Record-setting Omaha Westside, defending champions Norris, Kearney Catholic and Overton all will defend titles at state golf tournament
By Tony Chapman
For the Nebraska School Activities Association
The teams and faces at the Nebraska School Activities Association’s two-day state golf meet will look very familiar at the four 2025 events this week. Three of the four golf courses, however, will be new host sites when play begins at 9:00 AM local time on Wednesday.
After a long run in Norfolk in Class A, the state’s biggest class will move to Kearney Country Club – longtime host of the NSAA State Cross Country Championships – where two-time defending champion Omaha Westside appears poised for a third straight title. Class B remains in the Scottsbluff, Gering rotation at Monument Shadows in Gering with defending champion Norris one of the teams in a tight race.
Class C heads back to Grand Island’s Jackrabbit Run Golf Course where defending champion Kearney Catholic has eyes on a third straight state title. Class D moves to Columbus’ Quail Run, where Overton who has won two of the past three state championships.
Up to date championship information will be delivered via the NSAA Golf Championship Central page. Championship play will be over 36 holes and medals are awarded to the top-15 and ties in each class.
CLASS A: Westside looks for third straight title
If there was any doubt that Omaha Westside was intent on winning a third consecutive Class A state championship it was promptly erased last Monday at the A-1 district meet at Miracle Hills in Omaha.
The Warriors shot a state record 272 in winning the tournament by 31 shots over second place Lincoln Southwest. In the process, reigning US Junior Amateur champion Trevor Gutschewski shot an 8-under 64.
It was just the start of a 1, 2, 3, 5 finish for coach Jered Hellman’s team.
“We, obviously, played very, very well,” said Hellman, in his third year as head coach. “This group has just done a great job all season long of staying focused and being team first. I am just trying to give them all the tools I can to help them reach their goals.”
The Warriors added a 67 from sophomore Tye Treadwell, a 69 from senior Christopher Whittle with Knox Pocras shooting 72 for Westside’s total. Heading to the state tournament, the Warriors lead the Class A differential by just under seven shots over Lincoln Southeast.
It’s the Knights, with 2022 individual champion Thomas Bryson, who are a lead chaser to Westside’s bid followed by the other two district champions, Omaha Creighton Prep and Lincoln East. Southeast also went 1, 2, 3, 5 in their district for a 286 total.
The four teams finished in that same order at last year’s meet, with Westside having to come from behind to repeat with a second-day 7-under 281.
Knowing they had to come back and the change in venue to a shorter golf course in Kearney has Hellman believing that it could bunch up the field, making the Warriors job even more difficult.
“I think it’s a golf course where you can have some eagles, maybe a bunch of them,” Hellman said, “but you might also have some double bogies as well so you could see some wild swings in team scores.”
The other elephant in the room is Gutschewski.
He’s a Florida commit who prepped for this week’s tournament with a trip to Oakmont in Pittsburgh as he is exempt into the US Open next month. But, he has never won this tournament, finishing second last May. He has balanced his high school season, while also playing a national schedule on the USGA Junior Development Team.
“The rare thing about Trevor is has never once talked about winning this tournament for himself,” Hellman said. “He has always been about the team, he’s just never wavered from that being his ultimate goal. He loves being around these guys.”
District Team Champions: Omaha Westside, Lincoln Southeast, Creighton Prep, Lincoln East.
Other Team Qualifiers: Elkhorn South, Kearney ,Lincoln Southwest, Millard South, Millard West, Norfolk, Papillon-La Vista, Papillon-La Vista South.
District Individual Champions: Trevor Gutschewski (Omaha Westside), Thomas Bryson (Lincoln Southeast), Thomas Kelley (Creighton Prep), Koji Kitabatake (Kearney).
Returning Medalists: Kelley (Creighton Prep), Carson Kildow (Lincoln North Star), Thomas Bryson (Lincoln Southeast, 2022 champion), Owen Tucker (Lincoln Southeast), Gutschewski, Tye Treadwell (Omaha Westside), Christopher Whittle (Omaha Westside).
Golf Course: Kearney Country Club | 2800 19th Ave., Kearney, NE 68845 | Host professional: Turner Ham | Yardage: 6,115 yards | Par: 71 | Website
CLASS B: Individual and team titles up for grabs at Monument Shadows
In the first year of the Class B moving to scoring differential, the gap between the top teams is narrow. It could lead to an exciting – and very competitive – tournament at Gering’s Monument Shadows.
Lincoln Pius X, down a class after finishing 10th in Class A last season, leads the differential going into state and won their district at Firethorn last week with a 323 team score that just edged Lincoln Christian at 327. York (B-2), defending champion Norris (B-3) and Elkhorn North (B-4) were the other district champions.
No district showed the parity and competitiveness in the class more than the B-2 at York Country Club. York junior Jaxson Hinze fired a 65 to lead the Dukes to a 319 and team win for their lowest score of the season. They were the seventh seed – on differential – in the district. The next five teams, with qualifiers Mt. Michael Benedictine and Elkhorn – were separated by 10 shots.
The best scoring came at Pioneers in Lincoln and Jackrabbit Run in Grand Island.
In Lincoln, Norris shot a 299 to edge Bennington by eight shots with Waverly 13 behind at 312. The Titans put three in the top-10 led by sophomore Landon Moore’s 72.
In Grand Island, Scottsbluff’s Noah Shaddick carded a 4-under par 68 to edge Elkhorn North senior Tyler Nietfeldt by a shot. Those two tied for third last year and are the top returning players in the tournament. The Wolves edged Scottsbluff – the fourth seed – 302-303 in the team race with McCook also qualifying at 306.
In all, 10 of the 12 team qualifiers and seven medalists from last season return this year to the state meet.
District Team Champions: Lincoln Pius X, York, Norris, Elkhorn North,
Other Team Qualifiers: Adams Central, Bennington, Elkhorn, Mt. Michael Benedictine, Lincoln Christian, McCook, Scottsbluff, Waverly.
District Individual Champions: Francis Dawson (Lincoln Pius X), Jaxson Hinze (York), Reid Thornberg (Bennington), Noah Shaddick (Scottsbluff).
Returning Medalists: Kale Lamberty (Bennington), Andrew Nietfeldt (Elkhorn North), Tyler Nietfeldt (Elkhorn North), William Barth (Gretna East), Reid Loop (McCook), Shaddick, Hinze.
Golf Course: Monument Shadows Golf Course | 2550 Clubhouse Drive, Gering NE 69341 | Host professional: Robert Thomason | Yardage: 6,544 yards | Par: 72 | Website
CLASS C: Archbishop Bergan, Norfolk Catholic to challenge Stars three-peat hopes
Archbishop Bergan golf coach Chris Rainforth makes no bones about who the favorite will be when the Class C golf tournament moves to Jackrabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island.
“I don’t think anyone would argue that Kearney Catholic is a heavy favorite,” Rainforth said. “When you return most of your team from two state championship teams you probably should be (the favorite).”
Despite that, the Knights will be one of the top teams chasing as they defeated KC earlier this season by four shots at the Centennial Conference meet at Quail Run in Columbus. Star standout Nash Malone, however, did not play in the meet which has been a sort of state meet preview for quite awhile.
The Class C champion has come from the conference each year since 2014.
“Our conference, obviously, has a history of being very competitive,” Rainforth said. “It seems like golf is no different. But we don’t see teams like Kearney Catholic and GICC too much. When we do, we know it will be a good measuring stick for us.”
At districts, Bergan had four in the top-10 at the C-2 district at Beemer’s Indian Trails and posted a team score of 323. Junior Dalton Kumm led the way with a second place 76, with freshman Jackson Luebbe and sophomores Trey Mooney and Boston Bojanski also medaling.
Norfolk Catholic, led by freshman medalist William Brockhaus as district medalist, had the lowest team score in district play with a 309 at Fair Play Golf Course.
The defending champions tallied a 321 at Indianhead in Grand Island in cold, blustery conditions. They beat St. Paul – a team with no seniors – by 10 shots. Tate Redinger was third with a 76, but the Stars depth shined, with no golfer above 85.
In all, nine medalists return from last year’s weather-shortened meet at Columbus’ Elks Country Club. Only one of those, however, Peyton Penrose of West Point-Beemer won a district title last week.
Kearney Catholic’s Nash Malone was second last year to then-St. Paul senior Sam Wells and Doniphan-Trumbull’s Jett Hollister third. The Stars also have returning medalist’s Redinger and Jackson Dunham, who was the 2023 state champion.
District Team Champions: Amherst, Archbishop Bergan, Exeter-Milligan/Friend, Kearney Catholic, Norfolk Catholic.
Other Team Qualifiers: Battle Creek, Bishop Neumann, Grand Island Central Catholic, Lincoln Lutheran, Logan View, Oakland-Craig, Ogallala, Perkins County, Pender, St. Paul.
District Individual Champions: Carter Milton (Exeter-Milligan/Friend), Peyton Penrose (West Point-Beemer), William Brockhaus (Norfolk Catholic), Jadyn Friesen (Sutton), Rylan Gilmore (Ogallala).
Returning 2024 Medalists: Penrose, Jett Hollister (Doniphan-Trumbull), Jack Alberts (Grand Island Central Catholic), Creighton Friesen (Heartland), Jackson Dunham (Kearney Catholic, 2023 champion), Nash Malone (Kearney Catholic), Tate Redinger (Kearney Catholic), Zaybreon Hansen (Perkins County), Friesen (11th in Class D), Brody Rogers (Tekameh-Herman).
Golf Course: Jackrabbit Run Golf Course | 2800 North Shady Bend Road, Grand Island, NE 68801 | Club Manager: Sadonna Manfull | Yardage: 6,620 yards | Par: 72 | Website
CLASS D: Defending champion Overton, up to five others in team race
Half of the Class D medalists were seniors in 2024, with individual champion Jake Dane of Sandy Creek graduating and returning champion Overton graduating two medalists. That scenario gives the Class D team race a new look this year in addition to a new venue at Quail Run in Columbus.
Overton still figures to be a factor, however, as they were third in the most competitive district in the class at Johnson Lake. The Eagles 345 was the fifth best team score in district play, but trailed Hi-Line (334) and Loomis (345) on the day.
The lowest score came from North Central who fired a 323 at Ainsworth last week that included a 70 from sophomore Keian Fischer – the lowest district score in the state. The Knights had four medalists on the day.
Behind Overton last year was Hitchcock County (3rd in the D-5), Archangels Catholic (3rd in D-2) and Loomis. The Wolves were in third after the first day last year and medaled three golfers at districts – Tyson Essex (3rd at state in 2024), Gavin Norris and Luke Larson. Hi-Line had two in the top-10, led by Zach Whitaker’s 75 that finished second.
District Team Champions: Johnson-Brock, Creighton, North Central, Hi-Line, North Platte St. Patrick’s.
Other Team Qualifiers: Archangels Catholic, Bloomfield, Chambers/Wheeler Central, Deshler, Hitchcock County, Loomis, Neligh-Oakdale, Overton, Sandy Creek, Sutherland.
District Individual Champions: Brody Koehler (Johnson-Brock), Calvin Wilmes (Creighton), Keian Fischer (North Central), Houston Billeter (Southwest), Brayden Melchert (Hitchcock County).
Returning 2024 Medalists: Andrew Kosch (Archangels Catholic), William Jesse (Chambers/Wheeler Central), Jack Baker (Hitchcock County), Melchert, Tyson Essex (Loomis).
Golf Course: Quail Run Golf Course | 327 South 5th Street, Columbus, NE 68601 | Host Professional: Brent McGrew | Yardage: 6,576 yards | Par: 72 | Website
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His weekly Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.