about the players the coaches have selected for their teams," Sunderman said. "This is a great event for Northeast Nebraska and for the sport of football.” The football game will be played on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Veteran’s Memorial Field in Norfolk. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. "I am really looking forward to coaching some of the best football players, not only in Northeast Nebraska, but in the entire state," Tom Allen, head coach of the Red NEN All-Star team, said. "We have put together a tremendous roster and the coaches and I are really looking forward to putting this talent together and playing a competitive game this summer." Allen, head coach at Crofton, will be assisted by Mike Hassler, head coach at Wakefield, Adam James, head coach at Winnebago, Zac Kliment, head coach at Creighton, Johnnie Ostermeyer, assistant coach at Crofton, and Corey Uldrich, head coach at Hartington-Newcastle. “We are very excited about the kids we were able to put together," Ron Beacom, head coach of the White NEN All-Star team, said. "We have a lot of very talented football players that can run and like to hit. We have a good complement of size and strength up front as well as some very athletic skill kids. It should allow us to be very diverse offensively and make us able to be very sound and quick to the ball defensively.” Beacom, Neligh-Oakdale's head coach, will be assisted by AJ Burki, head coach at Wisner-Pilger, Brendan Dittmer, head coach at Elkhorn Valley, Scott Morrison, head coach at Osmond, Dave Ridder, head coach at Guardian Angels Central Catholic, and Blake Wockenfuss, assistant coach at Norfolk High School. This year’s football officials, including position and hometown are Rich Rethwisch, referee (Wayne), Mark Reinke, umpire (Lincoln), Taylor Wyatt, head linesman (Lincoln), Lyle Ziems, line judge (Lincoln), and Joe Reinke, back judge (Lincoln). White Team Blake Anderson, West Point-Beemer Brenden Beierman, Boone Central Austin Bruzek, Norfolk High Weston Choat, Boone Central Connor Clayton, Norfolk High Conner Cowling, Norfolk High Spencer Davis, O'Neill Braden Freudenburg, Humphrey St. Francis Will Frey, Boone Central Justyn Hale, Oakland-Craig Tyson Harney, Oakland-Craig AJ Hawthorne, Battle Creek Anthony Heiman, Osmond Ty Heimes, Battle Creek Dylan Horejsi, Howells-Dodge Brady Hull, Logan View Jake Lingenfelter, Plainview Jacob Long, Clearwater-Orchard Ty Martinsen, Riverside Austin Marx, Battle Creek Robby Mayberry, Oakland-Craig Josh McFarland, Elkhorn Valley Jefferson McNeill, Oakland-Craig Jon Merten, Boone Central Jared Minnick, Guardian Angels Central Catholic Tommie Peed, Clearwater-Orchard Hunter Reestman, Elgin Public Pope John Nick Reikofski, Osmond Austin Rice, Neligh-Oakdale Nick Ronnfeldt, Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur Nick Sazama, Norfolk High Jadyn Smeal, Guardian Angels Central Catholic Clay Thiele, Clearwater-Orchard Seth Totten, Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur Ben Vander Griend, West Point-Beemer Jarrett Weidner, Humphrey St. Francis Red Team Romello Porter, Walthill Brad Tomasek, Crofton Evan Anderson, Ponca Grady Semin, St. Mary's Noah Scott, Randolph Esgar Godinez, Wakefield Matthew Becker, Cedar Catholic Landon Wieseler, Wynot Devan Roth, Pierce Izac Reifenrath, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Turner Korth, Hartington-Newcastle Juan Vergara, Wayne Gage McGill, Ponca Marcus Fertig, Wayne Jaydon Jump, Pender Ryder Fuchs, Pierce Kyle Smith, Allen Ghatlin Hegge, Wausa Marcus Echtenkamp, Lutheran High Northeast Brad Hartnett, South Sioux City John Klemmensen, South Sioux City Connor Wilcox, Lutheran High Northeast Luis Quezada, South Sioux City Michael Logue, Ponca Josh Pinkelman, Cedar Catholic Mitchell Mackeprang, Bloomfield Travis Tyler, Creighton Jakob Meier, Pierce Juan Popoca, South Sioux City Kaleb Anderson, Pierce Drew Buck, Wayne Kaden Kneifl, Wayne Cameron Tyler, Creighton Cole Richards, Ponca Jalen Robinson, Norfolk Catholic Jacob Kneifl, Emerson-Hubbard  The Chargers went to battle in the Class D2 state semifinal, but came up just short at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday night. Third-seeded Osmond topped Riverside, 62-50, handing them their first loss of the season. The #2 Chargers will now play for third place against top-seeded Falls City Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Lincoln Southeast. Coach Joe Imus said although his players may feel disappointed to be playing in a third place game on Saturday, they have the opportunity to end their season on a high note. “We get to play against Fall City Sacred Heart who we played in the state championship last year, and ending the season beating them would be a good accomplishment,” Imus said After the semifinal game, the coach said he told his team that they should be proud of their 23-1 record. “And anytime you end your season in Lincoln, it’s always a great thing,” Imus said. “A lot of people don’t ever get the opportunity to be down here and we’ve been spoiled to be down here all the time. Hopefully, it sinks in to them when they’re older, how great of an accomplishment it is.” Tredyn Prososki paced the Chargers with 28 points against Osmond, followed by Joseph Bloom with 10, Michael Bernt 6, Ty Martinsen 3, Keaton Carraher 2 and Trey Carraher 1.  In a dominating second-half performance, Riverside cruised to a 67-48 victory over Exeter-Milligan to advance in the Class D2 State Tournament in Lincoln on Thursday night. The #2 seed, they will play #3 Osmond in the semifinal matchup at 8:45 p.m. Friday in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. After the Chargers opened up the game with a 4-0 lead, the Timberwolves clawed their way back into the contest and took a 15-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Withstanding several runs by E-M and putting together a 23-point second quarter, Riverside regained the lead at halftime, 35-30. After a sluggish start, Coach Joe Imus said he was proud of his team’s perseverance. “That’s what we talked about at halftime,” Imus said. “We didn’t feel like we played our best going in, but we felt like Exeter was playing really well and we were able to put together a better second half that we are capable of.” In the second half, the Chargers outscored the Timberwolves 31-18 to win their first-round state tournament game and improve to 23-0 on the season. Junior Tredyn Prososki led Riverside with 32 points, including five 3-pointers. “Coach said if you find some space, pull it, so that’s what I did,” Prososki said. Coach Imus said Prososki has been starting since he was a freshman, so was comfortable playing in his seventh state tournament game. “Another thing that we talked about at the half is that the lights are kind of too bright for a couple of our guys, but the lights are never bright enough for him,” he said. The coach said E-M’s defensive game plan was to collapse on 6-7 post player Joseph Bloom. However, he said Bloom made a huge impact on defense, blocking seven shots in the contest. “He gave us so much on defense and rebounding and even shots he didn’t block, he contested them,” Coach Imus said. Bloom added 10 points for Riverside and Michael Bernt drained 13. Rounding out the scoring for the Chargers were Trey Carraher and Ty Martinsen 4 apiece and Trent Carraher 3.  The Riverside boys basketball team is Lincoln-bound for their fifth consecutive state appearance after defeating Wallace, 65-38, Monday night to win the Class D2-3 district championship at Minden.
 Boone Central/Newman Grove senior Jon Merten capped his impressive career with a runner-up finish at 220 pounds at the Class C state wrestling tournament Saturday. Facing Arlington’s Remington Gay, Merten scored the opening takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. Gay answered six unanswered points to end the match. Trailing 4-2 late in the match, the senior Cardinal took a desperation shot, but Gay sprawled away from Merten and spun behind for the takedown. Merten finishes the year 41-4 with a second-place finish.  Boone Central senior Ethan Dozler claimed hardware on Saturday at the state wrestling tournament. Dozler faced Brady Hull of Logan View in the 160-pound third-place match and dropped a 4-3 decision. |
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