12 minute read
t h o f her arms wh en sh e was
MaddieAdam
The 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.
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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 teams. “I like both Creighton and Nebraska because they both represent the state well and I know people who go to both schools. They specialize in their own sports and are good in their own ways, so I really can’t decide,” Konecky said.
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 Nebraska so they like to cheer on our home team. My dad also likes doing Husker-themed Christmas lights because lots of buses and Holly the Trolley comes by every year,” Curtis said.
Junior Mia Wilson values the importance of supporting your favorite Graphic by team. “I am a big Creighton fan because MaddieAdam my dad went to school there. We love supporting them and watching the volleyball and basketball games on TV.”
Nebraskans have always been known to value their collegiate sports programs. Usually this passion is driven by what university peoples’ family members have attended in the past or by what school the younger generations hope to attend. No matter what a person’s personal preference is, most will show support when any of the teams succeed (except, of course, when it’s an intrastate rivaly game).
5.3% University of Nebraska - Omaha 37.9% Creighton University
47.6% University of Nebraska - Lincoln
9.2% Other Family fan support
206 Marian students surveyed by Network, September 2021
Fast freshmen help lead the cross country team to strong finishes
FionaGautschi
In most high school sports, it is usually the upperclassmen who carry the team. In cross country, the freshmen are often just as good or better than others who might have more experience with the sport. This is often because freshmen girls are usually smaller, which can be to their advantage while running.
Five freshmen are currently running in group A with the varsity team and top JV. “Being in group A as a freshman is such a big achievement. I am very proud and honored to be running with such amazing runners,” freshman Margaret Lampert said.
“The Class of the Metro” cross country meet held at Walnut Creek on Aug. 28 is the only meet Marian participates in where it is divided by classes. The freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors all race at separate times, and the scores are added up at the end to determine the winner. The freshmen placed first, the sophomores third, the juniors third, and the seniors placed seventh. The freshmen’s first place victory helped the team finish in third place out of all 15 schools who attended. 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 get first place at our grade level. It is totally a team sport, and we couldn’t have done it without every one of the freshmen who ran,” freshman Nora Coffey said.
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
For 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 Canton, 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.
Meet a few of the fall sport athletes
KathrynStec
Fall sports are in full swing! Be sure to come to the games to support the Crusader athletes and get BOSS (Building Our School Spirit) points. At the bottom of the page is an October calendar so you don’t miss any games. Don't forget to bring your punch card!
CHEER
Meet senior Annie Ellerbeck! Ellerbeck has been on the cheer team for three years and is varsity captain this year. This upcoming season, she is excited to cheer with a full squad and involve the student section in cheering on Marian’s athletes.
Ellerbeck knows that the cheer team loves it when lots of students come to games, because it makes the games better for the players and cheerleaders, especially when they get involved in our cheers.
For Ellerbeck, the best thing about cheer is her teammates, “We are all super close and it makes 6 a.m. practice much more enjoyable.” Although Ellerbeck is sad this is her last season, it’s exciting for her to be with the team she loves.
SOFTBALL
Introducing sophomore Megan Tyrcha! Tyrcha has been playing softball since she was 5 and has been on the Marian softball team for two years. She said she is very excited to hopefully go to state with her team this year.
Tyrcha loves being super close with her teammates and is happy that softball gives her the opportunity to be more involved at Marian.
She says the season is off to a great start with their win against Central on Aug. 24: which was Coach Chad Perkins’ 100th win. The culture of the sport and her relationship with the girls on the team is Tyrcha’s favorite thing about playing softball. Outside of Marian, she plays competitive softball for Nebraska Quakes and keeps up her love for the sport.
This is junior Brielle Abboud! Abboud has been playing golf since she was young, but has played competitively for three years. She said she is most excited to improve from last season, individually and as a team, as well as placing better at state. The team has started the season strong by placing first in their second tournament.
“My favorite thing about the team,” Abboud says, “is how close you get with the whole team because we spend so much time together.” Along with golfing at Marian, she participates in individual golf tournaments through Nebraska Junior Golf and Nebraska Golf Association. The biggest challenge she faces is the time commitment and having to balance school and golf, but for Abboud, it’s worth it.
Here is freshman Melody Mayer! Mayer has been playing club volleyball at Elite for four years, but has been playing since she was little. This season, Mayer said she is most excited to be closer with her team and to hopefully go to state. She absolutely loves to be on a team because it gives the opportunity to make connections with a bunch of girls, and to see what they can achieve together in the end.
Her shin splints have made playing tough at times, but she says, “I always try to push through and deal with it because they don’t go away.” Mayer’s favorite thing about playing varsity volleyball as a freshman is the challenge of games, practices, and overcoming all the obstacles as a team to come out with a victory in the end.
Presenting freshman Lucy Gerraughty! Gerraughty has been running with her dad in road races since she was in sixth grade. She said she is most excited for running on all the different courses and team dinners.
Gerraughty loves that her team puts in 100% effort at practice, and “includes and encourages everyone no matter what year they are at Marian.” Her favorite thing about the team is going on free runs with them conversing they have while they are running. Outside of the Marian season, Gerraughty runs through her neighborhood and continues to do road races. She truly loves being on the Marian cross country team and says, “I am just so thankful to be part of such an encouraging team, we really are like one big family.”
GOLF VOLLEYBALL CROSS COUNTRY
Senior Annie Ellerbeck Sophomore Megan Tyrcha Junior Brielle Abboud Freshman Melody Mayer Freshman Lucy Gerraughty
OCTOBER
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
4:30pm XC meet 4pm Volleyball 9am Golf 9am Volleyball
10am Father/ Daughter Mass & Breakfast Golf Districts 5pm Varsity softball
10
17
State Golf 4:30-5:30pm Volleyball
No School Volleyball Metros
2pm Musical
25
Golf Districts 4:30-6:30pm Volleyball
State Golf 4:30-6:30pm Volleyball
Volleyball Metros
Volleyball Districts
HALLOWEEN
1 2
Softball Districts XC Metros Softball Districts 6pm Volleyball 4pm Reserve Volleyball 8am Freshman Volleyball
State Softball Early Dismissal XC Districts State Softball State Softball TBD Varsity Volleyball 9am Varsity Volleyball
Volleyball Metros 7pm Musical
3 4
State XC 7pm Musical 7pm Musical
30
Gnimocemoh Scary Movie Day
5 6
State Volleyball State Volleyball
, Erin Connelly , Lucy Drexel, Haley Hoffman & Sydney Witkowski Photos courtesy of Maddie Auman
