MAEVE WHARTON/MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2026
News
‘Run so as to win’: Marian cross country aims for more than a state title
October 8, 2026
A version of this story originally appeared in the Fall 2026 edition of The True Voice magazine. Copies of the magazine can be found at parishes across the archdiocese.
Last season, Omaha’s Marian High School captured its first Class A state cross country title since 2007 without a single senior runner – and longtime assistant coach Greg Golka said there’s plenty of optimism for the upcoming campaign.
“We’re certainly one of the favorites,” said Golka, who has served as an assistant coach to Roger Wright since 2001.
Golka predicted that Marian would have a strong team this season, and he was correct. On Oct. 14, Marian will compete in the District A-1 meet at Pioneers Park in Lincoln. Qualifiers from that meet will move on to the state championships in Kearney on Oct. 23.
“Last year our team had a majority of freshmen and sophomores, so we spent the year getting to know each other,” said Harper Cowles, now a senior and team co-captain.
With almost everyone returning this season, Cowles said she was excited to see how they would continue to grow, both athletically and as a community.
One of the state’s top distance runners, junior Maya Freyer, leads a talented group of returners. Joining her in a deep lineup are Cowles, juniors Lena Sabata and Mabel Henningsen and sophomores Louise Walker, Elizabeth Morgan, Julia Kubat and Tatum Houghton.
“Not only is this team a group of talented runners,” Golka said, “but they are great kids, leaders in our school and deeply involved in their faith life.”
MAEVE WHARTON/MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2026
“Part of developing your skills as an athlete, you’re honing something about who you are as a human being,” he said. “When you go out there to compete, it’s not just a sense of wanting to beat somebody else, but can I become the person that I want to be, am meant to be?”
Marian’s state champion success last season spanned four sports – cross country, golf, soccer and swimming/diving. For that effort, the Crusaders earned the Buckle Up Phone Down Cup presented by the Nebraska School Activities Association and the Nebraska Department of Transportation as the top Class A girls program in the state.
Spirituality is among Marian’s faith-driven core values.
It’s not always about winning and losing, said Rochelle Rohlfs, the school’s athletic director, assistant principal and all-time winningest volleyball coach at Marian. “There’s bigger things in life and being able to remind them of that, to talk to them about that, I think is huge.”
Simply praying before a competition brings their faith to the forefront, she said. “A lot of times the girls take over and do it themselves.”
“It’s really easy to have a team atmosphere in a faith environment,” said Golka, who’s also head track coach. “Having faith isn’t necessary to develop that team concept but it certainly makes it easier.
“One of our core values at Marian is community, so built into that is we’re all in this together and we’re helping each other out.”
2025-26 NSAA State Team Champions
FALL SEASON
Cross Country
Creighton Prep — Boys Class A Team Champions
Omaha Marian — Girls Class A Team Champions
Girls Golf
Omaha Marian — Class A Team Champions
Duchesne Academy — Class B Team Champions
Boys Tennis
Mount Michael Benedictine — Class B Team Champions
WINTER SEASON
Wrestling — Team Titles
Creighton Prep — Boys Class A (individual tournament & State Duals)
Omaha Skutt Catholic — Boys Class B (individual tournament & State Duals — 4th consecutive dual title)
Swimming & Diving
Omaha Marian — Girls Team Champions
Creighton Prep – Boys Team Champions
Boys Basketball
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont) — Class C-2 Champions (repeat)
Archangels Catholic (Humphrey) — Class D-2 Champions
SPRING SEASON
Soccer
Omaha Marian — Girls Class A Champions (15th title, first since 2017)
Baseball
Omaha Skutt Catholic — Class B Champions
Boys Golf
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont) — Class C Team Champions
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