Sports 12
September 2021
Creighton-Lincoln rivalry continues to divide Nebraskans
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teams. “I like both Creighton and Ne9.2% braska because they both represent the Other state well and I know people who go to both schools. They specialize in their 5.3% own sports and are good in their own University of ways, so I really can’t decide,” Konecky Nebraska said. Omaha Sophomore Charity Curtis’s family members are big Husker fans. “My family likes the Huskers because everyone grew up watching them, and we’re from 37.9% Nebraska so they like to cheer on our Creighton home team. My dad also likes doing University Husker-themed Christmas lights be47.6% cause lots of buses and Holly the Trolley University of comes by every year,” Curtis said. Nebraska 206 Marian Junior Mia Wilson values the imLincoln Graphic by students surveyed by portance of supporting your favorite MaddieAdam Network, September 2021 team. “I am a big Creighton fan because my dad went to school there. We love members have attended in the past or by what supporting them and watching the volleyball and school the younger generations hope to attend. No basketball games on TV.” matter what a person’s personal preference is, most Nebraskans have always been known to valwill show support when any of the teams succeed ue their collegiate sports programs. Usually this (except, of course, when it’s an intrastate rivaly passion is driven by what university peoples’ family game).
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MaddieAdam he longstanding rivalry between Creighton and Nebraska dates back to 1923, the first time the teams met to play basketball against each other. It continues today through annual basketball and volleyball games that fill the CHI Health Center and Pinnacle Bank Arena with devoted fans. Creighton alum, math teacher Mr. Peter Cunningham said, “I love how competitive all of Creighton’s teams are at the Division I level. They have a powerhouse volleyball team and basketball teams and are really good in all the other sports as well. Because they are so competitive, recognition is brought to the state of Nebraska, especially the city of Omaha.” UNL alum, English teacher Ms. Megan Piernicky said, “I love Nebraska athletics because it brings people together as a community. It’s not about football or basketball; it’s about how Nebraska sports bring the state together. It’s a cultural aspect. It’s not about the sport, it’s about the community the athletics form. Win or lose, I will cheer for the Huskers until I die. I am also pro-Creighton because I have a degree from there. I love college sports and living in Nebraska allows me to fulfill this passion.” Senior Sammy Konecky is torn between the
Fast freshmen help lead the cross country team to strong finishes
FionaGautschi “The Class of the Metro” cross country meet held n most high school sports, it is usually the upperat Walnut Creek on Aug. 28 is the only meet Marian classmen who carry the team. In cross country, participates in where it is divided the freshmen are often by classes. The freshmen, sophojust as good or better than others who might mores, juniors and seniors all race at separate times, and the scores have more experience are added up at the end to deterwith the sport. This is mine the winner. The freshmen often because freshmen placed first, the sophomores third, girls are usually smaller, which can be to their adthe juniors third, and the seniors placed seventh. The freshmen’s vantage while running. Five freshmen are first place victory helped the team finish in third place out of all 15 currently running in group A with the varsity schools who attended. team and top JV. “Being The XC team huddles before a race. Photo by “I am super proud of the freshErinConnelly men and all we did at the meet to in group A as a freshman get first place at our grade level. It is is such a big achievement. totally a team sport, and we couldn’t have done it I am very proud and honored to be running with such amazing runners,” freshman Margaret Lampert without every one of the freshmen who ran,” freshman Nora Coffey said. said.
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The freshmen on the team this year are hoping to make it to state and run their best possible race. “My favorite part about the season so far has been cheering on my teammates at the meets and meeting new friends that I wouldn’t have met without cross country,” freshman Lucy Ambrose said. Marian’s state champion runners over the years have often been freshmen. Emily Sisson ’06 ran a record breaking 17:56 5k as a freshman at state. Last year, freshman Stella Miner won state, finishing at 18:11. Freshmen being just as fast or faster as upperclassmen is not a new phenomena in the sport of cross country. Senior India Zier said, “I am definitely slower now than I was freshman year on cross country.” Although Zier has changed as an athlete since her freshman year, she still always works hard to improve. “My times have changed, but my mindset hasn’t,” Zier said. Zier provides a positive outlook for new freshmen on the team.
Bishop Sycamore ‘high school’ creates buzz over sports security
LivBirnstihl or decades, high school football has become not only an opportunity for athletic ability to shine through, but a spectacle that brings together communities all over the country. So, in the Aug. 29 game between IMG Academy and Bishop Sycamore in Canton, Ohio, it was just another opportunity for both teams to pack the stadium and highlight their skills. Except, Bishop Sycamore doesn’t even exist. It is already uncommon for a high school team to find themselves broadcasted on ESPN. Most high school football games get little to no coverage outside of the community they play for, so when Bishop Sycamore managed to make their way into a legitimate high school game with the leading sports academy in Florida, it led to fears over the security and verification process of high school games. Creighton Prep senior and captain of the football team, Jack Piernicky, commented on Bishop Sycamore. “It’s hard as most high schools don’t have much talent or D1 athletes. Those high schools that do [have those D1 athletes] recruit from all over the country. ESPN only wants to air things that’ll make them money. Those high schools that have the money and the elite players will pay to be aired because they believe those players will be on the NFL and give back some money to the high schools. Plus, the high schools do make some money for being on ESPN. That’s why Bishop Sycamore lied about being a high school team,” Piernicky said. The night started off fairly normal. The teams gathered together at Tom Benson Stadium in Can-
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ton, Ohio and kickoff went as usual. Not long before the first touchdown was scored by IMG Academy, questions arose about the authenticity of Bishop Sycamore High School. Suspicions only increased when a player fell in pain and ESPN announcer Anish Shroff mentioned that the player “wasn’t on the roster [they] were given.” The roster included a runningback from Baltimore, Maryland, a 28-year-old safety who played for Kansas State, and a wide receiver from Rancho Cucamonga, California. As the game progressed, live updates about the mystery of Bishop Sycamore rolled in. The final score of 58-0 in favor of IMG only further confused viewers. Yes, a score of 58-0 is strange, but the absurd steps that were taken up to this violent defeat are even more baffling. According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), “The physical location, practice facilities, and roster eligibility [of Bishop Sycamore] could not be verified.” Not only could the school itself not be verified, the names, ages, and locations of the “top prospect players” listed weren’t even present that day; most of their identities were completely fabricated or they lived in states on the other side of the country. The players that (surprisingly) actually existed were lured into playing for the team. Being guaranteed a Netflix documentary, the players arrived only to discover that there wasn’t just a lack of practice and training, but there was no Netflix crew.
When it comes down to the root of the scandal, “Coach” Roy Johnson is the one to blame. Not only did he follow through with coercing screen time for a fake football game and collecting all of his plays from the popular video game Madden 2020, but he also has a warrant out for his arrest including a fraud investigation and instances of domestic violence. Better yet, Johnson isn’t the only one dealing with arrest charges. The traveling team had such extensive criminal records that they weren’t allowed to travel by plane. Yes, the fact that this team played is very much comical, but once speculation began over the creation of the team during the game, Johnson was given the opportunity by officials to leave the game or speed up the clock; both of which he declined. It’s still up in the air as to whether the high school football verification process will be strengthened, but for now Bishop Sycamore High School will be remembered not because of their faulty defensive line, but because of the complete scam that is their existence.
Illustration by LivBirnstihl
