Cross County Cougars

Olive Peterson drives to the basket against the Humphrey-Lindsay defense on Thursday. Peterson is the team’s leading returning scored at 6.7 points per game. PCN photos by Ken Kush

Olive Peterson drives to the basket against the Humphrey-Lindsay defense on Thursday. Peterson is the team’s leading returning scored at 6.7 points per game. PCN photos by Ken Kush

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Cougar Girls Basketball Undergoing Changes as Summer Camps Start

Ken Kush
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
STROMSBURG- Just a few days into June and summer vacation girls and boys basketball teams across Nebraska are hard at work as June is the time when coaches and players find out a little bit about themselves in getting ready for the high school basketball season which will start in December.
PCN Athletes of the Year

PCN Athletes of the Year

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PCN Athletes of the Year

News Staff
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Brodey SpurlingHigh Plains’ Brodey Spurling was one of the top three-sport athletes in the state. He will be following his love for the game of basketball to Doane University next fall. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.5 rebounds and was top 10 in most all of the other categories.
High Plains senior Brodey Spurling finished fourth in the triple jump on Friday at the Class D Boys State Track and Field Meet at Omaha Burke Stadium. Spurling also added a fifth place in the long jump to cap his high school career with five medals the last two seasons. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

High Plains senior Brodey Spurling finished fourth in the triple jump on Friday at the Class D Boys State Track and Field Meet at Omaha Burke Stadium. Spurling also added a fifth place in the long jump to cap his high school career with five medals the last two seasons. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

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STATE TRACK AND FIELD CLASS C AND D BOYS

Ken Kush
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
OMAHA- The Polk County area sent just two boys in Class D and three boys in Class D.After two days of competition in Class D, High Plains senior Brodey Spurling posted the top two performances as he placed fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 43-7.
Shelby-RC senior Danica Watts took home an eighth place medal in the 400 meters during the Class C State Meet this past weekend. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

Shelby-RC senior Danica Watts took home an eighth place medal in the 400 meters during the Class C State Meet this past weekend. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

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STATE TRACK AND FIELD CLASS C GIRLS

Ken Kush
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
OMAHA-The Kearney Catholic girls rolled to the team title in Class C as they racked up 79 points to second place Bishop Neumann who finished with 57.
With her hands on her head after running third in the 100 meter finals at the C-6 District, Cross County freshman Piyper Berggren relaizes she would need to wait and see if her time was good enough to qualify for state. As it turned out her 12.39 (best of the year) was best among the non-automatic qualifiers in Class C. PCN photo by Rick Holtz

With her hands on her head after running third in the 100 meter finals at the C-6 District, Cross County freshman Piyper Berggren relaizes she would need to wait and see if her time was good enough to qualify for state. As it turned out her 12.39 (best of the year) was best among the non-automatic qualifiers in Class C. PCN photo by Rick Holtz

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Cross County Girls ‘Q’ Five at C-6

Ken Kush
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
ALBION-The St. Paul Wildcat girls and the Boone Central boys both won team titles at the C2-6 in Albion last Thursday.The St.
Cross County’s Benson Seim was working his way to the No. 5 green, but played his second shot from below the No. 3 hole at the David City golf course last Wednesday. PCN photo by Ken Kush

Cross County’s Benson Seim was working his way to the No. 5 green, but played his second shot from below the No. 3 hole at the David City golf course last Wednesday. PCN photo by Ken Kush

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Cougars Battle Rough Conditions at David City Invite

Ken Kush
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
DAVID CITY- The David City Golf Course is a beautiful ninehole course located on the south side of the city.
Nebraska Lutheran’s Sam Hueske and Cross County’s Ansaldi VonHackewitz and Saphira Osentowski battle in a heat of the 100 meters in Friend. VonHackewitz was third and Osentowski seventh in the finals. Photo from Christian Horn, YNT.

Nebraska Lutheran’s Sam Hueske and Cross County’s Ansaldi VonHackewitz and Saphira Osentowski battle in a heat of the 100 meters in Friend. VonHackewitz was third and Osentowski seventh in the finals. Photo from Christian Horn, YNT.

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Cross County Girls Win EMF Invite

News Staff
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
FRIEND- The Cross County girls broke the run of two runner-up finishes in April with a win at the Exeter-Milligan/ Friend Invite held in Friend.The Cougars with 88 points held off Nebraska Lutheran (82) and McCool Junction (74) to win the invite.
Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

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PCN Athletes of the Week for April 23, 2026

News Staff
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week. Athletes of the Week are brought to you by these fine sponsors. Jett VrbkaShelby-RC junior Jett Vrbka helped the Huskies to a fourth place finish at the high Plains T and F Invite.
Cougars senior Mason Quilhot won the High Plains Invite with a throw of 131-11 in the discus. PCN photo by Ken Kush

Cougars senior Mason Quilhot won the High Plains Invite with a throw of 131-11 in the discus. PCN photo by Ken Kush

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Cougar Boys Crack Top Five Team Finish at High Plains Invite

Ken Kush
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
OSCEOLA- The team title on the boys side of the High Plains Invite on Wednesday came down to the final event.Nebraska Christian held a slim six point lead over David City Aquinas Catholic with just the 4X400 meter relay left to run.
An all area showdown in the fourth heat of the 100 meters. From left to right, Osceola’s Jadelynn Gifford. High Plains’ Gahvi Lesiak, Cross County junior Ansalde Von Hackewitz and Osceola’s Camryn Peterson. PCN file photo by Beth Sparrow

An all area showdown in the fourth heat of the 100 meters. From left to right, Osceola’s Jadelynn Gifford. High Plains’ Gahvi Lesiak, Cross County junior Ansalde Von Hackewitz and Osceola’s Camryn Peterson. PCN file photo by Beth Sparrow

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Cross County Girls Second to Nebraska Christian in Osceola

Ken Kush
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
OSCEOLA- The Nebraska Christian Eagles put up most of their 137 team points in just five events as they scored 18 in the 800, 14 in the 1600, 24 in the 3200, 16 in the 100 hurdles and 21 in the relays.