Dynamic Sibling Duo to Highlight Torch Lighting
LINCOLN, Neb. (July 8, 2024) — Husker favorites Josiah and Rebekah Allick have been selected to help kick off the 40th annual Cornhusker State Games in Opening Night festivities beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 11.
The 2024 Cornhusker State Games began June 29 with the annual Homer’s Heroes Cornhusker State Games baseball tournament followed by BB Gun & Air Rifle/Pistol and Plinking Pistol on July 6 at the Turpin Outdoor Education Center. Competition will be held in more than 70 sports over the following two weekends. More than 8,000 Nebraskans are expected to participate. Those interested can still register for most sports at CornhuskerStateGames.com.
The Allick siblings will cap off a torch lighting program which also includes standout Husker track & field athletes Tyler Brown, Kalynn Meyer and Kevin Shubert. All five will be available for a Meet and Greet after the program and the public is welcome to attend for free. Hiland Dairy will provide free ice cream treats for those in attendance.
The Opening Night program, which will be televised and streamed live by News Channel Nebraska, begins at 7 p.m. with interviews of longtime donor and NSC Board member Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar and other dignitaries, followed by the national anthem performed by Eddie Brown.
The caldron lighting is expected to take place around 7:30 p.m., with a relay beginning at 7:15 p.m. Torch bearers will proceed down Salt Creek Roadway and Pinnacle Arena Drive with the flame before turning onto R Street, where Rebekah and Josiah, escorted by members of the Air National Guard, will complete the relay and light the caldron in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska Sports Council President Dave Mlnarik said the torch bearers have all represented Nebraska well through their athletic achievements and high character. He noted that the Allick siblings were chosen as the final runners in honor of the positive contributions each has made to their respective sports.
“The Allick siblings are beloved by the Husker community not only for their impressive athletic abilities but also for their work ethic, positive attitude and team-first mentality. Both are heavily invested in the community and passionate about giving back to younger generations of athletes. All of our torch bearers embody the grit and character that define the Nebraska spirit,” Mlnarik said.
Opening Night sponsors include presenting partners: Arby’s of Lincoln, J&H Specialty Contracting, Liberty First Credit Union and Visit Lincoln. Black Hills Energy is the Torch Lighting sponsor. Torch Bearer appearances are sponsored by Crete Carrier Corp./Shaffer Trucking. Production Partners include News Channel Nebraska, Digital Sky and Complete Weddings and Events. Hiland Dairy is the ice cream sponsor.
The Cornhusker State Games is produced by the Nebraska Sports Council, which also conducts the Lincoln and Omaha Corporate Games, the Pumpkin Run, Nebraska DiamondFest, Nebraska NetFest, Heartland Havoc, Nebraska Showdown and the WellPower Movement. Platinum sponsors include: Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, the Nebraska Medical Association, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center and Pepsi-Cola of Lincoln. Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.
TORCH BEARER PROFILES
Josiah Allick
- From Lincoln, Nebraska; attended Lincoln North Star High School
- 2024 Big Ten Sportsmanship Nominee
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2024)
- NU Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall, 2023)
- Helped Nebraska to its first NCAA appearance since 2014
- Ended his collegiate career with 1,246 points and 781 rebounds in 136 games and 111 starts
- Played at UMKC and New Mexico before coming to Nebraska
- First Husker basketball player from Lincoln North Star
Rebekah Allick
- From Lincoln, Nebraska; attended Lincoln North Star and Waverly High School
- AVCA All-Region Team (2022, 2023)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (2022, 2023)
- All-Big Ten Freshman Team (2022)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Oct. 17, 2022; Oct. 24, 2022)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2023; Beach-2024)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2022, 2023; Spring 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award (2023)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2023, 2024)
- Ranked the No.6 player nationally in the 2022 class by PrepVolleyball.com
- Gatorade Nebraska Volleyball Player of the Year (2021)
Tyler Brown
- From Lincoln, Nebraska; attended Lincoln East High School
- USTFCCCA Honorable Mention (Javelin – 2024)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2020; Spring 2023)
- Made his NCAA Championship debut this season in the javelin
- Claimed bronze in the javelin and 10th in the discus at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships
- Career-best javelin mark is No. 7 on the all-time list
- Placed in the top-ten in javelin at each Big Ten Outdoor Championship appearance (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Placed in the top-ten in discus in three out of four Big Ten Outdoor Championship appearances (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Gatorade Nebraska Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year (2019, 2020)
Kalynn Meyer
- From Superior, Nebraska; attended Superior High School
- USTFCCCA Second-Team All-America (Discus – 2024 Outdoor)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2023, 2024)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2023, 2024)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic (2022, 2023)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023; Spring 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2021, 2022, 2024)
- Made her NCAA Championship debut this season and placed 15th in the discus
- Threw the third-best discus mark in school history during the 2024 outdoor season
- Gatorade Nebraska Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year (2018, 2019)
- Three-time state discus champion and two-time state shot put champion in high school
Kevin Shubert
- From Omaha, Nebraska; attended Millard North High School
- USTFCCCA All-America First Team (Shot Put – 2024 Outdoor)
- USTFCCCA All-America Second Team (Shot Put – 2021 Indoor, 2024 Indoor)
- Big Ten Silver Medalist (Shot Put – 2024 Indoor, 2024 Outdoor)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2024)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2019, 2021, 2023; Spring 2021, 2024)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic (2020)
- Competed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials
- Two-time state shot put champion in high school
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