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| Distinguished Alumni Award to be Recognized at Celebration 42 | | |
2026 Distinguished Alumni Award:
Dr. Robert Greenhagen ('98)
Please join us at Celebration 42 as we proudly honor and recognize Dr. Robert Greenhagen as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award. This prestigious award is presented to graduates who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their professional careers, outstanding service to their communities, and a continued commitment to the values and mission of Gross Catholic. Dr. Greenhagen exemplifies leadership, excellence, and integrity. His accomplishments and dedication make him a true role model, inspiring both current students and fellow alumni. We look forward to celebrating this well-deserved honor together!
| | Cougar Spirit Award to be Recognized at Celebration 42 | | |
2026 Cougar Spirit Award:
Ms. Barb Brennan (Saum '01)
Please join us at Celebration 42 as we proudly honor and recognize Barb Brennan as the recipient of the 2026 Cougar Spirit Award. Barb is truly a special person in our community. She doesn’t just support the Cougar community, she lives it. She shows up, she lifts others up, and she represents everything our Orange and Blue stand for with passion, heart, and unstoppable enthusiasm. You can see it, you can feel it, she BLEEDS ORANGE AND BLUE!! We look forward to celebrating this well-deserved honor together!
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Boys Basketball
This was a remarkable season for many reasons. The varsity team finished with a record of 15-11, which is the most wins since the 2012-13 season. The team won two tournament championships, and hosted the first round of districts. They were led by the Commitment, Character, and Drive of 8 incredible seniors and received contributions from lots of talented underclassmen.
The under-level teams had tremendous seasons, and the future of the program is bright! Our JV team finished 15-6 and played with tremendous toughness. The Freshman A team went 15-5, and the Freshman B team went 6-6. The future is definitely bright for Cougar Hoops!
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Girls Basketball
The Gross Catholic girl's basketball team finished the season with an impressive 16-9 record. The Cougars battled hard but came up short in the District B3 playoffs against Elkhorn North. This year's team graduates four outstanding seniors: Alyssa Cap, Brooklyn Donaldson, Mariah Dutcher and Sienna Miller. Their leadership, dedication, and impact on the program will be greatly missed.
The Reserves posted a 6-4 record, while the JV team had a strong 13-3 season. The Cougars were led by junior Lillian Riha in both scoring and rebounding. Senior Sienna Miller paced the team in assists, and senior Brooklyn Donaldson led the way at the free throw line. Junior Evy Casart topped the team in steals and defections, while junior Eva Wurgler anchored the defense with the most blocks.
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Wrestling
The wrestling team made tremendous strides this season, capturing championships at both the GACC Dual Tournament and the Roncalli Invitational. These victories mark the program’s first team titles since the early 2000s, a significant milestone for Gross Wrestling. The Cougars also came within one spot of qualifying for the State Dual Championships, showcasing their growth and competitiveness throughout the season. Individually, the team qualified four wrestlers for the state tournament, further highlighting their success. With the entire lineup set to return next season, the future is bright. Expectations are high as the Cougars look ahead to an exciting and promising 2026–27 season.
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Cheer
Here is something to Cheer about! Outstanding season ladies!
📣1st place at UCA Regionals, Missouri
📣1st place and Grand Champions at Rocking Regionals
📣2nd place at Heartland Championship
Nationals Semis Qualifier
📣Cheerleading Championship
📣Nebraska State Champions in Small Squad
Class B Game Day
📣Nebraska State Champion Runner Up in Non-Tumbling Traditional
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Swim
The Ralston/Gross swim and dive team has always taken on the idea that all are welcome to participate. We have members on our team who have been in the sport for years swimming alongside students who are brand new to the sport. This wide range of
skills comes with many challenges, but when done correctly, is very rewarding. The team swam hard and had great success as a whole taking on schools much larger in numbers and experience. We achieved a 91 percent best time across the board at the River City Conference where our boys team received runner up. We were also able to represent both schools at the state tournament where Nicholas Martinez swam the 200 freestyle and the 100 back, getting the chance to swim the 100 back again in finals.
Ralston/Gross also accomplished another milestone by having, for the first time in five
years, relays in the final day of competition.
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Dance
Congratulations to our Dance Team! Rachel Wright, Grace Godwin, and Lila Hanzlik had a great season and are looking forward to their upcoming year!
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Twirl
Ashley Jacobs twirled at a handful of home events this winter. She dazzled the crowd with her talents and impressive performances! Ashley truly enhances the gameday atmosphere for us in the winter!
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1974 Alumnus Elected into the National Academy of Engineering.
1974 Alumnus, Paul Drzaic has quite a bit to celebrate. Paul was the valedictorian of his class in addition to numerous achievements regarding his work and professional career. He was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and currently serves as a Distinguished Engineer at Apple. Paul is still connected to his classmates and traveled from California to attend his 50th reunion.
National Academy of Engineering.
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Update on Capital Campaign
To help ensure the strong future of Gross Catholic High School, we launched the Our Legacy, Their Future Capital Campaign. The silent phase began in January with the public kickoff on March 1st. We are off and running with nearly $2.9 million in pledges received. To those that have made a pledge, THANK YOU! If you haven’t given yet, please consider a gift and return the pledge card you received or meet with a volunteer. To learn more about the campaign, view our campaign video, or explore additional details, please visit our campaign website.
| | Welcome to Gross Catholic | |
New Science Teacher
Please help us welcome Isaac Pistulka to our staff! Isaac is from Atkinson, Nebraska and will be graduating from Doane College this year with a degree in Secondary Science Education. Isaac leads with his faith, creating a Catholic club at Doane.
Isaac is an enthusiastic educator who is passionate about teaching through hands-on learning and student-led activities, helping students stay engaged and curious in the classroom. He is also interested in coaching and has previously served as a wrestling coach for several schools. We’re excited to have Isaac join our team and look forward to the energy and dedication he will bring to our school community.
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New Science Teacher
We’re excited to introduce Matt Wulf! Matt has been part of the St. Vincent de Paul community for the past three years, working as a Teacher Associate. He is also a member of the church.
He earned degrees in Science and Russian, along with a minor in Mathematics, and enjoys bringing that wide range of knowledge into the classroom while supporting students and teachers each day. Matt is also interested in cross country and track and field, and enjoys being involved with athletics. We’re grateful to have Matt as part of our team and appreciate the dedication he will bring to our school community.
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New Head Volleyball Coach
Please help us welcome back, Sarah Rangel.
Sarah brings a lifelong passion for volleyball and over two decades of coaching experience at the highest levels of youth competition. A proud South Omaha native, Sarah was a four-year varsity athlete at Gross Catholic, where her love for the game first took root. She continued her playing career collegiately, competing at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis before completing her eligibility at Bellevue University while studying Human Relations.
Since 2001, Sarah has been a dedicated club coach at the National level, with an impressive record of developing competitive teams and elite athletes. She has led four teams to USA Volleyball Nationals and seven teams to AAU Nationals, consistently guiding her athletes to perform at the highest level. Her teams have placed 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th at National Qualifiers and have earned four coveted Gold Balls—a testament to her ability to lead teams to excellence on the court. Her coaching resume also includes time at the collegiate level, where she served as an Assistant Coach at Dana College for two years. She later returned to her high school roots, taking over as the Head Varsity Coach at Gross Catholic High School for four years, where she made a lasting impact on the program and student-athletes.
Currently, Coach Sarah lives in Gretna with her husband, Sergio, and their four children: Bella (17), Anna (16), Layla (13), and Cortez (12). She works in the Athletics Office for Gretna Public Schools, where she plays an active role in organizing their sports and activities year-round. She also assists in Premier camps, clinics, and training sessions, as well as helping out with the sand volleyball program. Sarah is passionate about fostering growth in young athletes, both on and off the court. With deep roots in the Omaha volleyball community she remains committed to developing the next generation of players through hard work, teamwork, and a love for the game.
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Signing Day- Charlie Yeshnowski
Charlie Yeshnowski signed his letter of intent to continue his athletic and academic careers at McCook Community College. We wish Charlie great luck and will miss him next year!
Let’s go, Indians!
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Signing Day- Kayo Rempe
Kayo Rempe signed his letter of intent to continue his athletic and academic careers at Peru Sate College. We also like to wish Kayo great luck and will miss him next year!
Let’s go, Bobcats!
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Please add 1998 Alumna, Kelly (Herek) Dix to your prayers. Kelly passed away on February 4, 2026 after a courageous three year battle with colon cancer. Kelly is survived by her husband, Nate, and their four children. The Gross Catholic staff and fellow alumni extend our deepest sympathies and offer prayers to the Dix family.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
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An update to a prayer request: We have been praying for Oliver Vilivaar, a junior at Cornerstone Christian and member of the Gross Catholic baseball program. Oliver was diagnosed with cancer. He has undergone intense chemotherapy and a 9 hour operation to remove it. Surgery was successful and the healing journey is upon him! The power of prayer is real!
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Please continue to keep senior Charlie Kuiper in your prayers. Charlie was recently hospitalized due to complications from influenza that have impacted his brain. His recovery will be a slow process, and he is in need of our continued prayers for healing, strength, and peace during this difficult time. Let us come together as a Cougar community to continue to show Charlie our support.
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Please keep 1997 alumna Jen (Finken) Moylan in your prayers. Jen is currently facing an aggressive form of breast cancer and the difficult battle that comes with it. We ask our school community to lift Jen and her family up in prayer during this challenging time.
| | Please add Gross Catholic community member, Kathy Schafer to your prayers. Kathy is recovering from a nerve surgery and has a long road ahead of her. | | |
How can we pray for you?
Please send us the names of any members of our Cougar Family who need our prayers.
Email:
kpovondra@gcgmail.org
| | | Alumni Business Directory | | |
Do you own a business? Do you work at a business? Are you looking to grow your customer base? Last year, we started the Alumni Business Directory as a way to support our fellow Cougars with the services and products we need every day. Our alumni built the strong foundation of Gross Catholic and this is an opportunity to expand that foundation throughout the community.
*The Alumni Business Directory is on our website and is available to all members of the Cougar community and anyone that visits our site.
| | | Did you get married, have a baby, or have news you want to share? Please send us your latest news and photos so we can share them with your classmates and the Cougar Family. These will be featured in the next Dux Esto Magazine. Send information to kpovondra@gcgmail.org | | If your email, phone number, and/or physical address have changed, please contact us with your latest information. You can submit the update HERE! | | |
Gross Catholic High School
7700 South 43rd Street, Bellevue, NE 68147
402-734-2000
grosscatholic.org
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