High School Football Preview: Lincoln North Star looking to take next small step

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A new season with a new attitude.

The Lincoln North Star Navigators are hungry to compete in 2025, coming off their first winning record in over 10 years.

North Star finished 6-4 in 2024 with a 14-6 first-round playoff loss to Bellevue West.

But that loss is part of a much bigger process by head coach James Thompson.

Thompson is entering his fourth year, and the team has improved each season under his helm.

His mentality? Getting 1% better.

“We haven’t talked about week one or week nine. We’re worried about becoming the best people and best individuals we can be,” Thompson said. “That’s that 1% better mentality.”

Thompson’s main goal is turning this team into a group that hits hard, runs hard and has fun.

After the close playoff loss in 2024, players are excited to get back to taste the postseason.

“Coach T, he’s such a great coach; we love him to death,” running back and free safety JC Sievers said.

This senior class has seen this program’s turnaround since Thompson’s arrival and said it’s in large part due to the team acting as one cohesive unit.

“Throughout the years, we’ve been losing people, yet we’re getting better and better,” tight end and linebacker Scott Hoebelheinrich said. “It shows when you have trust in one another, you grow stronger as a family.”

The seniors also fully prepared to lead the way this season.

”I’m excited to see how we look without our senior class from last season,” Sievers said.

First on the list for the Gators in 2025 is Lincoln Southwest.

Some players are ready for kickoff.

“I’m very excited to play Southwest,” Hoebelheinrich said. “It was a hell of a ball game last year, and I’m hoping it’s a blowout this year.”