Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Westside Wired, Westside High School, Westside Community Schools, or District 66 administration.
In Omaha, high school sports are about more than just a box score. They are about where you’re from. But lately, that’s changing. We’re seeing a trend of “super-teams” where talented athletes pack up and leave, not because their family moved, but because they’re chasing a ring or a bigger spotlight.
It’s time to get back to the basics: athletes should play for their home school and the people in their own zip code.
When a star player leaves their neighborhood for a “powerhouse” program, it’s a hit to the whole community. It’s not just about the scoreboard; it’s about the teammates who grew up together suddenly losing their leader, or the fans who’ve cheered for a kid since middle school suddenly seeing them in a rival jersey. The players themselves lose that deep-rooted connection to the place that actually raised them.
We’re seeing the fallout of this across the metro. Look at Omaha Benson. Before the 2023 season, the program was gutted when head coach Terrance Mackey left for Omaha Central and 12 players followed him. This wasn’t just a few kids moving—it was a mass exodus of the team’s core, including stars like DaShawn Prince and Kevon Newsome.
The result? A brutal 93-0 loss to Lincoln North Star to start that season. By 2024, things got so bad that Benson had to cancel the rest of their varsity season because they didn’t have enough players to keep kids safe on the field. When the best players leave, the neighborhood school doesn’t just lose games—it loses its pulse.
This has created a massive gap in Class A. While schools like Millard South and Omaha Westside stay loaded with transfers, others are just trying to survive. In 2025, the disparity got so bad that Lincoln High had to forfeit a game against Millard South at halftime, trailing 63-0, just to avoid more injuries and demoralization.
People argue that these moves are “business decisions” for college scholarships. They say you need the best coaches and the fanciest weight rooms to get noticed. But that’s a myth in 2026. Between Hudl and social media, scouts can find talent anywhere. A 70-yard touchdown run looks exactly the same in a Benson jersey as it does in a Westside one.
There’s also something to be said for staying and building something. When a star athlete sticks it out at a struggling school, they learn a kind of leadership you can’t get by joining a pre-made championship team. They learn how to carry a program and inspire the next generation of kids in their neighborhood to stay, too.
The NSAA knows this is an issue. Right now, students who transfer without a move have to sit out 90 school days, and there’s even talk of doubling that to 180 days to stop the “trophy chasing.” But rules only go so far. This has to be a cultural shift.
High school sports should be about belonging, not just recruiting. It’s about the pride of representing your neighborhood and the friends you’ve known since kindergarten. It’s time to prioritize loyalty over convenience.
Play for your zip code. Your teammates, your fans, and your city deserve it.
