Long drives to practice way of life for Thedford, Sandhills athletes

Associated Press - October 18, 2009 2:55 PM ET

DUNNING, Neb. (AP) - The merging of the athletic programs at Thedford and Sandhills high schools in west-central Nebraska comes with inconveniences, but it was necessary if the schools wanted to be competitive in sports.

Practices alternate daily between Thedford and Sandhills, located 27 miles away in Dunning. That's a 54-mile roundtrip for kids from one or the other school every other day. Once they return to their home school, another 30- or 40-mile drive home awaits some of the kids who live on ranches.

The site for home games depends on the location of the opposing team. The visitor travels to whichever town is closer, and gate receipts are shared equally between Thedford and Sandhills.

The schools are old rivals, and some folks resisted the merger. But football coach Nick Mumm says that in this era of declining rural population, the two schools need each other.