Well, just like the Girls State Basketball Tournament, the Boys State Tournament will see coaches, referees, and players who have ties back to the KBRX area.
KBRX will be covering the St. Mary’s Cardinals and the Elgin Public Pope John Wolfpack at this year’s tournament, and both coaching staffs have local ties.
Luke Bulau, an O’Neill High School alumnus, coaches the St. Mary’s Cardinals, and his assistant coaches are also local, with Zach Sibbel a St. Mary’s grad and Willie Drueke a Spencer-Naper Pirate, both of whom were serious basketball players!
For EPPJ, Kellen Hoefer is a Pope John High School alumnus.
Checking this year’s program, here are some more players, coaches & referees that we can connect with.
In D-1, Fullerton is heading to Lincoln, and one of their assistant coaches is Mitch Hamik, a former West Holt Husky. And also in D1, the North Platte St. Pat’s head coach is William O’Malley, a familiar name as well as a graduate of Chambers High School.
In C-2, the Norfolk Catholic Knights head coach is Kevin Manzer, who graduated from West Holt High School.
In Class C-1, we have a couple of Assistant Coaches who both went to O’Neill High School. Justin Appleby is an assistant at Ashland-Greenwood, and Luke Dea is an Assistant Coach at Gothenburg. Both former Eagles!
Wearing the black and white at this year’s tournament, you might get to catch official Beau Heiss at a game. Beau is a graduate of O’Neill High School. And also refereeing is Bryce Kerkman, a West Holt High graduate. Bryce will referee the Norfolk Catholic Game on Wednesday.
And suiting up at the tournament this year, you will want to watch 6’8″ junior London Dada, from Omaha Westside in Class A, who’s already getting looks from many colleges. London’s mother, Kristi (Tielke), graduated from West Holt High School, and his grandparents are Bill and Julie Tielke of Atkinson.
Again, many former players and current players who will be down in Lincoln this week have ties back to the KBRX area.
Please email scott@kbrx.com if we missed anyone, and Good Luck to all headed to Lincoln!!
