For all the Nebraska high school sports fans who might be tempted to complain about limited fan attendance this fall, keep in mind what happened last spring. Far better to have our athletes compete this fall with limited fans in attendance, rather than cancel seasons entirely.
Last night I watched this guy (
@brett_maher
) kick a bunch of FG’s for the Saints to win an NFL game. A good reminder for today’s kids that even our most elite athletes chasing big-time dreams can better themselves by participating in multiple sports while in high school.
As a long time high school soccer coach, this is so disheartening to see teens give up on the high school sports experience to chase scholarships, exposure, & “elite” club coaching. Playing for your school, your community, and your family is an experience that can’t be replicated
We have BREAKING NEWS from the executive offices of
@KHS_BoysSoccer
.
Will Baby Steinbrook (coming July 2020) be joining dad’s program, or will the Lady Bearcats (
@KHSLCatsSoccer
) have a Steinbrook in a “few” years.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
What a year, what a tournament, what a team. The 2018
@KHS_BoysSoccer
are a special group, and just made a remarkable run to a state championship. Needless to say I am one proud coach. Love these guys.
#KHSBearcatNation
Ever single current and former basketball coach in Nebraska is really darn happy for Tim Cannon right now. He’s mentored so many players and coaches for 30+ years, and has absolutely earned this title. Congrats coach!
#nebpreps
Lots of comments today about the NE HS football championships moving to home sites instead of Memorial Stadium. Overall the fall season was an amazing success in spite of a global pandemic. Admin, NSAA, coaches and kids should all be congratulated on making it work. 1/2
Well.........at 2:35 am on Wednesday, May 16th, the 2018
@KHS_BoysSoccer
season officially comes to a close
@KearneyHigh
. Thanks to everyone for coming along on our journey with us this year. It certainly was a memorable one.
#ForJoel
🇱🇷⚽️🥇
Would this be a good time to mention that Nebraska ranks 49th in the nation in state aid to public schools. Wrap your head around that......only one state in the Union contributes less to public education than Nebraska does. Come on
@GovRicketts
, that’s not good enough.
As we consider these limits, I also want to note that we can continue to support strong public schools. As I have done every year as Governor, my budget proposes to fully fund state aid to the K-12 education formula with an additional $42.7 million over the biennium.
Have I mentioned lately that I love teaching and coaching in small town Kearney, America. Had a State Soccer send off party 12 hours ago at an elementary school, and now we’re about to get a police escort into town for the
@KHS_BoysSoccer
Bus.
#SmallTown
#StateChamps
A must see video our entire
@KHS_BoysSoccer
family. Less than six months after breaking both bones in his lower leg in a district final (while scoring a goal), Elliott Lebsack scores his first collegiate goal for North Central University in Minneapolis. So proud of this kid!!!
2/2 But as fans of these teams, when complaining about venue changes and season modifications, don’t forget those thousands of athletes last spring that would have given anything to compete just once, a single event, for their schools and communities prior to the spring shutdown.
Any day now, my wife and I will be welcoming our newborn son into this world. That’s a crazy & amazing thought, but we’re ready!!
☑️hospital bags packed
☑️car seat installed
☑️room prepared
☑️name chosen
☑️dad jokes ready
☑️dad bod (thanks quarantine)
My heart goes out to every single kid whose school district is having a “remote learning day” tomorrow rather than a good old fashioned snow day.
#SnowDay
❄️☃️⛄️🌨️
Is there another college football program in the country that could fill half of a stadium on the road when the team is 0-5? That’s part of the reason why I think given the time, Frost can and will rebuild at Nebraska.
Big time honor announced this morning for one of our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
players! Royce Austen (
@RoyceBBallin
), has been named the Nebraska Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year.
#GatoradePOY
Coaching sports in a smaller community provides some pretty cool opportunities.
@KHS_BoysSoccer
squad with our annual stop at a favorite local
@KearneySchools
elementary.
I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed a better high school football game than
@KearneyHigh
vs. Creighton Prep tonight. Amazing effort on both sides.
@KHSbearcatFB
moving on to the state title game, 25-23.
Well done Kearney residents! With a vote of 5,268 to 1,803, the
@CityofKearney
will be constructing a state of the art Indoor Sports Complex that will serve our community for generations to come.
23 consecutive years of loading a bus bright and early to head to the Bellevue East Soccer Invite (formerly Om. Bryan Invite). But next year, we’re hosting the 1st ever Kearney Invite at KHS & UNK. Who wants to come? Looking for 4 boys & 4 girls teams for 2023.
@nebraska_talk
Sports can be cruel sometimes, and this was one of those moments tonight. Emotionally draining for a number of reasons. But if anyone can bounce back, it’s
#2
, with his strong faith, strong family, & great teammates/friends. Your best is yet to come!
Very thankful for school bus drivers on nights like tonight. Our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
bus encountered some very dangerous weather with high winds, dust, rain and hail on the way home from State Soccer tonight. Shout to
@KearneyHigh
bus driver Lewis for getting the team home safely.
Can’t possibly find the right words to describe what was without a doubt the best weekend of my life. Celebrating our wedding & reception all weekend long with family and friends from near and far was simply incredible. Thanks to everyone who shared these moments with us.
First class act of sportsmanship prior to our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
match this morning. Thanks to
@PLHSBoysSoccer
coaches & players for the scarf for our injured player,
@elllebsack
, who hung in their on the sidelines with us today. Good luck on Friday Monarchs.
A little hard to put this afternoon’s soccer game into words, but it certainly turned into a special event celebrating a milestone game. A unexpected appearance in Lincoln by my wife, brother, and parents made it all the more special. Feeling incredibly blessed & grateful. ⚽️🐾
🚨 A Big Bearcat Nation Congratulations goes out to Coach Scott Steinbrook for winning his 300th career game today in a 1-0 victory over Lincoln Pius X via the HAC Soccer Tourney! CONGRATS, COACH!
@ScottSteinbrook
@KHS_BoysSoccer
@KearneyBearcats
I’ve coached a lot of games in a couple different sports over the years, but tomorrow is a big one…….season opener, Kindergarten girls basketball at the Kearney YMCA. Expecting a capacity crowd, lots of class 2039-2040 prospects in action.
#GameDay
#CoachDad
This picture captures a moment I’ll never forget. Shout out to the fellow soccer-dad that shared the photo. As a coach and a dad, you only get one “first time ever on the sideline with your son,” and today was that day for my son Miles and I at our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
game.
Two things to keep in mind:
(1) When states increase their participation rate (like NE), scores often go down because students not on a college track are tested.
(2) Of all the states testing more than 90% of their graduates, NE had the second highest overall score behind Utah.
Nebraska’s average ACT score is at the lowest level in at least a decade. Leadership in Ed must focus on getting our kids back on track and equipping teachers for success. Teaching political activism to our children shouldn’t be part of that equation.
Huge thanks to
@nsaahome
,
@strivsports
,
@NCNSports
,
@NETNebraska
,
@NFHSNetwork
, and all the other media for the Nebraska State Basketball tournament coverage over the past three days. It’s been a joy to follow along and watch these kids/schools compete for championships.
Where does the
@KHS_BoysSoccer
squad eat at celebratory state championship dinner at 11:00 pm on a Tuesday night.........how about Walmart in Gretna. Nothing but the best for this crew.
State Soccer Tweet
#1
: Not sure there’s a Nebraska state championship event that has grown and improved more in the past 10-15 years that State Soccer has.
@nsaahome
@nebraska_talk
Tough way to end the 2019
@KHS_BoysSoccer
season with a 0-1 loss to an incredibly hard-working
@PLHSBoysSoccer
squad in the opening round at state.
It’s been an absolute honor to serve as these boys’ coach on this year’s journey, and there’s much to be proud. Thanks to all.
Couldn’t possibly be more proud of 2019
@KHS_BoysSoccer
&
@KearneyHigh
grad Royce Austen. Tonight he donated his $1000 Nebraska Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year Award grant money to Kearney TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer).
Working on off-season team development today at the office. My assistant coach insisted on playing 5 in the back. We’re really excited about the forward pairing of Aerial and the giant Unicorn. New
@KHS_BoysSoccer
system for 2020 season.
.
@KHS_BoysSoccer
We are going to have some very excited players and ‘18 graduates with the arrival of the 2018 State Championship rings. Ring presentation and halftime recognition is set for September 28th at the KHS home football game.
Can a culture of pick-up sports (soccer in this case) be built in today’s culture of youth sports where everything is organized, officiated and over-coached? It’s 90 degrees, but 50 kids showed up just to “play.”
Play because you want to, not because some says you have to.
Hard to put into words the emotions of a District Championship game that ends in a defeat. I couldn’t be more proud of our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
players, especially our 11 seniors. They gave everything they had, and that’s all a coach can ask. A first class group on and off the field.
It’s impossible not to admire
#TheRise
of the
@UNK_Football
program in the past few years. Their on field success, community engagement and commitment to a culture-first mentality has made them an absolute joy to follow.
Congrats to involved with the program.
@UNK_Athletics
"To do what you guys have done, with the UNK Lopers, is the biggest success story I've been associated with. I'm proud of ya. God I'm proud of ya." -
@UNK_Football
@CoachJoshLynn
addresses the team after Saturday's playoff loss to Angelo State.
Simply an incredible moment for our players, coaches, fans and program. Our season isn’t done yet.......back to Omaha on Saturday for a semi-final matchup vs.
#1
Omaha South.
Year number 20 in the books
@KearneyHigh
. Very lucky to go to work every day in a profession that I love in a place filled with great people. So I guess that’s a wrap on the 18-19 school year.
Here’s why I love the English FA Cup. This is Tottenham, a billion dollar club, playing a group of teachers, plumbers, electricians, insurance agents, etc, from a tiny local club called Marine AFC at their neighborhood soccer park. A true tournament, every team has a chance!
Season ending losses are always tough. There’s no words in the moment to sum up how everyone is feeling. But I know this, our
@KHS_BoysSoccer
squad 💯% left it all on the field tonight in 100 gritty minutes of OT soccer.
And that will be my lasting memory of the ‘23 season.
The following 3 words are music to my soccer loving ears:
MIDDLE. SCHOOL. SOCCER.
Middle School soccer is coming to Kearney Public Schools for the 2022-23 school year for 7th & 8th graders. This is so exciting for our school & soccer communities!
@KHS_BoysSoccer
@KHSLCatsSoccer
In an era where traditional print journalism is struggling to find a way to survive, one of life’s great pleasures in our family’s household is still morning coffee and the weekend newspaper.
@KearneyHub
@OWHnews
Suspended, not canceled. I choose to remain optimistic that the month of May will bring a fast and furious
@KHS_BoysSoccer
and spring sports season to remember.
Our 2109
@KHS_BoysSoccer
journey begins tomorrow. Every year is unique, every year is special. This is year
#20
for me, can’t wait to get started.
Relentless. Pursuit. Of. Excellence.
💯⚽️💯⚽️💯⚽️💯⚽️💯⚽️💯⚽️
One year ago today my life forever changed and I married this amazing woman. Hard to believe we’re already celebrating one year of marriage together. But like the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun.
Homework assignment for someone out there..........has this combination EVER been done before in the history of high school sports in Nebraska? 3 sport athlete, 3 State tournament appearances in the same year: football, basketball, soccer.
Hey
@KearneyHub
, thanks for the special
@KHS_BoysSoccer
section in the paper today. What an awesome keepsake. Thanks to you, as well as the sponsors who helped make it happen.
#KearneyProud
This makes me absolutely sick. We all get it, times are tough financially for public institutions, but come on! The positive impact these programs & coaches have had on countless young men in our community goes far beyond dollars and cents. Sad & disappointing day at
@UNKearney
.
Yep, it’s official, I’m over the fireworks. Come on Mother Nature, do every family with kids or pets a huge solid right now and put an end to the madness with some rain, hail, wind, locusts, sand, bomb cyclones, whatever you can conjure up.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; the growth of high school soccer in our state and the quality of players, venues, fans, etc is absolutely incredible.
This is one fine collection of musicians, hog farmers, outdoorsman, football players, tennis players, basketball players, wrestlers, cross-fitters, hockey players, oh, and a few soccer players too. Love this
@KHS_BoysSoccer
team for all those reasons and more!
At tonight’s
@KearneyHigh
basketball game we had the pleasure of recognizing 2019
@KHS_BoysSoccer
grad, Royce Austen, and unveiling his Gatorade Player of the Year banner on the wall of honor.
I’ve coached other people’s kids on the soccer field for 25 years, but today, for the first of hopefully many times I had a Steinbrook on my roster. Three year old mini-Micro Team Blue Spidey was on the field today.
Some exciting off-season developments in the world of
@KHS_BoysSoccer
:
Old-school blue & gold uniforms, inspired by the famous
@USMNT
“Waldo” jerseys will be worn as the alternate third kits by the Bearcats this spring.⚽️🔥
Today should have been our 2020 season opening
@KHS_BoysSoccer
match. But instead, we are all learning a valuable lesson of "shared sacrifice." Doing what's right to protect the interests of others. Being unselfish & understanding our role in uncertain times.
#LifeLessons
On this snowy Saturday, the wife made biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and then proceeds to ask if it would be OK if she made fried chicken for dinner.
Um, yeah, honey, I suppose that would be just fine. (The sacrifices I’m learning to make in marriage).
This picture is a great reminder that as student/athletes, you are a role model for the next generation. Whether you know it or not, youthful eyes are watching your every move. Keep up the great work
@CUNEMSOC
, and former
@KHS_BoysSoccer
player,
#15
Evan Hayden.
Could not possibly be happier for our soccer friends down the road in Lexington. What a special week ahead in a school as passionate about soccer as they are. Both
@lexingtonFC_men
&
@LexGirlsSoccer
heading to the state tournament in Omaha. Congrats!
One of the greatest views in all of high school sports. And this isn’t sarcasm, it’s the honest truth. There’s just something special about traveling as a team, representing your school & community, and competing to the best of your abilities.
It was an honor to present former
@KHS_BoysSoccer
standout Josh Gable with his
@KearneyHigh
Athletic Hall of Fame induction plaque tonight. One of the greatest high school athletes I’ve ever seen compete, regardless of sport. A absolutely special young man.
Solid effort today people! Thanks
@KHS_BoysSoccer
,
@KHSLCatsSoccer
players, coaches and families for moving snow for a few hours. Still work to be done, but this is a great start!