Every school has a rival, but is it the whole school that they are in a rivalry against or is it by different sports teams? So does Alliance High School have a rivalry with Gering High School or does the boys’ basketball team have a rivalry against Scottsbluffs’ basketball team.

To determine whether its a school vs. school or a team vs. team rivalry I went straight to the athletes themselves. According to senior Emersen Cyza, one of our star volleyball players, it’s a team against team, “I would say our biggest rival this year is Gering. They are a fundamentally strong and aggressive team. Gering always puts up a fight. They are very solid players, but have a few weak links. Playing Gering our first home match and sweeping them was an amazing feeling and a great way to start our season off on the right foot.”

Blythe Boness, who is a senior on the girls basketball team, agrees that it’s team vs. team,”I’d say our biggest rivalry this year is most likely Scottsbluff or Sidney. Scottsbluff has three really solid players, but there has always been a huge rivalry between us. Sidney has some good plays too. Any game is a fun game to play if your doing your best and winning, they are fun to play!”

Jaycee Acosta, who is a junior on the softball team this year, says “I think the biggest rivalry for the softball team this year is definitely Scottsbluff because it’s always such a close game when we play them. We are very much capable of beating them but instead of beating them, we end up beating ourselves honestly. They are great players with much talent, but our team also is very talented! Not only are they good players individually, but great players as a team because they work together very well. They are very fun to play because it is so competitive and a very intense game, which makes it fun for the team and I!”

Mason Hiemstra, who is a senior on the boys basketball team, said “I think we have two rivals for our boys basketball team, Scottsbluff and Gering. Scottsbluff because we’ve lost I think 24 straight games to them and Gering because none of us like each other and none of their students or fans like us so it’s always a pretty heated game no matter what the score is. Gering I think will be average and Bluffs will be pretty good again, but I think we will be better than both of them.”

Reece Jensen, who is a senior on the varsity football team said, “I think Scottsbluff is our biggest rival because that’s who it has been forever. They are very good players. Playing Scottsbluff is very fun because the games are so much more intense and it just brings so much more excitement to the game because of what is on the line.”

Baily Hood, who is also a senior on the wrestling this year said, “I would say probably Bluffs. They have been our biggest competition for district titles and making it to team duals every year. They always have a strong lineup. It is always fun to compete with good athletes and especially when they are our biggest rivals.”

According to most of the athletes it is a team vs. team rivalry, but most the athletes agree that Scottsbluff High School is a great competitor, but each athlete believes Alliance High School will pull through and have great seasons.