Cross County Cougars

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

News Staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week. This week, we broke the norm. Athletes of the Week are brought to you by these fine sponsors.
Finley Peterson served an ace.

Finley Peterson served an ace.

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Lady Cougars Lose to Amherst at State

Beth Sparrow
Friday, November 7, 2025
LINCOLN - The Lady Cougars qualified for state but had to face the #1 ranked Amherst Broncos at 1 PM on Thursday. Cross County played hard but ended up short, losing in four sets, 25-15, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-23.
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.

For Subscribers

PCN Athletes of the Week for Nov. 6, 2025

News Staff
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
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.
Left: Cross County volleyball team with their district winner plaque.

Left: Cross County volleyball team with their district winner plaque.

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LADY COUGARS STATEBOUND AFTER WIN IN MORRILL

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
MORRILL - Only two Cougars on the current team have been to state: seniors Sydney Hengelfelt and Edie Peterson. They qualified for state in 2022 as the third ranked team with the same coach, although a different name (Coach Noyd/Finkral). This will be the fourth time in school history.
Cross County junior Ava Pruter (16) slams the attack into the Morrill Lions frontline defense during Saturday’s D1-4 final at Morrill High School. Pruter led the Cougars with 22 kills as Cross County earned their first state volleyball berth since 2022. Photo by Sandy Thompson.

Cross County junior Ava Pruter (16) slams the attack into the Morrill Lions frontline defense during Saturday’s D1-4 final at Morrill High School. Pruter led the Cougars with 22 kills as Cross County earned their first state volleyball berth since 2022. Photo by Sandy Thompson.

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COUGARS WIN OVER MORRILL- PUNCH TICKET TO D-1 STATE VOLLEYBALL

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
MORRILL – The #13 Cougars traveled 387 miles to Morrill to take on the fourth ranked team. Morrill is about 8 miles from the Wyoming state line and is named after Charles Morrill, who is buried in the Stromsburg Cemetery.
Cross County head coach Emmie Finkral addresses the team just before the start of practice on Tuesday. The Cougars will face the No. 1 seed Amherst Broncos at 1 p.m. on Thursday at PBA. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

Cross County head coach Emmie Finkral addresses the team just before the start of practice on Tuesday. The Cougars will face the No. 1 seed Amherst Broncos at 1 p.m. on Thursday at PBA. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

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Cougars First Trip to Lincoln Since 2022 Match with Amherst

Ken Kush
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
STROMSBURG - The last time the Cross County Cougars made the Nebraska State Volleyball Championship field was in 2022.The Cougars will face the No. 1 seed Amherst Broncos in the first round of D-1 State on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on the North Court.
Hadley Larson (left) and Saphira Osentowski (right) try to block a Jaguar kill as Edie Peterson awaits her chance. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

Hadley Larson (left) and Saphira Osentowski (right) try to block a Jaguar kill as Edie Peterson awaits her chance. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

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Cougars Win D1-3 Final, Head to Districts

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
STROMSBURG - It’s not about the stats said Sydney Hengelfelt as she led her team to victory and a district final on Saturday. Cross County pulled out the win in 4 sets: 25-7, 23-25, 26-24 and 25-18.Hengelfelt led with 29 kills, and teammate Ava Pruter followed with 19.
The CRC volleyball champs are Cross County after defeating Shelby-Rising City in 4 sets. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

The CRC volleyball champs are Cross County after defeating Shelby-Rising City in 4 sets. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

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COUGARS CRC CHAMPS; HUSKIES SECOND

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
YORK - These teams met on September 4th in Shelby and the Huskies came out triumphant. This time it was for the conference championship. Both teams played very hard. The rallies were long.
Above: Sydney Hengelfelt was key for the Cougars with 27 kills in the championship match. Here she sends one by Brooklyn Baker and Kendall Nickolite.

Above: Sydney Hengelfelt was key for the Cougars with 27 kills in the championship match. Here she sends one by Brooklyn Baker and Kendall Nickolite.

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CRC Championship Game

Craig Pinley
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
YORK – Sydney Hengelfelt led with 27 kills, and Cross County avenged a loss to Shelby-Rising City earlier in the season by edging the Huskies 25-20, 2325, 28-26, 25-18 to win the CRC tourney title game at the York Auditorium Tuesday night.
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.

For Subscribers

PCN Athletes of the Week for Oct. 23, 2025

News Staff
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
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.