With the switch from the Metropolitan High School Activities Association (MHSAA) to the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC), the Griffins have taken on top-ranked teams throughout the state and have had their fair share of success.
Many of the school’s fall varsity sports teams either ended their season, or currently have, with a winning record against other EMC teams. And while the football team is only 1-3 in conference, two out of the three losses the football team came from Top-15 ranked teams in the state, regardless of class–No. 6 Bennington and No. 12 Elkhorn North according to Max Preps out of 132 teams in the state.
“The EMC conference is loaded,” Head Football Coach Justin Haberman said. “I think there’s five or six teams from the EMC conference in the top ten. So, week in and week out, you have to come prepared and ready to play.”
After completing their season last week, the softball team ended up with a 16-12 regular season record and 11-5 conference record which led them to the Class B-6 District Softball Finals. The girls ended up beating Nebraska City (17-0 W), (10-11 L) and (15-2 W) and becoming the District Champions, which punched their ticket for their first-ever appearance at the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) State Softball Championships where they ended up going 1-3.
“When we beat Nebraska City in the district final it was very exciting, it was our first time in program history to make it to state, and was such a surreal moment,” outfielder, sophomore Rylan Anderson said.
Also hoping for a trip to State, the volleyball team, who is ranked 15th in the state, has an overall record of 28-8 and a conference record of 11-6. Their regular season will come to an end tonight as they take on Crete who is not in the EMC and then they are scheduled to play in the first round of the NSAA Class B-3 Subdistricts on Oct. 29 or Oct. 30.
“It’s a very tough competition, but we can play with all of them,” volleyball player, sophomore Avery Kelsey said, “at the end of the day, whoever wants it more is going to get it.”
The girls golf team also found success competing in the EMC.
“We’ve had a lot of success this year, our golf team won the first-ever conference championship in school history which is really cool,” Athletic Director Ryan Garder said.
Aside from the change in sports, the EMC has opened more opportunities for the school’s NSAA-sponsored activities. In the MHSAA Conference, there weren’t metro-sanctioned competitions or events like in the EMC. For example, the EMC sponsors a vocal music clinic and concert each year. Last year it was at Norris High School, but this year Gretna East will host the event.
“It’s a clever thing because all the schools in EMC bring a choir and they get together and sing a couple of combined songs,” music teacher Pat Ribar said, “it’s a fun way for the students to see other students, and what they’re doing and they grow because of it.”
The Choral Clinic and Concert will be held on Nov. 11. Eleven EMC schools’ choirs are scheduled to attend and perform.
Overall, Garder and many others are happy with the switch to the EMC. The change has helped our athletics succeed and provided more opportunities for activities to perform and compete.
“The incredible thing about the EMC is the commitment to the activities,” Garder said. “A similar value to this commitment that exists in the EMC that makes Gretna and Gretna East just a really good fit in that conference.”
