Bellevue East Fall Varsity Sports Summaries for football, softball, volleyball, cross country, boys tennis, and girls golf as provided by the coaches.
Football
- Head Coach: Aaron Thumann
- 4th Year as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coaches: Damien Roberts, Cameron Dacanay, Joe Mesa, Jake Weaver, Steven “Chip” Procko, Desmond Wright, Luke Evans, Antonio “Tones” Arriola, Aden Perry, and Derrick James
- Last Year’s Record: 1-8
Season Outlook: Going 1-8 last season was pretty frustrating for our players. We had to replace a pretty significant senior class from 2023, and sometimes when you have to replace a class like that, there are some challenges and growing pains that come with it. You never want to see your team go 1-8, but those 8 losses don’t define us, they grow us. Those were 8 learning opportunities, and you can absolutely tell that those have been driving our kids this offseason. They know that they are capable of more than that, and they have been really focused on raising their own standard. Our team is a really close-knit group right now. They want to see each other succeed. When someone does something awesome, they all go celebrate them. When we have some mistakes or adversity, they pull each other up. They really have been an example of our definition of F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forget About Me I Love You). Pushing to make each other better, putting each other first, and helping each other find the best version of themselves. I’m very proud of how they have come together, and I can’t wait to see what they do together.
A couple of team leaders are:
- Owen Grieb (WR/QB/DB) Owen is that player who says, “Where do you need me to play to help us be successful?” His work ethic is an example to his teammates, and he has a tremendous drive to learn and get better. He has no problem standing up in front of the team and telling them that we need to be better in different areas. He’s also the first one to celebrate when players make big plays. He is going to make a big impact both as a player and a leader this year.
- Devon Smith (TE/LB) Devon has a great ability to pull the best out of his teammates. He has a passion to learn. He wants more and more knowledge because he knows it will help how he plays, and it will give him more tools to help his teammates. He holds his teammates to a very high standard, and he does an amazing job stopping and teaching his peers when they need help.
A player who has shown a lot of improvement is Steven Procko (QB/WR/DB). Steven has been taking on some new roles for us this offseason. He is a very fast and athletic player, and he has some great football knowledge. We are excited to see what he can do in these new roles.
We’ve had some freshmen who were really impressive throughout the summer. They caught onto our schemes quickly and showed a ton of progress. We are very excited about their future in our program.
First and foremost, we appreciate the amazing support that we get from our Bellevue community! It means the world to us, and we strive to grow and get better for them every year.
We are continuing to take steps in the direction we know this program can go. There are always challenges and adversity that comes along with that, but that adversity is exactly what we need in order for us to grow and reach our potential.
I know that we have the best coaching staff in the metro. They are tremendous teachers and mentors for our young men. Our team has an awesome connection right now going into the season and they are striving to find a better version of themselves every day.
We start our season on the road for a couple weeks. We are excited for the opportunity to play in Fremont’s new stadium, and we can’t wait to be back in Chieftain Stadium with our fans in week 3.
The team kicks off its 2025 season on the road vs Fremont High on Friday, August 29 at 7:00pm.
Boys Tennis
- Head Coach: Ben Dalton
- 1st Year as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coach: Kristin Bass
Season Outlook: We have zero returning Varsity Tennis players, so the same group that was with me last year on JV will be joining me on Varsity this season in our first years in these roles as coach and player. I am very excited to see how they step up to the challenge.
Cole Conover (1 Doubles) and Timmy Coy (1 Singles) are my leaders, both vocally and by example, setting the precedent of what it takes to be a successful tennis player and team. They have been a huge help in establishing a culture of hard work at practice.
All of my players have put in a lot of time in the offseason to improve, but Cole Conover has taken a huge step forward. From being brand new to the sport just this time last year, he has developed into a player I am confident to put in Varsity matches to compete as hard as possible and have some great success.
As a brand new Varsity team across the board, we are very excited to represent East and the Bellevue community through our sport and leave a positive impact wherever we go!
The team starts its season on August 28 at 4pm, at home against the Papillion-La Vista Monarchs.
Volleyball
- Head Coach: Courtney Smeby
- 13th Year as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coaches: Megan Pierce-Cramer, Christina McDowall, Arianna Waschkowski, Lilly Gulley, and Kylee Fischer
- Last Year’s Record: 11-22
Season Outlook: We’re excited about the strong foundation we have returning from last season, with key athletes like Layne Parker, Riley Homan, Liz Manning, Vanessa Stonerook, Willow Gulley, Saniyah Legette, Maci Jensen, and Grace Rued back on the roster. We’ve also added a few new faces—Teagan Hadley, Gianna Carranza, and Monica Joseph—who have been great additions to the squad. These young women put in a tremendous amount of work in the offseason, and we’re looking forward to seeing that effort translate into success on the court.
Seniors Riley Homan and Layne Parker, and sophomore Maci Jensen are all returners who bring strong leadership to our team. They know what they want to accomplish this season and hold themselves to a very high standard. Each of them leads by example, setting the tone in practice and competition, and their focus and commitment have been a driving force as we head into the season.
Liz Manning has shown incredible growth in both her offensive and defensive consistency, and we’re excited to see the big impact she’ll make this year. Grace Rued has also had a strong offseason of development and is stepping into a key middle hitter role. We expect her to be a strong offensive weapon as well as a solid presence at the net defensively.
The team starts its 2025 season at home in the NSAA Jambore against Omaha Gross Tuesday, August 26th 6:00pm. Their first official match is at home vs Elkhorn South on Thursday, August 28th, at 6:30pm.
Softball
- Head Coach: Casie Onken
- 7th Year as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coaches: Whitney Wilson, Mark Brown, Shannon Cutright, Nathaly Larios-Vasquez
- Last Year’s Record: 24-10
Season Outlook: I am looking forward to picking up from where we left off last season with the confidence, heart, and competitiveness that it takes to play at the top level in the Metro.
Our team leaders are all seniors. This group of seniors is special. They have played Varsity together for the past 3 years, and they know what they want this season to look like. They have put in the work in the offseason, and they know what it means to lead a team to the State Tournament. They ALWAYS put the Team First, and they compete no matter what challenges they have in front of them. They make Bellevue East Softball fun for everyone in the program, and they ALWAYS make sure ALL players feel welcome and invited!! They head up our BEAST Softball Family. And I am so excited to see what this season holds for them!!
- Cota Barmore (SS)
- Alisha McMurtry (P)
- Brynn Friedrich (C)
- Haley Cheshier (1st/P)
- Karleigh Rowleigh (1st/3rd)
A player who has shown a lot of improvement is Ariana Wells. She is a 10th grader who didn’t play last season. She has worked ALL off-season to improve her skills and is looking to earn a starting spot on Varsity as a sophomore. She was our only player who did not miss a single day of offseason workouts and pushed herself day in and day out to get better, faster, and stronger. She also worked mornings and weekends with our hitting coach one on one to continue to improve her swing. I am excited to see her progress this season.
I have been a Head Softball Coach in Bellevue for 15 seasons, and this is the team that has all the tools to bring home the first State Title for Bellevue East and Bellevue Community. I always tell the players it takes more than talent to win. Not only do they have the talent, but they have all the pieces that go with it: buy-in, commitment, confidence, and most of all trust. Trust in themselves, trust in their teammates, and trust in their coaches. No matter where we finish in October, we are going to have a very memorable season!
The team starts its season on Thursday, August 21 at the Lied Center vs Millard South. JV starts at 5:00pm and the varsity follows at 6:30pm.
Cross Country
- Head Coach: Connor Mazzei
- 4th Year as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coach: Delaney Woodruff
Season Outlook: Bellevue East Cross Country continues to grow in participation, with students across all grade levels growing and contributing to our team dynamic. For the first time in several years, we will likely have a full team of girls competing at the varsity level. Our boys’ varsity team continues to grow as competitors, with the hope of multiple students qualifying for the state XC meet this year.
Last year, Walker Anselmo qualified and placed 25th in the state cross country meet at Kearney Country Club. I am also grateful for the leadership from our senior class, who help establish a team culture of ambition, integrity, and sportsmanship. Aiden Lindensmith, Kyler Brey, Victoria Bogatz, Kaden Hanson, and Kira Mabry continue to offer excellent leadership to our underclassmen during practice, while also being supportive of our JV and varsity competitors as they achieve individual and team-wide goals on the cross country course.
New to our program are Senior Maddie Walter, Junior Riley Wagoner, Sophomore Samuel Stoulil, and Sophomore Aurora West. These student-athletes are excellent representatives of our BEAST XC family and Bellevue East, in general. I appreciate them taking the initiative to try something new, and I can already tell they are going to be excellent competitors.
I appreciate all the cross country programs in the Bellevue community, including at the middle school and high school levels. The positivity of these programs, the mutual respect provided to rival schools, and the willingness to support each other in conditioning and competition is a model for sportsmanship and community. I always encourage students who may be interested in distance running to reach out to their school’s cross country team! As for me and Coach Woodruff, we are here to support and challenge every participant, regardless of their ability, as they grow as a student and an athlete.
Our first meet of the season will be held at Walnut Creek, beginning at 7:20 AM on August 30th. All Metro Conference schools will be present at this grade-level meet hosted by Papillion-La Vista High School.
Girls Golf
- Head Coach: Nicole Burns
- 8th Season as Head Coach at East
- Assistant Coach: Leland Johnson
- Team Record Last Year: Won the Bellevue East Invite
Season Outlook: We are excited to have so many returners from last season and looking forward to building on our successes.
One of our team leaders is Emerson Schubauer. She does a great job at bringing the team together and is super supportive of everyone.
A couple of girls who have shown a lot of improvement include:
- Mackenzie Hoskins: Her swing is looking great and is hitting the ball more consistently and further than she did last year.
- Sylvia Williamson: She did a great job at working on her game this summer and looking forward to seeing how that translates to the season for her.
The girls golf team continues to grow and improve. It’s great to be able to give these girls the opportunity to learn a lifelong sport and make friends while learning the game.
The team begins play on Thursday, August 21 at 9:00am in Lincoln High Scramble Invite.
