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I'm not good at writing columns, nor am I good at goodbyes, so this piece is off to a dubious start.
But let's give it a try.
After a 16½-year thrill ride, my time at the Lincoln Journal Star is coming to a close. Tuesday is it. Last shot. Match point. Final inning (unless it's an 11 p.m. Big Ten tourney game).
The next game for me is in Omaha where I'll be the digital content coordinator at The Durham Museum. I'm super-excited about a new chapter and a fresh challenge, and I can't wait to get started.
It's bittersweet. It means leaving a place and profession that have shaped my life — and my vending machine selection habits in the office — in a way that I never thought possible.
My first day at the Journal Star was Halloween in 2005, but the truth is, my connection to the paper goes back to childhood. As a kid, our family made one stop after church every Sunday. That was to pick up a very thick Journal Star and a dozen doughnuts (Shoutout to Casey's on West Court Street in B-town). I couldn't wait to get home to dive into the paper with a cool-looking masthead. I began with the Sports section, of course. First dibs on the Comics, too.
By high school, I was all in. I wanted to work in newspapers. But never in my wildest thoughts did I think I'd ever develop the chops to work for the awe-inspiring Journal Star. I mean, I thought I had a better shot at unseating Dan Rather.
Needless to say, when I got the opportunity to join the Journal Star as a page designer/copy editor 16 Octobers ago, it was a pinch-yourself moment. The Journal Star is going to pay me money to edit stories by Steven Sipple and Ken Hambleton, play with Photoshop and come up with some off-the-wall illustrations for our Husker Extra Saturday covers? Sign me up! Quick, before they change their minds!
The jobs — eventually assistant sports editor, then art director and later sports editor — were great and an honor to hold. The people along the way were better.
I couldn't have asked for better bosses than John Mabry and Todd Henrichs. Sipple is so meticulous in how he crafts a story or column (and is just a great dude), Ryly Jane Hambleton and Ron Powell cared so deeply about high school sports, and Brian Christopherson is so talented as a writer, he could spin a must-read about a fence post if he wanted to. I learned so much from them, and honestly, I was trying to keep up so I didn't make us look bad. Working alongside such talents as Brent Wagner, Patrick Smith, Matt Schubert, Clint Robus, Chris Basnett, Parker Gabriel, Luke Mullin (a star in the making), Nate Head, and many, many others made coming to work every day not feel like work.
But here's what was really cool. It went beyond the walls of the Journal Star.
When Dave Bundy offered me the opportunity to run the Sports department (what was he thinking, right?) in 2014, it opened the door to do more writing, rekindling the desire that got me wanting to work in the business in the first place. Getting out of the office provided a closer seat to what makes this a special place.
To this day, it still amazes me the passion Nebraskans have for their teams, and we're not just talking about your beloved Huskers. You'll be hard-pressed to find many states that embrace high school sports like Nebraska. Coaches, parents, teachers, students, bus drivers, the bank on the corner in a one-stoplight town ... they all love their preps. Add what the NSAA does for the kids, and what the talented media members who cover from Omaha to Scottsbluff offer, it makes for a very unique place to enjoy the show.
The purity, energy and emotions of a state basketball game, the sound of a softball snapping into a glove at Doris Bair Complex on a 70-degree evening, the blaring of car horns after a touchdown in Brainard (or in any eight-man football town, for the matter), counting combines on one's way to cover a state playoff game, the legendary coaches, the dynasties, the upsets, the underdogs ... covering state golf on May 25 in a coat!
To be a small, small part of that was something I enjoyed greatly.
There's not a better feeling than being able to tell people's stories, and there are so many to tell.
For example, Jake Gillogy has a great story. After winning a Class A state championship in the 200-meter dash at the recent state track and field meet, you could see the win meant a little extra to the Creighton Prep junior, who won by .04 seconds.
Gillogy said a year ago he would have never imagined such an accomplishment. I asked why. Gillogy said he never ran sprints, only the 300 hurdles. How did he get so fast so, well, fast? Running at some upscale training facility? No. Racing in the hallways at Creighton Prep.
To the Gillogys of the world, thanks for sharing your stories, and keep them coming.
And thanks to all — the co-workers, peers, coaches, ADs, athletes and stat guys (We can't do this without you, stat guy!) — for adding some memorable paragraphs to a story of a Beatrice kid, a kid who once saw the Journal Star as bigger than life, only to see it offer a slice of life that was rewarding, humbling and unforgettable.
The resume: Carpenter (center, No. 3) led Class A with 23 goals, and already ranks second in program history for career goals. She’s committed to play soccer at Nebraska.
The opponent’s view: “I consider her a silent assassin with her skill set and her ability to create something out of nothing. Not only is she a natural goal scorer with both feet, but her touch is remarkable, her work rate is elite, and she understands her ability to create opportunities for her teammates with her movement.” — Columbus coach Zack Wayman.
The resume: De Fini (right) scored 12 goals and had 12 assists while helping Gretna win the Class A state championship. During her three seasons at Gretna, the team had a 56-5 record with two state championships. She’ll play in college at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
The opponent’s view: “She is a player where you consistently have to know where she is at all times. Savannah can find the back of the net at any moment of the game, which makes her a game-changer.” — Millard North coach James Abueg.
The resume: During her first season as a starter, Marshall (right) had 15 goals and six assists. That included three goals during the state tournament. She was key in Gretna outscoring its opponents 118-6 this season. She's been invited to train with the youth national team.
The opponent’s view: “She has the pace, technique, size, and motor to be one of the better forwards to come out of Nebraska. She simply takes over games and elevates the level of her teammates. With two years to play, she could leave her mark as one of the best ever.” — Lincoln Southwest coach Thomas Nettleton.
The resume: Brezenski (right) led the state with 38 goals (the Class B record for one season is 54). She also had 16 assists, many going to her sister, Libbie, and she tied the school record for goals in a match with five. She’s the first freshman to make first-team Super-State since 2016 (Elkhorn’s Skylar Heinrich).
The opponent’s view: “Emma is a special talent who showed a maturity level well beyond her years as a first-year high school player. She is a player who scores goals and dominates a game or takes on the role of playmaker helping her teammates be better. Emma is an exceptional player who will be exciting to watch develop.” — Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central coach Dave Gosselin.
The resume: Makovicka (2) was the do-it-all midfielder for the state champions, with her scoring and passing abilities key to the Dragons’ success. With Makovicka, Gretna was always a threat to score on free and corner kicks. She had 12 goals and three assists. She's known for winning one-on-one battles for loose balls in the midfield.
The opponent’s view: “Ava is a player who represents why I so admire midfielders. Ava is the perfect combination of strength, speed, skill, and grit who shows both a willingness to defend as much as she shows a willingness to attack.” — Millard West coach Jacque Tevis-Butler.
The resume: Tate (left) tied for the team lead with 10 goals, with many coming during the biggest moments of the season. She’s signed to play soccer for Denver.
The opponent’s view: “Hannah demonstrates all of the attributes of an excellent midfielder. She is calm, clinical on the ball, and has a great vision for the game. She was a joy to watch.” — Gretna coach Chace Hutchison.
The resume: Fredericks (left) was a key reason why Elkhorn South got to the state tournament, and then took No. 1-ranked Gretna to overtime in the first round. She often drew the task of defending some of the top forwards in the state while playing in the Metro Conference, and she usually did a good job of shutting them down.
The opponent’s view: “I think what makes Delaney Fredericks such a special player is her ability to stay cool, calm, and composed. Watching Elkhorn South play several times this year, even when things looked promising for the opponent, Delaney would inevitably make the right play at the right time. She reads the game at an extremely high level. On the rare occasion that Delaney makes a mistake, her speed and athleticism put her right back in a positive position.” — Papillion-La Vista coach Zach Walsh.
The resume: Gonzalez was a four-year starter and a key part in Marian reaching the state semifinals this season.
The opponent’s view: “Avi is a smart player who reads the game very well to break down opponents’ weakness. As a great defender, a player needs to be able to communicate well with their team, which she does very well.” — Omaha Central coach Jose Vargas.
The resume: Kohler (right) had 10 goals and 13 assists this season — each remarkable numbers for a defender. Norris is known for scoring goals on free and corner kicks, and Kohler is a big part of that. Before last season Norris had never won a match at the state tournament. But now with Kohler on the team, the Titans have been the Class B state runner-up the past two seasons.
The opponent’s view: “Grace is a physical and strong defender who is a danger to score from anywhere within 35 yards of the goal. She is a game-changing player who has a high soccer IQ that you rarely see playing in the back.” — Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central coach Dave Gosselin.
The resume: Hogg was outstanding during the state tournament — including during a shootout win against Omaha Marian in the semifinals — while helping Southeast finish as state runner-up. During one stretch of the season, Hogg had a stretch of 731 minutes without conceding a goal. She only gave up nine goals during the regular season.
The opponent’s view: "Samaya is a keeper that can make all kinds of saves and has the skill set to be very difficult to beat. Whether it be saves with her feet, punches, dives or coming out bravely in breakaway scenarios she had them all on display in our game at state. I undoubtedly believe few players in the state meant more to a team than Samaya did to Lincoln Southeast." — Omaha Westside coach Chris Dunford.
The resume: Prososki is known for her wicked left-foot shot and being able to get off a shot quickly. She tied for the team lead this season with 10 goals. She'll join the Nebraska soccer team this summer.
The opponent’s view: “Emma has a strong knowledge of the game and was a huge threat for the Crusaders. She scored two goals within five minutes to give Marian the 2-1 win over us during the regular season.” — Elkhorn South coach Lindsay Aliano.
The resume: Perkins (front) was the top goal scorer in Class A with 25 goals, while also adding 10 assists. He made a huge jump this season after scoring three goals last season, and excels at putting himself in the best areas on the field to have a chance to put in a goal.
The opponent’s view: “As a sophomore, Maguire Perkins is already proving to be one of the most dangerous players in Class A. He is extremely technical with the ball at his feet, and is able to create space for himself, but he also works tirelessly making runs to open up space for his teammates.” — Papillion-La Vista South coach Dave Lawrence.
The resume: Santamaria (left) scored 15 goals, which is a school record for goals in one season. He’s got a rocket of a shot that is extremely accurate. But he also helped set up a lot of scores, leading Class A with 14 assists (also a school record).
The opponent’s view: “When watching Andre play in person or on film, the word that comes to mind is relentless. The passion and energy he brought to the field for Papio South was as good as anyone we saw all year. That mentality, combined with his athleticism and technical skill, made him a force this year.” — Kearney coach Scott Steinbrook.
The resume: Stuckenholtz (left) scored 20 goals this season, including five during the state tournament. He’s really good at working himself into one-on-one situations with the defense, and when that happens he can dominate with his speed.
The opponent’s view: “He’s a gifted athlete with fantastic technical ability, which is a combination that makes it very hard to play against, as he reminded us this season. A real live wire who would terrify any back line across the state. His movement is great, he can dribble, pass and shoot.” — Bellevue West coach Alan Carr.
The resume: Coach Joe Maass says Cisneros is probably the best player in program history, and that’s really saying something at South. He started right away as a freshman, was on two state championship teams, and earned first-team Super-State honors twice. This season he had 14 goals and seven assists.
The opponent’s view: “Edwin is the type of kid that when he gets the ball with a little space, you hold your breath as a coach. He is just so explosive and clever. He's truly a great player.” — Millard North coach Sandro DeAngelis.
The resume: He was the playmaker for the state champion SkyHawks, including making the game-winning goal in the championship match on a penalty kick with eight minutes remaining. He had 12 goals and 14 assists. He also won a state championship in speech in the informative speaking category.
The opponent’s view: “Sam's ability to accelerate with the ball at his feet and finish the way he does is impressive. Our goal was to try and stop Sam because he can do so many things in the midfield. It was a tough task because he is so talented.” — Elkhorn North coach Fred Doscher.
The resume: He was known for a great shot that led to some remarkable goals. He played a big part in Omaha Bryan making it to the state tournament for the first time since 2015, including two goals in a 3-2 win against Lincoln Southeast in the district championship. His 14 goals and three assists helped Bryan set a school record for goals in a season with 61.
The opponent’s view: “Cesar was one of the most prolific midfielders in this 2022 campaign. His shot was deadly from anywhere in the final third, as was evident on the most prestigious stage at Morrison Stadium in the state tournament. Cesar is quick and makes very intelligent decisions. — Omaha Burke coach Nick Bratt.
The resume: Perkins (14) the key player for a Gretna team that won the state championship, including a dominating 8-0 win in the championship match. He had 14 goals and 14 assists. He probably could have had more goals, but there were games his assignment was more focused on defense. At the state tournament, he scored two goals on free kicks.
The opponent’s view: “Brett is a big-moment player and showcased this in our semifinal matchup in the state tournament. The score is 2-1, we had momentum and Gretna is awarded a free kick. Up steps Brett to hit a worldly free kick top corner, and the momentum is back to Gretna. Top players always find a way in big moments.” — Lincoln East coach Colin Smitsek.
The resume: He was the center of the defense for the state champion Dragons. He also had four goals and two assists.
The opponent’s view: "Carson was such a solid force in defense for the Dragons. He has the rare combination of intimidating size and physical strength, mixed with great technique. One of the things that stood out this year was his composure. I've always appreciated his ball-winning and physical play, but the game seemed to slow down for him and this definitely helped take his play to the next level." — Papillion-La Vista coach Andre Watts.
The resume: Hove's play on defense was a key part in the Junior Jays having a 16-3 record. When there was chaos near the goal, Hove seemed to be at his best in clearing out the ball.
The opponent’s view: “Jacob has great command of the backline. He reads the game well, is a great one-on-one defender, and was a big part of the success Prep had this season.” — Omaha Skutt coach Justin Zabawa.
The resume: Weaver (23) is a key reason why Millard South made state in the past two seasons. He’ll play in college at Hastings.
The opponent’s view: “Mac was one of the most tenacious defenders we faced this year. If you couldn't figure out how Millard South made a run to state, look no further than Mac. His size and versatility made it near impossible to penetrate the back line of the Patriots. Whether you tried to go through or over the top, Mac won everything. He is a great communicator and distributes very well out of the back as well. As a former goalkeeper, I would have loved to have Mac in front of me.” — Omaha Burke coach Nick Bratt.
The resume: He helped Gretna win the state championship, and was known for making saves in the biggest moments of matches. He had 11 shutouts in 22 matches.
The opponent’s view: “Not possessing an intimidating height for a goalkeeper, Alec had the innate ability to play above his height. He was brave in the air on both crosses from the flank and aerial balls played from the middle. In addition, he had the reflexes to deny anything from close range. Maybe just as important, his ability to distribute was elite. Alec began many attacks from his precise and quickly timed throws, whether it be to his outside backs, midfielders, or even high-pressing wingers.” — Omaha Burke coach Nick Bratt.
Reach Clark Grell at 402-473-2639 or cgrell@journalstar.com. On Twitter at @LJSSportsGrell.
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