Sports

The Cody-Kilgore Track Team qualified two athletes for the 2024 NSAA State Track Meet in Omaha at Burke High School on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. Qualifying for Cody-Kilgore were: • Aubree Johnson in the High Jump.

The Valentine Badger Track Team qualified eight athletes for the 2024 NSAA State Track Meet in Omaha at Burke High School on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. Sophomore Isaac Cronin earned two medals at the State Track Meet.

The Badgers placed third out of 10 schools with 374 at the Highway 20 Invite in Basset, May 7, 2024. Three medaled: sixth place, Tanner Two Strike, 90; 10th place, Caden Stankoski, 92; and 13th place, Cooper Jordan, 93.

Valentine team tied for first place with O’Neill with team scores of 348 at the Valentine Invite, held May 9, 2024. Valentine and O’Neill went head to head in a sudden death playoff with O’Neill winning by one stroke.

The VHS Badger Band received State Music Medals from the NSAA for receiving Superior awards from all three of their judges at District Music. District Music was held in Ainsworth, April 19. The Band played a march called Amparito Roca and a lyrical piece titled Londonderry Aire.

The Cody-Kilgore Track Teams qualified two athletes for the 2024 NSAA State Track Meet at D-4 Districts in Bassett on May 8. Qualifying for Cody-Kilgore were: • Aubree Johnson in the High Jump.

The Valentine Badger Track Teams qualified eight athletes for the 2024 NSAA State Track Meet at C-5 Districts in Atkinson on May 9. Qualifying for Valentine were: • Isaac Cronin in the High Jump, 300 Meter Hurdles and 110 Meter Hurdles.

Not only is the road adjacent to Merritt Reservoir going to be resurfaced, it will also be widened. NDOT Darrell Lurz said, “The entire road does get widened to 12’. Some areas will get widened to 14’ and some to 18’. The hills will be cut back to give sight distance, snow load, and drainage. Hope the speed is increased and more passing zones, but unknown at this time.”

Saturday, May 4, 2024, 52 youth attended the Valentine Kids Fishing Clinic at the State Fish Hatchery. Helping with the clinic were Nebraska Game and Parks Valentine staff: Zac, Logan D., Logan G., and Derrek.

Plenty of improvements in Nebraska’s north-central state parks await visitors this year. Projects completed in 2023 or to be finished in 2024 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: