Blair High School senior Hailey Roewert knew the Class B high jump event was down to just her and Grand Island Northwest's Tessa Scheer.
What the Bear didn't realize, though, was that she'd taken less attempts to clear the bar across the entirety of the event. When both jumpers couldn't quite get over 5 feet, 7 inches, BHS assistant coach Darren Harsin clued Roewert into what it all meant.
She was an NSAA State Track and Field champion.
“Just unreal,” Roewert said Thursday at Omaha Burke Stadium. “I wasn't on the podium or anything last year. So, to go from not even having my name out there to winning it is just unreal.”
The senior was shocked by Harsin's reveal, shedding tears when her state-qualifying high jump teammates — Emma Ammon and London Larsen — ran up to embrace her. It was an emotional moment.
“This is me trying not to cry,” Roewert said several minutes after the fact. “I'm doing my best right now.”
Altogether, coach Bryan Soukup's Bears earned five medals at the 2025 Class B meet. Their state champion led the girls to a 13th-place finish in the team standings, while the boys took 16th overall.
Roewert said she used speed and smoothness to win her event, but, most importantly, the right mindset.
“The hardest thing is keeping your brain straight for success,” she explained.
The BHS senior was successful on her first three attempts of the day and took just two of the three allowed jumps to clear 5-3. She sailed over the bar at 5-5 on her third attempt, too, sticking out her tongue in celebration. It wound up as the winning jump, while Ammon — who also earned 20th in the 100-meter hurdles — finished sixth with a successful leap at 5-3, too.
While he wasn't the first to congratulate her, Roewert's father wasn't far behind. Jason worked the NSAA Championships at track level, wrapping his arms around his daughter and giving her a kiss on the cheek when he got the chance.
“I'm so lucky to have him here,” Roewert said, still trying to compose herself after a state-championship effort in Omaha.
Daggett contributes 3 medals
BHS junior Hayden Daggett earned his first of three 2025 state medals May 21 at Omaha Burke Stadium. At that point, he was looking forward to picking up two more the next day, particularly in the 1,600-meter relay — the last event of the Class B meet.
“Oh my gosh, I'm pumped. So pumped,” he said. “Now, I can look forward to that.”
When the mile-long race was done, though, the Bears — Declan McCabe, Colin McCabe, Chase Cottle and Daggett — were disappointed. They finished third in 3:23.23
“I want a gold,” Colin McCabe said.
He explained how the four juniors went into the race wanting to avoid getting stuck behind slower competition and putting together a series of strong handoffs. There were struggles in both areas, though.
“We ran how we could, but we've just got to sharpen up next year on our technique and our focus and everything like that,” Cottle said.
“Obviously, that's not where we wanted to finish, but can't change it now,” Declan McCabe added. “We've just got to go into the future.”
Cottle agreed, making plans for his senior year's spring.
“It's a great spot to build off of for next year,” he said of Thursday's disappointment. “We have a little bitter taste in our mouths leaving that out there, but we're going to be back next year.”
All four Blair standouts will have a chance to return to state in multiple events. Daggett, as noted, earned fourth-place medals in both the 200- and 400-meter dashes in addition to his relay team's finish. He clocked in at 22.22 and 49.2 seconds during the individual races, respectively.
Daggett was 10th in the Class B high jump, too, while Cottle took 11th.
Declan McCabe added a 14th-place state finish in the 800 as well, while Colin McCabe was 16th in the 400 and 18th in the 100.
“I'm just happy because I know there's more to this story,” Daggett said after Thursday's final race. “I know that next year is our year.”
The Bears' Gaige Bolton, Jade Wickwire, Brynn Lundgren and Kate Wulf also competed at the NSAA State Championships on May 21 and Thursday. Bolton, a senior, was 15th in the triple jump, clearing 42 feet, 1.5 inches.
Wickwire — another senior — competed in the 3,200 run before she attends and competes for Missouri Western next school year. She was 22nd, clocking in at 12:26.89 across 2 miles.
Lundgren finished her last 100-meter dash in 12.77 seconds for 21st, too, while Wulf — a junior — earned 21st in the 1,600 run with a time of 5:31.95.
