KEARNEY, Neb. — Eight Kearney High students are now set to play sports at the college level.

The group of senior Bearcats made it official at a ceremony on Wednesday. Sawyer Schilke will play football at the Div. l level at Kansas State. The linebacker racked up 114 team-high tackles while lifting the Bearcats to the state semifinals. He credits head coach Brandon Cool and the Kearney staff for helping him become a Big 12-caliber player.

“They developed me a lot. Coach Cool helped me out through the process a lot," Schilke said. "Because Coach Cool and me kind of butted heads my sophomore year and then around my senior year, we basically just became best friends.”

Ben Johnson will also take his talents to the Sunflower State. He will play basketball at Div. ll Fort Hays State. Johnson, whose brother plays football at UNK, led the Bearcats with 18.4 ppg and 9.8 rpg as a junior.

“I chose Fort Hays because the play style they play with fits my play style, the coaches were very welcoming and I like the program they have there,” Johnson said.

Other signees:

Olivia Wright, softball, Concordia

Jack Sponenburgh, wrestling, UNK

Sam Nachtigal, wrestling, UNK

Derrick Nonhof, baseball, Dordt

Kole Throckmorton, baseball, Iowa Central CC

Kyah Hazard, track and field, Missouri Southern