Winter sports yearbook 2015

ALBERT LEA / GLENVILLE-EMMONS / ALDEN-CONGER / NRHEG / UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL / LAKE MILLS / NORTHWOOD-KENSETT

Winter 2015

2-TIME STATE

CHAMPION LEADS TIGERS

ALBERT LEA wrestlers return 3 state qualifiers P. 3

HOCKEY COACH HITS

50 SEASONS

NYSTROM aims for 1ST BIG NINE Conference crown SINCE 2011 P. 9

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

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WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK

2015-16 Starting 4

9

6

First-year head coach takes over Albert Lea girls’ basketball program

21

Vikings girls’ basketball team brings back leading scorer from team with best record in school history

24

Lake Mills boys’ basketball team returns most accurate 3-point shooter in Iowa

27

Glenville-Emmons JV girls’ basketball team takes the court

Tigers take ice in coach’s 50th season

The Albert Lea boys’ basketball team plans to rebound from last year’s winless season / PAGE 4

3

22

WINTERSPORTSYEARBOOK

3 State qualifiers return

Rebels aim high

Albert Lea wrestling team to be led by Goodnature in 40th year of coaching

United South Central to build on two straight trips to section finals

Editor Micah Bader Contributing writers Sarah Stultz, Colleen Harrison, Sam Wilmes and Micah Bader Cover design by Kathy Johnson Cover photo of Albert Lea’s Garrett Aldrich by Colleen Harrison Photos by Colleen Harrison and Micah Bader

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d e t a v i t o M On the mat

By Micah Bader

3 state qualifiers return in coach’s 40th year 2 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Albert lea

Wrestling I

Garrett Aldrich ZACH Glazier

Gavin Ignaszewski

n a landmark season for coach Larry Goodnature, the Albert Lea wrestling team brings back three of seven state qualifiers from a team that was the Class AA state runner-up.

Goodnature, a state champion for the Tigers in 1971 and last season’s Section 1AA and Class AA Coach of the Year, embarks on his 40th year of coaching and his 25th as head coach at Albert Lea. Although the Tigers will need to replace four state qualifiers, expectations are soaring as always, Goodnature said.

Albert Lea’s Class AA “Our goals each year are to be Big team ranking: No. 4 113 — Zach Glazier, No. 1 Nine (Conference) champs, section 120 — Gavin Ignaszewski, champs and state champs,” he said.

No. 6 Returning state qualifiers are junior 126 — Garrett Aldrich, No. 1 Garrett Aldrich, sophomore Gavin Courtesy of theguillotine.com Ignaszewski and freshman Zach Glazier.

In the first meet of the season on Nov. 28 at Hastings, Aldrich wrestled at 138 pounds, Ignaszewski at 126 and Glazier at 132.

“We have balance in the lower and middle weight classes,” Goodnature said.

Along with being ranked No. 4 as a team in the Guillotine’s first polls of the season, Aldrich was ranked No. 1 at 126; Glazier, No. 1 at 113; and Ignaszewski, No. 6 at 120.

Aldrich leads the group as a two-time defending state champion. Last year, he moved from 106 to 120 pounds and posted a 44-4 record with 16 falls.

He was ranked No. 1 in all seven of the Guillotine’s polls and pinned Waconia’s Travis Wagener in 2:54 to claim his second title at the Xcel Energy Center SEASON OVERALL CONF. in Minneapolis.

2014-15 35-2 10-0 2013-14 18-9 8-1 Glazier is coming off of a third-place 2012-13 20-3 8-1 state finish with 14 falls and a 44-8 2011-12 20-4 9-0 record. At 113 pounds, he is ranked 2010-11 28-5 8-0 one spot ahead of Scott West’s Parker Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net Huss, a wrestler who faced / PAGE 13

Early Rankings

5-year Glance

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 3

Albert lea boys’

basketball

By Micah Bader

T

he Albert Lea boys’ basketball team has nowhere to go but up.

After going winless last year, the Tigers will look to two of the team’s top three scorers — senior point guard Jake Thompson and senior shooting guard Jake Kilby — for leadership.

“Experience at the guard positions will help us a great Head coach: Stan Thompson deal,” said first-year Assistant coaches: Tyler head coach Stan Vandenheuvel, Torian Wolf Thompson. “The Former players competJakes (Kilby and ing in college: Kyle Ooms at Northwestern (St. Paul); Dylan Thompson) started See-Rockers at Hamline since they were sophomores, and Zach Romer, Andy Woitas and Jared Schmidt all played substantial minutes last year. This year, I expect they will fill the box score more.”

Jake Thompson led the Tigers with 80 assists last season and had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. He was also second on the team with an average of 8.4 points per game. In the spring and summer, he excelled on the diamond and signed his national letter of intent Nov. 12 to play baseball at South Dakota State.

Kilby, an All-Area honorable mention SEASON OVERALL CONF. selection, averaged 2014-15 0-27 0-22 2.1 steals per game, 2013-14 6-21 4-14 2012-13 12-14 7-11 which led the team 2011-12 8-19 6-12 and was second in 2010-11 6-19 3-15 the Tribune’s sevCourtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net en-team coverage

Fast Facts

5-year Glance

Denzel Acha / F

area. On the offensive end of the court, he averaged 7.3 points per game.

In addition to Jake Thompson, Kilby, Romer, Woitas and Schmidt, Albert Lea returns six letter winners: junior forward Jack Buendorf, who was fourth in scoring and fifth in rebounding last year, and junior guards Jake Bordewick, Tanner Wichmann, Wyatt Sickels, Sean Brownlow and Parker Smith.

The biggest news during the offseason was the transfer of Dedoch Chan — the team’s leading scorer — to Rochester John Marshall, and the addition of three seniors who didn’t play basketball last year.

4 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Chan — a First Team All-Area selection — averaged 21.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season, which was in the area’s top five in both categories. Although Chan is attending John Marshall High School, he is not on the Rockets’ Minnesota State High School League roster and did not play in the team’s season opener against Rochester Century.

The Tigers’ trio of new seniors are Denzel Acha, Jackson Collier and Nate Nelson, and they’re all 6-foot-2-inches tall or taller. “(They) bring some much-needed size to our team,” Stan / PAGE 13

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Albert lea Girls’

basketball

By Micah Bader

A

nchoring the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team in Gina Klennert’s first season at the helm will be two seniors: Fran Eckstrom and Katie Rasmussen.

The duo will look to fill the void from the graduation of Megan Kortan, who led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

Klennert said her plan is to make strides during the season to make a Head coach: Gina Klennert splash in the Section Former players competing 1AAA tournament. in college: Bryn Woodside “We want to comat Jamestown; Sydney pete in every game, Rehnelt at Luther College; Megan Kortan at Iowa improve as the seaCentral son progresses and be in a position to make a postseason run at the end of the season,” she said.

Eckstrom, a Big Nine All-Conference honorable mention and All-Area honorable mention selection, led the Tigers in the paint last season with 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Sophomore guard Rachel Rehnelt will look to build on a stellar freshman campaign with an average of nine points, five rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. She also had a teamhigh 20 blocks through 27 games.

SEASON OVERALL CONF. Albert Lea pro2014-15 3-24 2-20 duced three 1,000 2013-14 11-17 7-11 2012-13 11-14 7-10 career point scorers 2011-12 4-23 2-16 in the last two sea2010-11 5-11 5-13 sons. Kortan broke Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net the barrier last year,

Fast Facts

5-year Glance

Rachel Rehnelt / G

while Bryn Woodside and Sydney Rehnelt — Rachel Rehnelt’s sister — joined the exclusive club two years ago.

All three guards will play at the collegiate level this year. Kortan will compete for Iowa Central in Fort Dodge, Woodside for Jamestown in North Dakota and Rehnelt for Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Klennert also has a connection with Luther College. As a senior, she led the Norse with 17 blocks and averaged five points and four rebounds per game.

Filling out the Tigers’ coaching staff

6 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

will be JV coach Karol Hansen, C-squad coach Jasmine Hansen and varsity assistant Chris Withers.

Albert Lea’s best record in the last decade was the 2006-07 season, when the Tigers finished 18-9 and took fourth place in the Big Nine Conference standings.

The defending conference champion is Rochester John Marshall, a team that was 22-0 in league play and 27-2 overall last season before being upset by Rochester Mayo in the section finals.

Klennert said the Rockets will be favored to repeat.

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s r a e y 0 5

By Micah Bader

coaching high school hockey

Nystrom, captains lead albert lea 8 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Albert lea boys’

Hockey F

Foster Otten / W Ben Witham / G

Jack Pulley / C

or half a century, Roy Nystrom has been molding young men on the ice.

The Tigers’ head coach brings back three of his top four scorers from last year — senior captains Jack Pulley, Lucas Hacker and Foster Otten — to begin his 50th season as a head coach and his 43rd at Albert Lea. After going 12-15 last year with a gut-wrenching stretch of seven consecutive one-goal losses, the 2014 Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee enters the season with a 683471-23 career record.

Although Albert Lea’s Nystrom’s win total is second only to leading scorer, Alex Claashis former Gophers teammate Lorne sen graduated last spring, the team returns three of Grosso — Rochester Mayo’s head coach its top four scorers: Jack — who starts the year with 693 wins, Pulley, Lucas Hacker and the most victories in the history of Foster Otten.

Minnesota high school hockey, according to the MHCA website.

Before coaching at Albert Lea and leading the Tigers to the state tournament three times, including the Class A consolation title in 2005, the MHCA website said Nystrom coached in Grafton, North Dakota, for four years and later won three consecutive state championships at Grand Forks Central.

To find success this season, Nystrom said development on defense is imperative.

“We need to progress steadily as a total defensive team because we have all new varsity players on defense and in the goal.”

Hacker and Sam Chalmers, who made a combined 12 goals and 11 assists last year, were moved to the defensive zone where they will join felSEASON OVERALL CONF. low letter winners Max Brick and Ben 2014-15 12-15 7-11 Witham.

2013-14 15-11-1 11-6 2012-13 10-15-2 9-6-2 After the graduation of two-time Big 2011-12 14-14 9-8 Nine All-Conference goalie Garrett 2010-11 19-7 11-2-1 Matz, the Tigers will look to Witham.

Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net Last season, Witham started one game in the net because Matz was / PAGE 13

PLAYERS TO WATCH

5-year Glance

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 9

Albert lea Girls’

Hockey

By Colleen Harrison

L

ooking to improve on a three-win season last year, the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team returns a trio of letter winners and its leading scorer from the last two seasons.

Senior center Hannah Savelkoul scored a team-high 14 goals as a sophomore and led the Tigers with 13 last year.

Savelkoul will lead Albert Lea SEASON OVERALL CONF. along with defend2014-15 3-23 2-16 ers Haley Larson 2013-14 8-17 5-12 and Maddy Funk.

2012-13 10-16 7-11 2011-12 5-20-1 5-12-1 Funk is a junior, and Larson is a 2010-11 13-10-3 8-5-3 Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net senior.

The Tigers will be recovering from the loss of goalie Katie Schwarz, who graduated last spring and now plays for St. Scholastica in Duluth. The team looks to seventh-grade goalie Maddie Schneider to fill the void, something head coach Jason Fornwald said the “excellent” goalie should be more than capable of.

Fornwald began last season as an

5-year Glance

Hannah Savelkoul / C

assistant coach, but when head coach Scott Ball resigned after the fourth game of the season, Fornwald stepped into the lead role. In the last two seasons, the Tigers had four head coaches — Paul Willett, Laura Hillman, Ball and Fornwald — and Fornwald looks to add solidarity to the program. Fornwald is about to begin his fourth non-consecutive season as the Tigers head coach and aims to improve on last year’s 3-22 record.

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While the team is young and most of its players lack varsity-level experience, Fornwald said his team makes up for those shortcomings with strong leadership, depth and a desire to improve and compete. He expects his team to stay positive throughout the year and to support each other, as they did in the offseason.

“Come to the rink and work hard every day to be the best player you can be,” Fornwald said. “Nearly / PAGE 13

Albert lea boys’

Swimming

By Micah Bader

I

n Joey Clapp’s second season as head coach, the Albert Lea boys’ swimming team returns five letter winners.

Leading the Tigers will be freshman Carter Simon, a Big Nine AllConference honorable mention selection last year.

Other returning letter winners are juniors Aaron Zogg and Travis Nemec and sophomores Esteban Johnson and Alec Wendelboe.

“Our strength is our hard-working student athletes,” Clapp said. “We expect to win a dual meet and achieve lifetime best swims at the end of the season.”

In the offseason, Nemec participated in a swimming camp at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Clapp said.

Clapp, who was the Section 1A assistant Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year for his work with the girls’ swimming team, will be assisted by the girls’ swimming Section 1A Coach of the Year, Jon Schmitz.

Philipp Wagner is the team’s lone senior.

The key to success is staying focused and healthy, Clapp said.

Ian oolman

Esteban johnson

The Tigers will host five meets this season: duals against Winona, Faribault, Rochester Century and

Mankato East and an invitational with 13 teams, including Albert Lea, at 10 a.m. Dec. 19.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 11

Albert lea girls’

Dance

By Sarah Stultz

T

he Albert Lea dance team looks to take its choreography to another level this season under strong leadership.

The team is led by four captains and seven additional athletes who make up a choreography committee, said head coach Kelsey Routh.

“These athletes lead by example by being prepared for daily practice, encouraging their team members, leading warm-up and conditioning and teaching technique,” Routh said.

She said though the team found success in the past — earning third place overall in the Big Nine Conference and fifth place in the high kick division and sixth in the jazz division in 2015 at the Section 1AA tournament — dancers are striving for more difficult technique, formations and transitions this season.

Returning letter winners are the following: as captains, seniors Hannah Wangsness and Samantha Nielsen and juniors Rachel Wangen and Bri Shea; as choreographers, juniors Megan Vogt, Lexie Ringoen, Heather Gilbertson, Kelsey Enger and Triniti Akemann and sophomores Riley Jimenez and Sydney Doran.

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Other letter winners are the following: juniors Alli Sherman, Morgan Phillips, Madeline Phillips and Madi Lindely and sophomores Natalie Nafzger, Kalie Michaelis, Mackenzie Breamer, Cali Mowers and Shayla Heggestad.

Routh said the dancers train, condition and practice daily. They are expected to watch their technique through film each evening after practice to prepare their dancing for the next practice, performance or competition.

“This individual dedication and growth will ensure that our ever-changing routines are memorized, formations are in place and technique is competitive within our conference and section,” she said.

In the offseason, the team attended strength and flexibility training to improve high kick technique, along with classes to improve and strengthen ballet, jazz and lyrical skills.

Sixteen athletes from the team attended Just for Kix camp with Routh in Brainerd. The four-day extensive camp consisted of learning three dance routines of various styles of dance, private coaching by collegiate and professional dancers, team-building activities

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and high kick, jazz and ballet technique and conditioning.

Team members also attended a private camp in Albert Lea in July hosted

by Just for Kix staff. Athletes learned two routines in high kick and jazz; conditioned for strength, endurance and flexibility; and learned the Homecoming routine.

The captains practiced throughout August and September.

Routh said a key to success is having Albert Lea’s four teams practice daily at the same time and location. With 50 dancers, two managers and five coaches, the school added a junior varsity jazz team. This is in addition to the existing varsity and junior varsity high kick teams and varsity jazz team.

“Having a JV team for both divisions will create a successful future for our program, as athletes are receiving high kick and jazz training at every practice with specific choreography, formations and technique,” the coach said.

Assisting Routh are coaches Megan Kromminga, Hillary Korpi, Amy Leesch and Jodi Klukow. It is the second year for Kromminga and the first for Korpi, Leesch and Klukow.

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ALBERT LEA WRESTLING / PAGE 3 Glazier three times in a span of three days at the state tournament.

When Albert Lea met Scott West in the Class AA state team quarterfinals, Huss defeated Glazier 3-2. In the individual state quarterfinals, Huss edged Glazier again.

This time, 6-2 in overtime. However, Glazier worked through wrestlebacks and beat Huss 3-2 in the third-place match.

Ignaszewski was 1-2 at the state tournament last year with a 7-5 decision over New Ulm’s Sean Howk in the first round of the consolation bracket. He had a 36-13 record.

Other returning letter winners are

seniors Chris Nelson (17-22), Parker Mullenbach (18-21), and Mason Hammer (15-10), a Big Nine All-Conference selection; juniors Blake Simon (10-15), Matt Palmer (5-7) and Tanner Palmer (4-11); and sophomores Brody Nielsen (20-5), Joe Peterson (16-2) and Tyler Harms (4-3).

Keys to success will be staying healthy and spreading quality wrestlers into each weight class, Goodnature said.

With the graduation of state qualifiers Triston Westerlund, Tim Christianson, Beau Johnsrud and Devin Nelson, the Tigers will look to reload the top half of its lineup. Westerlund and Christianson both took third place at state last year and are

two of seven wrestlers competing at the collegiate level this year.

Christianson will take the mat for the Gophers, and Westerlund will join Dalton Westerlund, Dakota and Garrett Wangsness at Upper Iowa, a Division II university in Fayette, Iowa. Dereck Samudio is on the roster at Rochester Technical and Community College, as is Dominick Fadden at Waldorf.

Goodnature will be assisted by Josh Bain, Brandon Klukow, Andy Hackenmueller, Brian Goodnature, Nate Goodnature, Alex Skaar, Neal Skaar, Jon Hansen, Mike Hansen, Ryan Palmer, Bryar Johnson and Dan Glazier.

ALBERT LEA GIRLS’ HOCKEY / PAGE 10 every girl attended my girls-only summer hockey school here in Albert Lea.” Fornwald is assisted by Troy Neist and Sarah Jensen in their first years as assistant coaches, and Jacqui Jepson in her second year.

Jensen played for Fornwald in the 2003-2004 season, before going on to play college hockey at South Dakota State and playing for Team USA at the World University Games.

Fornwald said he considers Rochester John Marshall to be among the Big Nine Conference favorites, and New Prague to be the Section 1A favorite. He considers Red Wing to be both in the hunt for a conference and section title as well.

ALBERT LEA BOYS’ HOCKEY / PAGE 9 out with flu-like symptoms. Witham seized the opportunity and was a steel curtain in Albert Lea’s 4-0 win over New Ulm. Offensively, the Tigers bring back last year’s second-leading scorer, Jack Pulley, an All-Conference honorable mention selection, who drilled nine goals and had 12 assists last season.

Pulley will be joined by fellow letter winners Otten, Austin Dulitz, Mitchell Evans and Bergan Lundak in the offensive zone.

The team will look to fill the void from Alex Claassen, an All-Conference selection as a senior, whose 34 points were 13 more than anyone else on the team.

“Our forwards are primarily inexperi-

enced at the varsity level and will take time to form a cohesive unit,” Nystrom said. “The potential is very much there, however, to have a solid team.”

In the offseason, Nystrom said the team competed in a summer league in Faribault and had a 26-hour training camp on the ice with more than 30 skaters.

Albert Lea is in search of its first conference title since 2010-11.

Nystrom will be assisted by Dave Nystrom in his 25th season, Dan Colstrup in his 10th, Dustin Trail in his second and Joe Dragich in his first.

ALBERT LEA BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 4 Thompson said.

Stan Thompson — an assistant coach under last year’s head coach, Lucas Kreuscher — said the team embraces the high level of play by opponents from the Big Nine Conference.

“They’ve been given the opportunity to play against some (future Division I) players in the Big Nine,” he said. “We don’t have to play them. We get to play them.”

Creating a positive atmosphere is one of

the coach’s keys to success.

“We need everyone on the court, bench and the stands to be on the same page to compete,” he said. “If we can stay positive and keep grinding, we have a chance to win some games. We all have the same goal. Win.” Stan Thompson will be assisted by JV coach Tyler Vandenheuvel, who was a senior on the 2013-14 Albert Lea boys’ basketball team, and ninth-grade coach Torian Wolf, who coached the eighthgrade team last year.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 13

all-area winter 2015-2016

Calendar Dec. 17 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Mankato West at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Madelia at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at United South Central, 7 p.m.

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

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Red Wing, 6 p.m.

Dec. 18 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Madelia, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Minnesota Christmas Tournament at Rochester Technical and Community College, TBA NRHEG and USC at Redwood Valley tournament, 4 p.m.

Lake Mills at Battle of Waterloo, 4 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at EvelethGilbert/Mesabi East/Cherry, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 (SAT) Wrestling: Albert Lea at Minnesota Christmas Tournament at Rochester Technical and Community College, TBA NRHEG and USC at Redwood Valley tournament, TBA Lake Mills at Battle of Waterloo, TBA Tournament at Northwood-Kensett, 10 a.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Hibbing/ Chisholm, 2 p.m.

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea Invitational, 10 a.m.

Dec. 21 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Glenville-Emmons at Mabel-Canton, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: NRHEG at St. Peter, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

LeRoy-Ostrander at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Alden-Conger at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

Wrestling: United South Central at Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial, TBA Dec. 26 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: NRHEG at tournament at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, 8 p.m.

Dec. 28 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at tournament at Bethany

Lutheran College in Mankato, TBA Girls’ basketball: NRHEG at St. Olaf College tournament, 1:30 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at Austin tournament, TBA Dec. 29 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at TBA, TBA NRHEG at tournament at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, TBA United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBA Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at South St. Paul tournament, TBA Alden-Conger vs. TBA at Winona State University, TBA NRHEG at St. Olaf College tournament, 1:30 p.m.

United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBA Wrestling: Albert Lea at Rumble on the Red in FargoDome in Fargo, North Dakota, TBA Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Winona, 2 p.m.

Dec. 30 (WED) Boys’ basketball: United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBA Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at South St. Paul tournament, TBA Alden-Conger vs. TBA at Winona State University, TBA NRHEG at St. Olaf College tournament, 11:30 a.m.

United South Central at Blue Earth tournament, TBA Wrestling: Albert Lea at Rumble on the Red in FargoDome in Fargo, North Dakota, TBA Dec. 31 (WED) Girls’ basketball: NRHEG at St. Olaf tournament, TBA Girls’ hockey: Albert Lea at tournament at Crystal, TBA Jan. 2 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Hayfield at NRHEG, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Hayfield at NRHEG, 6 p.m.

Wrestling: Northwood-Kensett at LeRoyOstrander tournament, 9:30 a.m.

Jan. 4 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Mankato Loyola at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

Jan 5 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Alden-Conger at Mankato Loyola, 7:30 p.m.

Kenyon-Wanamingo at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

Wrestling: Lake Mills at West Hancock quad, 6 p.m.

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

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

Alden-Conger at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

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

Jackson County Central at United South Central, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Immanuel Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.

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

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/JanesvilleWaldorf-Pemberton at NRHEG, 7 p.m.

United South Central at Medford, 7 p.m.

Lake Mills at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura quad, 6 p.m.

Triangular at Northwood-Kensett, 6 p.m.

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

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Northfield, 6 p.m.

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

Glenville-Emmons at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Cleveland at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Jan. 9 (SAT) Girls’ basketball: NRHEG at Stewartville, 4 p.m.

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

NRHEG at St. Clair, 10 a.m.

United South Central at St. Clair, TBA Lake Mills at Hampton-Dumont tournament, 10 a.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Hampton-Dumont quad, 10 a.m.

Dance: Albert Lea at Belle Plaine, TBA Jan. 12 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Winona at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Schaeffer Academy, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Alden-Conger at Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Wrestling: United South Central at Madelia, TBA Boys’ hockey: Rochester Century at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

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

Jan. 14 (THU) Girls’ basketball: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Schaeffer Academy, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

14 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

NRHEG at Blue Earth, 6 p.m.

Triangular at Lake Mills, 6 p.m.

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

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

Boys’ swimming: Rochester Century at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Jan. 15 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jan. 16 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Hope Academy, 3 p.m.

Hope Lutheran at Glenville-Emmons, 2:30 p.m.

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

Alden-Conger at Hope Academy, 1 p.m.

Wrestling: Albert Lea at ZumbrotaMazeppa, 9 a.m.

NRHEG and United South Central at Lake Mills tournament, 10 a.m.

Northwood-Kensett at AGWSR, 10:30 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Northfield, 2 p.m.

Girls’ hockey: Northfield at Albert Lea, 8 p.m.

Dance: Albert Lea at Northfield, TBA Jan. 18 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Janesville-WaldorfPemberton at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: St. Clair at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-HuntleyEast Chain, 7:30 p.m.

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

Blue Earth at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at St. Clair, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at KassonMantorville, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Blue Earth, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Jan. 21 (THU) Boys’ basketball: United South Central at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, 7:30 p.m.

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

Nicollet at Alden-Conger, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Hayfield, 5 p.m.

Wrestling: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/ Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at United South Central, 7 p.m.

Triangular at Lake Mills, 6 p.m.

Quad at Northwood-Kensett, 6 p.m.

Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

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

Boys’ swimming: Mankato East at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Jan. 22 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Nicollet, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

United South Central at Martin Luther, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Alden-Conger at LeRoy-Ostrander, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Wrestling: Rochester John Marshall at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Northfield at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Lake Mills, 7:30 p.m.

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

Wrestling: Albert Lea at Kasson-Mantorville, 10 a.m.

NRHEG at Kasson-Mantorville, 9 a.m.

United South Central at Lake City, TBA Lake Mills at North Butler tournament, 10:30 a.m.

Northwood-Kensett at Anamosa, 9 a.m.

Dance: Albert Lea at New Prague, TBA

Jan. 25 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Schaeffer Academy at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

NRHEG at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 7:30 p.m.

Dance: Meet at Albert Lea, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Maple River at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Northwood-Kensett at West Fork triangular, 6 p.m.

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

Jan. 28 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

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

NRHEG at Triton, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Martin County West, 7:30 p.m.

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

Wrestling: St. Clair at United South Central, TBA Lake Mills at Newman Catholic tournament, 6 p.m.

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

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

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 6 p.m.

Jan. 29 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Red Wing at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Glenville-Emmons at Spring Grove, 7:45 p.m.

Medford at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Blooming Prairie at United South Central,

7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

Alden-Conger at Martin Luther, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Girls’ hockey: Windom at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

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

Medford at NRHEG, 7 p.m.

United South Central at Le Sueur-Henderson, TBA Feb. 6 (SAT) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Faribault, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, TBA Wrestling: Lake Mills at sectional tournament at Central Springs, noon Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m.

Dance: Section meet at Albert Lea, TBA

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

Northwood-Kensett at North Union, 5:30 p.m.

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

Northwood-Kensett at North Union, 4:15 p.m.

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

Lake Mills at Top of Iowa Conference tournament at Forest City, 10 a.m.

Northwood-Kensett at sectionals, noon Boys’ hockey: Winona at Albert Lea, 1 p.m.

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

Feb. 1 (MON) Boys’ basketball: New Ulm at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Feb. 2 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Lake Mills at North Union, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Feb. 4 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Rochester Century at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, TBA Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Lanesboro at GlenvilleEmmons, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.

NRHEG at Mankato Loyola, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

Feb. 8 (MON) Boys’ basketball: Glenville-Emmons at Randolph, 7:15 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, TBA Triton at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 9 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Glenville-Emmons, 7:30 pm.

Waseca at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrestling: Lake Mills at regional tournament, TBA Boys’ hockey: Albert Lea at Rochester Lourdes, 7 p.m.

at Rochester Recreation Center (swimming), 5 p.m.

Feb. 18 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at KassonMantorville, 7:15 p.m.

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

Feb. 19 (FRI) Boys’ basketball: Albert Lea at Winona, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

United South Central at Granada-HuntleyEast Chain/Truman, 7:30 p.m Feb. 25 (THU) Girls’ basketball: Mankato Loyola at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 26 (FRI) Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 (THU) Boys’ basketball: Mabel-Canton at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

United South Central at Fairmont, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ basketball: Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, TBA Boys’ hockey: Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 (SAT) Girls’ basketball: Albert Lea at Owatonna, 3 p.m.

Alden-Conger at Valley Conference tournament, TBA Wrestling: Lake Mills at district tournament, TBA Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Big Nine Conference meet at Northfield (diving), noon Feb. 16 (TUE) Boys’ basketball: Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

United South Central at Martin Luther, 7:30 p.m.

Boys’ swimming: Albert Lea at Big Nine Conference meet

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 15

NRHEG Boys’

Basketball

By Micah Bader

T

he NRHEG boys’ basketball team plans to rebuild around its lone returning starter.

“We lost four three-year starters and realize that we have a lot of experience that left, but we feel that we have a lot of potential and that we will be in the thick of things at the end of the year,” said Panthers coach Pat Churchill.

Oakley Baker, a twotime Gopher AllConference selection, who has 890 career points entering his junior year, will lead the team along Chad Agrimson / G with three other returning letter winners: senior for6-foot-6-inch forward. Baker, only an ward John Cole, junior guard Chad inch shorter than Cole, adds versatility Agrimson and junior center Tyler in the backcourt.

Raimann.

“Size is a strength,” Churchill said.

Baker was sec“We will have three players in the ond on the team in starting lineup over 6-5, who are long scoring last season and athletic.” with an average of Other players Churchill expects to SEASON OVERALL CONF. 15.2 points per 2014-15 23-5 9-3 contribute are senior forwards Tyler game. Spencer 2013-14 19-7 11-3 Schlaak, Dempsey Tucker and Cole Tollefson led the 2012-13 6-19 3-11 Ignaszewski; senior guard, Luke 2011-12 9-18 6-10 Panthers with 18 Overgaard; junior forward, Jack 2010-11 13-13 9-6 points per game Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net Schultz; junior guard, Jason and will continue Jongbloedt; and sophomore guard, his basketball Benji Lundberg. career at Rochester Technical and In Churchill’s sixth season as the Community College.

Panthers’ head coach, he will be Anchoring NRHEG in the paint will assisted by Chad Buendorf in his 16th be Raimann, a 6-foot-7-inch center who was the Panthers’ Most Improved year, Isaiah Lundberg in his fifth and Cory Camerer in his first.

Player last year, along with Cole, a

5-year Glance

16 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

NRHEG

Wrestling

By Micah Bader

W

ith nine returning senior letter winners, including a three-time state qualifier, the NRHEG wrestling team has high hopes.

“We are expecting to make a strong attempt at repeating as (Gopher) Conference champions, and we hope to be a factor in the Section 2A tournament,” said Panthers coach Shawn Larson.

Last season, NRHEG was the section runner-up and had a 16-9 dual record with a 5-0 conference mark.

Cordell Peterson will look for his fourth trip to state, and Wyatt Fitterer aims to get back to the Xcel Energy Center after qualifying for the tournament in 2013. In the first edition of the Guillotine’s polls, Fitterer was ranked No. 10 at 285 pounds.

Cordell Peterson and Fitterer had an eventful offseason, Larson said.

“We had a few wrestlers attend miscellaneous camps, but the most progress was made with Cordell Peterson and Wyatt Fitterer, who both competed with Team Minnesota at the USA Greco-Roman Duals in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” he said. “Both of these wrestlers also competed in the Junior National Greco-Roman Championship in Fargo, North Dakota, in July.”

Cordell Peterson, Palmer Peterson and Zeke Erickson are the Panthers’ captains.

Other returning letter winners are seniors Lucas Herrmann, Trey Hoppe, Karter Sletten, Jon Weller and Trai Wicks; sophomores Chad Erickson, Brett Kubiatowicz, Bryce Okland and Cole Staloch; and freshmen Tyler Jacobson and Ross Lenort.

Larson will be assisted by Nate Jensen and Tim Bartness.

NRHEG girls’

basketball

Marnie Wagner / G

By Colleen Harrison

T

he Panthers will see the return of eight letter winners as they look to get back to championship status.

Previous NRHEG girls’ basketball standout Carlie Wagner is in her second season with the Minnesota Gophers, but her younger twin sisters, junior guards Maddie and Marnie Wagner, Head coach: Onika Peterson will play for the (2nd season) Panthers once Assistant coaches: Drew again.

Paukert, Sharon Ramaker Former player competing Maddie Wagner, in college: Carlie Wagner a Gopher Allat Minnesota Conference selection, averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 3.3 assists per game last season. Marnie Wagner averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.96 steals and three assists per game.

Junior guard Gretchen Ramaker, also an All-Conference selection, will return this season after averaging five points, 3.5 rebounds, a steal and an assist per game last season.

All-Conference selection Kayley Camerer and AllConference honorable mention pick Rachel Collins, both juniors, will also suit up for the SEASON OVERALL CONF. 2014-15 14-12 9-3 Panthers. Camerer, 2013-14 31-0 14-0 a forward, averaged 2012-13 32-1 14-0 5.7 points, 4.5 2011-12 32-1 16-0 rebounds and a 2010-11 23-4 15-1 steal per game; and Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net Collins, / PAGE 28

Fast Facts

5-year Glance

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 17

Alden-Conger Boys’

basketball

Jordan Hallman / F

By Micah Bader

L

ast season the Alden-Conger boys’ basketball team matched its highest win total since 2005-06.

The Knights plan to build on that 13-13 overall record with the return of three senior letter winners, who are all listed as forwards: Jacob Wallin, Jordan Hallman and Dillan Lein.

Wallin and Valley All-Conference Glenville-Emmons selection and Second Team forward Derek Van All-Area pick Jacob Wallin Ryswyk were the will lead the Knights with only two players in two other returning letter the Tribune’s sevwinners: Jordan Hallman and Dillan Lein. en-team coverage area who averaged a double-double last season. Wallin, a Valley All-Conference honorable mention selection and Second Team All-Area pick, was in the area’s top 12 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks. He averaged 10.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He was a force in the paint with 30 blocks, which was third in the area.

Jordan Hallman returns after averaging 8.7 points, six rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Lein averaged five points and 5.2 rebounds last year.

In the offseason, Alden-Conger coach SEASON OVERALL CONF. Bob Hansen said 2014-15 13-13 3-10 2013-14 7-18 1-11 the team hosted a 2012-13 3-21 1-9 Midwest Elite 2011-12 0-23 0-11 Basketball camp 2010-11 4-19 1-10 and played in a Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net summer league that

PLAYERS TO WATCH

5-year Glance

featured seven other teams: GlenvilleEmmons, Blooming Prairie, Southland, Randolph, Dover-Eyota, KenyonWanamingo and Hayfield.

Hansen is in his third year with the program and has a career coaching record of 20-31. He inherited a program that was 0-23, and the team has been on an upward trajectory since. In Hansen’s first year, the Knights won three games; his second year, seven; and third, 13.

Matt Hallman will enter his third year as an assistant.

Alden-Conger will look to replace the

18 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

production of Eli Hallman — Matt Hallman’s son and Jordan Hallman’s brother — Brady Neal and Ty Lerum, who graduated last spring. Eli Hallman surpassed 1,000 career points and led the Knights in scoring last season.

Hansen said the team’s key to success will be developing its underclassmen.

Of the 11 players listed on AldenConger’s Minnesota State High School League roster, four are sophomores.

Conference favorites are St. Clair and Mankato Loyola, Hansen said. St. Clair was 19-10 last season, and Mankato Loyola was 20-7.

Alden-Conger girls’

Basketball

By Micah Bader

Y

outh production will be vital for the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team.

After being led by a 5-foot-6-inch eighth-grade guard last season in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists, the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team plans to improve on a six-win season without any seniors.

Freshman Erika Head coach: Tim Strohschein Bute returns after (1st season) posting the Assistant coach: Brandon Antl (1st season) fourth-highest scorFormer player competing ing average in the in college: Ariel Keller at area, 15.8 points, Grinnell College and the sixth-highest rebounding average, 8.5 boards, to earn Valley AllConference and Second Team All-Area honors last year.

Bute and the Knights are coming off a 16-10 volleyball season during which Bute broke the 1,000 career assists barrier.

“The girls are excited to play basketball and carry the momentum of a successful volleyball season into the winter,” said first-year Alden-Conger coach Tim

Fast Facts

Erika Bute / G

Strohschein. “We are a young and talented bunch, but without any seniors, there will be growing pains.”

Junior Forward Kelsey Newman averaged seven points per game last season and is the lone returning letter winner aside from Bute.

Alden-Conger will look to fill the shoes of graduated All-Area honorable mention center Liesel Theusch, who averaged 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, and All-Area honorable mention for-

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ward Cassie Gilster, who led the Knights with 45 3-pointers.

Last season was the first year since 2010-11 that the Knights had single-digit wins.

Strohschein will be assisted by Brandon Antl, who is also in his rookie season with the team.

“We expect to play hard, play smart and play together,” Strohschein said.

“We are in the process of building a program.”

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Northwood-Kensett Boys’

Basketball

By Sam Wilmes

W

ith four starters back from last year’s 9-13 season, the Northwood-Kensett boys’ basketball team looks to be competitive in the Top of Iowa Conference’s Eastern Division.

“Just with the experience back alone, we should be better,” said Vikings coach Marty Cotter.

Northwood-Kensett returns three All-Conference selections, including senior First Team All-Conference selection Josh Einertson; Tom Fick, a junior Second Team All-Conference forward; and senior guard Mason Olson, an AllConference honorable mention selection.

Einertson averaged 18.4 points per game and 4.9 rebounds last season and is the Vikings top returning scorer.

Fick averaged Last year, Vikings guard 11.3 points and Josh Einertson, boosted seven assists last his scoring average by year. Olson aversix points to a team-high 18.4 points per game. He aged 4.7 points was also a Second Team and seven assists.

All-Area selection.

Other returning letter winners include senior forward Tom Yezek, who averaged 5.9 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, and senior guard Trevor Varner, who averaged three points.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Josh Einertson / G

Cotter is in his 11th year as head coach with a 109-122 career record.

Cotter said Yezek broke his leg during football season but he hopes Yezek can return after Christmas.

The Vikings were 6-8 in conference play last year and were defeated by Rockford in the second round of the district playoffs.

Cotter said the team’s strengths are its strong backcourt and returning experience.

“We’re really trying to play an up-tempo game this year,” Cotter said.

“The kids seem to be really reacting well to the plan.”

Cotter said the team doesn’t have much varsity experience / PAGE 28

20 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Northwood-Kensett

Wrestling

By Micah Bader

C

oming off its best dual finish in the last five years, the NorthwoodKensett wrestling team aims to continue improving.

The Vikings were 14-20 last season and will return five senior letter winners: Hunter Julson, Scott Hengesteg, Dawson VanRyswyk, Kail Christianson and Keano Batton.

“A lot of the seniors have been wrestling varsity the past three seasons, so they will bring a great deal of experience to the table,” said Vikings coach Jordan Reindl. “This class has a great work ethic and is willing to put in the extra time needed to build a new program.”

Julson is ranked No. 10 at 285 pounds in the first edition of the Predicament’s Class 1A polls.

The Vikings return seven other letter winners: juniors Caleb Kliment and Zach Hengesteg; and sophomores Jeff Yezek, Colton Moretz, Gavin Paulson, Warren Cooper and Marcus Brandt.

In the offseason, Reindl said his team attended a camp at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, participated in a summer lifting and agility program and played other sports.

A challenge this season will be moving wrestlers to each weight class, Reindl said.

“A lot of the kids are around the same weight, so filling a lineup will be difficult,” he said.

Northwood-Kensett will look to replace state qualifier Coleby Bratrud, who will wrestle for Buena Vista this season.

Reindl is in his third season as the Vikings’ head coach. He will be assisted

by Erik Butler in his seventh year with the program.

Northwood-Kensett girls’

basketball

By Micah Bader

A

s the preseason polls indicate, the ceiling is high for the NorthwoodKensett girls’ basketball team.

After going 19-5 last year, the best record in program history, the Vikings return their two leading scorers: Second Team All-State selection Hattie Davidson and First Team Corn Bowl All-Conference pick Shelby Low. NorthwoodSecond Team All-State seKensett went .500 nior guard Hattie Davidson, who was the Tribune’s in the 2011-12 seaAll-Area girls’ basketball son and posted a Player of the Year last seawinning record the son, averaged 20.2 points next three years. To per game last year. keep improving, Vikings coach Daryl Love said he will need contributions from all nine returning letter winners.

“We’ll need balanced scoring and (to play) aggressive defense,” he said. “We have the most returning letter winners and the best depth I’ve ever had.”

Davidson was the Tribune’s All-Area girls’ basketball Player of the Year last season. For the third straight year, she led Northwood-Kensett in scoring.

After starting her career in the paint, she transitioned to the perimeter.

As a freshman, Davidson averaged 11.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to lead the Vikings in both categories. Although her rebounding numbers fell slightly last year to 4.5 per game, her scoring nearly doubled to 20.2 points per game, and she was one of only three players in Class 1A to make 59 or more 3-pointers with an average over 40 percent.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Hattie Davidson / G

Low overcame an early-season injury last year to be the team’s second-leading scorer. She averaged 12.1 points per game and tied Calli Christiansen for the second-most assists on the team with 52.

Returning senior letter winners are Davidson, Low, Chloe Breitsprecher, Aliyah Creger and Jenna Schaefer.

Returning junior letter winners are Christiansen, Mackenzie Costello, Tegan Cotter and Terran Haberman.

Northwood-Kensett will look to replace Second Team All-Conference selection Shelby Hagen, who led the team in rebounding and steals.

Love is in his 14th season as the Vikings head coach. He took over a fledgling program that hadn’t posted a winning record since it started playing

5-on-5 basketball. Love will be assisted

by Brendan Ehlke in his fourth season.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 21

USC Boys’

Basketball

By Micah Bader

A

fter falling one win short of the state playoffs the last two seasons, the United South Central boys’ basketball team aims to rebuild with an experienced backcourt.

The Rebels bring back three returning letter winners: senior guards Trevor Stencel and Grant Becher; and junior forward Ryan Kloos.

Stencel, a Gopher All-Conference honorable mention selection last seaSEASON OVERALL CONF. son, was the team’s 2014-15 20-8 8-4 third-leading scorer.

2013-14 23-5 11-3 2012-13 18-10 12-2 He averaged 7.8 2011-12 24-6 13-3 points, 2.5 2010-11 16-10 12-4 rebounds, 1.3 Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net assists and 1.3 steals.

USC has won at least one playoff game for four consecutive seasons. Building chemistry during the regular season is paramount to mounting a postseason run, Rebels coach Rob Stevermer said.

“Our expectations are to play with great effort and unselfishness and improve each and every day,” he said.

In addition to Stencel and Becher, the

5-year Glance

Grant Becher / G

Rebels bring back eight other seniors: Ryan Pederson, Jordan Kirkeide, Jordan Quade, Dylan Blakesley, Austin Suhr, Nick Neubauer, Laddy Benes and Tanner Steckelberg.

USC will look to replace its top two scorers from last season: Luke Trio and Nate Pederson. Trio was a Gopher AllConference and First Team All-Area selection. He finished in the top four of

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five statistical categories in the Tribune’s seven-team coverage area with 19 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Stevermer said Trio will continue his career on the hardcourt this season as a guard for Wisconsin-River Falls, and 2012 USC graduate Kyle Bauman will play for Winona State.

Nate Pederson added 13.2 points per game to garner Gopher All-Conference and All-Area honorable mention accolades.

Stevermer will be assisted by Pierre Stencel, who has been with the program since 2003; and Taylor Ovrebo, who joined in 2013.

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USC girls’

USC

Basketball

Wrestling

By Micah Bader

By Sam Wilmes

I

n Dale Koestler’s second run as head coach of the United South Central girls’ basketball team, he aims to establish depth.

Dale Koestler was the head coach at AldenConger/Freeborn from 1987 to 1991 and at USC from 1991-2006.

He then took two years off, coached the JV team and was an assistant varsity coach for seven years before returning to the position.

“I like my girls,” Dale Caitlyn Klocek / G Koestler said. “We’re not She averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 very deep, we don’t have rebounds per game. a lot of numbers, but they are coachLegred averaged 4.5 points per able. If we can get game, and Klocek added 3.7. them to play hard, Brynn Harms, who was an assistant I think a lot of coach for the Alden-Conger girls’ basthings are possiketball team last year, will assist Dale ble.”

SEASON OVERALL CONF. Koestler.

Returning letter 2014-15 16-12 6-6 The Rebels finished 16-12 last year winners include 2013-14 19-8 9-5 under Stu Hendrickson. The Rebels senior guards Kia 2012-13 15-12 9-5 were defeated by Mankato Loyola in Legard, Caitlyn 2011-12 19-8 12-4 the second round of the playoffs after Klocek and Leah 2010-11 21-7 15-1 Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net defeating Nicollet in the first round.

Johnson; senior Dale Koestler said the team will center Lauren need to outsmart its opponents to be Allis; junior forsuccessful. ward Shianne Robertson; and junior “We’ve got to take advantage of what guard Kate Koestler. we can bring to the game,” he said.

Robertson was a Second Team All“We have to play the game at our Area selection last season with an average of 12.4 points and 9.8 tempo.” rebounds per game.

Dale Koester said the team will Allis posted 78 blocks, more than evolve as the season moves along. twice as many as anyone in the area.

“It’s early in the / PAGE 28

5-year Glance

N

ew coach Robert Routh will lead the United South Central wrestling team with two returning state qualifiers.

Seniors Adam Knutson and Derek Herman will look for a return trip to the Xcel Energy Center and were both listed in the first edition of the Guillotine’s polls.

After posting a 0-2 record with 3-1 and 2-1 decisions last year at the Class AA state tournament, Knutson finished the season 33-10. He enters this year ranked No. 1 at 145 pounds.

Herman was 1-2 at state last year, and is listed at No. 6 at 160. His season record last year was 33-6.

“We have two exceptional returning wrestlers and up-and-coming kids who are excited to learn the sport,” Routh said.

“The big key is how fast we will learn as a program. The veteran guys will have to carry the load in the beginning of the season until the young guys catch up.”

Routh said he was an assistant coach for NRHEG’s Paul Cyr from 1996 to 2001, when he moved to Colorado. In Colorado, he said he coached wrestling all but three of the seasons he lived there before returning to the New Richland area in 2014.

Along with Knutson and Herman, the Rebels return four other seniors: Casey Dobbe, Mitch Harpestad, Sid Hargis and Jonas Gonsalez.

Returning juniors are Keenan Biddle, Jeth Poland, Ethan Morales and Zach Lorenz.

No assistant coaches were listed on the Minnesota State High School League roster.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 23

Lake Mills boys’

Basketball

By Micah Bader

T

he most accurate 3-point shooter in Iowa last season returns as a senior to lead the Lake Mills boys’ basketball team after the Bulldogs set a school record with 20 wins.

When last year’s seniors were freshmen, Lake Mills was 5-18, but the team has been on an upward trajectory ever since.

The Bulldogs went .500 with 11 wins in 2012-13 and were 16-7 in 2013-14.

Last year, the team finished 20-4.

“We are hoping to build on the success of last year and keep our program moving in the right direction,” said Lake Mills coach Kyle Menke. “We believe we have an excellent opportunity for a high placing in the Top of Iowa Conference.”

Lake Mills forward Granger Kingland was the state’s only player — spanning all classes — to hit more than 60 3-pointers at a clip of better than 50 percent. He was a First Team All-State selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year.

Kingland will be joined by fellow returning letter winners Charlie Dugger, a junior guard; and Trevor Hanna, a sophomore guard.

Dugger, a North Iowa All-Conference honorable mention and All-Area honorable mention selection, was one of three players on the team to average scoring in double figures. He posted 10.6

Granger Kingland / F

points per game, which was 13th in the area, and connected 42 percent of his attempts from 3-point range.

Hanna averaged 1.4 points per game last season.

Menke is in his 17th season as head coach of the Bulldogs and has a career record of 220-139. He will be assisted

by Brady Kurtz and Chad Eekhoff. Both assistants have been with the high school program for six years, Menke said.

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In the offseason, Menke, the Tribune’s All-Area boys’ basketball Coach of the Year last season, said the team attended the University of Northern Iowa’s team camp in Cedar Falls, and the North Iowa Area Community College team camp in Mason City.

“Our players are very dedicated to our program and spent a lot of time together at workouts, summer league games and team camps,” he said.

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Lake Mills girls’

Lake Mills

Basketball

Wrestling Provided

By Micah Bader

A

O

n the heels of its highest win total in the last five years, the Lake Mills girls’ basketball team looks to break .500.

The Bulldogs return eight letter winners, including last year’s top four scorers, from a team that finished 12-12 overall.

“I expect us to compete at the top of the conference this year,” said Lake Mills coach Thad Evans. “If we can minimize turnovers and speed the game up, we should be successful.”

Leading scorer Laura Knudtson is back as a sophomore after averaging 13.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and two blocks per game in her freshman campaign. The guard’s assist total was the most in the Tribune’s seven-team coverage area. She was a North Iowa All-Conference and First Team AllArea selection.

Also in the backcourt, the Bulldogs return letter winners Emily Orban,

EMILY ORBAN / G

Jewell Gasteiger, Jade Gasteiger and Jadyn Joynt.

Orban was a Second Team AllConference and All-Area honorable mention selection, who averaged 10.5 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Jewell Gastieger averaged 10.4 points and four rebounds per game.

In the frontcourt, Lake Mills will look to replace its leading / PAGE 28

fter posting a 30-5 record and finishing last season ranked No. 8 in the Class 1A team polls, the Lake Mills wrestling team looks for success with balance throughout the roster in age and ability.

“I really like the balance of our lineup and think we can field a winning record at all 14 weights if we can stay healthy,” said Bulldogs coach Alex Brandenburg.

Lake Mills returns 11 starters and 13 letter winners.

Junior Slade Sifuentes (43-4) qualified for districts the past two seasons and aspires to qualify for state. He opens the season ranked No. 6 at 195 pounds in the Predicament’s polls.

Fellow junior Michael Olsen (38-14) qualified for state as a freshman and looks to head back this year and get on the podium. He is ranked No. 6 at 138 pounds.

The senior class returns three starters: Max Bergo (24-8), Grant Boehmer (34-21), and Spencer Jensen (15-11).

Lake Mills will look to build on dual wins last season over Clear Lake and Humboldt, teams that were / PAGE 28

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • winter SPORTS YEARBOOK | 25

Glenville-Emmons boys’

basketball

By Sarah Stultz

W

ith several quality teams in both its section and conference, the Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team took extra steps to help its players develop their skills.

Coach Jared Matson said the team played in a summer league once a week and attended team tournaments in Rochester and Wolverines junior forward Lakeville.

Derek Van Ryswyk returns “The goal was to as a junior after being build depth on our one of only two players in roster and get some the Tribune’s seven-team coverage area to average a experience for the double-double. younger role players who will be seeing more playing time this season,” Matson said.

The team will be led offensively by junior Derek Van Ryswyk, a forward co-captain. Van Ryswyk was team MVP and an Southeast All-Conference selection. He led the conference with 20 points per game and 109 3-pointers.

Matson said other players will need to step up when teams work to take Van Ryswyk away, and the team will be its best when other players step up.

Co-captain Carter Dahlum, a junior All-Conference honorable mention SEASON OVERALL CONF. selection and the 2014-15 5-21 4-15 2013-14 7-20 4-14 team’s offensive 2012-13 6-22 4-14 Player of the Year; 2011-12 17-10 10-8 and junior Seth 2010-11 23-5 16-2 Chapek, the team’s Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net defensive Player of

PLAYER TO WATCH

5-year Glance

Derek Van Ryswyk / F

the Year, will be expected to contribute offensively.

Matson’s defense hopes to create turnovers that lead to easy transition layups. Other keys to success will be limiting turnovers on offense, finding scorers outside of Van Ryswyk and staying healthy.

This will be the third year with Matson’s program for the upperclassmen, and the coach noted the team is

26 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

really starting to understand the concepts of the game. With the high quality of conference and section opponents, he said there won’t be any offnights on the schedule.

“We hope to stay healthy during the long season, work hard to get better every day and to be playing our best basketball in February when it matters most,” Matson said.

In addition to Van Ryswyk, / PAGE 28

Glenville-EMmons Girls’

Basketball

By Colleen Harrison

A

fter a tough stretch, GlenvilleEmmons will only have a junior varsity girls’ basketball team.

Lucas Knutson will be the Wolverines’ head coach after two years as an assistant coach. He will be assisted by Mike Hockert, also in his first year coaching the young team.

“We will be young and inexperienced at the varsity/JV level. We have low numbers in the upper grades,” Knutson said. “We are playing a JV-only schedule this year with the hopes of returning to varsity action SEASON OVERALL CONF. next season. We 2014-15 1-22 0-18 will look to 2013-14 0-21 0-18 improve every day 2012-13 1-24 0-18 2011-12 1-24 0-18 and be a better 2010-11 16-8 14-4 team by the end of Courtesy of Minnesota-Scores.net the season.”

The Wolverines’ best finish in the last five years was 16-8 in 2010-2011. Since then the team struggled, finishing 1-22 overall last season and 0-18 in the Southeast Conference.

5-year Glance

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Cech, a junior guard, averaged 11 points per game last season and made 60 3-pointers. Gerber, another junior guard, had 19 steals and 15 assists last year. Sophomore forward Ziebell averaged 3.9 points and four rebounds per game last year.

“We will need our three veterans — Cech, Gerber and Ziebell — to lead by example with their experience,” Knutson said. “Our younger girls have a lot of potential and a passion for the game. It will be important / PAGE 28

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NRHEG GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 17 a guard, averaged 4.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and an assist per game.

Other returning letter winners are Hailey Schuller, Sophia Fischer and Emily Eder.

NRHEG will look to improve on last year’s 14-12 season, despite the key losses of Anna Stork, Ryann Hagen, Kelli Harrington and Jade Peterson.

NORTHWOOD-KENSETT BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 20 after the starting lineup and will look to develop its depth early in the season.

Monte DeArmoun and Ryan Parker are the assistant coaches. This season is DeArmoun’s first with the program and Parker’s fifth.

The team attended team camp at North Iowa Area Community College in the offseason.

Conference favorites include West Fork and Osage.

USC GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 23 season,” he said. “We’re still putting in our offense, and we’re working on fundamentals.”

In the offseason, the team attended camps at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall and Minnesota State, Mankato.

The Rebels graduated two top performers from last year’s team, including guard Taylor Schultz — a guard at Bethany Lutheran — and forward Anissa Janzig — a volleyball player at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

GLENVILLE-EMMONS BOYS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 26 Dahlum and Chapek, other returning letter winners are seniors Danny Charron and Sean Chapek; junior Travis Johnson; and sophomores Anthony Rasmusson, Brenden Willaby, Christian Nelson and Hunter Robertson.

Matson will begin his fourth year as head coach. Last year the team went 5-21 overall. He will be assisted by first-year assistant coach Aaron Dempewolf.

Panthers coach Onika Peterson will return for her second year at the helm. JV coach Drew Paukert and C-squad coach Sharon Ramaker will also return for their second seasons.

The team looks to improve on last season with overall team speed to compensate for the lack of height among most of its roster.

“With our height, we need to play fast and run the floor as much as possible,” Peterson said. “Offensively we need to attack the basket and move well without the ball. Defensively we need to be tough inside since we don’t have the height. We need to focus on rebounding and not giving other teams second/third chance shots.”

LAKE MILLS WRESTLING / PAGE 25 ranked in Class 2A. “Last year was very exciting and surprising with three quarters of our team being freshman and sophomores,” Brandenburg said. “At the same time, when we got walloped by No. 3 Don Bosco at regionals, we realized there is still a lot of improvement needed.”

In addition to their move from the North Iowa Conference to the Top of Iowa Conference, the Bulldogs have a new tournament on the schedule: The

Battle of Waterloo.

“With the experience we have back, we felt that making our schedule more difficult would benefit our kids at the end of the season,” said Brandenburg.

“The Battle of Waterloo is a two-day tournament where 32 of the best teams in the state square off.”

Former Lake Mills wrestler Noah Irons, the state runner-up in 2014, will wrestle for Air Force.

Brandenburg has a career dual record of 218-62 and will be assisted by Mike Piper and Jamie Ham.

LAKE MILLS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 25 rebounder from last year, Mary Evans, a two-time All-Conference honorable mention selection who led the team in rebounding, had the third-highest rebounding total in school history and has the school record for blocked shots, Thad Evans said.

Mary Evans will continue her basketball career at North Iowa Area Community College.

Taking over in the paint will be returning letter winners Lexi Groe, Becca Evans and Teah Kesler. Groe averaged eight points and 10 rebounds per game last year.

“Establishing Lexi as a post scoring option to balance our perimeter game is key,” Thad Evans said.

In the offseason, Thad Evans said the Bulldogs attended a team camp at Drake.

Thad Evans will be assisted by Ryan Stiles in his first year with the program.

GLENVILLE-EMMONS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / PAGE 27 for them to contribute at a high level, as well.”

Glenville-Emmons lost five players who graduated last spring: Mady Wangen, McKenna Cech, Rachel Hagen, Anna Severtson and All-Conference honorable mention selection Madi Ziebell.

To fill the void, Knutson said some of the girls played in a summer league in

Byron. He added that this year’s sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders played once a week in that league.

“Overall enthusiasm from the girls has been outstanding the first week of practice. They like to play and are willing to listen and work hard,” said Knutson. “We could be a team that plays good defense.

We are improving our fundamentals. I am looking forward to a fun season.”

28 | winter SPORTS YEARBOOK • Wednesday, December 16, 2015

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