Lexington's Jaxon Neff putts on hole 9 Thursday morning during the Dawson County triangular at Cozad Country Club.
Lexington's Jaxon Neff putts on hole 9 Thursday morning during the Dawson County triangular at Cozad Country Club.
Cozad's Daygn Buss watches the ball after a putt on hole 9 during the Dawson County golf triangular Thursday morning in Cozad.
Cozad's Daygn Buss watches the ball after a putt on hole 9 during the Dawson County golf triangular Thursday morning in Cozad.
Gothenburg's Landon Mroczek chips off the rough onto the green on hole 3 at the Dawson County triangular Thursday morning in Cozad.
Gothenburg's Landon Mroczek chips off the rough onto the green on hole 3 at the Dawson County triangular Thursday morning in Cozad.
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Lexington's Ashley Najera receives Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association female senior scholarship
Lexington senior Ashley Najera was recently honored as the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association female senior scholarship winner.
Najera finished her Minutemaid senior year as the undefeated Class A state champion back in February.
Lexington senior Ashley Najera celebrates as her hand is raised after winning Lexington girls first-ever state champion title Feb. 18 in the Class A State Championships at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.
She became the first-ever Maid wrestling state champion.
In a press release, Lexington High School Athletic Director Phil Truax said, "Ashley brought her best to the mat every single day, and encouraged her teammates to do the same.
"Her commitment to the sport, her team, and herself made her a formidable wrestler."
Najera will continue her wrestling career at Southeast Community College.
Lexington High School girls wrestling head coach Art Banderas was honored as the NSWCA Class A girls head coach of the year.
Lexington head coach Art Banderas, right, sports a beaming smile next to assistant coach Shaun Church after senior Ashley Najera became the first-ever Minutemaid state wrestling champion Feb. 18 at the Class A State Championships in Omaha.
Banderas took the role five years ago, and under his guidance, he led the Maids to two Central Conference championship, two conference runners-up, three district runners-up, and were the 2026 Class A-2 district champions.
He coached 10 individual conference champions, 34 state qualifiers, 12 state medalists, and one Class A champion (Najera).
Banderas was selected by the NSWCA to coach the Senior All-Star Dual this coming summer.
In the same press release, Truax said, "Art turned this program into one of the perennial powerhouses in the state by developing his athletes into selfless, driven, and confident young women.
"This award is a well-deserved recognition of his leadership and long-term vision for development."
Banderas will be joining the Grand Island girls wrestling staff next season.
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Arbuthnot, Ryan to receive CCC's commemorative medallion
S-E-M’s Taryn Arbuthnot gets a kill over the Axtell block in the first round of the FKC tournament Oct. 13 in Overton.
Overton’s Daisy Ryan (12) attacks the ball for a kill during a subdistrict semifinal against Loomis in Amherst.
COLUMBUS — The inaugural list of Central Community College All-Stars has been announced by CCC athletics.
Ten deserving volleyball players from across CCC’s 25-county service area were selected and each will receive a commemorative medallion.
Dawson County:
• Taryn Arbuthnot, middle blocker, S-E-M: Averaged 4.7 kills and 1.2 blocks per set in 2025. Coached by Erika Kappel. Taryn has signed to play volleyball at UNK.
• Daisy Ryan, middle blocker, Overton High School: Averaged 4.7 kills and 4.1 digs per set in 2025. Coached by Hayley Ryan. Daisy will continue her volleyball career at Hastings College.
OTHERS:
• Kamryn Behrns, right side hitter, David City High School: Averaged 5.1 kills and 3.4 digs per set in 2025. Behrns has signed to play volleyball at Drake University. Coached by Tali Reeves.
• Grace Dawson, setter, Lakeview High School: Averaged 10.3 assists and 1.8 digs per set in 2025. Dawson is undecided about her future plans. Coached by K.C. Belitz.
• Myla Emery, setter/outside hitter, Minden High School: Averaged 5.3 kills, 3.97 assists and 3.19 digs per set in 2025. Emery has signed to play volleyball at Concordia University. Coached by Julie Ratka.
• Paighton Erb, middle blocker, Columbus High School: Averaged 4.2 kills and 3.1 digs per set in 2025. Erb has signed to play volleyball at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Coached by Matt Hoenk.
• Erin Gegg, outside hitter/middle blocker, Shelton High School: Averaged 4.9 kills per set in 2025. Gegg has signed with Hastings College to play basketball. Coached by Misti Potter.
• Katie Rowe, middle blocker, Lakeview High School: Averaged 3.0 kills per set in 2025. Rowe will attend one of the U.S. service academies. Coached by K.C. Belitz.
• Kendall Schneider, setter, Clarkson-Leigh High School: Averaged 9.1 assists and 3.0 digs per set in 2025. Schneider will study speech pathology at the University of South Dakota. Coached by Becky Schneider.
• Payton Sullivan, middle blocker, Hastings St. Cecilia High School: Averaged 4.6 kills per set in 2025. Sullivan will continue her volleyball career at Wayne State College. Coached by Kelan Schumacher.
“This is a fantastic group of volleyball players,” said Bree Spenner, CCC head volleyball coach. “I have been blessed to watch many of them in action this season. This list of student-athletes proves Nebraska is a volleyball state. Congratulations to the 2025-26 Central Community College Volleyball All-Stars.”
The inaugural naming of Central Community College All-Stars marks the official transition from hosting traditional all-star games.
CCC athletics will also announce all-stars for basketball, boys golf and soccer, girls soccer and softball.
