There’s an added theme this week.
All of our Nannen Physical Therapy Athletes of the Week will compete this coming Friday during the NSAA State Cross-Country Championships in Kearney. Roland Barondeau, Hailey O’Daniel and Raeann Massey are standout runners.
Roland Barondeau, Blair cross-country: This Bear became the first BHS boy to qualify for the state meet since 2022 when the team earned third. Lane Christensen also qualified this past Thursday in 15th at Walnut Grove Park in Omaha, but Barondeau finished one spot ahead of him, taking 14th in 18:13.7 across 5 kilometers. Special mention goes to Jade Wickwire, who led the Blair girls at the district meet, and Laynie Brown — a newfound home run slugger — as well as Brooke Janning and Blaise Baughman. Janning, a previous Athlete of the Week this school year, notched her 300th strikeout of the season at state softball, while Baughman scored two touchdowns for the BHS football team against Elkhorn. Volleyball players Taylor Mostek (216 kills) and Hailey Roewert (521 assists) continue to put up numbers this season, too.
Hailey O’Daniel, Arlington cross-country: The senior Eagle remained unbeaten this season during the district meet at Omaha Concordia, clocking in at 20:02.5. She contends for her fourth-straight state medal on Friday at Kearney Country Club. Special mention goes to her fellow district cross-country champion — Kolby Tighe — as well as football players Dallin Franzluebbers and Killian McIntosh, who combined for five touchdown runs against Tekamah-Herman. Volleyball player Macy Wolf had a good night against Logan View last Monday, too, as AHS picked up its seventh win of the season.
Raeann Massey, Fort Calhoun cross-country: The FCHS sophomore secured her second-straight state cross-country qualification, taking ninth in 22:36.33 at Concordia. After the race, Massey explained what she’s overcome this fall to make it this far — check out Tuesday’s Pilot-Tribune results — and, for that, she’s my Pioneer Athlete of the Week. Special mention has to go to Seth Waters, Merritt Olberding, Chris Post-Whiteowl and Will Dennis for their top-10 district finishes as well. On top of that, we also have to congratulate the entire Fort Calhoun softball team for its first-ever state softball tournament appearance and victories. The Pioneers got punched in the mouth during the opener — figuratively, not literally — and responded with an excellent 2-1 Thursday in Hastings. Congrats to the seniors for raising the bar.
As always, thanks for reading this mess of words I always construct through a Sunday fog in my brain. See you out there, you know, provided you’re out at a Washington County sporting event.
