Winter Sports Yearbook 2018

SPORTS YEARBOOK

Albert Lea’s Zach Glazier eyes second state title

WINTER 2018

A.L. girls’ hockey prepares to take next step

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 ALBERT LEA / GLENVILLE-EMMONS / ALDEN-CONGER / NRHEG / UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL / LAKE MILLS / NORTHWOOD-KENSETT

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WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK

2018 Starting 4

8

13

Jason Thompson enters his first year as head coach of A.L. girls’ basketball team

18

NRHEG boys’ basketball strives for continued success after a 24-4 season

20

USC wrestler seeks revenge after a second-place finish at state last season

25

Northwood-Kensett wrestling shows strong potential with handful of letter winners

Albert Lea’s Zach Glazier eyes second championship

Albert Lea girls’ hockey looks to take next step in the program’s development

PAGE 4

6

17

WINTERSPORTSYEARBOOK

NEW LOOK FOR A.L. HOCKEY

EYEING A RETURN

Albert Lea boys’ hockey will look for new leaders after losing several key pieces

Lake Mills wrestling hopes to get back to state using experience from many returners

Editor Tyler Julson Contributing writers Colleen Harrison, Sam Wilmes, Sarah Kocher and Tyler Julson Cover design by Colleen Harrison Cover photo of Zach Glazier

by Colleen Harrison Photos by Colleen Harrison, Tyler Julson and Lory Groe To purchase advertising, call 507-379-3427 or fax 507-373-0333

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ALBERT LEA GIRLS’

HOCKEY

By Tyler Julson

ALLI DULITZ

I

n his second year as the head coach of the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team, Josh Funk hopes to see his team take the next step in the culture he established last season.

Coming off a year in which they finished 6-18, the Tigers return 15 letter winners, including senior Adison Malakowsky, juniors Rylee Bjorklund, Laynee Behrends, Mia Fjelsta, Katie Steven, Daysha Luttrell and Angie Minear, and sophomores Maddie Schneider, Alli Dulitz, Jaiden Venem, Lucy Sherman, Josie Venem, Taylor Stanek and Ally Rasmussen.

With only one senior, the team will be very young, but along with the youth comes speed which is the team’s biggest strength, according to Funk.

“We have some very fast skaters who are learning how to use their speed,” Funk said. “We are also a very well conditioned team. The area in which we could use more improvement is our vision and hockey knowledge on the ice. We will address this by utilizing video breakdown a lot more this season.”

Funk said the expectations for the year are to reach double-digit wins and make it to the section finals. Everyday improvement in work ethic is the key needed to reach those goals.

“The key to our success this year will be to improve every day,” Funk said. ”We need to be able to have a strong work ethic and push each

ALLY RASMUSSEN

other every day for the betterment of the team. We will also need our more experienced players to get our new players up to speed and teach them the high-level game.”

With many of the section’s top competitors losing a lot of players from last season, Funk said the top spot is very much up for grabs. He expects Rochester Lourdes to be

4 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

the slight favorite, but a spot in the section finals isn’t out of the question for the Tigers. Funk predicted Northfield to be the favorites in the Big Nine.

The Tigers got their season started with a home loss to Faribault on Nov. 8, but got back on their feet with a 7-1 win over Fairmont on Nov. 13.

Being a Trojan means wearing the blue and gold with pride. It means being part of a team, always striving to be better, and putting in the hard work. We hustle on the court, field, and mat and then turn around and do it again in the classroom. We score goals and make memories. We're here to work hard and play hard.

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ALBERT LEA BOYS’

HOCKEY

By Tyler Julson

A

fter a heartbreaking loss in last year’s sections, the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team is seeking retribution in 2018, only now it will have to do it without their two leading goal scorers and starting goalie from a season ago.

The Tigers do return eight letter winners from last season, but they will need to step up in a big way to replace the spots left behind last season.

Returners include seniors Cole Wentzel, Jaxon Heilman and Jack Edwin, and juniors Culley Larson, Jacob Prihoda, Hayden Johnston, Danny Chalmers and Campbell Cichosz.

Head coach Jason Fornwald said the returning junior defense in Johnston, Chalmers and Cichosz will be something to watch out for. He said they each had phenomenal sophomore years and are always steady players. Heilman will take over in the net for Calen Hoelscher, who was second in the Big Nine in goals against average. Fornwald said Heilman has put in a ton of time over the offseason in preparation for a big role on the team.

On top of Hoelscher, the Tigers lost Michael Savelkoul, the Big Nine’s leader in assists; Bergan Lundak, the Big Nine leader in goals; and Noah Karge, the team’s MVP and a force on defense.

Despite the key losses, Fornwald hasn’t lowed his expectations for the season. In addition to getting better in the rink every day, Fornwald said

JACOB PRIHODA

CULLEY LARSON

he expects the team to make an appearance at the state tournament.

The biggest factor in getting there is going to be everyone working together and putting the team above everything else, according to Fornwald.

The team’s biggest strength is going to be its speed, outstanding puck skills and the experienced defense.

6 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Fornwald said they are a bit on the small side and will need to play more physically on defense to compete.

Fornwald expects Rochester Century, Mankato East and Albert Lea to be the top contenders for the Big Nine crown.

The Tigers got their season started with a home game against Owatonna on Nov. 29.

ALBERT LEA

DANCE

By Sarah Kocher

A

fter the team’s best conference finishes in the last five years, the Albert Lea dance coach said working together for the same goal will be a key to success again this year.

Last year, Albert Lea’s dance team finished fifth in kick and eighth in jazz at district sections.

Head coach Megan Ball said key athletes this year will be Abby Renchin, Mallory Dempewolf, Elise Grzybowski, Hannah Conn, Ashlyn Yost and Jacklyn Matson.

“Some strengths we have as a team is that we are positive-minded, persistent and we have skilled choreographers,” Ball

said. “A weakness we have is that we are a younger and smaller team compared to others we compete against.”

For the season, Ball expects to increase

team scores throughout and to grow and learn as a team.

Conference favorites are Faribault and Austin.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 7

NEW YEAR,

By Tyler Julson

A

fter winning the Minnesota state championship at 170 pounds in the 2017-18 season, Zach Glazier returns for his senior season with his sights set on adding a second title to his collection.

Dominating his way through the competition last year only being taken down one time, Glazier said the game plan is no different this season.

If anything, he said he wants a second title more than the first as a way to prove the first one.

“I don’t think my hunger has changed at all. If anything it’s more this year,” Glazier said. “I finally got there, finally did it and I finally accomplished it. Now it’s time to go back and leave no doubt.”

An already aggressive wrestler, Glazier said he wants to become even more aggressive this season and score more points. He said one of the biggest challenges he will meet this season is finding people to practice with.

A majority of the guys he wrestled with last season have graduated and some of the other coaches aren’t able to be there everyday, so he said finding someone to spar with on a consistent basis might be difficult.

Before having his offseason cut short by an ankle injury, he competed in several tournaments all throughout the country and also committed to wrestle for the University of Iowa, one of the top wrestling programs in the country. He begins the season ranked No. 2 in the state at 182 pounds behind Cade King of Owatonna.

Two other Tigers are also ranked in

ZACH GLAZIER

8 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

the top-10 of their respective weight classes. Seniors Nic Cantu and Brady Nielsen are ranked No. 2 at 126 pounds and No. 4 at 195 pounds, respectively.

Last season, Cantu was unable to compete at the individual section tournament because of an illness, taking an almost surefire trip to the state tournament away from him.

Nielsen also saw his share of roadblocks last season, suffering an elbow injury that forced him to wear a large pad the rest of the season. He came up just short of a state berth, losing in the section tournament.

Freshman Cameron Davis also returns to the lineup after a state qualifying run in his eighth-grade year. Eighth-grader Cole Glazier will look to make his mark as well after being ranked in the state for a portion of last year.

Other returning letter winners include senior Cristian Garcia, and

NIC CANTU

sophomores Griffin Studier, Josiah Hendensten, Caleb Talamantes and Joey Flores. Garcia is sidelined with an injury.

Despite the many returning wrestlers, the Tigers lose nine seniors from last year, including three state place winners: Brody Nielsen, who

took third place; Jake Johnsrud, who took fourth place; Gavin Ignaszewski, who took fifth place; and Spencer Indrelie, who was named AllConference. “(We’ll have a) fresh set of kids filling the line-up, most of whom have ALBERT LEA WRESTLING / TO PAGE 10

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ALBERT LEA WRESTLING / PAGE 9 competed at high levels on their way up through the youth and junior high levels, but need to prove themselves on varsity,” head coach Paul Durbahn said. “Our success will be determined by how these kids respond to their new roles and how determined they are to compete. We have talent, but need to earn our success this season. It won’t be easy.”

The team will lean on the leadership of captains Cantu and Glazier as one of their biggest strengths.

As a team, the Tigers start the season just outside of the top-12 after taking fifth place at state duals in 2017-18.

Durbahn will be assisted by Jon Hansen, Brandon Klukow, Dan Glazier, Larry Goodnature, Neal Skaar, Mike Hansen, Mark Indrelie, Jaime Cantu, Connor Kortan, Garrett Wangsness and George Gerdes.

The Tigers started their season with a tournament at Hastings on Dec. 1. Their first home dual will be against Austin on Dec. 20.

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ALBERT LEA BOYS’

SWIMMING

By Tyler Julson

C

oming off a building year, the Albert Lea boys’ swim and dive team enters its first season under new coach Clay Scott.

Losing just one senior from last year, Alec Wendelboe, the Tigers return many young swimmers who have already seen a good amount of varsity action.

Juniors Adam Fitzlaff and Sonny Oretega-Roseli, sophomore William Taylor and eighth-grader Jakob Malakowsky each return to the team after competing in the section prelim meet last season.

The best place the team finished with at sections was a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Fitzlaff, OrtegaRoseli, Taylor and Wendelboe finished with a time of 2:06.46.

However, as long as a replacement is found for Wendelboe, the group could compete for a top eight finish.

The Tigers started their season with a meet at Rochester Century on Dec. 6. Their first home meet is slated for Dec. 20 against the Winhawks of Winona.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 11

ALBERT LEA BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Tyler Julson

T

he Albert Lea boys’ basketball team will enter the 2018 season with more then a handful of players who had big roles for the team a season ago.

Seniors Parker Andersen, Dylan Scherff, Scotty Gilbertson and Drake Dawson and juniors JJ MuchaOwens, Koby Hendrickson, Andrew Wilner, Logan Howe and Connor Veldman all return to the squad after seeing many varsity minutes in 201718.

Head coach Luke Novosad also expects to see some other players take the step up and compete for varsity minutes as well.

The team lost four seniors from last year’s team, including Sean Wadding, Garrett Piechowski, Brandon Fredrickson and Lennon Shimon.

However, the experience and chemistry the team has already built up will be one of the team’s biggest strengths when play begins, according to Novosad.

“A lot of these players have been playing together now for almost two years at the varsity level,” Novosad said. “Our depth is also a strength.

We have a lot of guys who can play all positions and push each other in practice.”

Scherff, last year’s leading scorer and rebounder, was described as a student of the game and has put in a lot of work in the offseason to improve his game, according to Novosad.

Doyle, who is coming off a football injury, started all games for the Tigers last season, and Novosad said he will

DYLAN SCHERFF

SPENCER DOYLE

be leaned on to be a leader this season.

Novosad expects to be competitive in the Big Nine Conference and for his team to be especially strong on the defensive side of the court.

“We expect to compete in the Big Nine Conference and play very hard defensively,” Novosad said. “We’re looking to take the next step and learn how to finish games against

great competition we see night in and night out in the Big Nine. We have to be able to stop teams and put the energy in at this level to take the next step as a team.”

Novosad will be assisted this season by Jeff Jimenez, Spencer Dahl and Dennis Dieser.

The Tigers kicked off their season with a home game against the Falcons of Faribault on Dec. 7.

ALBERT LEA GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Tyler Julson

A

fter a rebuilding season last year, the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team will look to take its next step in the process under new head coach Jason Thompson.

The returning letter winners from last year are senior Megan Johnson, juniors Ashley Butt, Samantha Skarstad and Turena Schultz, sophomore Madison Fleek and freshman Taya Jeffrey.

“As you take over a program, you want to create stability and continuity within the program from the youth level through high school,” Thompson said. “(I want to) develop a process and follow that process. My expectations are that we will be a young, competitive team that will grow throughout the season. We will be a much better team in March than we start off in November.”

After losing five seniors from last year’s squad, the Tigers will lean on Skarstad to be a leader of the team. Thompson described her as a “floor general” and having “natural leadership skills that will be very important for such a young team.”

Thompson also said Butt and Jeffrey will play major roles on the team, calling Butt a sharpshooter from beyond the arc and Jeffrey one of the most athletic girls in Albert Lea. The stength of this team will be its athletic ability. However, the weakness of the team will be its youth, as it lacks numbers in the

SAMANTHA SKARSTAD

TURENA SCHULTZ

upper-class grades.

On top of the players buying into Thompson’s process, he talked about a couple of other factors that will be a keys to success this season.

“For us to improve each day of the season, showing improvement, growth and staying healthy,” Thompson said “(We need) to play

fundamentally sound, as a team, both offensively and defensively.”

Thompson expects Mankato West, Northfield and Red Wing to be the teams competing for the Big Nine Conference championship by the end of the season.

The Tigers opened their season with a home game against KassonMantorville on Nov. 27.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 13

ALL-AREA WINTER 2018

CALENDAR Dec. 13 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at New Ulm, 7:30 p.m.

Grand Meadow at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Loyola, 7:15 p.m.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger/GlenvilleEmmons at Madelia, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Winona at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 6 p.m.

Dec. 14 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Maple River at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Blooming Prairie at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Newman Catholic, 7:30 p.m.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Owatonna at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

United South Central at Lake CrystalWellcome Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Newman Catholic, 6:15 p.m.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Lake Mills, 6:15 p.m.

Wrestling: Lake Mills at Waterloo East, TBD Dec. 15 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: NRHEG at Fairmont, 2 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at North St. Paul, 3:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Fairmont, 12:30 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 1 p.m.

Wrestling: Lake Mills at Waterloo East, TBD Dec. 18 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Waseca, 7:30 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Central Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at North Union, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial at AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Waseca at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Central Springs, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at North Union, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at St. Clair, 7:15 p.m.

St. James Area at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Triton at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Rochester Lourdes at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Waseca at Albert Lea, 5:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Winona at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Austin at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Lake Mills, 6 p.m Dec. 21 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

L/FC at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at St. Ansgar, 7:30 p.m.

North Iowa at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Northfield at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC at AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at St. Ansgar, 6:15 p.m.

North Iowa at Lake Mills, 6:15 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Belle Plaine, 7 p.m.

NRHEG at Redwood Valley tournament, 4 p.m.

Dec. 22 (SAT) Wrestling: NRHEG at Redwood Valley tournament, 9 a.m.

Dec. 27 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Grand Meadow tournament, TBD United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBD NRHEG at Bethany Lutheran College tournament, TBD Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea and AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons at NRHEG tournament, 5 p.m.

United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBD Dec, 28 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Grand Meadow tournament, TBD United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBD NRHEG at Bethany Lutheran College tournament, TBD Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea and AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons at NRHEG tournament, 5 p.m.

United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBD Dec. 29 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: NRHEG at Bethany Lutheran College tournament, TBD Jan. 3 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Tri-City United, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: United South Central at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Triton, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Red Wing, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Red Wing at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Northfield at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Northwood-Kensett quad at home, 6 p.m.

Lake Mills at West Fork, 6 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Albert Lea at Rochester Mayo, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Owatonna at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Medford at United South Central, 7 p.m.

NRHEG at WEM/JWP, 7 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at St. Ansgar, 6 p.m.

Lake Mills at Osage, 6 p.m.

Jan. 4 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: United South Central at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Lanesboro at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Osage at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Forest City at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at Houston, 7:30 p.m.

Osage at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Forest City at Lake Mills, 6:15 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Cheesehead Invitational, 5:15 p.m.

Windom Area at NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Jan. 11 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Red Wing at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Nashua-Plainfield, 7:30 p.m.

Belmond-Klemme at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at Nicollet/ Loyola, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Waterville-ElysianMorristown, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Nashua-Plainfield, 6:15 p.m.

Belmond-Klemme at Lake Mills, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 5 (SAT) Girls’ basketball: Maple River at United South Central, 3 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Cheesehead Invitational, TBD United South Central at Farmington, TBD Lake Mills at Hampton-Dumont-CAL, 10 a.m.

Jan. 7 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Martin County West at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 8 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Rochester John Marshall at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Rochester at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Randolph, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.

Bethlehem Academy at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

North Butler at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at West Hancock, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at Cleveland, 7:15 p.m.

Hayfield at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.

North Butler at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at West Hancock, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Faribault at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at Faribault, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 10 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Madelia at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Lyle Pacelli, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Maple River at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 7:15 p.m.

14 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Jan. 12 (SAT) Girls’ basketball: Grand Meadow at NRHEG, 11 a.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at St. Cloud Tech, 9 a.m.

United South Central at Centennial, 9:30 a.m.

NRHEG at Stewartville, 8 a.m.

Lake Mills tournament at home, 10 a.m.

Jan. 14 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Immanuel Lutheran at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: United South Central at St. James Area, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 15 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Kasson-Mantorville at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Loyola, 7:15 p.m.

Leroy-Ostrander at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

West Fork at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at Bishop-Garrigan, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Lanesboro at AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Leroy-Ostrander, 7 p.m.

West Fork at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at Bishop-Garrigan, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Waseca, 7:30 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: United South Central at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, 5 p.m.

Jan. 17 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Rochester Mayo at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

St. Peter at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Rochester John Marshall, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Rochester John Marshall at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Wrestling: United South Central at WEM/JWP, 5 p.m.

NRHEG at Westfield, 7 p.m.

Lake Mills at Algona, 6 p.m.

Jan. 18 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Cleveland at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Rockford, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Blooming Prairie at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Medford at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Rockford, 6:15 p.m.

Wrestling: Rochester Mayo at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Jan 19 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester Century, 2:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at Northwood-Kensett, 5 p.m.

Wrestling: Lake Mills at North Butler, 10:30 a.m.

Dance: Albert Lea at home (Conference meet), TBD Jan. 21 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 22 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.

Eagle Grove at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Austin, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at St. Clair, 7:15 p.m.

Medford at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.

Eagle Grove at Lake Mills, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Austin at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at Worthington, 7 p.m.

Wrestling: Northwood-Kensett at North Union, 6 p.m.

Jan 24 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Grand Meadow, 7:15 p.m.

Central Springs at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Central Springs at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Rochester Century, 5:30 p.m.

Clear Lake at Lake Mills, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Faribault, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Mabel-Canton, 7:30 p.m.

Bethlehem Academy at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 7:15 p.m.

Newman Catholic at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Faribault at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at Martin County West, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Newman Catholic at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 6:15 p.m.

Jan 26. (SAT) Boys’ basketball: North Union at Lake Mills, 5:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: North Union at Lake Mills, 4:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Rochester Century at Albert Lea, 11 a.m.

Girls’ hockey: Rochester Century at Albert Lea, 3 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea quad at home, 3 p.m.

NRHEG at Rochester Century, 10 a.m.

Northwood-Kensett and Lake Mills at Forest City (Conference tournament), 10 a.m.

Jan. 28 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Northwood-Kensett at Riceville, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Mabel-Canton at AldenConger/Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Riceville, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 29 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Winona, 7:30 p.m.

Nicollet at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Mabel-Canton at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

St. Ansgar at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at North Iowa, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Winona at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

LCWM at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

St. Ansgar at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at North Iowa, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Red Wing at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at Red Wing, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 31 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Kingsland at Alden-Conger/ Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Madelia at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Faribault at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Winona, 7 p.m.

United South Central at Maple River, 7 p.m.

NRHEG at Medford, 5 p.m.

Feb. 1 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Owatonna at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Randolph at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Maple River, 8 p.m.

NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Osage, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at Forest City, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Grand Meadow at Alden-Conger/GlenvilleEmmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Maple River, 6:30 p.m.

Blooming Prairie at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Osage, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at Forest City, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 2 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Stewartville, 4 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Gentry Academy at Albert Lea, 5:30 p.m.

Wrestling: St. Michael-Albertville at Albert Lea, 1 p.m.

United South Central at Cretin-Derham Hall, 9 a.m.

Feb. 4 (MON) Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger/GlenvilleEmmons at TBD, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 5 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Lanesboro, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

TBA at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Lake Mills at TBA, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

TBA at Northwood-Kensett, 6:15 p.m.

Lake Mills at TBA, 6:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Faribault, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 7 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Glenville-Emmons at Schaeffer Academy, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger/GlenvilleEmmons at TBD, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Wrestling: Northfield at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Westfield at United South Central, 7 p.m.

Maple River at NRHEG, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Northfield at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Houston, 7:15 p.m.

Hayfield at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.

North Iowa at Northwood-Kensett, 7:30 p.m.

Newman Catholic at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert lea at Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

United South Central at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.

Bethlehem Academy at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 9 (SAT) Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger/GlenvilleEmmons at TBD, noon Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Hastings, 2:15 p.m.

Boys’ swim and dive: Albert Lea at Rochester (Conference meet), 1 p.m.

Feb. 11 (MON) Boys’ basketball: TBD at Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.

Blue Earth Area at United South Central, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Blue Earth Area at United South Central, 6 p.m.

Feb. 12 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Kingsland, 7:15 p.m.

Maple River at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Schaeffer Academy at Alden-Conger/ Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Northfield at Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 14 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at TBD, 7:15 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Rochester Mayo, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 15 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

United South Central at Waterville-ElysianMorristown, 7:15 p.m.

Le Sueur-Henderson at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

GIrls’ basketball: Rochester John Marshall at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons at Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s, 7:30 p.m.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 16 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at TBD, TBD

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 15

LAKE MILLS BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Sam Wilmes

T

AUDREY CASPERSON

LAKE MILLS GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Sarah Kocher

T

his season will be a chance for several Lake Mills players to rack up court time as several girls step into bigger roles on the basketball team.

After graduating several outside shooters, the team is looking to transition to a more balanced offense, first-year head coach Garrett Patterson said. Patterson was the team’s assistant coach for two years prior.

“I expect that this team is going to learn and improve continuously as the season progresses,” Patterson said. “There will be many girls that haven’t played much in the past that will contribute major minutes. A lot of the best talent in our conference graduated last year, so we will have an opportunity to make some noise if we get off to a strong start.”

The team’s returning letter winners include senior forward Audrey Casperson, senior forward Hannah Hanson, senior guard Breanna Mary and junior guard Jessa Gasteiger.

Patterson said Hanson brings

height to the team and gained good experience last season, while Mary has great ability handling the ball and is “relentless” on defense.

Gasteiger is the team’s highest-scoring returner and will play as the primary point guard.

Last year’s overall record for the team was 8-13, while the conference record was 7-9. The team’s best finish within five years was a 15-8 record and fifth-place conference finish, both in 2015-16.

Patterson said the team has the potential to mesh well together. He expects strong team chemistry.

“I think we are going to be stronger in the paint than we have been in many years,” Patterson said.

“We’ve got some physical girls who can finish under the rim.”

The team’s success will also rely on a solid defense, the coach said.

“We probably won’t be able to score as much as we have in the past, so we will need to limit the scoring of our opponents while trying to create easy scoring opportunities on offense,” he said.

16 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

he Lake Mills Bulldogs boys’ basketball team hopes to build off a strong finish last season.

“Our guys had a productive offseason, and we would like to significantly increase our number of wins this year,” said head coach Kyle Menke.

The Bulldogs return seven letter winners from last year’s squad that finished with an overall 9-14 record and 5-11 conference mark, including 6-foot, 4-inch senior forward Tommy Kaktis; four juniors, 6-foot, 5-inch forward Chett Helming, 6-foot guard Colby Groe, 5-foot, 11-inch guard Garrett Hanna and 5-foot, 11-inch guard Jackson Rice; and two sophomores, 6-foot, 2-inch forwards DaShawn Linnen and Caleb Bacon.

Other key athletes are expected to be two 6-foot, 2-inch junior forwards, Mason Fritz and Blake Storby.

Helming, a second-team AllConference selection a year ago, led the Bulldogs with 14 points per game and seven rebounds per game.

Bacon, a Top of Iowa Conference All-Conference honorable mention selection, averaged 6.5 ppg as a freshman and led the team in offensive rebounds.

Linnen was the team’s second-leading scorer last year with 8.4 ppg. He shot 45 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line.

Menke said the Bulldogs will again be young, “but we have several experienced players returning who love basketball and are willing to put that time in to help our program succeed. We LAKE MILLS BOYS’ BASKETBALL / TO PAGE 17

LAKE MILLS

WRESTLING

JACK RAMAKER

By Sam Wilmes

T

he Lake Mills Bulldogs hope to make it to state duals for the fourth straight season this year.

Last year’s team placed third in state duals for the second straight year.

“The team surprised everyone last season by placing in the top three at state duals,” said coach Alex Brandenburg. “We went into state as the fifth seed and pulled two upsets.”

The larger of the upsets came when the Bulldogs bested the defending state champions, Lisbon, 46-29.

The Bulldogs also entered state dual play in consecutive seasons from 1997 to 2003.

The team returns five state participants, including junior Tyler Helgeson in the 126-pound division, who posted a 42-12 record last year and placed sixth at state. He finished eighth as a freshman.

In the 132-pound division, senior Caiden Jones (48-8) is also a two-time state entrant, placing fifth as a 10th-grader.

Jack Ramaker (49-15) enters his sophomore year in the 113-pound division after finishing seventh at state.

LAKE MILLS BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 16 have good overall team size and speed.”

He said the team’s success will depend on developing “quality depth and making significant improvements on the defensive end of the floor.”

In his 19 years as head coach, Menke has a 259-169 record.

The best finish for the Bulldogs over the last five years was a 20-4 mark

Fellow sophomores 145-pound division grappler Casey Hanson (46-15) and 160-pound division wrestler Elijah Wagner (41-18) also wrestled in the state tournament as freshmen.

Senior 138-pound division entrant Kyle Beery (36-8) and senior 220pound division wrestler Max Johnson (37-22) narrowly missed the state tournament as juniors.

Drake Harnish, 195-pound division wrestler (45-13), 152-pounder Ashten Love (19-13) and 120-pounder Jimmy Gallardo (7-1) are expected to join Helgeson as difference-making juniors.

Sophomore 132-pounder Dalton Thorson (7-10) is also a returning letter winner.

Brandenburg is expected to be assisted by Mike Piper, Jamie Ham and Brad Helgeson.

“I am really blessed to have

in 2014-15.

Menke will be assisted by Brady Kurtz and Dan Rice.

The Bulldogs will hope to replace Trevor Hanna, a four-year letter winner and starting point guard last season.

Menke said Bishop Garrigan and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura will be conference favorites and Garner-Hayfield/ Ventura will be district favorites.

these great assistants,” Brandenburg said. “We work well together to help these kids reach team and individual goals.”

The Bulldogs will be expected to face a challenge in finishing in the top three at state due to top teams Don Bosco and Denver returning nearly their entire lineups. West Sioux High School is also expected to have a top team.

“If we can stay healthy and get all our lower and upper weights filled, I think we have a good shot to return to state,” Brandenburg said. “I am hoping we can finish in the top five.”

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 17

NRHEG GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Colleen Harrison

PAYTON CASTLE

NRHEG BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Colleen Harrison

T

he Panthers boys’ basketball team will look to maintain their winning ways on the court this year, coming off of a 24-4 2017-18 season.

First-year head coach Isaiah Lundberg will be assisted by Ryan Evans and Tyler Schlaak, and will look to returning letter winners Brady Agrimson (senior forward), Jacob Schuller (senior forward), Payton Castle (senior guard) and Devin Buendorf (senior guard).

Agrimson averaged 11.7 points per game last year and is the returning leading scorer. “A very versatile and athletic 6’5” player,” Agrimson will be counted on to score, defend and rebound, Lundberg said.

Schuller, also 6’5,” runs the floor well and will be looked to for defensive prowess.

“He will need to score and defend the paint,” Lundberg said of Schuller. “He alters a lot of shots.”

He said Buendorf and Castle will both be counted on for their strong outside shooting skills.

In addition to the returning letter winners, Lundberg expects Lonnie Wilson (junior guard), Blake Ihrke (junior forward) and Kordell Schlaak (sophomore guard) to contribute on both sides of the court.

While the team will be making up for the loss of 1,000-point scorer Benji Lundberg, as well as fellow All-Conference playmakers Jerret Utpadel and Nathaniel Techau, Isaiah Lundberg still expects NRHEG to finish near the top of the Gopher Conference and be contenders for the sub-section championship.

NRHEG BOYS’ BASKETBALL / TO PAGE 19 18 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

W

ith just two key player losses from last season and a myriad of familiar faces returning, the NRHEG girls’ basketball team and 2017-18 Gopher Conference champions will look to be contenders once again this season.

Onika Petersen will be at the helm for her fifth year, assisted by Drew Paukert.

While the team will miss Betsy Schoenrock and Kelly Harden, returning athletes include guards Alexis Anderson, Hannah Budach, Lexie Ignaszewski, Jayna Domeier, Sophie Stork and Sidney Schultz; as well as forwards Caitlin Goette, Jayna Finseth, Cloie Arndt and Sarah Johns.

Returning All-Conference Panthers Christopherson and Stork will look to continue their offensive dominance, and All-Conference honorable mention Schultz — an eighth-grader — will be expected to keep getting better.

“I am excited about the athletes that we have coming back. We have a tough schedule and I am excited to see how our team will compete,” Petersen said.

“We are looking to improve every game, and hopefully playing our best at playoff time.”

Petersen sees the team’s strength as its overall speed, while its weakness will be height.

“With our height, we are going to want to push our opponents into a quick-paced game and run the floor,” she said. “Defensively we need to play tough inside, since we don’t have the height we have had in the past couple seasons.”

Petersen expects Medford and Maple River to be conference favorites, and St. Peter to be section favorites.

NRHEG

WRESTLING

By Sam Wilmes

T

he NRHEG Panthers wrestling team hopes to finish at the top of the Gopher Conference after a challenging season last year.

The Panthers finished the 2017-18 campaign with a 4-8 mark, including a 4-5 record in the Gopher Conference.

Head coach Shawn Larson said he expects the team to finish in the top three of the conference.

“We are hoping to learn from our setbacks from last season and have a winning season this year,” he said.

This is Larson’s sixth year with the program. His career record is 49-59.

He said the team’s success will depend on athletes wrestling full matches.

“Last season our downfall was giving up too many bonus points,” Larson said. “If we can eliminate that, we will be much more competitive — also taking risks to score

NRHEG BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 18 “Team strengths would be our ability to get up and down the court,” Lundberg said. “We have guys that can play multiple spots and defend multiple positions.”

Reich and Agro Gushwa will compete in 126/132 and 145/152 weight divisions, respectfully.

Larson said the Panthers’ strength comes from those four wrestlers, who have competed at the varsity level for several years.

The Panthers will look to make up for the losses of Brendon Strand, a three-time letter winner; Cole Staloch, an All-Conference selection who finished third in Section 2A; and Chad Erickson, a four-time letter winner.

ways in helping also,” he said.

Lundberg considers Maple River and Blooming Prairie to be conference favorites, and sees Jordan, St. Peter and Maple River as section favorites.

GOOD LUCK TEAMS

Good Luck Athletes!

points in situations where we have been tentative in the past. If we focus on scoring instead of winning and losing, the wins should come as a result.”

The Panthers, who finished as the Section 2A runner-up in 2015, return two senior letter winners from last year, Tyler Jacobson, a senior All-Conference selection and state tournament entrant, in the 170/182 weight division; and heavyweight Quinten Arndt.

Returning junior letter winners Andrew

He said weaknesses will be depth and experience, and he’ll be counting on his “two 6’5” guys” to pick up the slack.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 19

UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Sarah Kocher

A

BLAKE LEGRED

UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL

WRESTLING

By Sam WIlmes

T

he United South Central Rebels wrestling team hopes to have four state entrants this year.

Head coach Robert Routh said he hopes the Rebels end the season with a full lineup and wrestle on the Saturday of section competition.

The Rebels return a number of letter winners from last year’s squad, including state runner up and previous state champion Blake Legred, former state qualifier Gavin Sonnek, third-place section finisher and AllConference selection Bryce Sonnek, fourth-place section finisher and honorable mention All-Conference selection Micah Hamson, fourthplace section finisher Masyn Elvebak as well as Jacob Billings Matt Beyer, Ethan Elvebak, Jacob Cory and Joe Bonzack.

Legred is hoping to become the school’s first two-time state champion.

Routh said the team will likely be short on wrestlers and consist of more veterans than past years.

He said the Rebels must “stay healthy, get better each match, each day, each week, each month” to be successful.

Routh expects Maple River to be the team to capture the Gopher Valley Conference championship, with Kenyon-Wanamingo being section favorites.

The Rebels will look to replace graduated seniors Hunter Johnson and David Garza.

Routh enters his fourth year as head coach with a 29-21 mark. His assistant coaches are Dan Dylla and Dustin Dylla.

20 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

fter a tough season last year, the United South Central girls’ basketball team is looking to improve their record with a young team willing to learn.

“We have a good group of sophomores, and I am really looking forward to seeing how much we can improve,” head coach Dale Koestler said. “We had a good summer where we started to develop a really good team chemistry.”

Returning letter winners include senior post Lizzy Baird, senior wing Raven Suhr, junior guard Kaylee Carlson, sophomore guard Abbey Redman, sophomore guard Dani Kirkeide, sophomore guard Hannah Olson, sophomore post Izzy O’Rourke, sophomore post Katie Dylla and sophomore wing Lydia Hernandez.

Koestler said Dylla is a scorer, a rebounder and a good ball handler with good skills for her age, while Baird is also a good rebounder and plays hard on the court. Dylla is also returning as an All-Conference player.

The team’s overall record for the 2017-18 season was 3-21 with a 0-12 conference record. Though last year’s team record did not, Koestler’s career record from his 23 years as head coach leans toward wins at 308-221.

Including JV games, his overall record is 436-276.

Though the team is young and inexperienced, Koestler said the girls have talent and the drive to succeed.

“No one wants to do what we did last year,” Koestler said. “I am confident we will be better; how much, I don’t know.”

Conference favorites are WatervilleElysian-Morristown, Medford and Maple River.

UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Tyler Julson

H

ead coach Taylor Ovrebo hopes to see this year’s Rebels team take the next step and compete for the Gopher Conference crown as well as the Section 2A championship.

Coming off a 9-17 record a season ago, United South Central returns seven letter winners, all of whom will play a big role in the progression of the team.

Senior Colby Klocek comes back as the Rebels’ lone AllConference player, while junior AJ Kloos returns as an AllConference honorable mention and senior Jake Stevermer as last year’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Other returning letter winners include seniors Sam Zebro, Nolan Magnuson and Joe Bushlack, and junior Zach Niebuhr.

Ovrebo said he expects the team’s strengths to be its explosiveness and its ability to score in bunches. One area he said the Rebels will need to improve on is their physical toughness when rebounding and going after 50-50 balls. Turnovers were a problem for them last year and eliminating those will be a big factor in their success moving forward.

Ovrebo also said dictating the tempo will be a key factor this season. “(We’ll) have around 10 guys who can play and won’t miss a beat,” Ovrebo said. “Pressing to

COLBY KLOCEK

dictate tempo and our transition offense are going to be big keys to success. We will have some size this year (6’5”, 6’4”, 6’4”, 6’3” and 6’3”), so there will be matchup concerns and we do expect to play against a lot zone this season.”

In one of the tougher sections in Class A, Ovrebo expects Springfield to be the favorites, followed closely by Mayer Lutheran,

BD

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 21

A-C/G-E GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Colleen Harrison

T

he Knights will look to be strong in numbers this season, with the Alden-Conger and GlenvilleEmmons girls’ basketball teams combining forces.

Jenny Hovendick will lead the team as head coach and will be assisted by Lucas Knutson and Brynn Harms.

The team will have 12 combined returning letter winners. Among them will be senior guard Erika Bute, Alden-Conger’s leader in points, assists and steals last season, as well as the team’s starting point guard the last four seasons and the team’s “floor general,” according to Hovendick.

Also returning is Alden-Conger’s second-leading scorer, Abbie Theusch, who was the Knights’ leading rebounder.

Glenville-Emmons returns six of its top seven players from a year ago in Kenna Gaines, Halee Miller, Kennedy Severtson, Sydney Rasmusson, Chloe Anderson and Sara Allison.

The combined team will miss Daniela Rizo this year, a senior who was the Wolverines’ leading scorer and rebounder, who will have to miss this season due to a knee injury.

“We have the advantage of combining two experienced teams, so we are setting our expectations very high,” Hovendick said. “The Alden-Conger team from last season finished out the year strong, going 11-5 down the stretch after struggling early in the season. Glenville-Emmons had their

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best season in quite some time.

“We hope to continue that momentum into this season after losing only one player to graduation and one to injury. Our eyes are on a conference championship and a high seed in the section playoffs.”

Hovendick said the team will have some growing pains and adjustments to make by joining forces, but is optimistic that the transition will be for the best.

“This is the first time I’ve ever gotten to say this, but depth will be one of our key strengths. We have many players who can come into the game

22 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

and contribute. We are also strong at the guard and wing position,” she said. “Our weakness is that we do not have a ton of size, so we will have to work together as a team to do the dirty work down low, such as defending the post and getting rebounds.”

Hovendick said she doesn’t see a clear Valley Conference favorite this year, and that it will come down to who performs well through the season.

She thinks Section 1A favorites could be defending state champions Lyle/Pacelli or Grand Meadow.

ALDEN-CONGER BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Colleen Harrison

T

he Knights will look to turn things around, in a program that has struggled since going 13-13 in the 2014-15 season.

Coming off a 6-20 season, Bob Hansen will be at the helm for Alden-Conger boys’ basketball for his sixth year, assisted by Matt Hallman.

The program will see the return of letter winners Ryan Hansen (senior guard), Erik Theusch (senior forward) and Adam Skov (senior guard).

Ryan Hansen, an All-Conference honorable mention, will be expected to run the team at point guard as a four-year starter.

Theusch brings his size and shooting skills to the court, and Skov brings speed and defensive skills.

Bob Hansen considers the three players to be the team’s strength due to their experience.

The Knights will be recovering from the loss of Gavin Trust us for all your Steele, their leading scorer, as well as defender Kaleb Bendickson and Dalton Bradley — who Bob Hansen referred to as the “spark plug” of the team.

Still, Hansen will expect his team to improve from week to week, limit turnovers and take quality shots.

He considers Mankato Loyola to be Valley Conference favorAlden 874-3421 Conger 265-3231 ites.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 23

GLENVILLE-EMMONS BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Colleen Harrison

T

he Wolverines boys’ basketball team will look to improve after going 1-25 last season.

Aaron Dempewolf will be at the helm for Glenville-Emmons for the third year in a row, and will look to returning letter winners Bret Belshan, Dawson Dahlum, Dillon Jacobsen, Kyler Quimby, Kaden Ellingson and Colin Oeltjenbruns.

Dempewolf called Belshan a “high IQ player that leaves it all on the floor.”

“Bret is a four-year starter on a young team with little varsity experience.” Dempewolf said. “Everyone looks at him as the leader on and off the court, including myself.”

Dahlum was All-Conference honorable mention last season, and Dempewolf cred-

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ited him with being able to stretch the floor with his shooting ability.

“Dawson is an unselfish player that can score from anywhere on the floor,” Dempewolf said.

The Wolverines will look to make up for the loss of Logan Studier, the team’s leading scorer last year, as well as Anthony Rasmusson, a three-year starter who was an important defensive player.

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While the team is young with little varsity experience, Dempewolf said there are good athletes on the team who will need to step up. The team will also need to limit turnovers and make open shots.

“With such a young group, I expect us to just get better every day,” he said. “I expect to see progress after every practice and every game. (We’ll) take it day by day and game by game.”

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24 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

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NORTHWOOD-KENSETT

WRESTLING

GAVIN VARNER

By Sam WIlmes

T

he Northwood-Kensett Vikings hope to fulfill their potential to have a strong wrestling team this year in the Top of Iowa East Division.

“This team has a lot of potential this season,” said head coach Jordan Reindl. “We have a solid group of returning guys that have had a lot of success, but it’s all going to come down to how fast they can get the incoming (freshmen) up to speed.”

The Vikings return nine letter winners from last year’s squad that finished 14-16, including seniors Gavin Varner, Logan Benjegerdes and Samuel Kliment, who had 28 wins last year.

“He is another staple to this team, and we look forward to him taking some of the younger guys under his wing,” Reindl said.

The Vikings return junior letter

winners Gideon Rollene, Caden Schrage and Ethan Thofson; and sophomores Brandon Varner, Bryce Paulson and Ryder Lestrud.

Reindl noted Varner, Benjegerdes, Rollene and Schrage all ended the season with at least 30 wins.

“We have a lot of experience coming back, but we also plug in (freshmen) into a lot of open weights this season,” Reindl said. “We are going to lean heavily on our (upperclassmen)

to lead the young guys on our team.”

In his sixth year with the program, Reindl will have assistant coaches Erik Butler, Hunter Julson and Denny Paulson.

The best finish the Vikings have had in the last five years is 15 dual wins.

Reindl expects Osage to be the favorites in the East Division and Lake Mills to be on top in the West Division.

NORTHWOOD-KENSETT BOYS’

BASKETBALL

By Tyler Julson

E

ntering his 14th season as head coach of the Northwood-Kensett boys’ basketball team, Marty Cotter starts the year with a young team and only three returning letter winners from a team that finished last season with a record of 2-20.

Leading the way for the Vikings will be seniors Marquise Berry and Trey N-K BOYS’ BASKETBALL / TO PAGE 26

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018 • WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK | 25

NORTHWOOD-KENSETT GIRLS’

BASKETBALL

By Sarah Kocher

A

fter working out some offense kinks on the court last year, anticipation for the Northwood Kensett girls’ basketball team’s improvement is growing.

Although the team graduated five seniors, returning letter winners are coming back with considerable playing time under their belts, head coach Brendan Ehlke said.

The team needs to improve on their defensive end to continue to be competitive in the fourth quarter.

“Our defensive standouts must grow confidence on the offensive end and become scorers to take the pressure off Laura (Hopperstad), and some of our scorers must become better defenders,” Ehlke said. “A more well-rounded team will enable us to be more competitive.”

Returning letter winners include senior guard Hopperstad, senior forward Josie Einertson, senior forward Julia Quisley, senior forward Allie Carman, junior post guard Jaela Parks, junior guard Clara

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Davidson, junior guard Lindsey Davidson and sophomore guard Brylee Hoeppner.

Hopperstad returns as an honorable mention All-Conference player, as well as the NorthwoodKensett team MVP. Einertson was the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Davidson and Parks were newcomers of the year.

In 2014-15 and 2015-16 the team went 19-5, their best finishes N-K BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 25 Waldemar, and sophomore Spencer Smith.

Cotter expects the team to be agile and athletic, but with only three seniors and one junior, he said the group will have to grow early in order have success this season.

A part of the Top of Iowa East Conference, Cotter said Mason City

26 | WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 12, 2018

in the last five years. Last year, the team went 2-20 overall and 1-15 in conference.

“The girls have been working hard on their own in the offseason on basketball basics to make us a more competitive team this season,” Ehlke said.

While Osage is the clear conference favorite, the NorthwoodKensett coach said St. Ansgar could still be a contender.

Newman, Osage and West Fork will be the teams likely vying for the conference title.

Assisting Cotter on the sidelines this season will be Monte DeArmoun and Ryan Parker.

The Vikings got their season started Nov. 7 with a road game against the Bearcats of North Butler.

Their first home game was played Nov. 30 against Nashua-Plainfield.

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