Lincoln East fall sports are rolling into state competition

Kendra Riekenberg, Staff Writer, Editor • October 23, 2023

The Lincoln East softball team celebrates winning districts on October 5, 2023. They beat Elkhorn South 7-2, with 5 home runs leading them to victory.

The fall sports at Lincoln East are in full swing, with many of them moving into districts and state competition. Football, volleyball, cross country, softball, boys tennis, and girls golf have all fared very well in their regular season play. Each team is looking to make a run to the state championships.

Cross country at East is doing what they do best, winning. The girls have won 4 races, and the boys have placed in the top 4 at every race so far. The girls won districts and the boys finished runners up, securing them both a trip to the state championships on October 20, 2023.

Like girls cross country, boys tennis is once again dominating every match. They have won every invitational that they have been to, often holding teams to only 1 or 2 points. The team punched their ticket to state on Friday, October 6, 2023, and will attend state starting on October 12, 2023.

The volleyball team is looking to make another run at state as well, after making it for the first time since 2008 last year. They are currently 21-7 on the season and are coming off a big 5 set win against Lincoln Southwest. The Spartans are ready to make history once again in these next couple of weeks.

“I’m looking forward to breaking this barrier we’ve had for the longest time and proving ourselves,” senior captain Shandy Faalii said. “I’m excited to be a part of something so special to not only the team, but Coach Johnson too.”

The girls golf team made history as they won their first ever state championship in school history on October 10, 2023. The team took the title by 14 strokes over Lincoln Southwest, with junior golfer Isabella Elgert finishing second overall, senior Elly Honnens 4th, Addison Shirk tied for 12th, Hailey Bayne 15th, and Juliet Schoemaker tied for 18th.

The softball team is also doing good work out on the field, as they just won their district on October 5, 2023. With a 26-7 record, the team is looking to make a big run at state in Hastings, Nebraska.

“We will prep for state the same way we prepared all year,” head coach Lance Kingery said. “Nothing will be different. Still the same game with just 8 teams left standing is all.”

The football team has managed a 5-2 record, with a recent 56-0 win against Lincoln High. They only have two games left before playoffs on October 27, 2023.

Be on the lookout for more wins from the fall sports at Lincoln East as each team finishes up their season.

About the Contributors

Kendra Riekenberg, Staff Writer, Editor

Kendra Riekenberg is a senior at East and this is her second year on The Oracle staff. Kendra loves to play volleyball, dance, and eat out with her family and friends. She has two siblings, an older sister and brother. News and features are her favorite stories to write. Her favorite color is sage green, and she got into the Oracle as her mother told her about it. She enjoys watching the Huskers play volleyball, or to watch any game of basketball. This year, she wants to go out of her comfort zone and try new things!

Hope Shortridge, Staff Writer, Co-Editor-In-Chief

Hope Shortridge is a senior at East and this is her third year on the Oracle staff. She is the Co-Editor in Chief with Peyton Svehla. For the Oracle this year, Hope wants to make the online version of the publication more well known, as well as covering all varsity sporting events as she did last year. At school she is in orchestra, Hope Squad, Unified Bowling, the Feminist Club, and is the founding member and president of the Broadcasting Club. When she's not in school or reporting on the latest East sporting event, she loves watching sports, especially baseball, and Husker football and volleyball. She also works at Eastmont Retirement Home as a server. She has a twin brother named Paul, and two Italian greyhounds: Sam and Iris at home. It might be her last year at East, but “I’m a Spart till I die,” Hope says.