Journalism students salute the seniors on the spring sports teams. We also urge you all to attend the Senior Night events:
• Track and Field seniors will be celebrated on April 2 at Creighton Prep. Announcements will be at approximately 3:15 p.m. after the 3200m run.
• Soccer seniors will be celebrated at the home game on April 22.
• Tennis seniors will be celebrated at the home match on April 28.

TRACK & FIELD

Kelsey Asselin started participating in Track and Field in sixth grade. This is her second year on the Marian Track and Field team. She has been an active member of Marian’s athletic community, participating in both the Basketball and Soccer programs from her freshman through junior years. During the spring of her junior year, she competed in Track and Field  instead of Soccer. In addition to athletics, she has been involved in several extracurricular activities, including Young Medicine Club and Operation Others, demonstrating her commitment to both leadership and service within the school community. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she will major in communication studies with a focus on digital media. Her parents are Carrie and Chris Asselin.

Eleri Bredehoeft started her Track and Field experience in sixth grade and has been on the Marian team for all four years. She started playing softball at age 6 and has been in the Softball program for four years. In the 2022-23 school year, she was awarded her first Varsity Letter in Track & Field. In the 2023-24 school year, she was awarded her first Varsity Softball letter, and was later awarded an Outstanding Track & Field Athlete for being on the Varsity team. In the 2024-25 school year she joined CEO (Crusaders Elevating Others). She was again recognized as an Outstanding Track & Field Athlete. She qualified for State Track & Field in Discus. She went in ranked 13th and finished the meet ranked 10th. Eleri has committed to the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas to be a thrower for the Track and Field team. She will study physical therapy. Eleri is the daughter of Emily Volkert and Steve Volkert.

Nyapuka Buop joined the Track and Field team as a junior. At Marian, Nyapuka is a part of the Board of Belonging and serves as President. She is also part of National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society and has been part of the Model UN club for two years. In her college career, Nya hopes to study economics and international issues with a minor in Spanish in her pursuit of becoming a diplomat. Her parents are Nywal Koryom and Gach Buop.

Paige Dillon  has been participating in Track and Field since seventh grade. This is her fourth year on Marian’s team and she serves the team as a captain. She is involved in Hearts of Marian, Campus Ministry (retreat leader and EMHC), National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, and Rho Kappa, the Social Studies Honor Society. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and she is undecided in her major.
Her parents are Carisa and Matt Dillon.

Kate Efaw has joined the Track and Field team as a senior. At school she is one of the senior production editors for the Marian M-Beat Broadcast and she is involved in the Yoga Club, Paw Project and Culinary Club. She has been on the Honor Roll and is a member of the Social Studies Honor Society, Rho Kappa. She will be studying psychology at Creighton University. Kate is the daughter of Heather Matthies.

Magdelynn Frankenfield is enjoying her first year on the Track and Field team. She has been involved in Campus Ministry all four years as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior Retreat Leader and participated in the Dominican Republic service immersion trip. Magdelynn has been part of National Honor Society. She was a team manager for basketball her Sophomore and Junior years. Magdelynn played Lacrosse her Sophomore and Junior years as well. She has also been involved in Young Medicine Club, Big Sisters, Marian Ambassadors, Peer to Peer Leaders, and Paw Project Club. Magdelynn is still deciding where she will attend college in the fall. She plans to study business administration on the pre-health track. She is the daughter of Debra and Stephen Frankenfield. 

Kennedy Lynn Grace has been on the Track and Field team for all four years. During this time she was on the 4x100m relay team that broke a Marian school record. Kennedy has also lettered in Varsity Wrestling, breaking a school record for escapes. Kennedy has been a member of Marian Step Team, an Ambassador, a selected member of the Hope Squad and an active member of the Black Student Leadership Council. Kennedy will be attending Langston University, a Historically Black College, located in Oklahoma, where she will study kinesiology science. Kennedy will also be a member of  the university’s cheerleading team. Kennedy is the daughter of Keon Davison-Grace and Eddie Grace. 

Alena Kehm has been on the Track and Field team for all four years. She has also been playing volleyball since third grade. Alena is a Class Officer, secretary of National Honor Society, and is the co-managing editor of the award-winning Marian student Network newspaper. She has also been active in Crusaders Elevating Others (CEO), Marian Ambassadors, Big Sisters, Debate, National English Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Marian’s Chapter of Quill and Scroll, the Journalism Honor Society and Campus Ministry. Alena represented Marian on a service trip to the Dominican Republic.  Alena is undecided on where she will go to college, but plans to major in journalism. She is the daughter of Paula and Joseph Kehm.

Brooklyn Kincaid has been on the Track and Field team for all four years and played Softball all four years. She earned Softball Honorable Mention in the Class A Omaha World Herald three times and got both an Honorable Mention and made First Team twice in the Lincoln Journal Star. She is involved in the Young Medicine Club, Polar Plunge, Paw Project Club, Hearts of Marian and Hiking Club. She was part of Crusaders Elevating Others (CEO) for two years and has been a Marian Ambassador for all four years. She was part of the State Championship Softball team in 2022. She is committed to South Dakota State University where she will be playing softball. She will major in nursing and minor in Spanish. She is the daughter of Dawn and Joel Kincaid.

Audrey Morey has been part of the Track and Field team since freshman year. Audrey has been involved in Campus Ministry, Alter Serving, FIAT, Ambassadors, Broadcasting, Operation Others, Paw Project, Young Medicine Club, and Yoga Club. Throughout her years at Marian she has received a multi-activity award, a 3-sport athlete award, and honor roll awards. Audrey will be running track at Benedictine College next year and studying elementary education. Her parents are Sarah and Tracy Morey.

Giovanni Nyamedi has been on the Track and Field team since her junior year. She played JV Tennis for her first two years here at Marian and she has played tennis since she was 4. She is involved in Young Medicine Club and is a member of the Executive Board of the Black Student Leadership Council. Giovanni is currently undecided on a college location, but she wants to attend a HBCU called Prairie View A&M University in Texas. She wants to study psychology on the pre-med track and become a PA. Giovanni is the daughter of Mehele Mensah and Kwami Nyamedi.

Emiyah Kejanae Pettis started her Track and Field experience in seventh grade and has been on the Marian team for three years. She is a member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. Emiyah is also the social media manager for the Board of Belonging, an Ambassador, and a member of BSLC (Black Student Leadership Council). Emiyah plans to attend Creighton University and major in psychology on the pre-occupational therapy track. She is the daughter of Michaela Gunter.

Claire Pogge is starting her Track and Field career this spring as a senior. Claire is a Class Officer and a managing editor of Burn literary/arts magazine which has won awards at both the state and national level. She is also a member of National Honor Society. In addition to track, Claire has been a part of the Marian Golf and Soccer teams, both as a player and a team manager. Next year, Claire is attending Auburn University where she will study building sciences. Her parents are Erin and Joe Pogge.

Sarah Yiel has been on the Track and Field team for all four years. Sarah broke two school records in the 100m hurdles and high jump. She has participated in Volleyball and Basketball her freshman year as well as participating in Model United Nations, Step Club and was an Ambassador. Sarah wants to study in public relations and is undecided on where she wants to go to college. She is also deciding whether or not she wants to run in college. She is the daughter of Nya and Chuol Yiel. 

Faridah Zouladeny began participating in Track and Field as a senior, but she started running as a ninth grader and has been in Marian’s Cross Country program all four years. Faridah has succeeded in multiple honors/AP classes like AP Psychology, AP Human Geography, AP Biology, H French, H Independent Research, and H Academic Decathlon. She is a member of the Young Medicine Club and an active volunteer at the CHI Health Center. Next year, she plans to major in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry while pursuing the pre-med track. Faridah’s parents are Balkissa and Harouna Zouladeny.

*All Track and Field team member photos were taken by Marian Yearbook Section Editor Macy Preheim, unless otherwise noted. Track and Field team manager photos were taken by senior portrait photographers.

TRACK & FIELD TEAM MANAGERS

Eliora Agbenohevi is helping manage the Track and Field team this year for the first time. At Marian she has been named to the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. She is the current president of the Black Student Leadership Council and is a member of the Burn literary/arts magazine staff. Eliora is undecided on where she is going to school but is planning to major in Psychology or Nursing on the Pre-Med track. She is the daughter of Marie Nyamedi. 

Ashley Franklin serves the Track and Field program as a Team Manager for the first time as a senior. She has been involved in BSLC (Black Student Leadership Council) since her sophomore year at Marian. She plans on majoring in Psychology at Lincoln University of Missouri. Her parents are Dawn and Paul Franklin.

Josie Piernicky participated in Track and Field in middle school and joined the Marian program as a Team Manager her senior year.  She was part of the Marian Volleyball program all four years. Josie is a member of the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa (National Social Studies Honor Society) and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society). Josie is attending Kansas State University and majoring in engineering with a minor in business. Her parents are Jaime and Michael Piernicky.

Isabella Valencia-Valbuena competed in Track and Field from sixth grade to junior year. This year she serves as a Team Manager. Isabella has been a part of National Honor Society, dance captain for two years in Momentum show choir but has  participated all four  years, National French Honor Society, senior retreat leader, sophomore retreat leader, theater productions for four years, president of the Youth Alzheimer’s Association and speaker liaison for the Young Medicine Club. Isabella plans to double major in biology and French on the pre-med track at Creighton University. Her parents are Jorge Valencia and Luisa Valbuena

Soccer (Senior Night is April 22)

Individual Soccer photos by Emma Kay Photography

Hayden R.  Blaney started playing soccer when she was 4. She has been playing Marian Soccer for four years. Hayden is a part of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, Burn Magazine, Marian Network sports page editor, Polar Plunge Club, and a tutor. She is planning on going to the University of Nebraska at Omaha to study Criminal Justice and continue playing soccer. She is the daughter of Kelly and Aaron Blaney.

Paige Jolie Miller started playing soccer when she was 3. She has been playing Marian soccer and basketball for four years. She has been recognized with membership in the Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society), National Science Honor Society, and the National English Honor Society. She is a Marian Ambassador, and a member of Young Medicine Club, and the Crusaders Elevating Others Leadership group. She has earned many athletic honors at Marian: 2024 and 2025 Soccer Superstate team, 2023 All-Class All-State 2nd team, 2025 Metro Soccer Honorary Captain, 2025 Academic All-State team, and 2023, 2024, 2025 Basketball Honorable Mention. She will be playing soccer next fall at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and plans to major in biology or biochem on the pre-med track. Paige is the daughter of Jenny and Jeff Miller.

Natalia Joelle Waller has been playing soccer since she was 4 and has been playing for Marian for four years. She is a part of the staff for the yearbook and was accepted into the National Honor Society. She has made the Honor Roll for three years and has been an ambassador for four years. She volunteers at TOP Soccer, Open Door Mission and the Salvation Army. During the year 2023-24, she was recognized as MVP for club soccer. She was in the Step Club for three years and in the Young Medicine Club for two years. She made the Olympic Development Program interregional showcase, and in 2022-23 made runner-up on the Nebraska High School Performance Index Championship. Nat’s plans after Marian are to become a dental hygienist studying under the major in dental hygiene. She will be achieving an associate or bachelor’s degree at the school she committed to for soccer: University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she will stay for the years needed, and then transfer to UNMC or another dental school. Her parents are Tasha and Andre Waller.

Cleo Washington started playing soccer in first grade and has been on the Marian team for four years. She has been a class officer all four years, and a member of Hope Squad, Ambassadors and Big Sisters. She was also named an Omaha Optimist Student of the Month. Cleo plans to play soccer at Iowa Western and major in business. Her parents are Nikki and Travis Washington.

Kamryn Wray has been playing soccer since age 4. She has been on the Varsity Soccer team for four years, earning Academic All-State 2025 honors, World Herald Honorable Mention and the Varsity Captain role.  She served as the Varsity Basketball team manager this past season. She has been recognized with membership in the National Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, and the National Spanish Honor Society. She is also active in Campus Ministry, Big Sisters and Hiking Club. Kamryn plans on going to Drake University to play soccer and study nursing in hopes to become a labor and delivery nurse. She is the daughter of Lynn and Kenneth Wray.

Tennis (Senior Night is April 28)
Individual photos by Paige Lee Photography

Aziza Akshalova has been playing tennis since she was 6. She has been playing at Marian for two years as an international student from Kazakhstan. It’s her second year here in the US. She ran cross country her junior year. Last year, because of NSAA rules, she played on the JV tennis team. After Marian, she is probably going back to Kazakhstan to continue her college education at home. For now, she doesn’t know exactly what she wants to study. She is the daughter of Murat Akshalov and Almira Bekmurzina. 

Sarah Egan has been playing tennis since she could walk. This is her fourth year in the Marian Tennis program. Throughout her high school years at Marian, Sarah has been a part of the Operation Others Core Team, Burn literary/arts magazine staff, Yearbook staff, Crusaders Elevating Others, Campus Ministry retreat leader, Model UN Club leader, and National Honor Society Member. Sarah will attend Colgate University to study psychological science. She is the daughter of Kim and Tom Egan.

Reese Eggers (Team Manager) has just joined the tennis program as a Team Manager as a senior. Throughout her four years at Marian, Reese has participated in National Honor Society, Section Editor of Yearbook, Burn literary/arts magazine staff, President of FBLA, Model United Nations Leader, Be.Marian, Head EMHC and retreat leader. Reese plans to attend Indiana University and major in business management.  She is the daughter of Jim and Kelli Eggers.

Feel free to leave a comment of GOOD LUCK to our senior spring athletes!

Good Luck this season, Cruaders!