PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
New Horizons November 2025 | Vol. 50 | No. 11
Celebrating 50 Years
Husker softball coach Rhonda Revelle is still passionate as she enters 34th season By Leo Adam Biga nce a perennial regional and national force under Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska softball lost its edge from 2015 through 2023. The arrival of native Nebraska superstar Jordy Bahl, who transferred to NU after helping lead Oklahoma to consecutive national titles, raised expectations of a return to glory. But this much anticipated homecoming and revival got spoiled by an injury Bahl suffered in the 2024 season opener that sidelined her the entire year. Then last season a healthy Bahl fulfilled the promise as she broke multiple school hitting records and dominated as a pitcher in leading NU to the super regional. She earned national player of the year honors. Revelle recently signed a fiveyear contract extension that will help add to her school record number of wins compiled over 33 years. What she and her players want more than anything is Big Red’s first softball national championship. The program has been close in the past. With Bahl, whom Revelle calls “a generational talent,” and other key cogs from last season’s 43-15 Top 15 club back, along with highly touted newcomers, Husker softball will likely be in the hunt for that elusive first title. The veteran coach knows she has the talent to win it all. “By the end of the year I really feel that everyone on the team knew we were one
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NEBRASKA ATHLETICS of the best teams in the country and that’s really exciting. I’ve never been somebody that needs to chase things. Not that I don’t have aspirations because I do. I still have aspirations of bringing a national title to this program.” Her two-way weapon, Bahl, said straight out, “The goal is to win the national championship. That was our goal last year. I think overall as a team the belief of realizing we’re actually capable of that started to catch some steam at the end. I think now it’s a total buy-in from everybody, and I think that’s going to be the difference in getting us to Oklahoma City (site of the Women’s College World Series).” Bahl likes playing for a coach
who encourages to dream big without getting ahead of yourself. “She’s really good at taking it one day at a time,” she said of Revelle. “She gives us visuals of the championship banner hanging in our locker room but then she’s always good at keeping us present and making sure we’re earning it every day.” The veteran coach feels good entering her 34th year. “I’m not as young as I used to be. I did have a hip replacement this summer. But I feel like I have wisdom I maybe didn’t have 30 years ago, so there’s give and take. My spirit for coaching I think is at an all time high. It just takes a little while longer for my body to get going.” With at least five more years
to go in Lincoln, Revelle, 63, still loves what she does, especially with Bahl and Co. making Husker softball a contender again and touted recruiting classes itching to make their mark. She hopes her example of still bringing competitive fire inspires fellow older adults to do the same. “Sometimes you even start to question yourself because there’s stigma or opinions about what happens when we reach a certain age,” Revelle said. “If we stay bold in how we’re trying to live our life then age will not define us. There might be things we need to adjust because of our age and there might be decisions we make because of the way our body feels, but it doesn’t have to be that just because you’re a certain age you’re washed up. “You know who’s taught me that? Young people. There are times when I’ve made fun of my age and they’re like, ‘Coach, you’re not old.’ I must be behaving a certain way that they don’t think that. So keep going, keep trying to live your life to your fullest rather than tapping out or giving in. Don’t give in.” Bahl can attest to Revelle’s drive. “She never actually turns it off She is softball and all about this team pretty much 24/7. She cares that much about each and every one of us. It’s not like that everywhere. It’s very infectious. You never know what you’re going to get you just --Revelle continued on page 9.
Older adults get their steps in at ENOAs 9th annual ‘Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon’ By Ron Petersen lder adults from around the area gathered with their family, friends and caregivers for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA) Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon at Benson Park on September 19. The Step Out For Seniors Walka-thon is a fundraiser to help update programming and services at the 19 senior centers in the Eastern Nebraska area.
O ENOA is participating in Giving Tuesday 402! Give $25 today and provide a lifeline for an older adult.
Giving $50 provides one week of nourishment and
$75 Feeds the body and sparks the spirit at a local senior center
“We raised over $14,000 this year, with $2,000 of that from raffle basket sales,” said Christina Ochoa, ENOA nutrition program assistant. Over the last couple of years, the Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon has been growing in popularity. It also helped that this year the Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon was on a beautiful day in Nebraska. “The event went very well – we had more sponsors than we have --Walk-a-thon continued on page 5.