The sophomore who has always excelled in soccer is now tied for the state lead in goals.

The preseason outlook for Council Bluffs St. Albert baseball was promising, and after the first week of the regular season, those predictions appear to be merited. After Friday night's 9-2 victory against Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Class 1-A No. 3 St. Albert improved to 4-0.

This year, Iowa doesn't even appear in the finish-line photo. Nebraska state track athletes left their counterparts to the east in the dust when The World-Herald for the seventh straight year compared all-class performances from last weekend in similar events.

For one day at least, the Harlan Community boys golf team made a mockery of the latest state golf ratings. At the halfway mark of the Class 3-A state meet at the Ames Golf and Country Club, the Cyclones are second in the team standings with a score of 321, trailing only top-rated Decorah (308).

Fourth-seeded Pete Walker passed his first two tests Friday, and now he has a big opportunity. The Red Oak junior advanced to the singles semifinals of the Class 1-A state tennis tournament after beating Albia’s Erik Smith 6-0, 6-0 and rallying past Fairfield freshman Alexander Punj 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.

York’s Michael Powell was named the 2011-12 York News-Times Male Athlete of the Year on Monday night at Foster Park in York.

The Nebraska School Activities Association board chose not to play Scrooge to Omaha Central’s request Thursday to use part of the state’s Christmas moratorium to participate in one of the nation’s top boys basketball high school invitationals.

Jake Driver has stepped down from his position as Council Bluffs St. Albert’s wrestling coach. A search is under way for the Falcons’ next coach.

Omaha Westside's Anna Skold has committed to Boston College, and Westside's Capris Quaites picked Drake for volleyball. Skold, a senior-to-be, played middle hitter last season for the Warriors (18-17). She also plays for the Nebraska Juniors, where she spends some time playing the right side.

Millard North junior-to-be Christy Warnock has accepted a scholarship offer to play at South Dakota. Warnock, who plays for Nebraska Gold in the spring and summer, hit .355 last season for the Mustangs with five doubles, two triples and 13 RBIs. Playing center field, Warnock has had 56 putouts in her first two seasons.