SIDNEY, Neb. — A new program to help benefit student-athletes returns in Sidney.

President of the Sidney Booster Club Sarah Kaiser said the club is application based.

“We require the coach and at least two athletes to come and apply for their grant funds to the board for the Booster Club,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser said the club already covers 11 high school sports and seven different junior high sports.

One of those sports is cross country. Cross county requested water coolers, banners, and something for heat illness.

“We’ve got a really warm fall coming up and this helps give us another layer of protection," cross county Assistant Coach Joydene McCarville said.

Kaiser said the Booster Club values the athletes' safety first. The club also will ponder anything that will help players and coaches including camps, travel, and meals.

The funding for the Booster Club comes from a membership drive. Kaiser said the club will be launching their membership drive August 1st.

“What we prioritize our grant funding based upon is first, what’s going to benefit the athlete the most, anything that has to do with safety for the athlete. Next we bring in equipment. That could be down to the individual level, so if kids need running shoes,” Kaiser said.

Cross country has over 100 athletes from 7th to 12th grade.

“We form a family. We have a big little program,” McCarville said. “The littles run with their bigs, and we have little ones who are running right along with the champions.”

Cross county senior Rheo Dykstra said she liked the big-little program. 

“They do what you do. They follow you. It’s an opportunity to leave a legacy," Dykstra said.

The Sidney girls' cross country team won the state championship during the 2021 season.

Dykstra said the team has plans to continue to win.

“I think it’s fun to see potential in young kids,” Dykstra said. “They want to be you one day and it’s awesome to watch them grow and push them.”

Sidney's boys' team placed runner-up at state last season. 

“It’s awesome to see them PR, set new records, and push themselves to be better," junior Ty Grunig said.

Cross country will be running an intramural meet that the public is welcome to attend on August 18th. Sidney cross country also has its first meet at home on October 6th at 3 p.m. at the Hillside Golf Course.

For more information and to apply to be a part of the booster club visit the Booster Club Sponsorship form.