Area junior high and middle school athletes competed for their schools during the fall football, volleyball and cross country seasons.

They went planning to win. Ignore the fact that Malcolm is the smallest school in Class C cross country. Ignore the fact that Aurora and Sidney, both former Class B teams, are the two largest schools in Class C. The plan for Malcolm was to win.

Centennial senior Gaven Schernikau and freshman Madison Brandenburgh ran in the Class D race at state cross country Oct. 25.

Seward’s cross country teams ran good races at the state meet Oct. 25 in Kearney. The boys’ team finished third in Class B, with Nathan Nottingham placing ninth. The girls’ team was sixth, with Keegan Beisel placing fifth.

The Seward cross country teams have one week left in their seasons, thanks to a district championship and runner-up finish at districts.

Centennial will have two runners in the Class D state meet Friday, Oct. 25.

The tradition continues. In the 35-year history of the Malcolm boys’ and girls’ cross country program, the Clippers have sent someone to state each year. Most of those years, a full team goes. Not only will a full Malcolm team go again this year, they will go knowing that coming home from th…

After barely getting into the state tournament, the Malcolm softball team showed it definitely belonged in the mix amongst the best in the state. Going in as the No. 8 seed, the Clippers finished in the final four of Class C.