1 – Exeter-Milligan head
girls basketball coach Jackson Krejci recently announced that he would be
leaving the district after 17 years. He has also coached junior high
basketball, high school football and junior high track. Krejci has taken
a position at the new Standing Bear High School in Lincoln to be closer to his
family.
2 – Exeter-Milligan three
sport athletes pictured front row from the left: Kierra Papik, Lily Jeffries,
Savana Krupicka, Draven Payne, Tyler Due, Jozie Kanode and Jayden Capek.
Back row from the left: Andrew Vavra, Jonah Geiger, Marcus Krupicka, Aidan
Vavra, Carter Milton, Brett Kallhoff, Mikey Bartu, Kiley Oldehoeft, and Olivea
Swanson.
4 – Former
Exeter/Exeter-Milligan head track coach Lonnie Shafer was the guest speaker at
the final Exeter-Milligan athletic banquet.
5 – Receiving special
recognition at the Exeter-Milligan athletic banquet pictured front row from the
left: Kiley Oldehoeft, Savana Krupicka, Emma Meyer, Jozie Kanode and Jasmine
Turrubiates. Back row from the left are: Brett Kallhoff, Marcus Krupicka
and Troy Kallhoff.
The Exeter gym was the site
of the final Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet on Monday night.
Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield opened the evening noting that
“Twenty-one years ago two schools chartered a new path. . .if you look around
this gym I think it went pretty well. They created not just a family but
a culture. A culture that said it wasn’t enough to go to state, you
needed to win.”
The evening, sponsored by the
Exeter-Milligan Booster Club, started with a catered Windsor Loin meal.
During the meal a slideshow of highlights throughout the years played.
State championship teams were featured and all of the state trophies were
displayed on the stage for the evening.
Each of the coaches had the
opportunity to share about the season and introduce their players.
FC/EM-F Softball Coach Aaron Lauby started and noted how his Timberpantdogs
(their combination of the mascots, Timberwolves, Fillmore Central Panthers and
Friend Bulldogs) are a “good barometer of how good it can be for all of our
students.”
Brandi Perez spoke about the
cheer squad and introduced both this year’s cheerleaders and next fall’s squad
which includes Malorie Staskal, Lily Jeffries, Kaydence Haase, Alivia Luzum,
Selah Petersen, Sydney Engert and Cheyenne Krupicka.
Head Bobcat Football coach
Kory Kahlandt talked of the continued cooperation with Friend and quipped that
“our true success won’t be known for 10 or 20 years until these young men
become husbands and fathers.”
Girls golf coach Matt Nichols
and head volleyball coach Madalynn Fousek also shared about their teams success
during the season.
Brian Murphy spoke about the
junior high football team and introduced the Exeter-Milligan players before
Athletic Director Darcy White gave an update on junior high girls volleyball
and track with Sara Pella taking the podium to talk about junior high girls
basketball.
Jackson Krejci talked about
the highlights of the junior high basketball and track seasons. He has
coached and taught at Exeter-Milligan for the last 17 years and also was a
graduate of the district. After introducing his players and the
highlights of their seasons he noted that he had taken a position in Lincoln to
be able to spend more time with his young family. The audience gave him a
standing ovation as he left the podium.
High school boys basketball
coach Travis Kotas gave a brief presentation on the season and introduced the
players. He noted that he was on the first Exeter-Milligan boys
basketball team as a senior 20 years ago and coached the last Exeter-Milligan
team.
Boys golf coach Matt Nicholas
commented on the current season standings and the meets they have remaining
before high school track coach Brian Murphy announced the Walt Barkmeier track awards
for the 2021-2022 season. Recipients of the awards were Savana Krupicka
and Tyler Due.
Murphy thanked the booster
club and many others for the assistance with the track team and reviewed how
the team is progressing this season. He also introduced the guest speaker
for the evening, former Exeter/Exeter-Milligan track coach Lonnie Shafer.
Shafer recalled many fond
memories of his 32 years coaching track at Exeter-Milligan (he coached an
additional nine years before coming to Exeter). He regaled the crowd with
stories of track escapades, many of which included the parents of current
Exeter-Milligan students.
He quoted the Exeter history
book which gave the information on the consolidation that took place between
Exeter and Milligan and commented that he hoped the transition with
Exeter-Milligan and Friend followed the trend started over twenty years ago.
Coach Shafer also reiterated
his track coach speech –which used the first letter of the words track coach
and explained what that should mean. A teacher leader, a recruiter,
adaptable, a communicator and knowledgeable. For coach he noted that they
should be able to celebrate, be optimistic and apply the golden role, have
ability and be charitable and kind while also being humble and modest.
Many would agree that this
summed up the characteristics Shafer displayed when he coached them.
Sheffield thanked Shafer and
then recognized the three sport athletes which included freshman Jonah Geiger,
Brett Kallhoff and Kylie Oldehoeft. Sophomores identified were Mikey
Bartu, Jayden Capek, Lily Jeffries, Carter Milton, Kierra Papik and Aidan
Vavra. Juniors noted were Tyler Due, Savana Krupicka, Draven Payne and
Andrew Vavra and the three seniors who participated in sports all three seasons
were Jozie Kanode, Marcus Krupicka and Olivea Swanson.
Special medals were the final part of the
evening. Emma Meyer was presented the Leonard Kassik softball player of
the year. Jozie Kanode earned the Bill Fitzgerald volleyball
trophy.
The outstanding football player of the year was given
to Marcus Krupicka and he also was named the Gary Ruhl male basketball player
of the year. Jasmine Turrubiates received the Gary Ruhl female basketball
player of the year. The Bill Fitzgerald rookies of the year award were
given to Kiley Oldehoeft and Brett Kallhoff.
Female team player of the year was Jozie Kanode and
Troy Kallhoff was the male team player of the year. Savanah Krupicka
received the female athlete of the year and her brother Marcus Krupicka was presented
the male athlete of the year.