Over 30 Area Students Earn Academic All-State, 3 Get 'Pick 6'

More than 30 Antelope County student-athletes, including three six-time honorees, received Academic All-State awards this year.

The Lincoln Journal Star selects high school students who not only stand out in athletics, but those who also excel in the classroom. More than 5,000 honorees from 260 schools across the state earned the distinction for the 2017-2018 school year.

A special “Pick 6” recognition was given to 187 seniors in Nebraska who were six-time honorees. Among those were Lydia Behnk of Elgin Public, and Bailey Frey and Rachel Higgins, both of Neligh-Oakdale.

Student-athletes who are juniors or seniors can be nominated by their coach or another representative of their high school. Nominees must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6 or better on a 4.0 scale and be a varsity starter. Among non-starters, one individual who contributes significantly to his or her varsity team could also be nominated. The Journal Star staff evaluated each nomination, weighing factors relating to both their athletic and academic achievements.

Clearwater:
Brooklynn Chipps, senior, 3.8 GPA, 6/15 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Allison Kerkman, senior, 3.8 GPA, 3/15 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball
Chris Kester, junior, 3.6 GPA, 7/14 class rank - football, boys basketball
Zach King, junior, 3.6 GPA, 6/14 class rank - football, wrestling
Jacob Long, junior, 3.9 GPA, 2/14 class rank - football, boys basketball, boys track and field
Liam Odell, senior, 3.8 GPA, 4/15 class rank - boys basketball, boys track and field
Taylor Sanne, junior, 3.9 GPA, 4/14 class rank - girls basketball, girls track and field
Katie Stearns, junior, 3.7 GPA, 5/14 class rank - girls track and field
Andrew Steskal, senior, 3.9 GPA, 1/15 class rank - football, wrestling
Julia Thiele, junior, 4.0 GPA, 1/14 class rank - girls track and field

Elgin Public:
Lydia Behnk, senior, 4.0 GPA, 1/9 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Hunter Reestman, junior, 3.9 GPA, 1/11 class rank - football, boys basketball, boys golf
Allyson Wemhoff, junior, 3.9 GPA, 2/11 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field

Elkhorn Valley:
Kalen Dittrich, senior, 4.4 GPA, 1/20 class rank - boys basketball, boys track and field
Brayden Effle, senior, 4.1 GPA, 3/20 class rank - boys cross country, boys basketball, boys track and field
Kimberly Frey, junior, 4.1 GPA, 2/23 class rank - girls golf, girls track and field
Amber Miller, junior, 4.2 GPA, 1/23 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Hannah Ollendick, junior, 3.6 GPA, 6/23 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Mitchell Petersen, junior, 4.0 GPA, 3/23 class rank - wrestling, boys track and field
Delilah Sierra, senior, 4.0 GPA, 4/20 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Dalton Smutny, senior, 3.9 GPA, 6/20 class rank - boys cross country, boys basketball, boys track and field
Prestin Vondra, junior, 3.8 GPA, 4/23 class rank - football, wrestling, boys track and field

Neligh-Oakdale:
Jayden Arehart, junior, 3.9 GPA, 3/22 class rank - football, wrestling, boys track and field
Cole Belitz, junior, 4.0 GPA, 1/22 class rank - boys cross country, boys basketball, boys track and field
Bailey Frey, senior, 3.7 GPA, 3/24 class rank - volleyball, girls basketball, girls track and field
Madisen Grosserode, junior, 3.7 GPA, 5/22 class rank - girls cross country
Courtni Heckert, senior. 3.6 GPA, 4/24 class rank - girls cross country, girls track and field
Rachel Higgins, senior, 4.0 GPA, 1/24 class rank - girls cross country, girls basketball, girls track and field
Logan McConnell, junior, 3.7 GPA, 4/22 class rank - boys cross country, boys basketball
Austin Rice, junior, 3.6 GPA, 6/22 class rank - football, boys basketball, boys golf
Cade Wilkinson, junior, 3.9 GPA, 2/22 class rank - wrestling, boys track and field

Orchard:
Ryan Wilhelm, junior, 3.7 GPA, 2/11 class rank - boys basketball
Kirby Willats, senior, 3.9 GPA, 1/3 class rank - boys basketball

Pick 6 - Six-time Honorees:
Lydia Behnk - Elgin Public
Bailey Frey - Neligh-Oakdale
Rachel Higgins - Neligh-Oakdale

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