On-target throws were made and records fell this past week in Washington County.
As a result, the latest Nannen Physical Therapy Athletes of the Week are Tacey Belina, Brooke Janning and Owen Ladehoff.
Tacey Belina, Fort Calhoun softball: I broke one of my unwritten rules with this pick. I don’t, generally, like picking Athletes of the Week who’ve already done the interview. Too many kids do too many good things for repeats, but this sophomore Pioneer’s stat lines are too absurd to ignore. During FCHS’ Nebraska Capitol Conference Tournament title run alone Saturday, Belina had four hits, seven RBIs, two homers and 22 strikeouts from the pitching circle. If you add in the week’s regular season games, she had seven, nine, two and 44. Altogether, the Pioneer is batting .516 with 32 hits, a new school-record 40 RBIs and 10 homers. She has 85 Ks. I had to break my rule. Had to. Special mention goes to Kaylee Taylor, Addie Benoit and Allison Prunty for big homers this past week as well as Adam Elofson who completed three touchdown passes. Shoutout to Seth Waters, too, who led the cross-country team to a home win.
Brooke Janning, Blair softball: This Bear is another softball player not slowing down at all this season. The senior hit a strikeout milestone Saturday in Lincoln, producing her 213th of the 2024 campaign to break the school record from 43 feet previously held by Carly Nielsen. By the end of a 3-0 day against Lincoln North Star, Kearney and Lincoln Pius X, Janning has 226 Ks this year to go with her .521 batting average, 22 RBIs and three homers. Those batting numbers would probably be better, too, if she wasn’t getting intentionally walked so often. Special mention goes Mackenzie Storjohann for shooting a career-best 95 on the golf course as well, and Emma Ammon for a strong performance at the net against Omaha Roncalli in a BHS volleyball victory.
Owen Ladehoff, Arlington football: The Eagles fell short Thursday against David City Aquinas, but this quarterback played a tough game. He scored on a stuffy 3-yard sneak just before halftime, but it was his efforts on the drive that caught my eye. He completed an on-target throw to Dallin Franzluebbers to pick up big yards, but also produced a third-down conversion on a smart scramble to keep the possession alive. Ladehoff set up the Eagles’ first score, too, slinging a pass deep downfield, between defenders, to Trent Koger for a big gain, setting up Killian McIntosh’s TD run. Special mention goes to McIntosh, the usual cross-country runners — race-winners Hailey O’Daniel and Kolby Tighe — as well as Britt Nielsen for her 3-run homer at the NCC Tournament.
As always, thanks for reading. Tell a Washington County athlete congratulations this week, but also buy a newspaper to ensure I can keep making car payments. Please!
