As the class of 2026 approaches graduation, there’s no denying that the seniors have brought our high school great successes, specifically in sports. Both Girls and Boys Basketball have made it to the elite eight, boys gold won the 4A division, and the rest of our sports have qualified for playoffs.
The athletic talent coming from this year’s senior class is simply too significant to not mention, while also highlighting their future academics and athletic pursuits. What makes this group even more impressive is their ability to balance their academics with athletics at such a high level; so much so that they were able to commit to their school of choice, as colleges require their students to be high performing athletes and scholars. Many of these athletes have taken on leadership roles in their school, preparing them for high-level responsibility in college.
The class of 2026 has brought our football team major success, highlighting the fact that the committed football players started on varsity for three years. Specifically, Griffin Kratochvil (‘26) and Brycen Gissel (‘26). Both of these players have committed to Central Community College-Hastings (CCC-Hastings) in Nebraska to continue their player chemistry. Gissel states, “It’s a great campus,” highlighting that not only is he going there for football, but because he genuinely enjoys the school. Kratochvil continues on to state “the coaches remind me of the Mead High School coaching staff.” This highlights that the coaching staff at Mead has built these players up the past four years, making it a connection they wont lose.
Moving the spotlight onto volleyball, their season was far from easy yet, they finished top eight in 4A. Alana Costello (26’) has been with volleyball all through high school as a liberal. Costello has committed to Northwestern St.Paul in Minnesota for its competitive sports management program. Costello includes that she wants to also minor in biblical studies and her goal for her freshman year is to participate in volleyball, regardless of the position.
These 2026 commits are wonderful students in sport and academics. They have made such a big impact for each sport team and will continue to leave a mark behind in college.
