Sports

Lincoln, February 15, 2024 — Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state. The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and multi-generational families, who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H.

Get ready for the Blue Jackets to be out in full force as we celebrate FFA Week from February 17-24. FFA as an organization is integral to NCTA in so many ways. It aligns perfectly with our academic pathways in agriculture, animal science, and related fields.

Valentine FFA attended the first round of CDE’s in North Platte on January 31, 2024. The results from the day are as follows: • Ag Mechanics- first place as a team *State Qualifiers Mitch Kluender- Purple Quinton Nelson- Purple Tyler Whiting- Purple Brayden Battershaw- Blue Traven Fletcher- White • Agriscience- second place as a team *State Qualifiers James Monroe- Purple River Doyle- Blue Josie Shaul- Blue Thurston Ravenscroft- Blue Jude Dahmen- Red Laken Krogman- Red Tierney Miller- Red Prent Parker- White • Poultry Evaluation Hailey Witte- Red James Monroe- White Preston Stoeger- White • Food Science Sari LaDeaux- Purple • Vet Science Hailey Witte- Blue Tierney Miller- Blue.

This past fall, the first through fourth grade students at Valentine Elementary School participated in Kids Heart Challenge, a fund raiser for the American Heart Association. The students set a goal for themselves of trying to raise $5,000. Once all the donations had been collected and turned in they ended up bringing in a grand total of $6,857.47, far exceeding the goal they set for themselves.

NSAA State Championships were held February 15-17, 2024 in Omaha at the CHI Health Center. Coach Marcus Nelson said, “I am very happy that we qualified this many young wrestlers.

The Valentine Boys Wrestling Team competed in the District C-4 Wrestling Tournament on February 10, 2024 in Broken Bow and qualified five wrestlers for the 2024 NSAA State Wrestling Tournament. Qualifying for State for the Valentine boys were Louden Grooms at 113 lbs., Robinson LaDeaux at 120 lbs., Jehki Williams at 126 lbs., Trevor Burdick at 138 lbs.

by Kinsey Buechle and Andon Olson The Badger basketball teams took down the Stuart Broncos on Monday, February 5, 2024. The Lady Badgers out scored the Lady Broncos 46-34 at their last season home game.

Friday, February 2, 2024 the Badgers took on the Gothenburg Swedes at home. The Lady Badgers lost 13-47.

The Cowgirls lost a tough battle on the road at Crawford, final score of 46-55, Friday, February 2, 2024. Saturday's home game was a win for the Cowgirls over the Minatare Lady Indians 59 - 8.

Coach Marcus Nelson said this about Southwest Conference, “We had a limited roster with a couple guys out for conference. Wanted to make sure they were healthy and ready to go for Districts. We ended up in fourth place still as a team. We have Districts in Broken Bow this week to see who will make it to state.