LINCOLN, Neb. (November 7, 2025) — The Nebraska Sports Council (NSC) presented awards Tuesday to several top athletes and volunteers at its annual awards banquet in The Jasmine Room at the Grand Manse.
Cornhusker State Games (CSG) 2025 Athletes of the Year included: Youth Male – Eastyn Munhall, Omaha, Hockey; Youth Female – BryLee Irsik, Omaha, Wrestling; Male – Brad Tucker, Lincoln, Fencing; Female – Hilary Catron, Omaha, Triathlon; E. Lee Todd Senior Male – Wade Uldrich, Lincoln, BMX Freestyle & BMX Racing; Dorothy Ekblad Memorial Senior Female – DeAnn Korinek, Lincoln, Volleyball.
Munhall made an inspiring return to the ice after battling West Nile virus and ataxia, leading his hockey team to a silver medal and scoring two goals in his first game back.
Irsik earned six gold medals and one bronze across her divisions, competing in both her age group and the high school girl’s division. She was also named Outstanding Wrestler for the second year in a row.
Tucker swept all three fencing weapon events and continues to grow the sport as head coach of the Lincoln Fencing Club.
Catron continued her decades-long involvement in the Games, adding another triathlon podium finish and serving as Taekwondo Sport Director to ensure smooth and fair competition.
Uldrich volunteered his time supporting BMX events in Lincoln and earned a silver medal in BMX Racing along with a bronze in BMX Freestyle.
Korinek earned gold in both the Women’s and COED C Division Volleyball tournaments, marking 40 years of participation and continued excellence in the Games.
Since the NSC was not able to have a banquet in 2020, Kevan Heuftle, and Sue Rohrschneider, were honored on the five-year anniversary of their 2020 State Games achievements.
Shane Dostal received the Joe Neal Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of his tremendous dedication and hard work in ensuring the safety of runners in multiple events, including the Pumpkin Run and CSG Road Race.
Rob Luhrs won the Russ Memorial Sport Director of the Year Award. He has served 10 years as the CSG Jiu-Jitsu Sport Director.
Sport Director Service Awards were presented to several long-time volunteers for their dedication to the Cornhusker State Games. Honorees included: Five-Year – Ed Aasen, Gymnastics; Nick Orris, Hockey; Rex Robison, Horseshoe Pitching; Ron Hulshizer, Judo; Carrie Reitmeier, Racquetball; Jack MacLean, Volleyball; Pimmi Philip, Volleyball; Zac Morley, Youth Golf. 10-Year – Rob Luhrs, Jiu-Jitsu. 20-Year – Jen Fraser, Electronic Darts; Hilary Catron, Taekwondo; Mike Catron, Taekwondo.
The evening also featured entertainment from nationally recognized speaker and comedian, Juli Burney, who inspired the audience with her signature blend of humor, storytelling, and motivation.
During the banquet, attendees revisited a proud moment for Nebraska as the Cornhusker State Games were featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter “50 States in 50 Days” series. The segment showcased the athletes, volunteers, and communities that make CSG a statewide celebration of competition and camaraderie, earning Nebraska national recognition for its passion for sport.
The Awards Banquet was sponsored by Lincoln Federal Savings Bank. Hosted by Pillar Restaurant Group. Contributing Partners include: University of Nebraska – College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kinkaider Brewing Company, and Certified Piedmontese.
The Nebraska Sports Council has one remaining event in 2025, the Heartland Havoc Wresting Tournament Nov. 8 at Sandhills Global Event Center. Thus far in 2025, more than 30,000 Nebraskans from more than 80 Nebraska counties have participated in NSC events.
The Nebraska Sports Council is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote healthy/active lifestyle choices and provide quality competition for athletes of all ages and abilities. Platinum Partners include Pepsi-Cola of Lincoln, FMNE Insurance, Grand Island Tourism, and Nebraska Orthopaedic Center. Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.