High Plains Storm

Senior Dakota Gress looks to find the opening in the Fillmore Central defense during last Thursday night’s triangular at Sandy Creek High School. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

Senior Dakota Gress looks to find the opening in the Fillmore Central defense during last Thursday night’s triangular at Sandy Creek High School. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

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Storm Tops Meridian in Five-Splits Action at Sandy Creek

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
POLK - The Storm faced Meridian Tuesday night in Polk for an exciting 5-set win for the Storm.Wearing pink this month for breast cancer awareness, the Storm struggled to get in their groove the first set. They let go a couple of ace serves to the Mustangs. They caught up 6-6 but fell behind again.
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 Oct. 9, 2025

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
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.
The BDS ball carrier is ushered out of bounds by High Plains defenders, Brodey Spurling (11) Chase Owens (45) and Neddy Lesiak (55). PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

The BDS ball carrier is ushered out of bounds by High Plains defenders, Brodey Spurling (11) Chase Owens (45) and Neddy Lesiak (55). PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

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Eagles and Mosquitoes Win Battle in Shickley

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
SHICKLEY – The bugs were biting, and so were the Eagles as the Storm couldn’t survive the 46-8 loss to BDS.The Eagles got out early and scored when Wyatt Kempf ran one in, and the PAT came from Kyler Koch with 7:32 on the clock.
Going into Saturday’s tournament in Hampton, HallieJo Urkoski had registered 16 kills in the team’s first four games of the week. Here she is on the attack against the Lawrence-Nelson Raiders defense. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

Going into Saturday’s tournament in Hampton, HallieJo Urkoski had registered 16 kills in the team’s first four games of the week. Here she is on the attack against the Lawrence-Nelson Raiders defense. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

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Lady Storm Goes 4-3 During Busy Week

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
POLK – The Storm hosted Elba and Newman Grove/St. Edward in a triangular on Tuesday. They won against both in three sets each.Against Elba, the sets were 25-19, 26-28 and 25-20. The teams were quite even on kills, with High Plains a bit more accurate with them.
Top left- High Plains junior Chase Owens (45) refuses to be denied as he carries the Nebraska Lutheran defender into the end zone on this first quarter 11-yard scoring run. Owens also had a pick-six in the first quarter.

Top left- High Plains junior Chase Owens (45) refuses to be denied as he carries the Nebraska Lutheran defender into the end zone on this first quarter 11-yard scoring run. Owens also had a pick-six in the first quarter.

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STORM RACKS UP 68 POINTS IN WIN OVER KNIGHTS

Ken Kush
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
CLARKS-The High Plains Storm put their second win in the books early Friday night scoring three times over the opening 14 1/2 minutes on their way to the 68-6 win over Nebraska Lutheran Friday night.The Storm would end up with 391 yards to 157 yards for the Knights who fell to 0-4 on the year.
PCN photo by Rick Holtz

PCN photo by Rick Holtz

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Storm slowed by Chargers

Rick Holtz
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
CEDAR RAPIDS — The Storm was fighting battles on two fronts. High Plains was doing battle with Riverside on the football field, but they were battling the near 90-degree heat on the sidelines.
The Hofmann sisters (Rylee and Peyton) go up for the block against East Butler. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

The Hofmann sisters (Rylee and Peyton) go up for the block against East Butler. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow

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The Lady Storm Move to 3-1

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
POLK – The Storm had a busy week with a triangular on Tuesday and a dual on Thursday.Tuesday they added one win over Twin River in two sets, and a loss to Riverside in two. Thursday they handled East Butler easily winning in three.The win over Twin River was 2512 and 25-23.
Carson Swedenburg

Carson Swedenburg

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STORM EDGES NEBRASKA CHRISTIAN

Craig Pinley
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
CLARKS – With just 14 players dressed for Friday night’s home football game against Nebraska Christian, High Plains needed everyone’s contributions and head coach Greg Wood got it during an encouraging 16-8 opening-night win that even faulty lights and rainy drizzle couldn’t dampen.
Polk County senior catcher Mady Berggren picks up the ground ball in front of home plate ands fires on to first base. In two games this week Berggren was 5 for 6 with two home runs, a triple and six RBI’s. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

Polk County senior catcher Mady Berggren picks up the ground ball in front of home plate ands fires on to first base. In two games this week Berggren was 5 for 6 with two home runs, a triple and six RBI’s. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

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POLK COUNTY DROPS PAIR OF HOME GAMES, FALLS TO 1-5

Ken Kush
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
POLK-It was a tale of two completely different games, but in the end the result was the same in both for the Polk County Slammers.
The High Plains Storm 2025 volleyball; team: front from left, Front row (L to R): Madilynn Zerr, Rylee Hofmann, Dakota Gress, Gahvrielle Lesiak, Peyton Hofmann, Kenslei Carlson. Middle row (L to R): Tessa Morris, Bailey Gress, Hallie Jo Urkoski, Jacey Dubas, Kinley Spurling Back row (L-R): Ava Lindburg, Taya Hans, Elle Warnick, Brooklynn Welch , Payton Ackerson. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

The High Plains Storm 2025 volleyball; team: front from left, Front row (L to R): Madilynn Zerr, Rylee Hofmann, Dakota Gress, Gahvrielle Lesiak, Peyton Hofmann, Kenslei Carlson. Middle row (L to R): Tessa Morris, Bailey Gress, Hallie Jo Urkoski, Jacey Dubas, Kinley Spurling Back row (L-R): Ava Lindburg, Taya Hans, Elle Warnick, Brooklynn Welch , Payton Ackerson. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

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“RELENTLESS”-The Rally Cry of High Plains Volleyball

Ken Kush
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
POLK-The High Plains Storm Volleyball team will have to replace more than 50% of the entire statistical output from 2024 due to graduation.High Plains went 21-10 last season and lost in the district finals 3-2 to Exeter-Milligan/ Friend who went on to capture the Class D1 State Runner-up trophy.