*Due to an editorial error, the Wayne softball article was left out of this week's paper. We apologize for the error.
After earning a wildcard into the Class C District round, the Wayne High softball season came to close two wins shy of state.
From the DC West Sports Complex in Valley on Oct. 9, the C-7 District showcased a best two-of-three format.
The host #7 seed DC West Falcons won game one over #10 Wayne High in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth, 5-4 before taking game two, 8-3.
The Blue Devils end their season at 15-12.
District leaders were Kinnley McGuire with four singles and four RBI while Ayvree Abler posted the lone extra base-hit being a triple.
Anna Dutcher totaled two runs scored.
McGuire started both games working nine and two-thirds allowing nine runs (six earned) off 15 hits while striking out four batters, walking four and hitting two.
Alyssa Bargholz appeared in one game working four and two-thirds allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out four batters and hitting two.
Wayne High will only graduate one player being senior Lily Gubbels who played first base this season.
With a final tune-up race ahead of district action, the Wayne High girls and boys cross country program was represented during the Mid State Conference meet on Oct. 8.
From Lakeview Golf Course in Crofton, the Wayne girls were crowned conference champs with 23 points while the Blue Devil boys took fifth (54 pts).
In the girls division, four conference medalists were led by Tayla Hurner with runner-up finish in 19:53.8 followed by Hadley Dunklau (fourth - 21:00.9).
Additional Mid State medals were awarded to Elizabeth Hix (seventh - 21:27.8) and Sarah Kuchta (10th - 21:49.2).
During boys action, Emmanuel Gonzalez collected a sixth place medal (18:00.4) followed by Landen Claussen (13th - 18:29.1).
A total of 17 Wayne Junior High girls and boys cross country runners took over the 3,000-meter state championship course.
From Walnut Creek hosted by Papillion-LaVista South on Oct. 10, the Blue Devils had seven girls and six boys run in the Class C/D Championship race while four girls competed in the Open Race.
As a team, the Wayne seventh and eighth grade girls posted a third place finish (18 teams) with 93 points in the championship race being led by a 23rd place medal from Samantha Nexticapan Hernandez (13:07.7).
During boys championship action, Wayne JH finished 29th with 470 points with 31 teams in action.
Among the 244 runners, the Blue Devils were led by Jack Wieland (141st - 13:20) followed by Aiden Kesting (175th - 13:56.5).
Four days separated a pair of matches for Wayne High late in the volleyball season.
First from the Wayne High gymnasium one last time on Oct. 8, the Blue Devils swept Crofton (25-12, 25-13, 25-8) and then on Oct. 13, secured a 3-0 sweep at Summerland (25-16, 28-26, 25-12).
Wayne High is now 18-8 on the season.
Home match leaders for Wayne were Alexis Legler with 10 kills and two blocks (one solo) followed by Lilly Redden with nine kills and 11 digs.
Mallory Redden dished out 28 assists as Addison Frank (three aces) recorded a team-high 15 digs.
A fourth home contest took over Oct. 9 for the Wayne High football team with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
From Bob Cunningham Field on the campus of Wayne State College, the host Blue Devils dropped their fourth straight falling 42-7 against Columbus Lakeview.
Wayne is now 1-6 on the season.
The Blue Devils were able to avoid the home shutout following an 11-yard connection between Easton Endicott and Angel Vargas Brizuela late in the fourth quarter.
Find the complete information in the October 15 edition in The Wayne Herald or subscribe today by clicking here.
