The Dorchester Times rarely ventures outside of its own coverage area. However, we couldn't help but make note of the news that Crete junior all-state guard Marissa Kastanek confirmed Friday that she’s planning to transfer to Lincoln Southeast.According to the Journal-Star, Kastanek said she’s making the move for personal reasons but would not elaborate. The 5-foot-9 Kastanek, a Division I college recruit who committed earlier this fall to North Carolina State, led Crete to a 25-1 record and a Class B state runner-up finish last March. The second-team Super-Stater, a point and shooting guard, averaged 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, five steals and 4.5 assists per game as a sophomore.
We are interested in what Times readers have to say about this development. Does this mean athletics are taking too much priority in the educational realm? Or does this move present opportunities for smaller schools like Dorchester to attract athletes from nearby communities?
Sound like S.B.-itis to me (spoiled-brat-itis). I'm a DHS fan but I'd bet anyone that Southeast won't make state tournament and Crete still wins Class B.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for the others kids, in their family. What does this do for them, or what kind of message is this sending to them. I think I would of thought about this a little harder. Sports are good but to what extent to a family. They should put the family first. Did they think of how the other kids in school will be treated, and what they will go threw.
ReplyDeleteTalk about your divisions in town. Did you see those comments under the Lincoln Star blog???
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I thought there was a state rule that said you can't transfer/option enroll and play sports that same school year? What is to stop a bunch of stand-outs in Lincoln from transfering to Dorchester so they can win the Class D state championship?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Dorchester experience something like this in the early 90's with a standout volleyball player that went to Wilber to be a part of more competitive teams?
ReplyDeleteDHS saw this with a track athlete just last year, I believe............
ReplyDeleteNo .... we are not placing too much priority on sports. After all there is ample opportunity in the WNBA.
ReplyDelete(That's a joke folks. Whatever happened to lofty goals like finding the cure for cancer, coming up with ways to make America free from foreign oil, or finding a replacement for the combustion engine? I guess basketball is more important, right after MTV, slutty magazines and NASCAR.)
I think this move will be good for Marissa. She has worked her ass of from the time she was in elementary school, traveling all around the states while playing with her cornhusker shooting stars team (not to mention the 3 hour 2-a-day practices she had to go through---weights, running, etc...). She joins two of her teammates from the shooting stars, Katie Birkel and KK Houser. With those three working together (with amazing chemistry from playing together for so long) there is no telling what they can do. Can't wait to watch this team at state. Good luck to Marissa as she gets settled in her school.
ReplyDeleteI think this move will be good for Marissa. She has worked her ass of from the time she was in elementary school, traveling all around the states while playing with her cornhusker shooting stars team (not to mention the 3 hour 2-a-day practices she had to go through---weights, running, etc...). She joins two of her teammates from the shooting stars, Katie Birkel and KK Houser. With those three working together (with amazing chemistry from playing together for so long) there is no telling what they can do. Can't wait to watch this team at state. Good luck to Marissa as she gets settled in her school.
ReplyDeleteWake up people -- this happens all the time.
ReplyDeleteLook at this move from Marisa's point of view. The girl is driven and has worked very hard to get to the level she is now. She's not able to work with others with that caliber of desire to succeed....not to mention the jealousy that she must experience.
She'll be playing with her teammates that she's played with for longer than those at Crete. These other players see the benefit of playing with other strong players. They'll just make each other better.
There have been others from Dorchester that have moved to a better situation - and there are lots of others that probably wished they had taken that step to play in a different arena.
.....sounds like there's some sour grapes around here. Their decision to move to Lincoln was pushed along by opinions similar to what are in this blog. It's sad that people wish for others to fail -
We wish Marisa well - she deserves the success and recognition she has received.
We don't know the details behind Miss Kastanek's decision, nor do we want to speculate on her motives.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we do wonder if team loyalty and community pride are being overlooked nowadays.
And does Class B girls basketball really lack sufficient competition? Alliance might have something to say about that.
As for the anonymous comment above that "lots of other" DHS students probably wished they had played elsewhere, we certainly know that is not the case.
Instead, we have heard from many who attended larger schools -- including Crete -- who now say they wish they had been afforded the extra-curricular opportunities that we have here in Dorchester.
Indeed, the lessons learned on the field and court are more valuable years after we've hung up our sneakers.
That will be true in Miss Kastanek's case, as well.
Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteWe reject your comments -- not because they run contrary to our thinking, but because you resorted to personal attacks. (You know us better than that.)
This is a community blog intended to better our town and its people. Our focus is on the majority of residents who want to see this community thrive well beyond their own lives. Yet we still consider the negative comments, as long as they are not directed at specific individuals.
In no way did your personal attacks aim to lift our area community or offer constructive cricism.
Also, a little hint: Not all of us on staff are as old as you think. We did fine under those coaching regimes and all of felt that our mentors only wanted the best for all of us who played. They did the best they could, we believe.
Trust us -- no one was deprived of a career in the NFL or WNBA because of the instruction they received here at DHS.
The reason she left Crete is because her club coach (Danny Lesoing) got into a spat with Kate Edwards dad (who is now Crete's co-head coach) and he told Edwards he would take Kastanek away so Crete wouldn't win state. Everyone in the state knows about Lesoing but no one does anything. He has ruined countless girls reputations and teen-age years and although everyone critiisizes him, no one will stand up to him.
ReplyDeleteOf course Kastanek will do well at Southeast, but she won't be "the" star, they already have the best player in the state. I'm not even sure she'll be their second best player.
To cj,
ReplyDeleteI'll take your bet. No only will SE get to state, I doubt they will lose for the next two years. As for Crete, they have no chance. Seward will beat them locally, and both Alliance and Holdrege are significantly better out state.
And no the competition is not good enough for her. While there are teams like Alliance and Holdrege, there are too many teams in B like Auburn (you all remember last year's 70 point loss to Crete). A will offer much better preparation for her college years.
And lastly, the fact that an unqualified player's father was mysteriously promoted to "co-coach" hastened her transfer.
Basketball is going to pay for a great education an make a basis for a prosperous life, and there is no use in staying at Crete and be part of a coaching soap opera while her skills deteriorate.
I guarantee you that there are parties in Holdrege and Seward celebrating this move.
Let's be sure of which end is cart adn which is horse. According to the Lincoln paper, the family plans to move to Lincoln later this year. So, is she transferring and the family following, or does the family have a reason to move (new job, etc. - see Sienna's comments, if they're accurate) and she's transferring so she finishes where her family will be? Take a look at the last part of Martin Luther's explanation of the 8th Commandment (following). Let's see the best side of this until Marissa tells us otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the 8th Commandment "You must not tell lies about your neighbor".
Q. What does this mean?
A. We must fear and love God, so that we will not deceive by lying, betraying, slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation, but will defend him, say good things about him, and see the best side of everything he does.
My question is who cares?......... its a kid playing with a little ball ..... how does that impact the world or make it any better??? How does it impact any of our lives????
ReplyDeleteSienna:
ReplyDeleteWe choose not to publish the recent comments you have submitted.
Your indictment of Crete parents is baseless and adds nothing to our discussion.
Try again.
Isn't it about time to close this discussion. This blog contains only disparaging comments about a talented 16-year old, her family, her coaches and the crete community. How does this "add to our discussion"?
ReplyDeleteI think this whole discussion has soured - and it was perpetuated by the blog owner.
OK -- whatever you say, Anonymous. You can hate us for raising the issue. You aren't the first.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, we won't be closing this discussion board. We have never ended a discussion in the past -- don't look for us to begin with this topic. We think Dorchester can learn a lot from the actions of others in nearby communities.
I thought the intent of this website wasn't to personally attack people. Shes not even from Dorchester and thats what is happening. If she wanted to transfer who cares. Shes good. maybe she needed better competition. And who cares, we are from Dorchester this doesn't hurt us. Let her do her thing.
ReplyDeleteYou cared enough to post a comment. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteI think the family should of thought alittle harder. Because of this she will not be able to play in crete or lincoln, they had to get a attorney, and meet with officials, for a hearing, and then the official will decide. The rules are there for a reason, now she might not be able to play for anyone until her 90 days are up. Remember it takes more than one person to make a team. She is a very good player, but what about the rest of the family, they had to leave there school and friends, you do what you have to for your kids, but is seems that she is the only, that will benefit from this.
ReplyDeleteIf the above comments are true, that's very interesting. As I said earlier in this discussion I thought the state had a rule in place saying transfer/option enrollment students had to wait before they could play.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like this move may prove costly. Can NC State get its scholarship back? Lesson here is you can't "move away" from your problems. Too many people in this country, especially young women, think moving to a different location will make everything better. The secret to success in this life is how you work with others and what you accomplish with them, not the place you're living.
If a students primary residence is located in Lincoln, they are eligible immediately. The Kastanek family has moved to Lincoln. Both the Kastanek children are now attending Lincoln Schools. Marissa is practicing with the Southeast High School team.
ReplyDeleteDHS should get the sixth-men from all the Class A schools in Lincoln and convince them to move to Dorchester for 4 months to win the Class D basketball championship. It's just as ridiculous as what happened in Crete.
ReplyDeleteIs the Kastanek home for sale? No... so I don't think the entire family moved to Lincoln. From what I have been told, there are no plans to sell their home. So someone must be living there.... I guess we'll just wait and see.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess there are exceptions to every rule. In this case it depends on your name and who you're going to play for. Funny how Lincoln SE gets no scrutiny for this move. Someone from an opposing school (Lincoln SW or Bellevue) should file a complaint.
ReplyDeleteI was unaware that selling your home was a requirement to transfer schools.
ReplyDeleteDid the Kamphaus family sell their home in Malcom so that their daughter could go to Seward? Did the Murdoch's sell their home in Orleans so that their daughter could attend Holdrege? How about in 2006 when virtually the entire Omaha Burke gbb team transferred to Bellevue East-did each of these families sellt their homes.
The only requirment the Kastanek's have to meet is establishing primary residence in Lincoln-have they? The answer appears to be yes. Stop adding frivolous requirements because of the better opportunites this girl now has at Southeast.
Now if you want to examine the number of players who play for the Cornhuskers Shooting Stars, and their troubled coach, Dan Lesoing, who have transferred from their school in the past year, that is something that could produce something.
1This entire discussion is bizarre. Just a bunch of townies upset because one of their own has the audacity to seek a better life.
ReplyDeleteThe censorhip czar on this site is bound and determined to allow the Kastaneks to be slandered, yet protect the Crete townies who were the cause of this entire problem. OUTSTANDING! Pathetic, but, still, OUTSTANDING!
Sienna, i don't know you or the basketball player whose motives are being questioned. Still i gotta agree with the cynical dick who asked: WHO CARES? You obviously have a vested interest. Are you a sports agent?
ReplyDelete4:00 Wednesday, NSAA just ruled Kastanek INELIGIBLE to play at LSE this year. This meeting/ruling just took place within the hour.
ReplyDeleteThe number of posts verify that someone does care. . .so, Bob, you are out of touch with what we care and think about. No wonder newspaper subs are plumeting like Michael Jackson's career.
ReplyDeleteAm I missing something? Why hasn't the Crete News spoke of this development?
ReplyDeleteI found out more about this topic here than I did reading the girls hometown paper.