Journalism would like to recognize and congratulate the senior athletes in the winter sports of Basketball, Bowling, Swimming/Diving, Wrestling, Cheerleading and Dance Team.
BASKETBALL
Courtney J. Long
Courtney has played basketball at Marian all four years and volleyball for three years. As a senior, she was the volleyball team manager and the soccer team manager as a junior. She has been active in Campus Ministry and on the Ambassador (Recruitment) team. She is the sports section editor for the yearbook as a senior and was on the M-Beat broadcast team as junior. She is also a member of Quill and Scroll (the journalism honor society) and been on the Honor Roll. She will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall studying exercise science. Her parents are Joel and Lisa Long.
Sophie Shaffer
Sophie has played basketball at Marian for four years. She has been active in Campus Ministry, Operation Others and was also a JV soccer player for three years. Sophie is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alph Theta, the math honor society. She has helped lead her Class of 2023 as a class officer for all four years. She was nominated for the NSAA Believers and Achievers Award. Sophie plans to attend Creighton University on a pre-health track. Her parents are Cathi Shaffer and Chris Shaffer.
Ashley Wilwerding
Ashley has been involved in Marian Basketball and Volleyball all four years. She has played club basketball and volleyball and coached a Special Olympics team for Madonna School. In the academic world, Ashley is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. In the club corner, she has been active in CEO (Crusaders Elevating Others), Campus Ministry, Recruitment team, and Young Medicine Club. Her talents have been recognized by the Lincoln Journal Star’s All-Academic List and the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State. This year in volleyball Ashley received Honorable Mention Class A All-State and All Metro 3rd Team from the Omaha World Herald, Honorable Mention Class A All-State from the Lincoln Journal Star, and received the NCPA Academic All-State Award. Ashley intends to attend college at a yet-to-be-determined university studying in the field of pre-med. She is the daughter of Don and Angie Wilwerding.
BOWLING
Christina Pwoch Laa
Christina is participating in bowling for the first time as a senior. She has been active in the Spanish Club, Culinary Club and in LoLo’s Angels. Her plan after Marian graduation is to study something business related like international business or business and law. Christina’s parents are Aban and Jenty Laa.
Ella Mandolfo
Ella has been bowling for Marian for the last two years. She has been active in journalism, earning recognition in Quill & Scroll, the International Honor Society for High School Journalists for her work on the M-Beat Broadcast and as co-editor of the Yearbook. She is also a National Honor Society, a Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) and Rho Kappa (Social Studies Honor Society member. Ella intends to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln on a pre-dental track. Her parents are Joe Mandolfo and Kim Strazdas.
Allyson Ravnsborg
Ally is participating in bowling for the first time as a senior. In her time at Marian, she participated in volleyball for three years and Campus Ministry. Ally is a member of National Honor Society, Rho Kappa (Social Studies Honor Society) and Quill and Scroll (Journalism Honor Society). She has been active with Operation Others and is an AP Scholar. She is also a section editor of the yearbook and was on the M-Beat broadcast team as junior. She is undecided as to a college, but her major is most likely pre-PA. Her parents are Dr. BJ Ravnsborg & Dr. Michelle Ravnsborg.
SWIMMING/DIVING
Katy Foley
Katy has been swimming for the Marian swim team all four years. She is a NISCA All American, and is an ambassador for the recruitment team at Marian. She will be swimming at the University of Idaho and plans to major in criminal psychology. She is the daughter of Tom and Mary Foley.
Josie Hood
Josie has swam for Marian’s swim team all four years. She has won Outstanding Omaha Metro Swimmer of the Year and WOWT Athlete of the Week. In Her time at Marian, she has participated in National Honor Society and Crusaders Elevating Others. Josie will be swimming at the University of Iowa and will be studying either exercise science or nutrition. She is the daughter of James and Sara Hood
Lauren Mendlick
Lauren has swam for the Marian swim team all four years and played tennis all four years as well. She has many academic and athletic achievements. She was all academic state swimming 2021-2022, all academic all metro conference swimming 2021-2022, all academic metro conference tennis 2021-2022. She is also active in the National Honor Society, the Recruitment team, Crusaders Elevating Others, Big Sisters and is a member in the young medicine club. She will begin swimming at Saint Louis University in the fall studying health sciences. She is the daughter of Matt and Katie Mendlick
Claire Troshynski
Claire Troshynski is a four-year participant in Swimming/Diving and in Track and a three-year participant of Cross County. She lettered her sophomore and junior year in Cross Country and every year in Swimming/Diving. She has been a lifeguard and a swim team coach and has earned a CNA license through Nebraska Methodist College. Claire is a member of the National Honor Society and will be studying nursing at TCU, and possibly going through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) for the United States Air Force. She won the Nebraska State Championship Triathlon and placed 3rd in the Toyota Age Group National Championships and has been awarded the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State award. Claire is the daughter of Theresa and Troy Troshynski.
Brynn Ullerich
Brynn has participated for the Marian swim team the last three years. In her time at Marian she has been a part of the Polar Plunge all four years. Her junior years she was a Lolos Angels Junior Board member and her senior year, she is an officer that runs the Lolos Angel’s social media. She is also a core team leader of art club, a Burn literary arts magazine staff member, a recruitment team leader and works as a Starbucks barista. Brynn will be swimming at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania and is undecided on her major. She is the daughter of Brad Ullerich.
WRESTLING
Hillary Adovlo
Hillary has been involved in wrestling since Marian formed a team in the fall of 2021. She has also been active in Momentum Show Choir and in the instrumental strings program. She has been a retreat leader within Campus Ministry and is a member of the Fandom Club. Hillary plans to attend UNO, but says she may try to get into Hastings College for its wrestling program. She is the daughter of Kodjo Adovlo and Essi Adovlo.
Emily Javier-Lopez
Emily was also part of the school’s first wrestling team as a junior. She is a senior leader on the team. She has been an active volunteer at Franklin Elementary School. She is unsure of her college destination, but wants to study forensic science. She is the daughter of Micaela Lopez and Ruben Javier Garcia.
Gabrielle C. Johnston
Gabrielle was part of the inaugural wrestling team in the 21-22 season. As a senior on the team for her second year, she is competing in the varsity division. She participated in golf for three seasons at Marian and was a leader in Crusaders Elevating Others (CEO). As a sophomore she was a Peer2Peer leader. She plans to attend Creighton University and major in Neuroscience. She is the daughter of John Johnston and Christy Johnston.
Hathia Joseph
Hathia has been wrestling since the sport opened in Nebraska with the NSAA in the fall of 2021. She earned a varsity letter wrestling as a junior. Her plan after graduating from Marian is to hopefully wrestle in college, but she doesn’t know where or what she wants to study yet. Hathia’s mother is Margaret Paul.
Hailey Jolene Loneman
Hailey was also a part of the first wrestling team as a junior. She has also been a leader in the Coffee Club. She plans to attend the University of South Dakota to study kinesiology and sports management. She is the daughter of Juliann Loneman
Persephone M. Prochaska
Percy was part of the inaugural wrestling team as a junior. She earned first place at Districts last season and second place at Metros. She was one of two state qualifiers in the Crusader’s first season and earned the “Teammate of the Year” award and team captain status as a senior. She has also participated in Marian track as a thrower of discus and shot put. She is a leader in the school’s Sign Language Club and has been a Recruitment team member, a Peer2Peer leader and a Big Sister. She was on the Debate team for two years as well. She plans to wrestle through college and has committed to Hastings College. She will study secondary education. Her mother is Melissa Prochaska.
CHEER & DANCE TEAM
Jacqueline A. Blossom
Jacqueline started Marian on the Dance team but joined the Cheerleading Team as a sophomore. She is also a journalism student who worked on the M-Beat Broadcasts as a junior and is creating the 2023 Yearbook as a senior. Jacqueline hopes to attend Kansas University and plans to pursue a dental track while studying biology. Her parents are Tammy and Andrew Blossom.
Elizabeth De Smet
Elizabeth has been a cheerleader for three years. She was also involved in track and softball. Over her Marian years, she has been involved in many clubs such as Operation Others and Polar Plunge. She received a Pin-it-forward award and was chosen to be an All American Cheerleader at UCA Cheer Camp. Elizabeth plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and will study something in the business field. She is the daughter of Michele De Smet and Chris De Smet.
Grace Diers
Grace has been a cheerleader for all four years. She was also on the dive team as a freshman and sophomore. She is also a journalism student working as a section editor for the the 2023 Yearbook as a senior and was on the M-Beat broadcast team as junior. At this point, Grace is undecided on a college and a plan of study. Grace’s parents are Christina and Michael Diers.
Joie Ferrara
Joie has been involved in Cheer all four years of high school. She was a JV captain her sophomore year and is a varsity captain as a senior. She was part of the State Championship team as a junior. Joie is also a journalism student, being part of the M-Beat Broadcasting team as a junior and as a senior, is helping create the 2023 Yearbook, as well as being active in Operation Others and Big Sisters. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and major in pre-health. Joie’s parents are Rhonda and Joe Ferrara.
Beth Lilleskov
Beth has been involved in Cheerleading all four years at Marian. She is a two-time All American Cheerleader who has been active in Recruitment Team and in Campus Ministry. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to major in student elementary education with a minor in marketing. She also plans to try out for the Husker Cheer team this spring. Beth’s parents are Chriss Lilleskov and Scott Lilleskov.
Micahlyn Loucks
Micahlyn has been participating in cheer for three years. She is also active in the Select Women’s Choir. At this point, Micah is undecided on a school, but wants to study agricultural sciences at Oklahoma State, Wyoming or Montana State. Her parents are Patrick and Erin Loucks.
Lauren Patterson
Lauren has been participating in cheer for three years. She has been an active student at Marian with membership in the National Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, the Social Studies Honor Society (Rho Kappa), the National English Honor Society and the Math Honor Society (Mu Alph Theta). She has also been a retreat leader for sophomore retreat, freshman retreat and a shadow crew member. Lauren intends to study biology in a pre-dental or nursing track at Creighton University. She is the daughter of David Patterson and Angela Patterson.
Payton Jo Vosik
Payton has been on the Dance Team for all four years of high school. Payton has been a varsity captain for the last two years. She is also involved in Campus Ministry, Operation Others, Field Day Cheer and Big Sisters. She has been recognized by the National Science Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the National Honor Society and the school’s Honor Roll. She plans to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson in the fall to study business or exercise science. Payton’s parents are Andrew and Stephanie Vosik.
Lydia L. Wagner
Lydia has been a Cheerleader all four years of high school. She was a Recruitment Team member and has been honored with membership in Rho Kappa (the Social Studies Honor Society), the National Science Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to study pre-med or communicative sciences and disorders. Two careers she is particularly interested in are occupational therapy or speech language pathology. Her parents are Susan and Vance Wagner.
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