Sports

It’s that time of year again. The season when the sound of racing engines and the smell of rubber burning out on concrete fills the Seven Valleys air for a weekend.

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The 2025 Nebraska Sertoma 8-man All-Star Classic football game was played on Saturday, June 21, at Lloyd Wilson Field in Hastings. The 48th annual game featured some of the top 8-man players from across the state, including South Loup’s AJ Starr. South Loup head football coach Mat Jageler also had the honor of being selected as an assistant coach for the West team, and was given the opportunity to coach Starr one last time.

Though practice for high school athletics takes a break during the summer months, many athletes take the opportunity to attend various camps throughout the off-season designed to help them improve their skills and techniques. For area wrestlers, one such camp is being conducted this month in nearby Gothenburg.

South Loup’s AJ Starr has been selected to represent the West team in the 48th annual Sertoma 8-man football All-Star Classic. Joining Starr on the field that day will be Bobcats’ Coach Mat Jageler, who is one of three assistant coaches for the West team.

The South Loup boys’ golf team saw their season come to an end on May 20, at the district meet held in Ainsworth. For seniors Harper Johnson, Jamie Tickle, and Bo Brennan, this was their last opportunity to represent the Bobcats. Johnson was part of last season’s state qualifying team, while this was the first year on the course for Brennan, who decided to try something new for his senior season.

Kaygan and Kelynn Witthuhn, daughters of Nicole and Jeff Witthuhn of Callaway and Josie Lehmkuhler, daughter of Ann and Mike Lehmkuhler of Arnold, have been selected to represent Nebraska 4-H at the 2025 National 4-H Championships Shooting Sports Competition in the discipline of smallbore pistol.

For the past 42 years, bicycle enthusiasts have gathered for a ride across part of our beautiful state and been welcomed by the residents of small Midwest communities from one end of Nebraska to the other. The 43rd annual Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) will take place June 1-7, and this year’s adventure will include an overnight stay in Gothenburg, followed the next day by a lunch stop in Callaway.