A top 10 team finish and top 20 individual finish was showcased for Laurel-Concord-Coleridge girls cross country during the 2026 NSAA State XC Championships.
From the Kearney Country Club on Oct. 23, the LCC girls finished eighth among 18 Class D teams totaling 85 points.
Senior Faith Galvin was the top finisher for the Bears placing 17th (21:19.7). She was about seven seconds from the medal stand.
Following a state runner-up finish last year in their first-ever trip to state as Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, the Bears are now one district final win from returning to Lincoln.
Fresh off a Greater Northeast Activities Conference gold medal, LCC started a new week by hosting the Class C2-4 Subdistrict tourney.
On Oct. 22 in Tilden during the GNAC finals, #1 LCC had to use extra points in the fifth and survived a five-set thriller against #2 Elkhorn Valley (25-16, 25-16, 20-25, 24-26, 17-15).
Then moving into postseason play, #1 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge made quick work of #4 Boyd County (25-11, 25-10, 25-18) on Oct. 26 before the Bears swept #2 Ponca (25-21, 25-12, 25-21) the following night.
LCC will take a 19-match winning streak and an overall record of 30-3 into the district final round.
GNAC championship double-doubles were posted by Rena Rasmussen with 22 kills and 20 digs along with Kaida Eriksen (four service aces) with 21 kills and 27 digs.
In the subdistrict semifinal victory, Eriksen recorded a second double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs to go along with three blocks (one solo) and two aces.
Thanks to her dig performance against Boyd County, Eriksen surpassed 1,000 career digs.
The District final round is set for Oct. 31 as #3 LCC will entertain #14 Hershey (18-13) at 1 p.m. during the C2-3 District final.
A 14-8 fourth quarter favored the host Bears to seal a district title and improve on their seeding into round one of the Class D2 playoff bracket.
From Laurel on Oct. 23, the Class D2-2 District title was on the line and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge finished strong to win 26-24 over Howells-Dodge.
LCC won their sixth straight to improve to 8-1 while the Jaguars saw their four-game winning streak snapped falling to 7-2.
Paxton Hoeppner completed 9-of-20 for 112 yards with two touchdowns.
Tanner Thompson surpassed 100 yards with 12 carries for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Drey Puppe caught both touchdown passes for three of his total receptions finishing with 51 yards. He added four rushes for 72 yards and a third touchdown.
Six players were credited with double digit tackles being led by Parker Hoeppner with 20 (eight solo) and an interception as well as Dayton Korth with 16 tackles and three tackles for loss (eight solo).
Class D2 first round playoff action will open on Oct. 30 as #3 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge will host #14 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (6-3) with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
Find the complete information in the October 29 edition in The Wayne Herald or subscribe today by clicking here.
