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LINCOLN — Laney Kathol, Jaxson Bernecker and Makenna Noecker were all selected to play in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star games next month in their respective sports.
Kathol was selected to play in the 39th NCA Girls’ Volleyball Match on July 25 at 6 p.m.; Bernecker was chosen for the 54th NCA Boys’ Basketball game on July 24 at 8 p.m. and Noecker grabbed a spot on the 43rd NCA Girls’ Basketball Game on July 24 at 6 p.m.
All contests will be held at Lincoln North Star High School.
Kathol, who was recently named the Norfolk Daily News’ girls athlete of the year, is set to play on the Red team for coach Emily Vaughn from Elkhorn Valley and assistant coach Bob Waid of Douglas County West.
According to her coach at Cedar Catholic, Vaughn and Waid couldn’t have come up with a better selection.
“It didn’t surprise me at all she was selected to be on the team and she was chosen with Meredith (Mc-Gregor) for the NEN game,” Cedar Catholic volleyball coach, Denae Buss said. “She put in so much work and dedication that helped her become one of the best athletes at her position. I am extremely proud of her and can’t wait to see how far she goes from here - she was an absolute pleasure to coach.”
Kathol, who will play for Scott Kneifle next season at Wayne State College, has been on the all-star “circuit” this summer, playing in the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Volleyball Match earlier this month with Lady Trojan teammate, Meredith McGregor.
Kathol was a three-sport standout her entire high school career and chose to extend that career in volleyball next season.
Bernecker, who was also a threesport star for the Trojans in football basketball and track, was selected to play for head coach Joe Hesse of Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family and assistant coach T.J. O’Connor of Fort Calhoun on the Red team.
He also played in the NEN basketball game with teammate Tyan Baller where Bernecker knocked down 12 points.
“It’s just an honor to get chosen to play in this game,” Bernecker said. “This is from across the entire state and it should be a great experience.”
His experience in the NEN game makes it even more exciting.
“It’s just great to play with the people you have competed against your entire career, the ones you’ve watched and the ones you’ve heard about,” he said. “There is a lot of talent out there and to be included is a great honor - and you find out these are all great guys as well.”
Noecker will play for head coach Noah Maulsby from Ravenna and Clayton Carlton of Yutan on the Blue team in the girls’ basketball game.
She averaged over 20 points per game her senior season and led the Lady Trojans to a third-place finish in this past season’s Class D1 tournament in Lincoln and also played for the NEN All-Stars in Norfolk.
“It’s crazy to think about this. It will be my very last game,” Noecker said. “After all those practices and all those sessions of shooting and shooting, it’s nice to see all of the hard work has paid off and getting chosen for this game makes you realize people noticed.
“The hours of shooting alone or one of my sessions with Tyan (Baller) were really great. It makes it all worthwhile and proud.”
She was also looking for a bit of redemption from her last outing in the NEN game.
“I really didn’t shoot the ball very well,” she said. “I’ll be ready for this game - it should be a lot of fun.”
