Packers will see some changes BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packer football team will have a new look this season as they will see a high turnover from last year’s roster, as well as a new coach at the helm. Austin is no longer running the spread offense, as first year head coach Matt Schmit has decided to run more plays under center. Austin, which was 4-6 last season, will look to run a mix of power running plays, misdirection and play-action passing. It figures that Austin would change its offense as the team graduated running back Jerrad Ryks, who was a huge part of the offense the past two seasons. “The plan is to have a number of people run the ball on any given play. We’ll go by committee and you can’t replace a great guy like (Ryks). They don’t come around every year,” Schmit said. “We changed everything and the kids know everything now. We’re just fine-tuning and we know what direction we’re going. They know the plays, formation and terminology.” Jay Ettinger, a senior wide receiver, said the offense is coming along so far and some of the younger players are picking it up. He’s looking forward to seeing how Austin’s speed shows up in the new offense. “We don’t have a lot of size, but we’ve got good athletes and I think it’s a good offense for the team we have,” he said. “We’ve heard a lot of people put the team down a little bit and say we’re not going to do as good this year. We’re trying to prove people wrong and get some wins. We want to get momentum early and look to improve from last year.” Schmit said he’s still waiting to decide on a quarterback, and he may switch quarterbacks in the middle of the game, depending on the situation. He’ll also look to take advantage of his team speed. “We have some guys that don’t time real well but when they get out there, they’re elusive and hard to get ahold of,” Schmit said. “That’ll be our style.”
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Troy Peil goes up for a pass in front of Quinn Yocom during practice at Wescott Athletic Complex. Yocom was able to knock the pass away. One thing that is for sure is that the Packers will no longer use players exclusively on offense or defense. Certain players will play on both sides of the ball. “If they can play they’re going both ways. We’ll be conditioned,” Schmit said.
AUSTIN FOOTBALL Sept. 3 Austin at Red Wing, 7 p.m. Sept. 10 John Marshall at Austin, 7 p..m
While the offense has seen some drastic changes, the Packer defense will look about the same. Andrew Wangen will anchor the middle linebacker spot, while Leon Delgado, Thomas Herrera and Caleb Wahlen will fill up front. Wangen has been pleased with the
secondary play of Andrew Allen and Cole Adams so far. “We’re looking pretty good and we’re stuffing the run and the secondary’s stepping up,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about that. I think we’ll do pretty good this year if we work hard and play like a team.”
Sept. 17 Austin at Century, 7 p.m. Sept. 24 Mankato East at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Mankato West at Austin, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 Austin at Faribault, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 Winona at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Austin at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.
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Austin volleyball team looks for improvements Packers have a good attitude BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packers are counting on a big group of seniors and a some younger contributors to help turn things around on the volleyball court in 2010. Austin went 3-16 overall last season, but an attitude adjustment could make a big difference this year. “When we had a very successful team in the past we had really competitive and aggressive girls who hated to lose,” Austin head coach Darica Schneider said. “We lost a little bit of that spirit last year, and this year I think we’ve got some of that back. It’ll be nice to have that edge again.” Austin will return both of its setters in Kayla Rodgers and Jenna Svoboda, a sophomore. Svoboda is feeling much more confident this year as opposed to last season when she came in as a freshman. “I’m sure it was very scary for her last summer,” Schneider said. “She’s grown a lot and she’s a triple sporter, so she’s coming in one year smarter and one year stronger.” Svoboda has also grown in confidence. “I feel a lot better,” Svoboda said.
VOLLEYBALL Aug. 31 Farmington at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 2 Owatonna at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 Austin at Century, 7 p.m. Sept. 11 Austin at Mankato Invite, 10 a.m. Sept. 13 Blooming Prairie at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 Faribault at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 21 Austin at Southland, 7:30
“
It’ll be nice to have that edge again.
.”
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin volleyball team returns both setters from last year which includes Jenna Svoboda.
— Darica Schneider Austin volleyball head coach
“When I came in last year, I was iffy about everything and setter was new for me. Now I know what to do and I know how my teammates play a lot better.” Austin’s front line will look a little different this year as newcomer Babaye Oja will join seniors Jenny Soiney and Meredith Molhusen up front. “Babaye’s got a great vertical and a nice, hard snap to her swing,” Schneider said. Molhusen played as a reserve last season and she may end up playing in the middle this year. “There’s a lot of competition for the middle and the outside position and that makes everyone work twenty times harder,” Molhusen said. “I think we’ll actually do a lot better, because we have nine seniors and we’re all close together. I think that will show on the court.” p.m. Sept. 23 Austin at Winona, 7 p.m. Sept. 25 Austin at John Marshall Invite, 9 a.m. Sept. 27 Austin at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 John Marshall at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 Austin at Mayo, 7 p.m. Oct. 12 Mankato East at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 14 Austin at Mankato West, p.m. Oct. 19 Albert Lea at Austin, 7 p.m.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 3
Packers look to maintain high goals in boys soccer BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
Although the Austin boys soccer team graduated 14 seniors from last year’s team that made it to the state tournament for the first time in school history, the squad is not lowering its expectations. With a JV team that lost just two matches in the last two seasons, the Packers are looking to remain a strong presence. “Rebuilding is not even part of the vocabulary because we have the talent,” Austin head coach Jens Levisen said. “We need to keep an eye on how we play together as a team, if that’s a struggle, then the season’s a struggle. But expectations are high, a handful of these guys would’ve started on any Big Nine team last year. I feel pretty confident in that statement with at least four or five of them.” The Packers will look different across the field and the team still hasn’t chosen its new goal keeper yet. But the biggest change may be the type of players Austin has on the field. “It’s a completely different team,” senior defender Tony Lipari said. “We’re a lot smaller and we’re more agile and quick. We’re not as physical, and we may get pushed around a bit, but I think we’ll have a good season.” Dante Ortiz, a forward, said the Packers can make up for their lack of size by running an smooth offense. “We’ve been playing for a couple years back and we know how to communicate and be at the right place at the right time,” he said. While Levisen is high on the team’s talent — he’s quick to point out that the Packers must be willing to run a patient offense. In the past, long balls have gotten Austin in trouble. “We’ll see what type of team they are,” Levisen said. “Are they a team that plays possession or a team that just kicks the ball long and hopes? The mentality we’ve been building as that we play as a team and that passing mentality has to happen.” Senior forward Rolando Rubio is ready to get the ball rolling for the Packers, who were 14-6 overall last season. “I’m really looking forward to this year, I’d like to help the team get to state again,” he said. “We’ll try our best to get even farther than last year’s team and make school history.” Senior defender Aaron Mehus knows that teams will be gunning for the Packers, but he’s hoping for a solid season. “We just want to live up to last year’s hype,” he said. “We’ve got some big shoes to fill, but our JV has been good that last few years and that’s about our varsity team this year.”
4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin's Tony Lipari and Aaron Mehus, right, go through drills during practice. The two are part of a solid core of returners from last year's state tournament team.
AUSTIN BOYS SOCCER Aug. 28 Como Park at Austin, 1 p.m. Aug. 31 Austin at Owatonna, 7 p.m. Sept. 2 Austin at Red Wing, 5 p.m. Sept. 7 Century at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 Austin at Caledonia, 7 p.m. Sept. 13 Austin at Faribault, 5 p.m.
Sept. 16 Albert Lea at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 18 Austin at Lourdes, 1 p.m. Sept. 23 Austin at John Marshall, 7 p.m. Sept. 25 Kasson/Mantorville at austin, 1 p.m. Sept. 28 Mayo at Austin, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Mankato East at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 2 Austin at Winona, noon Oct. 4 Schaeffer Academy at Austin, 5 p.m. Oct. 5 Mankato West at Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 Austin at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Packer girls soccer team is looking for turnaround Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin sophomore Nicole Lipari works through drills during practice. Lipari is one of the returners for the Packers girls soccer team this season.
BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls soccer team is hoping to turn things around this season. After going 1-14 last year, the Packers have come in with a solid attitude. “The attitude has been really great so far. We have two new coaches and they’ve had a lot of energy,” Austin head coach Josh Dumas said. “They’re always a positive team, but they’ve had really high spirits this year.”
AUSTIN GIRLS SOCCER Aug. 26 Austin at Fairmont, 4:30 p.m. Aug. 28 Austin at Worthington, 12:45 p.m. Aug. 31 Owatonna at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 3 Winona at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 7 Austin at Century, 7 p.m. Sept. 11 Fairmont at Austin, 1 p.m. Sept. 13 Fairbault at Austin, 7 p.m.
Junior Abby Gallaher will patrol the net for the Packers, sophomore Nicole Lipari will lead the front line attack, while sophomore Carley Grunewald and senior Annamarie Hernandez will cover the midfield. Hernandez is hoping the squad can show some improvements. “It’s really different (as a senior) because you realize this is your last chance to make it what you want to be,” she said. “This year we have a lot more potential than last year, but it’s just how we execute it during games. I think we Sept. 16 Austin at Albert Lea, 7 p.m. Sept. 20 Worthington at Austin, 5 p.m. Sept. 21 Waseca at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 John Marshall at Austin, 7 p.m. Sept. 25 Austin at Faribault, 3 p.m. Sept. 28 Austin at Mayo, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Austin at Mankato East, 5 p.m. Oct. 2 Spectrum/PACT at Austin, 1 p.m. Oct. 5 Austin at Mankato West, 5 p.m. Oct. 7 Albert Lea at Austin, 7 p.m.
can execute positively.” Hernandez said the team’s main issue will be controlling possession. Dumas is confident in Gallaher in the net and he said the team shouldn’t have to shuffle players around from position to position as much as it did last season. “Abby’s really starting to come into her own and she’s stopping a lot of balls,” Dumas said. “We tried a lot of
stuff last year and we put people in different positions. We’ll probably have to do that a little bit of that this year, but we definitely have some girls who are good at their position and we can build around them.” Austin mixed up its schedule by adding Worthington and a couple of other opponents they can compete with. “We’ve got some new teams on our schedule that should be good competition for us, where we can play with them and have really have some fun,” Dumas said.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 5
Rebels hope to take the next step to success BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
ADAMS — The Rebels are tired of losing the big game. In 2009, they lost to eventual state champ Caledonia to put their season to an end and in 2010 they lost to eventual state champ Waterville/Ellysian/Morristown to end their season. “We want to win big games this year and stay mentally focused,” Southland center and defensive tackle Trevor Emanuel said. The Rebels went 8-2 last season and they return most of the play-makers from that squad, but they will have to fill a couple of holes up front as Casey Cederstrom and David Schotanus both graduated and will be playing football at Rochester Technical and Community College this fall. “They were good, but we’ve got guys than can fill their shoes. Our line should be just fine this year,” Southland offensive and defensive tackle Tyler Bergene said. Rebels head coach Shawn Kennedy is feeling good about how his team showed
up this season. He said the knowledge of the system is at a high and the team should be deep enough to platoon on both lines. “(Platooning has) helped keep us fresh in the fourth quarter in the past and hopefully that continues for us,” Kenndey said. “We’ve been so much further ahead (in knowing the system) this year than in years past. It’s been phenomenal how hard these kids have worked so far.” Offensively, the Rebels return quarterback Sam Noterman, who threw for 1,298 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception last season, and Alan May, who had 687 receiving yards with 12 scores. At running back, Southland will look to Ben Wolterman to run for power, while Tyler Kressin and Mike Goergen will take care of the outside runs. “Tyler is very shifty, Mike gives us good speed and Ben can run up the middle,” Kennedy said. “We can be physcial between the tackles, we’ve got speed to the outside, we’ve got kids that can catch and we’ve got a quarterback that can throw. We’re balanced.”
Rocky Hulne/sports@austin dailyherald.com
Southland’s Alan May, left, breaks up a pass during a defensive drill at practice in Adams recently.
While the Rebels’ offense is in good hands, their defense shouldn’t miss a beat either. “We’re young in the secondary, but we should be quick and fast,” Emanuel said. “We’re a lot faster than last year’s team, we should be as good if not better.” Bergene and Emanuel both said they’d like to get to state and go to the Metrodome this season, but Kennedy is keeping his eyes on the near future. “In this conference every Friday night you have a tough opponent,” Kennedy said. “Our
objective is to go out and play the best possible football we can play without mistakes and stay physical. If we do that, we’ll have a chance to be in every game in the fourth quarter.” Bergene is hoping the Rebels will have some leads in those fourth quarters. “There’s good teams all around us, no doubt. But we feel we can compete with them,” he said. “We’ve been working just as hard as everybody else and we all put our pads on the same way.”
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Awesome Blossoms are looking to get back to the dome Gimbel, BP has always at least done as well as it did the previous season. “We’re looking to compete and get back to where we were last year,” Gimbel said. “That’s what we expect.” Nelson, a three-year starter at wide receiver and defensive end, said he’s hoping to get back to the dome. “After getting to the dome once, you want to get back there,” he said. “If everyone works hard and we do what we’re capable of, we’ll get back there. We’ve always had really good teams here and I want to make sure I get the most out of my senior year.” BP is mixing things up a little on defense. The team will give opponents a few different alignments to offer them something to think about. “We run a lot of defenses to get the other teams off-balanced,” Nelson said. “If they’re scouting us they’ll see we run four different defenses and that will make them work that much harder.”
BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
At a glance, the Awesome Blossoms football team looks very similar to the one that went 11-2 and advanced all the way to the Class ‘A’ state semifinals last season. Quarterback Luc Zellmer, who threw for 2,256 yards and 34 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season is on hand, Cooper Nelson, who had 821 receiving yards and 15 scores last season, is there and Gabe Kartes, a speedy game-breaker is back. But if you look a little closer, the team is much different. Blooming Prairie graduated its entire offensive line from last season and it’s looking for six guys to take over that role — Josh Jirle, Blake Arett, Jarrod Grunklee, Pat Jones and Alex Fiebiger. “Any time you lose that many seniors it’s going to take some time to get some continuity back,” BP head coach Chad Gimbel said. “The guys we have are very capable and we have all the confidence in the world in them.” Zellmer, a junior, has no complaints about his new protectors so far. “They’re working really hard and you can tell they’ve learned
FOOTBALL Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Blooming Prairie quarterback Luc Zellmer throws under pressure at a recent practice in BP. Zellmer, a junior, returns at quarterback for the Awesome Blossoms. a lot,” he said. “We should be all right this year. We should be good.” Zellmer had a breakout sophomore season and now that he has a strong grasp on the offense, he’s looking to fine-tune his game. “It’s a lot easier now,” Zellmer said. “I’m
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BP volleyball team must keep focus AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Awesome Blossoms volleyball will have to concentrate on passing and serving if they want to have a successful in season in 2010. Blooming Prairie graduated four seniors from last year’s squad that went 12-17 overall, but it brings back a few key returnees as well. “We lost a lot of strong serving and passing,” BP head coach Gina McLaughlin said. “Those who know volleyball know that these are two skills that are crucial to the game. Our returnees will definitely need to work to fill those pertinent skills.” BP will look to seniors Rachel Klemmensen and Marissa Noble to patrol the back row. Noble will take over the
setting duties. “Rachel will be dominant in the back row. Her passing is much improved and her service is solid,” McLaughlin said. “Marissa is working very hard to ensure that our team doesn't miss a beat as we transition from one setter to another. Marissa is also very smart and has a strong desire to do well.” Senior hitter Whitney Burt, who was All-Gopher Conference last season, should lead the Blossoms front line attack, along with seniors Kristin Hagen and Yasmine Smith, and sophomore Janelle Morem. “Whitney is a terminator on the outside. Her challenge will be to learn to serve more consistently and become a stronger team leader,” McLaughlin said. “Kristin is a disciplined blocker whom we
hope will hassle our opponents and Yasmine has some attractive raw ability that if we are able to harness, we will see a lot of positive play out of her.” Morem’s best strength is her ball control and defensive play. Senior Allyson Grunklee will also chip as a hitter, and she brings good blocking. McLaughlin hopes her team can finish near the top half of the Gopher Conference this season and get deep into the tournament after making it to the subsection title game last season. “How well we do this year depends on our team chemistry and our ability to pick up the serving and passing,” McLaughlin said. “We have hitters, but we need to ensure that we have a controlled court and can get them the ball.”
GM volleyball team looks to grow AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Grand Meadow volleyball team will look to a handful of returning varsity players to lead the way this season. The Superlarks bring back four players from last year’s squad that went 18-12. Sophomore Autumn Thorsen was a libero last season, but this year she’ll be the team’s setter and sophomore Courtney Olson will step up as a middle hitter.
“Courtney’s much better at defense this year and she’ll be a big blocking force,” GM head coach Michael Keefe said. “Autumn plays very relaxed and she’s a calming agent on the court.” The Larks also return two seniors in Haley Hanken, an outside hitter, and Camile O’Connell, a back row defender and server. “Haley is really improving and getting stronger and Camile brings leadership
and a strong work ethic,” Keefe said. The Larks will also look to junior hitter Stephanie Russell and defensive specialist Amber Riedemann to chip in. Keefe is hoping his squad can compete in the top half of the SEC this season. “We’re a young team, but we have a strong will to get better every day,” he said.
L/O volleyball team looks to reload AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
They graduated their core from last year’s 26-4 team, but the Cardinals are hoping to contend for an SEC volleyball title this season. The Cardinals will look to Chanda Riedemann, Krista Bunne and Kylie Grant to lead the way this year.
“We are a very quick team that is working very hard a defense,” L/O head coach Lisa Swenson said. “We don't have a lot of height but we will rely on being quick on our feet. We are a young team but we have a talented group of athletes that work well together.” L/O graduated five players from last year’s team but has four players back
Rebels have potential BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
ADAMS — The Southland volleyball team is hoping to rebound. A year after going 10-13 overall and finishing last in the Three Rivers Conference, the Rebels are hoping to move into the middle of the conference standings this year. “I see a lot of potential and I think we should be in the middle of the pack,” Southland head coach Angie Smith said. “We’re pretty tall this year and they’re looking strong. We need communication and they’ve got to learn to play together.” The Rebels graduated six regulars, but hitters Jana Schammel, Sarah Nelson and Brandi Schammel all return up front. “I look for those three to lead us,” Smith said. Southland will also get contributions from Holly Goergen, Kelli Shawback, Maddi Schmitz, Lindsey Bottema, Brooke Meyer, Betsy Oswald, Kelly Gray and Hannah Hammilton.
with varsity experience. “Our first goal is to win the conference and to prove to everyone plus ourselves that we can be as good as we have been in the past,” Swenson said. “We are excited for the season and hope to prove to everyone that with hard work you can continue to have a winning tradition.”
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Cardinals bring back eight from winless team AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The LeRoy/Ostrander football team is hoping to bounce back from a winless sesaon as they prepare for 2010. The Cardinals, who have seven var-
sity returnees after graduating eight players, have some decent size up front, but once again they’ll be hurting for depth. “We have to work hard and put ourselves in good positions to be in games,”
L/O second year head coach Aaron Hungerholt said. Jordan Osmundson, Mark Miller and Devin Losee will anchor the offensive and defensive lines for L/O, while Kirk Nelson and John Marx will fill in it run-
ning back. On defense, Nelson will play defensive back and Marx will play linebacker. The Cardinals have won just one game in the last two years.
Superlarks football team looks to spread it out AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Everybody knows about the Grand Meadow football team’s main weapon. GM quarterback Caleb Leichtnam, who is now a senior, ran for 1,554 yards and 21 touchdowns last season while leading the Superlarks to the state tournament as they went 8-2 last season. But GM head coach Gary Sloan is hoping that people start to notice his other players — most notably running backs Perry Stejskal and Dezmon Johnson. “We’re going to ride Caleb and he’ll get the ball alot, but we can’t just be one guy,” Sloan said. “We’ll spread it around a bit.” Stejskal, a sophomore, was averaging 6.3 yards a carry before he was injured last season and Johnson, a junior, was injured the last two seasons. “Perry will be pretty solid and he’s a very physical runner. He likes contact,” Sloan said. “Dezmon is a pretty good player and he’s a good athlete.” Sloan said the Larks are in the mix for another SEC-title, but he added that Spring Grove, Mabel/Canton, Houston and Lanesboro should all be tough as well. “I don’t think anyone stands too high above the other,” he said. “If I had to pick a team to beat, it would be Lanesboro. They’re big and they come right at you.” On defense, Leichtnam, who had 89 tackles last year, should lead the way, as well as Richard Bain, who had 92 tackles last season.
Herald file photo
Grand Meadow quarterback Caleb Leichtnam keeps the ball on a run against Spring Grove.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 9
Austin boys cross country team moves on with new runners BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
With five varsity runners lost to graduation, the Austin boys cross country team will have a much different look to it this year. Austin graduated its top four runners and will look to replace them with a couple of returnees and some newcomers. “The guys that graduated will be hard to replace, but these guys have put in nice summer,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. Nate Schwab, Gabe Deyo and Joe Gerber all return with some varsity experience and senior Ben Sherman is also looking to step up this season. “I’m excited to get into the season and help some of the younger kids get going,” said Sherman, who ran on the JV team last season. “There will be some nerves (for me) to get ready for varsity races, but it’s going to be cool. We’re looking forward to a strong season.” The Packers will see two new additions in Zach Fadness and Max Gillen. Fadness was a distance runner on the track team and Gillen ran in some of the shorter races on the track team. “We’re really looking forward to see what Zach can do,” Einertson said. “We feel Max is going to be good. He’s in fantastic condition and he put in a great summer. He’s a little bit of a sprinter, but we feel he’ll convert into a good cross country runner Zach Fadness joins the Austin cross country team and he’ll be in the mix for varsity.” Einertson said he hopes his AUSTIN BOYS CROSS COUNTRY team can improve as the season Aug. 31 Austin Invite, 4:30 p.m. goes along and he hopes the Sept. 3 Austin at Rosemount, 9:25 a.m. Packers compete for the middle Sept. 9 Austin at Hafyield, 4:30 p.m. of the section by the end of the year.
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
this year, adding another set of strong legs.
Sept. 16 Austin at Mayo, 4 p.m. Sept. 21 Austin at Lake City, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 Austin at Mankato West, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7 Austin at Owatonna, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 12 Austin Inivte, 4:30 p.m.
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Packer girls look to compete Austin should see big improvements BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
With three veteran runners, a state qualifier and two strong newcomers, the Packers girls cross country team is hoping for a solid season this fall. The team will feature Haley Splinter, a sophomore, who made it to state last season and three seniors who have ran since they were freshmen — Katelyn Harder, Kaitlynn Carroll, and Lauren Thompson. “It’s a good group of girls,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “In the past we’ve always been ninth or tenth in It’ll be a great the Big Nine. If we season. finish ninth or tenth this year, somebody’s — Haley been injured or Splinter something’s gone Austin cross wrong. This team country runner should be much more competitive.” In addition to its strong returnees, the squad adds McKenzie Besel, a former swimmer who was a solid distance runner on the track team, and seventh grader Madison Overby, who was unbeaten as a sixth grader on the middle school cross country team last season. “Our girls team has the prospects of being much, much improved from where we’ve been in the past,” Einertson said. “We should have Haley being up towards the front, McKenzie and Madison being top-30 or top-40 runners and the other girls should be right in there with their experience.” Splinter is hoping to get back to the state meet and she’s also looking forward to running on a competitive team. “We’ve got some track girls who showed some really good stuff during the spring,” she said. “It’s my goal to push myself to get to state again and it’s going to be nice to have some (more) competitive runners on the team. It’ll be a great season.” Einertson added that 17 girls are out for cross country this season, which is a solid number for the squad.
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindai lyherald.com
girls' Austin cross countr y runner Haley Splinter will look for another shot at state this season.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 11
Viking runners are coming strong AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Hayfield cross country team doesn’t have a lot of runners, but it does have some strong returners this season. The boys bring back two runners
with varsity experience and the girls will bring back five with varsity experience. The boys will be led by Mike Kuehn, Chad Krueger, and Jon Fleishchmann while the girls will be led by Metea Voyce, Lexi Anderson and Courntey
Severson. “I would like to see us finish in the to half of the HVL Conference this year,” Hayfield head coach Len Oelkers said. “I could se the possibility of maybe having three or four runners earn AllConference Honors.”
Vikings bring back five volleyball players AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Herald file photo
The Hayfield volleyball team is coming off a solid season, and with five returners with significant experience coming back, the Vikings hope to be in business again. Hayfield will be led by senior Molly Streightiff, who’s entering her fifth year as the starting setter, as they look to get back to the subsection title game, where they lost to Faribault Bethlethem Academy last year. “We can probably do as well or move up one spot with in the conference,” Hayfield head coach Deb Harvey said. “Hopefully we’ll move up one spot, but our conference is tough and lots of crazy stuff can happen.” Hayfield, which graduated five seniors from last year’s 19-10 team, will look to Liz Ristau and Abby Blanchard to lead the hitting while Alyssa Selk and Jaide Ryks should help out with the back row defense. The Vikings will also look for Emily Blanchard, Nicole Jax, Dani Wagner, Katie Miner, McCayla Thoe, Hannah Wiltgen, Abbie Pollock and Rachel Czaplewski to chip in.
HAYFIELD VOLLEYBALL Sept. 7 Hayfield at Kenyon/Wanaminog, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 9 Cannono Falls at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 11 Hayfield Invite, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 13 Hayfield at Stewartville, 7:15 p.m.
Hayfield's Liz Ristau, right, and Molly Streightiff combine to block Bethleham Academy's Jessica Mathews during game two of their match for the Section 1A West Division title in Rochester.
Sept. 16 Lake City at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 21 Hayfield at Winona Cotter, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 La Crescent at Hayfield, 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Austin at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 28 Hayfield at Kasson/Mantorville, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 30 Pine Island at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 2 Hayfield at Century Invite, 8 a.m.
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Oct. 5 Hayfield at Lourdes, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 7 Byron at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 Hayfield at Zumbrota/Mazeppa, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 14 Triton at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 19 Hayfield at Goohue, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 22 Hayfield at Century Invite, 5:15 p.m.
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Hayfield gets new football coach AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Hayfield football team is looking to a new coach as it hopes to improve on last year’s 1-8 record. The Vikings will be led by Grant Klennert, who has been a Hayfield assistant the past three years. “I think defense wins games,” Klennert said. “We are putting a lot of emphasis on our defense being aggressive and in the correct position to make plays. Offensively, I am encouraging an balanced attack of run and pass.” The Vikings will look to Evan Bungum to play quarterback and lead the team on defense and Jake Siemers should also have a big impact. “Evan is one of the better quarterbacks in our conference and is an all-around leader,” Klennert said. “Jake is always leading by example and he brings a hard knock lunch pail approach.” Hayfield has 16 seniors, eight of which started last year, but its depth is a little low in some spots. Overall, the Vikings have 11 returning starters and Klennert is hoping for a strong season. “We want to be competitive. The HVL is always a tough conference, one of the best conferences year in and year out in the state. We want to compete each and every game all season long,” he said. “We have only won two games in the last two years, but I feel that we are a program headed in the right direction and that we are starting a process of continual building that will lead to continual success in the future.”
HAYFIELD FOOTBALL Sept. 3 Hayfield at Stewartville, 7 p.m. Sept. 10 Hayfield at Winona Cotter, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 Goodhue at Hayfield, 7 p.m. Sept. 24 Byron at Hayfield, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Hayfield at Zumbrota/Mazeppa, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 Triton at Hayfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 Hayfield at Kenyon/Wanamingo, 7 p.m. OCt. 20 Pine Island at Hayfield, 7 p.m.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Austin swimmers are hoping for big things this year BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls swimming and diving team is hoping for one last ride to state. The Packers return all five of their state qualifiers from last season and three of them — Averi Splinter, Brooke Johnson and Kelli Bednar — are seniors. “It’s going to be sad when we all have to leave but it’s definitely going to be a really good season,” said Johnson, who took 13th in the backstroke and swam in the 200-medley relay team that took 13th at state last season. “We have high hopes.” Austin head coach Lynn Gulbrandson said the Packers could do some even bigger things this season than they did last year, when Splinter took sixth in the 100yard butterfly at state and made the all-
AUSTIN SWIMMING AND DIVING Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept.
2 Austin at Owatonna, 6 p.m. 9 Century at Austin, 6 p.m. 16 Austin at Faribault, 6 p.m. 18 Austin at Lakeville South, 1 p.m. 21 Northfield at Austin, 6 p.m.
state and All-Big Nine team. “My expectations are high, but there’s are even higher,” Gulbrandson said. “They’ve set some very attainable and very lofty goals for themselves. They really expect to do some big things.” Johnson is hoping to break the school backstroke record, she was six-tenths away from it last season, and Bednar is hoping her 200-medley relay team can break the school record as well. “We’re just looking to do good every meet and hopefully we can get the 200medley record. We were really close last year and we’d like to break it,” Bednar said. “It should be a good year for everybody.” Austin’s other returning state qualifiers are junior Lauren Edwards and sophomore Helen Heimark.
Sept. 23 Winona at Austin, 6 p.m. Sept. 30 Austin at John Marshall, 6 p.m. Oct. 2 Austin Invite, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 7 Mayo at Austin, 6 p.m. Oct. 12 Austin at Mankato East, 6 p.m. Oct. 14 Austin at Albert Lea, 6 p.m. Oct. 19 Mankato West at Austin, 6 p.m.
Herald file photo
Austin's Kelli Bednar nears the finish of the breast stroke in the 200 yard medley relay early last year against Owatonna. Bednar returns to the Packers swim team.
Pacelli tennis team brings eight back AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
and Lauren is our leader on the court,” Henderson said. The Pacelli girls tennis team returns Pacelli will start the season with eight players with varsity experience just nine players, which means it will as it looks to build on last season. have to forfeit the No. 4 singles Pacelli didn’t graduate any players, match unless someone else joins the but it lost three foreign exchange team. students from last year’s team. Lisa Tan and Mindy Nguyen are “We would really like to have more returners from last year’s team and wins as a team than last year,” Pacelli Betsy Ettinger is a new player. head coach Mark Henderson said. “We won four matches as a team, but we had three others that were very close. With all of our returning players we are hoping to improve on that.” Pacelli will look to Steph Kocer and Lauren Rieker to lead the way, and Lindsey Chapek and Abby Leif will chip in as well. “Steph is definitely our vocal leader
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 13
Athletics are short on numbers but they have some skill L/P will have to avoid injuries and keep players on the field BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Lyle/Pacelli football team is a little short on numbers, but its hoping its skill makes up the difference this season. L/P, which was 1-8 last season, has just 13 players that are sophomores or older, despite graduating just a few players from last years squad. “We’ve just got to get them in shape and hope for no injuries because they know they’re not going to leave the field,” L/P head coach Mark Buntje said. “We’ve got some talent, we’re just low on numbers. We’ll make the best of it.” Carter Guthmiller, who started four games at quarterback last season, will take the helm for the Athletics. The senior said he feels much better coming into this season than last year. “I’ve been running this offense since seventh grade, it shouldn’t be too new to me, just different folds,” Guthmiller said. “I think last year was kind of an awakening for me. The varsity game’s a lot faster and you’ve got to make
Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Lyle/Pacelli running back Damien Haugen cuts through a hole in practice at Lyle recently. Haugen, a sophomore, should play a big role in the L/P offense.
reads and play 110 percent. I just want to come out and compete this year. I don’t want another one and eight season.” L/P will look to Garrett Jenkins and Damien Haugen to carry them in the backfield. Haugen, a sophomore, made
big mark as a freshman. “We’re hoping Damien can step up as a sophomore. He reads his blocks well and he’s pretty quick,” Buntje said. L/P also returns both of its tight ends in Ryan Rust and Max Brennan. The Athletics will have to use their
speed on defense as they lack size. “We’re not real big, but we’ve got some speed and quickness,” Buntje said. “We’re not going to line up in any big power matchups, but in nine man, quickness is almost just as important so we’ll try to use that.”
LYLE/PACELLI FOOTBALL Sept. 2 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7 p.m. Sept. 10 Glenville/Emmons at Lyule/Pacelli in Lyle, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 Lyle/Pacelli at Grand Meadow, 7 p.m. Sept. 24 Lyle/Paeclli at Spring Grove, 7
14 TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010
p.m. Oct. 1 Lanesboro at Lyle/Pacelli, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 Houston at Lyle/Pacelli in Austin, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 Lyle/Pacelli at Mabel/Canton, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7 p.m.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Austin tennis team set to begin rebuilding process Eric Johnson/photodesk@austin dailyherald.co m
BY ROCKY HULNE sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls tennis team is looking to four seniors to lead the way as it prepares for the 2010 season. Sophie Hebrink and Nina Carney will compete to cover the top two singles spots and Jordan Flaherty and Mary Kate Barinka should also chip in. “I’m looking to those four girls to lead us and they’ll all probably have the best seasons,” Austin head coach Tom Tauchnitz said. The Packers will also have an eighth grader step up in the singles department as Alicia Sforza will look to fill the No. 3 spot. “She’s improved tremendously and she’ll probably play No. 3 singles for us. That’s going to help out a lot,” Tauchnitz said. As a team, the Packers are hoping to finish somewhere near the middle of the Big Nine as they graduated a key few players from last year’s team. “The next few years will be rebuilding years for us,” Tauchnitz said. “We’ve got some good players and I think our singles are going to be decent, we’re pretty solid there. Our doubles are going to probably be rebuilding, especially on the bottom.”
Sophie Hebrink will battle for the top two spots on the Austin tennis team.
AUSTIN GIRLS TENNIS Aug. 31 Owatonna at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 2 Austin at Century, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 Faribault at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 9 Austin at Winona, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14 John Marshall at Austin, 4 p.m. Sept. 16 Austin at Mayo, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 Waseca at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21 Mankato East at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23 Austin at Mankato West, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 27 New Prague at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 Albert Lea at Austin, 4:30 p.m.
Pacelli runners have experience AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
The Pacelli cross country team is hoping its nine total returners can lead the way this season. The girls team will bring back ninth graders Annie Holtz and Madeline Kraemer and the boys will return Jonothan Koppa, Stephen Juenger, John Ethan and Drew Chapek. “I think Madeline will step up this year,” Pacelli head coach Jim Parlin said. “She’s worked hard this AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
summer and she should be set for a big year.” Pacelli’s girls team is one runner away from putting up team scores as eighth graders Katherine Ethan and Sara Kahle round out the roster. The boys will also get some running from Isaac Koak. “We have some young runners and we’re really looking for improvement this year,” Parlin said. “Hopefully the girls can field a full team.”
L/P volleyball team gets a new coach AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
A year after going 2-21, the Lyle/Pacelli volleyball team is looking to a new coach with some returning players to turn it around. Jaimie Zielke, who graduated from Owatonna and coached the L/P ‘B’ team last year, is taking over for her first year at the helm. Some of L/P’s key players will be setter Ann Rysavy, a freshman, and hitters Audrey Ferris, a senior, Jennie Marx, a junior, Whitney Hinz, a junior, and Ashley Hinz, a senior. The Athletics will also look to Paige Smith to chip in.
L/P VOLLEYBALL Aug. 31 Lanesboro at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 7 Lyle/Pacelli at Glenville/Emmons, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 9 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 11 Lyle/Pacelli at Hayfield Invite, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 13 Lyle/Pacelli at Houston, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 16 Lyle/Pacelli at Hope Lutheran, 7:15 p.m. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010 15