Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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As we look forward to a new year, we reflect on the stories that defined our region in 2025. Articles in this list - and the rankings - are based on page views from summerlandadvocate.com. 1. Hometown Hero: Summerland freshman uses SkillsUSA training to save infant's life As an eighth-grade student, Taelyn Nilson learned CPR and won a state title in Job Skills Demonstration at the Nebraska SkillsUSA Middle School Conference. In December 2024, Nilson used those skills to save the life of an... Full story
The 2025 National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta is in the record books. The Summerland TeamWorks crew began competition Tuesday, June 24, in Atlanta and, when the final whistle blew Thursday, at 4 p.m., Willis Mast, Alec Schindler, Bennet Flenniken and Ashton Cleveland felt positive about their project. Flenniken said the competition was challenging, and noted the team had fun. "We all learned a lot through trial and error, and I think we should be proud of what we...
Blueprints don't always come with studs, bricks and beams. Sometimes they click together, one LEGO at a time. That was the challenge facing the Summerland SkillsUSA TeamWorks crew: take a photograph and build a miniature version, using plastic bricks instead of plywood and nails. On Sunday, the crew showcased their finished model during an open house celebrating their next big build: a trip to Nationals in Atlanta. Organized by SAM publishers Scott and LuAnn Schindler, the combination pep...
Four Summerland students who will compete in National SkillsUSA competition in June will be honored during a June 22 celebration. The open house - pep rally combination, will be held on the Advocate-Messenger office's "back lot," 522 Main Street, in Clearwater, at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Bennet Flenniken, Ashton Cleveland, Willis Mast and Alec Schindler comprise the TeamWorks group that will compete in the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, June 23 - 27, in...
Tears of joy and moments provoking laughter played out Saturday, at Summerland Public School, as the Class of 2025 reached a milestone: graduation. Following the processional, played by the Summerland band, Superintendent Molly Aschoff welcomed faculty, family and guests. Lydia Robertson provided the senior welcome. She noted that the communities support and encouragement led to the moment. "Beyond this point, your continued guidance will allow us to accomplish great things in the next chapter o...
Summerland Public School will bid farewell to its graduating class, Saturday, May 10. Commencement exercises will begin at 3 p.m., at the school, located at 51293 857th Road, Ewing. Under the direction of Emily Heithoff, the Summerland band will play the processional. Superintendent Molly Aschoff will present the welcome, Lydia Robertson will give the senior welcome. Principal Jacob Birch will announce senior scholarships and valedictorian medals. The class address will be presented by Jaycee...
The blueprint was clear: construct a small structure and showcase carpentry, roofing, electrical, and plumbing skills-all in just two days. For the Summerland SkillsUSA TeamWorks crew, it was a solid build from start to finish. First-year competitors Ashton Cleveland, Bennet Flenniken, Willis Mast and Alec Schindler nailed the assignment at the Nebraska SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships, held April 10–12 at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island. They walked away with gold m...
Members of the Summerland SkillsUSA chapter competed at the 2025 State Leadership Convention, April 10-12, in Grand Island. The Teamworks crew, comprised of Ashton Cleveland, Bennet Flenniken, Willis Mast, and Alec Schindler, won gold, finishing in first place. The group qualified for national competition at the National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 23 to 27, in Atlanta. Jason Shaver and Marlin Krysl won gold and finishing first in drone technology basics, which is a state-only...
Summerland FFA, FCCLA, SkillsUSA and FBLA members participated in their respective state leadership conferences recently. Several brought home medals from the competitions. FFA: Jenna Funk: cooperative speaking, fourth place, gold rating; Sara Hemenway: discover speaking fifth place, gold rating; Conduct of Chapter Meetings team, Braelyn Bergman, Taylen Nilson, Kanyon Allemang, Jaelyn Shaver, Asher Whiting, Damien Hupp and Ryder Hemenway: seventh place, gold rating; Livestock Evaluation senior...
Summerland wrestlers finished 1-3 in duals competition and earned the fourth-place trophy in the Niobrara Valley Conference meet held at Neligh-Oakdale. Summerland defeated Elgin Public/Pope John, 47-21, in the first match. In a 126-pound match, Ethan Kester won by tech fall 15-0, over Grady Drueke. Jesse Thiele pinned Isaac Hemenway in :59 in a 132-pound match. Connor Thomson, wrestling at 138 pounds, pinned Jack Barlow in 3:13. Landyn Veik won a 9-4 decision over Logan Kester. The Bobcats won...
Summerland grapplers finished 1-1 at Thursday’s Elkhorn Valley triangular. The Bobcats downed Nebraska Christian, 48-24. In the 132-pound division, Jesse Thiele pinned Jonah Green in :36 and, in the 152-pound division,Willis Mast won, by fall, in 2:25, over Prisca Mbutshitsi. It only took one minute for the 170-pound match, when AJ Hobbs pinned Cal Seip and, in an eight-second match, Kendrick Schroeder dominated Cooper Schnell in the 182-pound match. Bobcats picking up wins via forfeit i...
Four Bobcat wrestlers earned medals, Saturday, at the Summerland Bobcat Invite. Summerland finished seventh in team standings, scoring 67.5 points. South Sioux City claimed the top spot in the 15-team tourney, while Wisner-Pilger took home the runner-up trophy. Freshman Ethan Kester received the silver medal in the 126-pound class. He opened competition with a win, by fall, in 2:36, over Elgin Public/Pope John's Grady Drueke. In the semifinal, Kester pinned Aydan Kloppenborg, St. Mary's, in...
Powered by winning performances by the Thiele brothers, Summerland wrestlers finished third at Saturday's Elgin Public/Pope John Wrestling Invite. Plainview claimed the team title with 156 points. Guardian Angels Central Catholic scored 116 to take the runner-up spot. The Bobcats finished with 95 points. Wrestling in the 120-pound class, Alex Thiele went undefeated, recording five pins. He pinned Kaedean Schwarting, EPPJ, in :47; Summerland's Caden Mendoza, in :41; Blaise Kann, Norfolk...
Summerland wrestlers finished third in the gold division, Saturday, at the Battle Creek Duals meet. Lincoln Southwest won the purple championship division, with wins over Battle Creek and Schuyler. https://summerlandadvocatemessenger.zenfolio.com/p289253447 The Bobcats faced a tough Class A opponent in Lincoln Southwest. The Silver Hawks dominated, earning a 73-3 win. Ethan Kester picked up the lone win for Summerland, with a 6-0 decision over Ryder Kruse in the 126-pound class. Wrestling in...
Alex Thiele earned a gold medal and three additional Bobcat wrestlers returned home with hardware from Saturday's Howells-Dodge Invite. Summerland finished 10th overall, scoring 79 points. Wisner-Pilger claimed the team title, with 152 points. Tekamah-Herman, Madison, Oakland-Craig and Clarkson-Leigh rounded out the top five in the meet, which drew 20 teams. Thiele won four matches en route to the awards stand in the 120-pound division. He started with a win over Austin Hinkle, EPPJ, by fall,...
Summerland’s wrestling teams started the 2022-23 season at the Wisner-Pilger triangular. The girls’ team finished 1-1. In the first dual, the Lady Cats defeated W-P, 36-18, with Amor Zermeno, Lenora Kester, Ashley Melcher, Jadyn Hobbs, Emma Petersson and Raina Krebs winning matches by forfeit. Wayne squeaked past the Bobcats, 36-30. Summerland won matches in two classes. Lenora Kester pinned Macy Wilson, in :07, in the 115-pound division. Kester’s win set the school’s fastest pin record....
After scoring 54 points in the first half, Summerland maintained its lead over North Central, winning 54-8. The teams met on Bobcat Field, Thursday. Trevor Thomson carried the ball 15 times for 176 yards. Kendrick Schroeder added another 84 yards on the ground. Alec Schindler caught four passes for 58 yards. Defensively, Levi Cronk finished the contest with seven tackles. Trevor Thomson intercepted a pass and ran 25 yards for a touchdown. Willis Mast recovered a fumble. The win catapulted the...
In the first-ever Summerland Track and Field Invite, the Bobcat boys' team scored 125 points, winning the team title. St. Mary's finished second, with 98 points. Multiple athletes earned medals, including first-place wins by Trevor Thomson, Alec Schindler and the 4x100 relay team. Athletes competing and their placings include: Thomson: 100m, first, 11.19; Jaykwon Petite: 100m, sixth, 12.23; Schindler: 100m, seventh, 12.24; 300m hurdles, 1st, 46.25; triple jump, first, 38' 4.5"; Sam Cheatum:...
The Bobcat boys' track and field team tied for sixth place, with Hartington-Newcastle, at Thursday's Wausa Invite, held in Pierce. Both squads finished with 35 points. Pierce ended with 125 points, earning the top team award. Trevor Thomson continued his winning ways, bringing home three medals. He topped the field in the 100m and 200m dashes, winning in 11.21 and 23.55, respectively. The 4x100 relay team - Keegan Smith, Kendrick Schroeder, Trevor Thomson and Jaykwon Petite, ran 45.99. The time...
South Sioux City claimed the boys' team title at the O'Neill Track Invite, held April 12. Summerland scored 27 points, finishing seventh in the 11-team field. Trevor Thomson led the squad, earning gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. He cleared the tape in the 100m in 11.63, shaving .04 seconds off his preliminary race results. In the 200m, Thomson ran 22.83. Ainsworth's Carter Nelson edged past the Bobcat sprinter, with 22.74. Thomson, along with Jaykwon Petite, Kendrick Schroeder and...
Summerland's girls' track team finished fourth and the boys' team, fifth, at the North Central Track and Field Invite, held April 4, in Bassett. West Holt claimed the girls' title, scoring 112 points. Hadley Cheatum finished with three gold medals. She ran 1:04.23 in the 400m and set the pace in the 800m, finishing in 2:39.97. In the 300m hurdles, she ran 51.04 and picked up the gold medal. Other Bobcat performers and their placings include: Bailey Ahlers: high jump, fourth, 4' 8"; Aislynn...
Trevor Thomson kicked off the 2022 track and field campaign with two wins in short-distance races, Saturday, at the Wayne State College Invite. Thomson ran 11.25 to claim the 100m gold and sprinted the 200m in 23.4. Other Bobcat participants and placings include: Kendrick Schroeder: third, 100m, 11.95; sixth, 200m, 25.19; Keegan Smith: 10th, 100m, 12.34; third, long jump, 18'11"; Jaykwon Petite: 15th, 100m, 12.5; Anthony Ferris: 17th, 200m, 27.34; 10th, 400m, 1:03.13; Ruger Switzer: 17th, s00m,...
Summerland finished third in team standings at the Class D-2 wrestling district, held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12, at Pleasanton. Five wrestlers qualified for the state contest, including Keaton Thiele, 145; Alex Arroyo, 160; Colton Thiele, 195; Wyatt Chipps, 220 and Logan Mueller, 285. Coach Dan Roeber said, "The Bobcats represented very well. We have been lead all season by our four seniors and to have them all qualify was awesome! Logan Mueller earned gold at 285, with wins over...
It came down to the final match and, at the end, Elkhorn Valley scored one more point than the Summerland Bobcats to earn the 2022 Niobrara Valley Conference duals title. North Central finished third and Neligh-Oakdale, fourth. Against Summerland, the Falcons picked up wins in five middle-weight classes early in the dual. Alex Thiele dropped an 11-10 decision to Nathan Halsey in the 126 class, while Jesse Thiele was pinned by Zach Hartl, in four minutes, in the 132-pound division. The Bobcats...
Bobcat grapplers found success on the mat, Jan. 6, in Tilden, as they claimed two dual wins at the Elkhorn Valley triangular. The Falcons opened competition with a 44-30 win over Nebraska Christian. Summerland defeated NC, 58-12, in the second dual. Logan Mueller, Connor Thomson, Jesse Thiele, Logan Kester and AJ Hobbs won matches in their weight divisions. Willis Mast and Kendrick Schroeder both lost, by fall. In the final dual of the evening, the Bobcats scored 39 points, downing EV by 11 points. Earning wins were Connor Thomson, Alex Thiele...
