MaeveWharton and AlenaKehm

After months of miles on the course, track, and in the Keystone neighborhood, the Marian cross country team has brought home the highest honor in high school sports: a state championship title.

The state squad—Harper Cowles ‘27, Maya Freyer ‘28, Lena Sebata ‘28, Julia Kubat ‘29, Reese Lancaster ‘29, Elizabeth Morgan ‘29 and Tatum Houghton ‘29—was composed of a majority of underclassmen, which proved a challenge headed into state.

“There was a dynamic shift this year,” Freyer said, “for example, I was the only one who had ever run in districts before.”

“Our team is really young. We don’t have much experience,” said Cowles, the sole upperclassman on the state team.

The varsity team has not seen success on this scale since their state five-peat from 2003-2007. However, after a fifth place finish at state in 2024, the team returned this year hungry for more.

Freyer and Cowles agree that the team’s success can be attributed to two factors: diligent work in the preseason and new talent on the team. 

“We put in so many miles this summer,” Cowles said. Cowles personally exceeded 600 miles this summer, running more than seven miles each day on average. This training laid the foundation for the team’s state victory.

On Oct. 24, Marian cross country headed to state in Kearney, NE. They won state by 15 points, a clean sweep in cross country terms. Additionally, individual medalists included Freyer, 8th, and Lancaster, 9th, in a field of more than 100 runners. 

“It was so fun to race surrounded by a team that I love,” said Freyer. Notably, around 20 Marian girls showed up to support the team, despite the three-hour drive.

Cowles, elated by the victory, said she “feel[s] incredibly proud of this team… there’s no one more deserving than us.”

A trophy ceremony on Oct. 27 celebrated the team’s victory and presented Dr. Susie Sullivan and Mrs. Michele Ernst with the state trophy.  

“It’s just the best feeling to know your hard work and dedication has paid off and been recognized by others,” Freyer said. 

With a young team full of talented runners, Marian cross country is sure to continue its winning streak in years to come.

I’s not easy winning state golf in Nebraska. But Marian’s golf team did just that, and more. 

After securing an undefeated regular season record, and the new title of back-to-back state champions, the Crusaders feel they’ve earned the right to call the 2025 season a success.

At the two-day state tournament, the Crusaders were victorious by a landslide, ending 33 strokes ahead of the Class A runners up, Westside.

 Junior Lucy Peterson led the charge placing fifth in the state overall. Peterson was closely followed by juniors Lauren Murnan and Delaney Schmitz who tied for seventh, Leah Wisdom who placed tenth, and Sloan Mackintosh who placed twelfth overall. 

Although the season ended well, the road to state wasn’t always easy. Despite last year’s state victory, this year started with uncertainty for the Crusaders.

 “We didn’t know how the season was going to go,” Peterson said.   

Last year’s team was led to victory by Madison Murnan. This year, the team’s leadership looked a bit different. “I think that the juniors really stepped up this year as captains on varsity,” Peterson said. “We lead our team to victory by stepping up our game and filling in a spot that was lost.”

Madison may have graduated, but her legacy lives on in both her younger sister, Lauren, who has been a part of both the 2024 and 2025 the state winning teams, and in Marian golf as a whole.  

The team had a fruitful regular season, winning all six of their tournaments. Their only defeat occurred in Metros, but thanks to their chemistry as a team, the loss didn’t phase them. “I think that this year the team really bonded well,” Peterson said. The Crusaders used that bond and went on to win districts and state.  

On Oct. 15, the Marian community celebrated the golfers with a championship pep rally. At the event, Coach Robert Davis recognized each of the girls on the team, and the student body participated in a much deserved rendition of the fight song. 

  Although the five varsity golfers were the only ones to compete in the state tournament, “the whole team contributed to the victory, not just varsity,” Peterson said.