Mtkafallsports2015

Minnetonka

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • Volleyball • Boys & Girls Cross Country • Football • Boys & Girls Soccer • Girls Swimming • Girls Tennis •

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Page 2 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

Minnetonka football team rebuilds offense Garibaldi is lone returning Skipper starter

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS Looking around the Minnetonka High football field the first week of practice, senior tackle Tom Garibaldi may have felt like the Lone Ranger.

The 6-foot-3, 297-pound senior tackle is the Skippers’ only offensive returnee, and while he is certainly an impressive building block, there’s a lot of work to do.

Beginning with the first practice on Aug. 10, head coach Dave Nelson and his staff had less than two weeks to assemble an of-

fensive unit. Luckily, the coaches are allowed some time to work with their athletes during the summer, and during that time, some basic structure was put in place. “One of the issues is that we lost all of our skill-position players,� said Nelson.

That, of course, means he has to go with an untested quarterback and an untested tailback.

In the past, he has had quarterbacks who passed for big yardage and tailbacks who piled up yardage.

The quarterback candidates are led by 6-foot4, 225-pound senior Dan Griep. Two other boys competing for the starting job are juniors Gus Steiger and Garrett Olson.

One of those three will replace 2015 grad Braden Sikes, an All-Lake Conference pick last fall.

At running back, Nelson has possibilities in each of the top three grades. Senior Marshall Glodoski is vying with juniors Shadon Hopkins and Jason Fredrickson and sophomore Ty Barron.

Defensively, the Skippers are in fair shape for the new season.

Their linebacking is solid with seniors Peter Redmond and Isaac Olson leading the way.

Redmond is the Skippers’ top returning player and a potential All-State candidate, according to Nelson. “Peter runs well and has great length at 6-5 and 225

pounds,� said Nelson. “He is a really smart football player.�

A key returnee in the defensive line is 5-10, 215-pound senior nose tackle Anoosh Whitlock. “We aren’t very big in the defensive line,� said Nelson. “Our biggest guys aren’t much bigger than 200 pounds.�

Minnetonka’s defense will have to rely on quickness and swarming to the

ball. Defensive coordinator Greg Clough doesn’t have the physical size he has had in the past, but with his experience, he will no doubt find a solution.

The Skippers two experienced safeties in senior ballhawks Micah Montague and Harrison Scane.

Scane is one of the captains along with Griep and Whitlock.

A tough schedule awaits the Skippers. They will

play the other four Lake Conference teams - Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins and Wayzata - plus Champlin Park, Maple Grove, Prior Lake and Shakopee.

Minnetonka’s 2015 homecoming game looks like a tough one, maybe the toughest in school history.

The Skippers will welcome defending state Class 6A champion Eden Prairie to Einer Anderson Field at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.

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Senior quarterback Dan Griep of the Minnetonka High football team warms up his arm before practice last week at Veterans Field. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman)

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Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015 Page 3

Minnetonka boys soccer team has unfinished business

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS About the only thing the Minnetonka High boys soccer team didn’t do last season was win a state title.

The Skippers finished 16-1-3 overall, and their only loss was to the eventual state champion, Anoka, in the first round of the State Class AA Tournament.

“Among our returning players, there is a sense of unfinished business,” said Minnetonka head coach Mike Rogers. “It will be a challenge to fit all the pieces together and find the best combination. Our biggest hole is in goal, where we lost [All-State] Max Melin to graduation.

We have a lot of candidates for the position, and we will see who emerges.”

All other positions are solid, Rogers noted.

The players he can build around are senior midfielder Suad Suljic, a high school All-American last fall, and junior forwardmidfielder Avery Weaver, a fast, sure-footed playmaker.

“Both are outstanding players,” said Rogers.

“And we also have junior Josh Greiner back. I watched him play attacking midfield for Tonka United this summer, and he looked like the best player on the field.”

Minnetonka returns two of its top defenders - seniors Nagu Chidambaram and Carter Cam-

Avery Weaver (12) of the Minnetonka High boys soccer team works his magic during a game against Shakopee last fall. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) eron.

“You won’t find two better defenders,” said Rogers. “Seniors Teo Speece and Jake Orlowsky are two other returning de-

fenders. Jake started some games last season.”

In addition to these returnees, Minnetonka has several other lettermen, including seniors

Vail Baumer and Stian Firehammer and juniors Finn Histon and Hudson Meester.

If he needs additional scoring punch, coach Rogers can look to junior Jacob Robinson.

“Jacob was the leading scorer for the Tonka United Under-16 this summer,” said Rogers.

Optimism is abundant the first week of practice.

“We are ready to play together as a team,” said Rogers. “This group of seniors knows how close we came last year. We won our first section championship in 15 years.”

The Skippers will have plenty of competition from Lake Conference opponents this fall.

Edina is tough on de-

fense with senior Brennan Scott and junior Ryan Moon.

Wayzata is building from the back, where third-year starting goalie Troy Louwagie stands tall in his senior year. Senior midfielder Jason Lehman and senior forward Ethan Tuch supply offensive leadership.

Hopkins is an up and coming team under coach Justin Hegre, and the Royals graduated only six of 20 players from last year’s team. Their top players are senior forward Andrew Shirley and senior midfielder Brandon Speich.

Eden Prairie is tough defensively with the return of seniors Andrew Donohue, Ryan Keenan and Mike Watson.

‘Good players, better people’ help Tonka girls soccer

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS Coach Jeff Hopkins has played a key role in the development of the Minnetonka High soccer program.

He served as head coach of the boys team for four seasons, and now he is starting his eighth year as head coach of the Skippers’ girls team.

Unquestionably, his No. 1 highlight was winning the state Class AA girls championship in 2013, but for coach Hopkins, every team he has coached at Minnetonka High has a special place in his heart.

“The students I have coached here are good

soccer players and even better people,” he observed. “They are great students, and they are eager to work and play hard. I appreciate their passion for the sport. You can do a lot when you have well-grounded kids, who love the game and are also good citizens.”

Going into the 2015 season, Minnetonka has a strong defensive side.

Two of the Skippers’ three tri-captains are senior defenders Reagan Fleck and Molly Pitzele.

The other is senior midfielder Avery Amorosi.

“Those three players are very good leaders,” said Hopkins. “They did a great job of establishing a culture in captains’

practice this summer.”

In addition to captains’ practice, the Skipper girls had a chance to work with the coaching staff during the open period this summer.

“We had more than 65 girls at camp,” said Hopkins. “It looks like we will have a good mix of returning players and newcomers. Hopefully, we will be an exciting team to watch this season.

“The other four teams in the Lake Conference all have solid programs, and most years the Lake sends two teams to the State Class AA Tournament.”

Last year’s state entrants from the Lake were Eden Prairie and

Senior defender and tri-captain Reagan Fleck is a returning starter for the Minnetonka High girls soccer team. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) Hopkins. Eden Prairie advanced to the statechampionship match, where it lost to Eagan.

“Lake competition at the top end is always very good,” said Hopkins.

“And that helps all of us prepare for the section tournament.”

When Minnetonka won the state championship two years ago, everything clicked, and the Skippers were able to win close decisions in the playoffs. It helped that they had Ms. Soccer of Minnesota, Elizabeth Endy.

“When I came into the high school program, we had great leaders like Elizabeth and [midfielder] Ellie Crowell,” said Fleck. “Their personalities helped to make them great leaders. Now that I am one of the leaders, I want to make sure that all of the girls on the team feel safe, welcome and

enjoy the process.”

Personally, Fleck wants to be a leader on the field.

“I have been training more and training harder this summer,” she said.

Fleck helped her summer team, Minnesota Thunder Academy Under-17, win the North American Cup. And she has also earned an NCAA Division I scholarship to play at Miami of Ohio next season.

Commenting on Thunder’s North American Cup title, Fleck said, “We put in the work.”

She wants to provide leadership to help her high school team follow that model.

Minnetonka will open at Armstrong Aug. 29.

Page 4 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

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Minnetonka tennis team still dealing with Edina Hornets chase 19th straight championship

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS The ongoing dominance of the Edina High girls tennis team is one of the phenomenons of Minnesota high school sports.

This fall, the Hornets are favored to win their 19th consecutive state Class AA championship.

And really, who’s going to stop them?

Sophia Reddy slides seamlessly into the first singles position vacated by the graduation of last year’s state champion, Caitlin Merzbacher. The Hornets also return two of the state’s premier doubles players, Hannah Hankinson and Katie Engelking. Overall depth also seems to be on the Hornets’ side, so it’s no wonder head coach Steve Paulsen is whistling a happy tune.

Among the teams that might test Edina this year is Lake Conference rival Minnetonka.

The Skippers, coached

by Dave Stearns, were fourth in state last year behind Edina, Prior Lake and Mahtomedi.

The one speed bump facing Minnetonka is the fact that Prior Lake has moved into Section 2AA to compete with the Skippers for a state berth.

“There’s no question

Prior Lake is very good,” said Stearns on the eve of the first practice earlier this week. “They [the Lakers] didn’t graduate much from last year’s team.”

Luckily for Stearns, Minnetonka also has a solid talent base, led by sophomore Bella Lambert, who earned fourth place in state Class AA singles last season.

“Bella is going to be very good again this year,” said Stearns. “She has played in a lot of national tournaments, and she’s a smart, talented, energetic player.”

Lambert is the sister of Aria Lambert, who was a state champion at Minnetonka High and went on to play for the University of Minnesota women’s team.

In addition to Bella Lambert, Stearns has a multi-talented senior in captain Theresa Tebon.

“Theresa is a great captain,” said Stearns.

“She helped with fundraising all summer. Last season, Theresa played mostly doubles for us, but she has the right to play singles if she wants to. She is a strong, athletic player, who has grown into her height this year.

And her footwork has improved. She’s quick to the ball and knows what to do when she gets there. Looking back on last season, Theresa had very few losses.”

Tonka’s other senior captains are Cristina Jones and Erin Kolbow.

“Cristina played sec-

ond and third doubles last season, mostly second,” said Stearns. “Erin played some singles and some doubles.”

The Skippers also have a junior captain, Quinne Johnson.

“Quinne played some good matches last year,” Stearns noted. “I feel we have four really good captains. It will be interesting to see how our young players develop.

By Thursday or Friday of this week, we hope to have the positions.”

Minnetonka lost a top player when sophomore Anna Letto moved out of state.

Letto played second singles all of last season and had the potential to Theresa Tebon, one of four captains for the Minnetonka High girls tennis team, hits a forceful be one of the top players backhand volley. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) in the state this fall.

In tournament play last season, Letto formed a dynamic doubles team with Tebon.

Letto’s departure will open the door for some of Minnetonka’s young hopefuls.

Coach Stearns organizes three round-robin intrasquad tournaments at the beginning of each season.

Players earn spots by virtue of performing well in the round robins.

Stearns has 59 girls trying out for tennis this year. A majority of them will be able to play in the program this season.

Minnetonka’s first dual match of the season will be against Eastview at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at the Minnetonka Bella Lambert of the Minnetonka High girls tennis team takes fourth place in state Class AA singles last fall. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) High School courts.

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Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015 Page 5

Returnees put Tonka swimming in prime position

BY CHRIS CHESKY SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS Maintaining success from year to year is not an easy task for high school swimming coaches. Their athletes get injured, they graduate and it is difficult to find state-meet swimmers each year.

This year, however, Minnetonka swimming coach Dan Berve is in luck.

The majority of the team that took third in last year’s State Class AA Meet will be returning this year, giving Berve and the Minnetonka swimming program a reason to be confident. “We have a really great team returning from last year,� Berve said. “Last year’s team was very

strong and the nucleus of that team is back.�

Two of the leading swimmers from last year’s team, seniors Riley Donlin and Sophie Levy, give Berve major weapons going into the season. “They’re huge,� Berve said of Donlin and Levy. “They’ve been huge for us ever since they became members of our team.

They’re both strong individually, top eight performers at the state meet.

They’re really important to how well we’re going to do this year.�

Donlin and Levy, along with Cecilia Ostergren and Kristen Trenda, were named the captains of this year’s team.

Donlin will be looking to replicate her perfor-

Riley Donlin is one of the top returning performers from a Minnetonka High girls swimming and diving team that placed third at state last season. (Photo by Mark Trockman - trockstock.com) mance in last year’s state championship, where she was one of Minnetonka’s top options in the relay, and Levy and Ostergren will help Minnetonka improve in the butterfly event. “The duo combination of Sophie Levy and Ce-

cilia Ostergren is one of the best duos of the butterfly in the state, hands down,� Berve said.

The success of the four captains and the experience gained in last year’s state tournament will both factor greatly in Minnetonka’s chance to

make a splash in the state tournament. “It gives us a lot of confidence,� Berve said of last year’s state experience. ‘We’ve been there, we’ve done that and this is, for the most part, a similar group of girls that will be back there again.�

“We’re trying to build off of last year’s finish,�

Berve added.

Minnetonka’s first meet will be at 9 a.m. at Minnetonka High School on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Wayzata, Champlin Park and Hopkins.

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Page 6 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

Minnetonka girls CC attracts one hundred runners

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS There never seems to be a shortage of participants, or talent, in the Minnetonka High girls cross country program.

For 2015, the Skippers have an experienced pack led by three returning state-meet participants sophomores Libby Halbmaier and Sophie Whicher and eighth-grader Kylie Melz.

One of the captains is senior Lucy Hoelscher, who is starting her fifth season as a varsity runner. The other senior captains are Kirstin Eitreim, Kayla Lindgren and India Nelson. Hoelscher was All-Lake Conference last fall along with returning teammates Melz, Whicher and sophomore Marla Bailey. Halbmaier, Tess Sutton and Grace Hoelscher, Lucy’s sophomore sister, return as All-Lake honorable mention runners.

“Our top seven runners from last year are back,” said Minnetonka head coach Jane Reimer-Morgan. “I don’t think we’re had that before.”

The big change in girls cross country this fall is an increase in the length of the course. Minnesota girls have been running 4K races for years. This year, they will be running 5K events.

“We’re going to have to run more mileage in practice,” said Reimer-Morgan. “And that will add a few more minutes to some of our workouts. I think it will be fine. I am OK with

Members of the Minnetonka High girls cross country team are on a path to success in this preseason workout. From left are: Senior captain Kayla Lindgren, juniors Tess Sutton, Allison Harvey and Grace Bakala and senior captain India Nelson. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) 5K. I also would have been OK with keeping it at 4K.” Prior to a preseason workout on campus, Lindgren and Nelson talked about the upcoming season and their role as captains.

“When I was a young runner in the program, I thought of the captains as role models,” said Nelson.

“They encouraged us to make friends, to get good grades in school. This summer, we have tried to make captains’ practice fun and still get our work

done.”

For instance, one day the girls ran to the beach and followed up with some swimming. Another day, they played Ultimate Frisbee in addition to running.

When coach ReimerMorgan opened official practice Aug. 17, she had close to 100 girls in camp.

Describing her coach, Nelson said, “Jane is really good at organizing a big group of girls. She has had a lot of experience doing this, and whatever she does works.”

Lindgren said she was aware of Reimer-Morgan’s success, even before she came out for cross country as a sophomore.

“Jane was intimidating at first because she was so well-known and such a good coach,” said Lindgren. “When you get to know her personally, you find out she is funny, witty and super-smart.”

In talking about what captains do in the Minnetonka cross country program, Lindgren said it is important to help ev-

eryone feel welcome and included.

“We want to be fun and likeable and bring good energy,” she said. “At the same time, we want the girls to find that grit, whether they are among the top varsity runners or members of the C squad.”

“No matter what pace you’re at, it’s fine,” said Nelson. “You work to improve.”

Being chosen as a captain for a team of 100 runners is obviously a high point in an athlete’s career.

“It is an honor,” said Lindgren. “The girls are like my family, some of my best friends are on the team.”

To many of their teammates, it was no surprise that Lindgren and Nelson were selected as captains.

The two are leaders in other sports, as well. Lindgren has been selected as one of the track captains for the 2106 season. Nelson is captain of the Minnetonka Alpine skiing team and also a member of the Skippers’ sailing team.

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Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015 Page 7

Minnetonka VB looks to combat inexperience

BY CHRIS CHESKY SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS There are many things a high school volleyball coach can prepare for as the start of the season approaches.

What a coach can’t prepare for, however, is a substantial injury and a team that lacks varsity experience.

Unfortunately, Minnetonka’s volleyball program and its coach, Karl Katzenberger, will have to deal with both of those issues during the upcoming season. “The team is really talented, but there is some inexperience they need to overcome,� Katzenberger said. “We’re pretty excited about the kids we have coming back.�

One of the returning players who gives Katzenberger the most confidence is junior setter Isabelle Aragon-Menzel.

Aragon-Menzel has been on the varsity team since her eighth-grade season and has become so consistent on the court that Katzenberger feels she is not noticed. “Isabelle is a machine,�

Katzenberger said. “You don’t notice her because she’s so consistent night in and night out. She’s really good and we lean on her to orchestrate the offense.

We’re really lucky to have her as a part of our team.�

Aragon-Menzel may be one of the team’s most consistent and experienced players, but she will

Veteran setter Isabelle Aragon-Menzel is the key player for the Minnetonka High girls volleyball team. (Photo by Mark Trockman - trockstock. com) be adapting to a new role this season: being one of the team’s captains. “It’s the first time she’s been asked to be in a position of leadership,�

Katzenberger said. “She’s done a really good job with it.�

Aragon-Menzel is not alone as a captain on this year’s squad. Senior middle hitter Lauren Mershon will join Aragon-Menzel as a leader, but will not join the rest of her team on the court.

Mershon tore her ACL in June and it is unlikely that she will be able to play in her senior year.

Mershon still has plans to attend St. Louis University in 2016 and will play a critical role for the Tonka team as an extra pair of eyes on the sideline. “She’s done a great job

in a position of leadership,� Katzenberger said. “She’s not going to get an opportunity to go on the court with these kids, in all likelihood, but I feel she will do a great job for us as a leader. “She definitely sees the game almost at a coach’s perspective. I think she can relate to her peers and teammates, she can relate to the challenges they’re facing and I would imagine that she’s seen darn near about everything that could come up and handles them spot on.�

Katzenberger will have two new coaches this year in varsity assistant coach Gary Anderson, who is returning after one year away from the team, and recent University of Minnesota graduate and two-time Golden Gopher volleyball letter winner Adrianna Nora.

Without the presence of Mershon, Katzenberger had to make many tough decisions in regard to his starting line-up. About a week before tryouts began, Katzenberger said that he has no idea what his starting line-up will be this season, but was looking forward to seeing the fierce competition for a starting spot during the team’s tryouts.

Minnetonka will open the season at home against Moorhead on Friday, Aug. 28 before the Skippers face off against Roseville in the Side-Out Classic on Saturday, Aug. 29.

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Page 8 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

The All-American prepares for another season Suad Suljic sets the tone for soccer team

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS Suad Suljic of the Minnetonka High boys soccer team has put the preseason hype aside to focus on helping his team win the State Class AA championship.

Last fall as a junior, Suljic led his team to a 16-1-3 record, as well as Lake Conference and Section 2AA championships, but the Skippers missed out on the prize they really wanted, which was the state championship.

Suljic paced the Skippers in scoring with 33 points on 19 goals and 14 assists, and he did it unselfishly.

“There are no words I can come up with to say how awesome it would be to win state,” he said recently. “Our style of play will be the same as it was last year - soccer, not kick ball. I want our fans to get what they pay for.”

Last year’s Tonka team set all-time attendance records on their home turf, the Field of Dreams.

Fans came out to see the Skippers’ dynamic duo of Suljic and Avery Weaver.

With both of them on the field again this year, the Skippers should have a magnificent 1-2 scoring punch.

“Suad is on his way to doing great things in soccer and also after soccer,” said Minnetonka head coach Mike Rogers. “He

Suad Suljic (10) of the Minnetonka High boys soccer team goes all-out against Bloomington Jefferson during a 3-2 Skipper playoff victory last fall. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) has been working hard on his game all summer.

Avery is one of the top juniors in the state. It will be exciting to see the two of them working together.”

“I love playing with Avery,” said Suljic. “He

is always moving, always getting open. He does so much for the team.”

Josh Greiner, another key forward from last season, will join Suljic and Weaver in the quest for goals. Like the other two,

he is fast and has a nose for the goal.

Asked to describe his mindset for the 2015 season, Suljic said, “Playing as a team, winning as a team.”

His focus is on team

goals, rather than scoring records or repeating as an All-American.

“Postseason awards are a long ways down the road,” he said. “We need to fill the goalie position.

Max Melin did a great

job for us last season, and Nathan Abzug was great when he played, but they’re gone now.”

NCAA Division I programs are knocking on Suljic’s door, but he doesn’t plan to make any decision on a college until after the season.

His plan is to put all of his focus on Minnetonka’s season.

During the summer, he generated increased Division I interest through his travels with Minnesota Thunder Academy.

“When you play for a team like Minnesota Thunder Academy, you improve your skills and you see the game at a different level,” he said.

Suljic does something with soccer every day of the year, and that is how he has developed a game rich in ball possession, tactical superiority and scoring prowess. The left-footed shooter is almost always on target, even when he’s moving at full speed.

“This summer I’ve been playing a lot, getting a lot of touches on the ball,” said Suljic. “Same old, same old.”

The Skippers will open the season with a nonconference game against Eagan at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, on the Field of Dreams. The Lake Conference opener against Hopkins will be played at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

8, also on the Field of Dreams.

Contact John Sherman at john.sherman@ecm-inc. com. Follow him on Twitter @MNSunSports.

sailor.mnsun.com

Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015 Page 9

Four of the top six back for Skipper boys Tonka coach Renlund has high hopes for 2015 season

BY JOHN SHERMAN SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPERS Coach Jeff Renlund of the Minnetonka High boys cross country team knows what it takes to be competitive in the Lake Conference.

Renlund was a star runner for the Skippers (198286) and still competes in road races now that he is in his 40s. “Our goal as a team, as Junior Matt Wilkinson is the only returning All-Lake Conference runner for the Minnetonka High boys cross country team. (Sun it is every season, is to have at least five guys on our Sailor staff photo by John Sherman)

team break 17 minutes in the 5K on the Section 6AA course,� said Renlund.

Breaking 17 minutes on that course at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista isn’t all that easy, but Renlund is usually able to find that fast five. Two of his top runners, junior Matt Wilkinson and senior captain Mason Kiffmeyer, broke 17 minutes last season. Senior Calvin Horst, No. 3 last year behind the other two, is another runner, who should go under 17. “Matt missed qualifying for state by about a foot last year,� said Renlund. “And in track he ran a sophomore [school] record of 9:35 in the 3,200. Mason ran 9:56 in the 3,200 and a 2:02 in the 800 dur-

ing track.�

Additional varsity returnees for the Skippers are junior Cedric Caille and senior captain Gunnar Maples. “Other up and comers expected to help out are senior captain Eric Schneider, seniors Carter Heikkila, Keegan Scouler, Peter Seylar and Josh Trojan, juniors Patrick Brady and Evan Green and sophomore Adam Wilkinson,� said Renlund. “There has been good preparation at captains’ practices this summer, and we look forward to a fun, hard-working season.�

Minnetonka competes in one of the toughest cross country conferences in the state - the Lake Conference - so nothing

will come easily.

Wayzata is the defending state champion.

Hopkins and Edina have strong returning groups and Eden Prairie is never too far from the front of the pack.

In addition to Wilkinson, some Lake Conference individuals to watch are Seth Eliason, Owen Hoeft and Jack Henschel of Hopkins, Sam Thomas Sam Elliott and Jack Manderscheid of Edina and Jaret Carpenter of Wayzata.

Wayzata and Edina are the Lake Conference cofavorites.

Contact John Sherman at john.sherman@ecm-inc. com. Follow him on Twitter @MNSunSports.

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Page 10 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

Nine Minnetonka athletes to watch this fall While I am going to be watching every Minnetonka High School athlete this fall, I am sharing a list of nine prominent Skippers for fans to follow. This is not a complete watch list by any means, but it is a place to start.

All of these athletes have distinguished themselves in past seasons, and I can assure you they will give everything they have in representing the Tonka Blue and White.

Isabelle AragonMenzel The scrappy setter for the Minnetonka High girls volleyball team is like a coach on the floor for head coach Karl Katzenberger. She touches the ball on almost every possession and makes smart plays all over the floor. The Skippers are accustomed to 20win seasons and with Aragon-Menzel orchestrating the offense, they could have another one this season.

Reagan Fleck A highly successful season with the Minnesota Thunder club team should propel Fleck into the spotlight as she serves as tri-captain for the Minnetonka girls soccer team. Fleck’s defense was a key factor as the Thunder Under-17 team captured the North

JOHN SHERMAN SUN CURRENT NEWSPAPERS American Cup championship. A tireless worker, Fleck will work alongside another defensiveminded senior captain Molly Pitzele. Both girls were All-Lake Conference selections last fall.

Dan Griep The Minnetonka High football team has had All-Conference quarterbacks the past three seasons with Nick Rooney (twice) and Braden Sikes last year. Now it’s Griep’s turn to vie for that honor.

At 6-4 and 225 pounds, he won’t be intimidated by any opponent’s defensive line surge. Griep is a cornerstone of a rebuilding Tonka offense along with tackle Tom Garibaldi.

Kylie Melz As a seventh-grader last fall, Melz was tops in her grade at the State Class AA Cross Country Meet while finishing 34th overall. Kylie returns for an eighthgrade season with high expectations and a good summer of training behind her. Teammates Sophie Whicher and Libby Halbmaier, both sophomores this year, were also among the top 40 at state last year with Whicher

Sophomore sensation Bella Lambert of the Minnetonka High girls tennis team is a state Class AA title contender following her fourth-place finish last season. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) 29th and Halbmaier 37th. Melz, Whicher, Marla Bailey and Lucy Hoelscher were All-Lake selections in 2014.

Bella Lambert The Tonka sophomore is a rising star on the state tennis scene after

placing fourth in state Class AA singles last fall.

Known for her quickness and court coverage, the All-Lake Conference

standout is among the top contenders for the state singles crown that ATHLETES - TO NEXT PAGE

sailor.mnsun.com

Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015 Page 11

Athletes

ence boys soccer.

Theresa Tebon

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE her sister Aria won as a Minnetonka High sophomore and junior in 2008 and 2009. Aria has gone on to have a successful singles and doubles career in the University of Minnesota women’s program.

Suad Suljic The Minnetonka boys soccer captain is a returning high school AllAmerican after leading the Skippers in scoring last season with 19 goals and 14 assists. Suljic is not only a great scorer, but also the ultimate team player. His left foot is the most dynamic weapon in Lake Confer-

The senior tri-captain for the Minnetonka girls tennis team, is one of the most versatile players in the Lake Conference this fall. The daughter of Lake Minnetonka Area pro Felecia Tebon, Theresa carries herself well in both singles and doubles. She played first doubles most of the 2014 high school season and made it to the elite eight in state doubles with partner Anna Letto. Tebon earned a spot on the All-Lake Conference team last year.

Avery Weaver As a sophomore last year, Weaver emerged

from Suad Suljic’s shadow to become a Lake Conference soccer star in his own right. His ballhandling skills and quick moves to the goal make him a threat every time he touches the soccer ball. Weaver’s work ethic and enterprise are qualities that make him one of the state’s best players, according to his head coach, Mike Rogers.

Matt Wilkinson The Minnetonka boys cross country standout came within a quartersecond off winning a state berth last season.

He returns determined to make it this fall, following a solid season with the track team. The All-Conference form junior is Minnetonka’s Sophomore Marla Bailey of the Minnetonka High girls cross country team earns All-Lake Conferonly returning All-Lake ence honors during the conference race last fall at Gale Woods Farm. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman) runner.

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Page 12 Fall Sports Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2015

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