Photo by Brooke Simmons The 2023-24 Gordon-Rushville Cheerleading team competed at the State Championships in Grand Island, Neb. on Friday and Saturday, February 16 & 17. The team finished in seventh place in Class C1 Game Day division. 24 teams competed with the Mustangs at the competition. The picture includes the student-athletes and coaches. Front row: (L-R) Faith Janssen, Amara Funk, Reese Simonson, and Taylor Gieselman. Back row: (L-R) Coach Tory Dehning, Marlee Keracik, Ashlyn Dehning, Coach Russchelle Dehning, Claire Wellnitz, Audrey Swiggum, and Rowan Simonson.

This year at Gordon Rushville there has been a rise in the interest of girls sports. That includes cross country, wrestling, basketball and volleyball. The Gordon-Rushville varsity volleyball team consisted of 4 seniors this year, McKinley Grover, Haley Johnson, Skye Tausan and Trinity Taylor. Other varsity players were juniors Emma Martins, Braylynne McKimmey and Rylie Shultz. Sophomores were Addison Slama, Rowan Simonson, Mckaley Grover, Taileigh Starr, Kylie Goings, Makenna Feddersen and Reese Simonson.

Mike Trader’s Annual Mid-America Basketball Camp will conduct eight individual sessions this summer. The overnight and commuter camps for boys and girls will be held June 30 - July 3 at Central Community College (Platte Campus) in Columbus and July 8-11 at Doane University.

By Rylie Shultz, GRHS Journalism Student Haley Johnson, our small town basketball star who is averaging 16.1 pts, 4 assists, and 3.6 steals per game. Haley has decided to pursue her next step in her basketball career by attending Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, South Dakota next fall.

The Hay Springs Hawks Girls Basketball team took to their home floor for the opening round of the Class D2-12 Sub-District on Tuesday, February 13. Their opponent would be the Hyannis Longhorns.

A pair of games were on tap for the Hay Springs Hawks Boys Basketball team this week leading up to the beginning of their postseason. Mother Nature threw a curve ball though and canceled their home contest against Potter-Dix on Friday, February 16.

Northwest Community Action Partnership’s (NCAP) Extra Helpings Food Pantry has received a generous donation from MEDICA. This donation will fill an urgently needed gap in our food pantry services as demand increases. NCAP’s Community Services Department would like to personally thank MEDICA for their continued support and contribution. This substantial gift will enable NCAP to provide high quality food and other food pantry needs to low income residents within our community.

Photo by Michael Ziller The Gordon-Rushville Middle School Boys Basketball team finished up their 2024 season with a win at their tournament this past Saturday, February 10. The team finished their season with a 4-6 overall record. Included in the photo are: Front row: (L-R) Morgan O’Donnell, Duke Ashley, Khai Janssen, Liam Keracik, Santos Chich, Robert Moore, and Riley Lefler. Back row: (L-R) Coach Riley Hall, Joey Ziller, Titan Brunsch, Braylon Holston, Joel Montanez-Rodriguez, Easton Johnson, Ian Mills, and Coach Keith Mills.

By Scott Bidroski The final regular season game of the season for the Gordon-Rushville Boys Basketball team was canceled this past week due to weather. The team will now turn their attention to postseason play as they enter the Class C2-12 Sub-District as the #4 seed.

By Blake Peterson Editors note: Once again in 2024, the outstanding Blake Peterson attended the State Wrestling Tournament and provided his excellent recap of all the action for the Sheridan County Wrestlers.