Wrapping up the seasons FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
Table of Contents
An Austin Daily Herald publication
Compiled by Rocky Hulne, Photos and layout by Eric Johnson
Teams
Austin Packers ......................................................................... Pages 3-8 Southland Rebels .............................................................. Pages 9-11 Lyle-Pacelli Athletics ............................................................. Pages 12-13 Grand Meadow Superlarks ................................................. Pages 14-15 LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals ................................................. Pages 16-17 Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms .................................. Pages 18-19 Hayfield Vikings .................................................................... Pages 20-22 Fan Service ................................................................................ Page 23 Austin Bruins Year in Pictures .................................................... Page 24
Blooming Prairie’s Gabe Hagen comes down with a contested reception against United South Central in the Minnesota Class A State Football Tournament. Herald file photo
2
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Austin The Austin Packers girls basketball team celebrates after claiming the Section 1AAA title against Northfield in March of 2019. Herald file photo
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
3
Austin boys soccer player Henry Tolbert pressures in the Minnesota State Class A Boys State Soccer Tournament against Blake in October 2018. Herald file photo
AUSTIN FOOTBALL
The Packers finished with a record of 2-7 overall and their season came to an end in a 58-32 loss to Rochester Mayo Section 1AAAAA quarterfinals. Austin was led by senior wide receiver Gavin Owens, who had 21 catches for 443 yards and seven TDs. Austin will turn to a new head coach in 2019 as longtime assistant coach Ed Schmitt will take over.
AUSTIN VOLLEYBALL
The Packers went 6-19 in 2018, their season coming to an end in a five-game loss to Rochester Mayo in the opening round of the Section 1AAA Tournament. Austin’s three Big Nine wins were the most in conference play in a decade.
4
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
Austin was led by senior setter Jenna Braaten, who had 381 set-assists, and junior Jordyn McCormack, who had 151 kills and 174 digs.
AUSTIN BOYS SOCCER
The Packers took third place in the Minnesota Class A State Boys Soccer Tournament for the second straight year after they beat Holy Angels 1-0. Austin, which finished with a record of 18-3, lost to eventual state champ Blake by a score of 3-1 in the state semifinals. The Packers won 14 straight games before losing back-to-back games earlier in the season. Austin shared the Big Nine title with Rochester Mayo, which was the second straight year the Packers won the conference crown. The Packers were led by seniors Kevin Ortiz and Victor Velazquez. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Austin’s Gavin Owens hauls in a first-quarter touchdown against Red Wing at Art Hass Stadium. Herald file photos
AUSTIN GIRLS SOCCER
The Austin girls soccer team finished with a record of 2-14-1 and had its season end in a 3-0 loss to Stewartville in the second round of the Section 1A Tournament. The Packers were led by junior Morgan Raymond and seniors Erin Bickler and Hannah Quandt.
AUSTIN GIRLS TENNIS
The Packers finished 0-16 and they had their season end on a 7-0 loss to Rochester Century. Austin relied on seniors Katie Willrodt, Sarah Bachmeier, Ivy Arnold and Adrianna Meiergerd for leadership.
AUSTIN GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Packers didn’t have any state qualifiers in 2018. The team was led by sophomore swimmers Molly Sheehan and Molly Garry.
AUSTIN CROSS COUNTRY
Three Packer runners finished their cross country careers with Austin in style at the Minnesota Class AA State Meet. Austin senior Abby Lewis competed in her fifth state meet of her career and finished in 87th place. Meti Omod, a junior who moved to Rochester after the meet, had the best finish by an Austin boy in 30 years when he took 36th and senior Henry Hinchcliffe took 75th in his second and final state meet appearance. “This is probably the most fun year I’ve had in any kind of sport ever,” Hinchcliffe said after the race. “It’s only fitting that it’s the last one, it was the best for last.”
AUSTIN BOYS BASKETBALL
The Austin boys basketball team played in its sixth state tournament of the past eight years as it finished in third place at the Minnesota Class AAA State Boys Basketball Tournament. The Packers lost to Waseca 79-69 in the state semifinals and beat Princeton 88-76 in the third place game. Austin senior Medi Obang scored 38 points in his final game as a Packer to finish with 1,001 career points. Obang averaged 19.6 points per game for the Packers, who have taken second three times, third once and fourth once in their six recent state tournament appearances. “Name a (Class AAA) public school that’s had a better run than us,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said after the third place game. “If it Medi Obang weren’t De La Salle, who knows where it would be?” The Packers, who finished with a record of 25-6 overall, also tied Mankato East for a share of the Big Nine title. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Austin’s Meti Omod runs stride-for-stride with St. Thomas Academy’s Thoms Thurlow during the Minnesota State Class AA boys Cross Country Meet last November at St. Olaf College in Northfield. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
5
Austin’s Abby Lewis turns to the hoop off the drive against Robbinsdale Cooper in the first half during the quarterfinals of the Minnesota Class AAA Girls State Basketball Tournament in the University of Minnesota’s Maturi Pavillion. Herald file photo
AUSTIN GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Packers advanced to their first Minnesota Girls State Basketball Tournament in 11 years, but were ousted by Robbinsdale Cooper by a score of 72-40 in the Minnesota Class AAA quarterfinals. Marshall beat Austin 49-44 in consolation play. “I’m really proud to be the coach of this team,” Austin head coach Eric Zoske said after the quarterfinal game. “I love these girls. They’ve sacrificed so much for each other this year.” The Packers will bring back much of their squad next year as they were led by freshman Hope Dudycha, who averaged 10 points and 3.1 assists per game, and juniors Kyra Walters, who averaged 9.2 points per game, and Colie Justice, who averaged 11.9 points per game. Austin, which finished with a record of 20-10, was the No. 4 seed in Section 1AAA, but it beat top-ranked Red Wing and No. 2 seeded Northfield to get to state.
6
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
AUSTIN BOYS HOCKEY
The Packers finished with a record of 8-18-1 and their season came to an end in a 6-2 loss to Minnesota River. The Packers defeated La Crescent 6-1 in a Section 1A Tournament opener. Austin was led by the play of senior goalie Ryan Flanders.
AUSTIN GIRLS HOCKEY
The Packers finished with a record of 10-14-1 and their season came to an end when they lost to Albert Lea 3-1 in a Section 1A Tournament opener. Austin won its final six games of the regular season. The Packers were led by senior Lily Holtz, who has committed to play college hockey at St. Scholastica. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
AUSTIN BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Packers had a strong performance at the Minnesota Class A State Swimming and Diving Meet as the team had competitors reach the podium in seven events. Logan Kelly re-set his own school records in two individual events as he took second place in the 100-yard breaststroke and fifth in the 200-yard individual medley. Rafe Dolan Peterson took fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a school record time of 52.71 seconds and he took fourth in the 100-yard butterfly. The Austin 200-yard medley relay team of Trey Myers, Kelly, Dolan Peterson and Aaron Knoll took fourth and the same group of swimmers took fifth in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Riley Norton took ninth in diving.
AUSTIN WRESTLING
AUSTIN GOLF
The Packers were low on numbers and they did not have any state qualifiers in 2019. The Austin boys were led by Jordan Wilson and Ian Bundy and the Austin girls were led by Olivia Krause.
AUSTIN BOYS TENNIS
The Packers finished with a record of 2-13 and their season ended on a 7-0 loss to Northfield in a Section 1AA Tournament opener. Austin was led by No. 1 singles player Joey Schammel.
TRACK AND FIELD
Salma Masood performs with the Austin Packer Dance Team during the Winter Dance Show in Packer Gym. Herald file photos
Seniors Dongrin Deng and Taige Iverson and junior Oliver Andersen all competed in the Minnesota Class AA State Track and Field Meet for the Packers. Andersen took sixth place in discus with a throw of 151 feet, 11 inches, Deng took 17th in long jump with a distance of 16-7 and Iverson took 15th place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.03 seconds. Iverson holds the AHS record in the 100-hurdles with a time of 15.02 seconds.
AUSTIN SOFTBALL
The Austin wrestling team did not have any state qualifiers. The Packers had a young roster and they were led by senior Josh Belden.
AUSTIN DANCE
The Austin Packer dance team competed in its 17th straight state meet as it took fifth in high kick and 11th in jazz at the Minnesota Class AA Meet. Austin’s Taige Iverson and Baylee Phillips were selected to the All-State Tournament team.
AUSTIN GYMNASTICS
Senior Sam Sheldon was the lone state qualifier for the Packers at the Minnesota Class A Meet in 2019. Sheldon took 14th on floor with a 9.4750 and she took 27th place in vault with a 9.1750.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Austin’s Josh Belden pins Rochester Century’s Paxton Pagel at 160 pounds in Ove Berven Gym.
The Packers finished with a record of 4-16 as their season ended on a 4-0 loss to Kasson-Mantorville in a Section 1AAA elimination game. Austin was led by the play of senior third baseman Hannah McMasters.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
7
AUSTIN BASEBALL
The Packers had their most impressive season in almost three decades as it took third place at the Minnesota Class AAA State Baseball Tournament in its first state appearance since 1990. Austin finished with a record 16-9. Its run came to an end when the Packers lost 9-5 to Saint Thomas Academy in the state semifinals. Austin beat Monticello 5-1 to take third. “We were the first Austin team back here in 29 years,” Schumacher said. “That’s something to be proud of. I got to play at Siebert Field with these boys and it’s been fun. I’ve had 11 years with these guys.” Austin was led by a strong senior class that included Riley Wempner, who hit .373, Hunter Guyette, who hit .364, and Michael O’Connor, who hit .328.
Austin Taige Iverson, going clockwise, Dongrin Deng and Oliver Anderson all qualified for the Minnesota Class AA State Track and Field Meet this year.
Austin’s Riley Wempner looks to first after getting the force out against Hill Murray in the Minnesota Class AAA State Baseball Tournament quarterfinals earlier this month at the University of Minnesota’s Siebert Field. Herald file photos
8
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Southland’s Brendan Kennedy cuts back for a touchdown in the second quarter against Winona Cotter during the 2018 season in Adams. Herald file photo
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Southland
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
9
SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL
The Rebels finished with a record of 5-5 overall and its season came to an end in a 56-0 loss to Blooming Prairie in a Section 1A semifinal. The Rebels were led by junior linebacker Carter Schmitz, who had 80 tackles and three interceptions. Southland will likely switch to nine-man football in 2019.
SOUTHLAND VOLLEYBALL
The Rebels finished 3-23 overall and their season came to an end in a three-game loss to Blooming Prairie in a Section 1A West Division opener. The Rebels were led by junior hitter Lexi Smith.
GMLOS CROSS COUNTRY
The GMLOS cross country team didn’t have any state qualifiers. The boys were led by Kolton Arndorfer and the girls were led by senior Sydney Alstat.
SOUTHLAND BOYS BASKETBALL
Southland went 7-19 overall and Rushford-Peterson ended its season with a 66-52 victory in the Section 1A contest. The Rebels were led by sophomore Ethan Forthun, who averaged 13 points per game.
SOUTHLAND GIRLS BASKETBALL
Southland went 7-18 overall and its season came to an end when it lost to Lyle-Pacelli 56-44 in the Section 1A quarterfinals. Southland was led by junior Lexi Smith, who averaged 9.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and sophomore Larissa Goslee, who averaged 11.2 points per game.
GMLOS WRESTLING
GMLOS senior Parker Hale won the state title at 132-pounds at the Minnesota Class A State Wrestling Meet when he beat Mason Gode of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle-Browerville 3-0. Hale went 41-3 overall on the year. GMLOS senior Clayton Luthe and eighth grader Cohen Wiste also advanced to state.
SOUTHLAND BASEBALL Southland’s Brayden Heimer jumps back into first against Lyle-Pacelli in the Section 1A Tournament at Riverland Community College. Herald file photo
10
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
The Rebels finished 10-14 overall as Spring Grove ended their season with a 7-2 win in a Section 1A elimination game. The Rebels were led by the play of senior Lee Wilson.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Southland sophomore Max Schmitz hits a shot from the rough at Pebble Creek Golf Course in the Minnesota State Golf meet.
SOUTHLAND SOFTBALL
The Rebels finished 0-20 overall and they lost 14-4 to Mabel-Canton in a Section 1A East elimination game. Southland was led by sophomore Larissa Goslee.
SOUTHLAND GOLF
Southland sophomore Max Schmitz had a breakout year as he advanced to the Minnesota Class A State Golf Meet for the first time. Schmitz finished with a two-day score of 171 to take 34th place overall.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
11
Lyle-Pacelli
Lyle-Pacelli’s Lucy Nelson turns to shoot against Goodhue in the second half of the Section 1A championship in Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Herald file photos
LYLE-PACELLI FOOTBALL
The Lyle-Pacelli Athletics finished with a record of 0-9 and the team was hit hard by injuries at the end of the season as it had to forfeit its playoff contest to eventual state champ Spring Grove. LP was led by sophomore quarterback Jed Nelson, who threw for 1,135 yards and 10 TDs. Sophomore Zach Bollingberg had 562 receiving yards and six TDs. Lyle-Pacelli’s Bryce Strouf pulls up to avoid a tackle in the first quarter against Sleepy Eye St. Marys at Art Hass Stadium.
12
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
LYLE-PACELLI VOLLEYBALL
The Athletics finished with a record of 10-16 as their season came to an end in a threegame loss to Medford in the second round of the Section 1A West Division Tournament. The Athletics were led by seniors Abby Bollingberg, who finished with over 1,000 career set-assists and senior Faith King, who finished with over 1,000 career digs. Junior Olivia Christianson racked up 389 kills, 209 digs and 106 blocks.
PACELLI CROSS COUNTRY
Pacelli senior Kayla Christopherson put an exclamation point on her decorated high school cross country career as she earned All-State honors for the fifth in her sixth appearance at the Minnesota Class A State Cross Country Meet. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Christopherson finished 17th in her final run at the state meet. “When I crossed that finish line, I pointed my head up to the sky and I said thanks to God,” Christopherson said after the race. “I’m so proud of myself. Even though I didn’t get the top-10 or get my best time, I had one heck of a career and I’m proud of that.” Lyle-Pacelli’s Tanner Murphy applies the tag to United South Central’s Isaac Meyer on a play at the plate in the Section 1A West Tournament at Riverland Community College. BELOW: Lyle-Pacelli’s Faith King comes up throwing against Hayfield in the Section 1A Tournament.
LYLE-PACELLI BOYS BASKETBALL
The Athletics finished with a record of 9-14 overall and their season ended on a 73-55 loss to Hayfield in a Section 1A Tournament opener. LP was led by the sophomore trio of Zach Bollingberg, Jed Nelson, who averaged 14 points per game, and Cole Walter.
LYLE-PACELLI GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Athletics returned just a handful of players from their 2018 state championship team, but they had quite the encore performance with first-year heach coach Anna Meyer. Lyle-Pacelli went 23-5, but its run to repeat as champs ended when it lost to Goodhue 42-33 in the Section 1A title game. LP was led by the play of seniors Lucy Nelson and Abby Bollingberg, and junior Olivia Christianson, who averaged 22 points and eight rebounds per game. “From the beginning of the season, you never would’ve guessed we would’ve gotten (to the Section 1A title game),” Bollingberg said after the season. “We came really far and it was a real accomplishment to get here, but it’s a bummer that it came to an end.”
1A West elimination game. LP was led by the pitching of senior Miranda Arkells and the hitting of seniors Abby Bollingberg and Mia Bauer.
LYLE-PACELLI BASEBALL
The Athletics finished with a record of 1410 as their season came to a close in a 6-1 loss to Southland in a Section 1A elimination game. LP was led by the play of sophomore shortstop Zach Bollingberg.
LYLE-PACELLI SOFTBALL
The Athletics made improvements as they went 9-12, but their season came to an end when they lost to Hayfield 9-2 in a Section
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
LYLE-PACELLI TRACK AND FIELD The Athletics did not have any state qualifiers in 2019. LP was led by distance runner Kayla Christophershon, a senior. Minnesota Class A State Girls Cross County Meet this season at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Herald file photos
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
13
Grand Meadow
The foursome of Riley Queensland, from left, Hailey Hindt, Lauren Buchholtz and Anika Reiland celebrate the defense of their 4x200-meter relay crown during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul. Herald file photos
GRAND MEADOW FOOTBALL
The Superlarks finished with a record of 7-3 as they lost to Houston 36-14 in the Section 1 nine-man semifinals. The Superlarks were led by junior Nolan Skifter, who ran for 998 yards and 12 TDs as a running back and racked up 101 tackles on defense.
GRAND MEADOW VOLLEYBALL
The Superlarks finished with a record of 24-10 as their season came to an end in a three-game loss to Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West Division semifinals. Jordyn Glynn had 227 kills, 346 digs and 270 set assists for the Superlarks, Kaitlyn Hilton had 255 kills and 249 digs and Riley Queensland had 252 kills and 122 digs.
14
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
GRAND MEADOW BOYS BASKETBALL
The Superlarks finished with a record of 18-9 as their season came to an end in a 71-45 loss to Rushford-Peterson in a Section 1A quarterfinal game. GM was led by sophomore Colt Landers, who averaged 19.5 points and 7 rebounds per game.
GRAND MEADOW GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Superlarks finished with a record of 25-2 as their season came to an end in a 54-52 loss to Lyle-Pacelli in a Section 1A Semifinal. LP senior Abby Bollingberg hit a jump shot at the buzzer to knock off the Superlarks. GM senior Jordyn Glynn finished with over 2,000 career points and 1,00- career rebounds as she averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals per game.
Grand Meadow’s Nolan Skifter runs through traffic against Lanesboro in Grand Meadow.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
GMLOK BASEBALL
The Bulldogs went 17-3, but their season ended on a 5-2 loss to Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the opening round of the Section 1AA Tournament. GMLOK was led by the play of senior Drew Copley, who was 6-1 as a pitcher while hitting .554 at the plate.
GMLOK SOFTBALL
The Bulldogs went 11-8 and their season came to an end on a 9-1 loss to Byron in a Section 1AA Tournament opener.
GMLOKS TRACK AND FIELD
The GMLOKS 4 x 200-meter relay team won a state championship at the Minneosta Class A State Track and Field Meet for the second straight year as the team of Anika Reiland, Lauren Buchholtz, Hailey Hindt and Riley Queensland ran a season’s best time of 1:44.47 in the finals. “We weren’t expecting to win. It was our goal to come in and do it again. We knew it takes a lot of work and we just needed to focus and push ourselves the best that we can,” Queensland said. Hindt took fourth in the 300-meter hurdles at state and the GMLOKS 4 x 100-meter relay team of Isabelle Olson, Reiland, Kassidy Kirtz and Buchholtz took third at state.
GMLOKS’ Isabelle Olson, right, hands the baton off to teammate Anika Reiland during the 4x100 meter relay during the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet. Herald file photo
Follow the Austin Daily Herald on Twitter and get updates, photos and more! Go to:
@RockyHulneADH and @EricJohnsonADH AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
15
LeRoy-Ostrander’s Isaac Collier tries to haul in a pass on a two-point conversion in the first quarter against Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons this season in LeRoy. Herald file photo
16
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
LeRoy-Ostrander
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Kate Helgeson handels the ball for LeRoy-Ostrander against Rushford-Peterson’s pressure defense in LeRoy.
LEROY-OSTRANDER FOOTBALL
The Cardinals went 2-7 as their season came to an end on a 50-40 loss to Houston in the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man Tournament. Senior Trey Hungerholt threw for 1,544 yards and 11 TDs and he ran for 1,040 yards and 10 TDs.
LEROY-OSTRANDER VOLLEYBALL
The Cardinals finished with a record of 9-19 and their season came to an end when they lost to Randolph in four games in the Section 1A West Division opening round.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
The Cardinals were led by seniors Lauren Helgeson, who had 181 kills and 175 digs, and Haley Hungerholt, who had 143 kills and 154 digs.
LEROY-OSTRANDER BOYS BASKETBALL
The Cardinals went 11-15 and their season came to an end on a 70-58 loss to Grand Meadow in a Section 1A Tournament opener. LO was led by senior Trey Hungerholt, who averaged 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Hungerholt finishes as the Cards’ all-time leading scorer with 1,772
career points.
LEROY-OSTRANDER GIRLS BASKETBALL
LeRoy-Ostrander went 7-18 and its season came to an end in a 64-42 loss to Lanesboro in a Section 1A Tournament opener. The Cards were led by seniors Haley Hungerholt, who averaged 17.4 points per game, and Lauren Helgeson, who averaged 15.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Hungerholt finishes her career as LO’s all-time leading scorer with 2,507 career points.
GMLO GOLF
Senior Grant Vikre finished 78th place as he finished with a two-day score of 202 at the Minnesota Class A State Golf Meet.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
17
Blooming Prairie’s Gabe Hagen, right, and Mitchell Fiebiger wrap up United South Central’s Zach Niebuhr against in the Minnesota Class A State Football Tournament in New Ulm. Herald file photo
18
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
Blooming Prairie
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
BLOOMING PRAIRIE FOOTBALL
The Awesome Blossoms advanced to the Minnesota Class A Sate Football Tournament for the first time since 2014, ultimately losing to BOLD 37-7 in the state semifinals. BP finished with a record of 12-1 as it beat Goodhue 21-18 in the Section 1A title game and topped United South Central 42-0 in the state semifinals. “Practice was fun every single day and the leadership was great,” BP head coach Chad Gimbel said after the season. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years and the number one thing it takes is chemistry. That’s what these guys had this year and as we go further into it, I look at the juniors coming up and they’ve learned from some of the best. They have a great core group.” BP was led by Gabe Hagen, who had 1,059 yards and 18 TDs on offense and 30 tackles and 11 sacks on defense. Junior Matthew Pryor ran for 972 yards and 12 TDs.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE VOLLEYBALL
The Awesome Blossoms finished with a record of 11-15 as their season came to an end in a three-game loss to Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the second round of the Section 1A West Division Tournament. BP was led by junior Julia Worke, who had 239 kills and 312 digs, and sophomore Micalyn Trihus had 255 kills and 230 digs.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE CROSS COUNTRY
The Awesome Blossoms did not have any state qualifiers in 2018. The BP boys were led by junior Alec Ille and the BP girls were led by Abby Smith and Bobbie Bruins. Blooming Prairie’s Rachel Oswald reaches for a tip at the net against Austin.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE BOYS BASKETBALL
The Blooming Prairie boys basketball team finished with a record of 18-7 overall as it had its season end in a 50-48 loss to Hayfield in a Section 1A quarterfinal game. Hayfield’s Patrick Towey hit a runner with three seconds left to seal BP’s fate. BP was led by junior Gabe Hagen, who averaged 13.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Blooming Prairie’s Maren Forystek looks home while covering first against Waterville-ElysianMorristown in the Section 1A Tournament at Todd Park. Herald file photos
BLOOMING PRAIRIE GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Awesome Blossoms finished with a record of 13-10 as they were knocked off by Grand Meadow by a score of 49-43 in the Section 1A quarterfinals. BP was led by sophomore Megan Oswald, who averaged 15 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
WESTFIELD RAZORBACKS WRESTLING
Westfield junior Colton Krell finished with a record of 38-4 as he took third place at 170 pounds at the Minnesota Class A State Meet. Junior Dylan Nirk also advanced to state for the Razorbacks.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE BASEBALL
The Awesome Blossoms finished with a record of 8-14 as their season came to an end in an 11-1 loss to United South Central in a Section 1A West elimination game. BP was led by senior Payton Simon and junior Luke Rennie, who hit .391.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE SOFTBALL
The Awesome Blossoms finished with a record of 11-12 as their season came to an end in a 15-5 loss to Mabel-Canton in the Section 1A semifinals. After losing six games in a row towards the end of the regular season, BP bounced back to win four postseason contests. BP was led by the pitching of junior Riauna Bishop and the hitting of junior Julia Worke.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE TRACK AND FIELD
Blooming Prairie did not have any state qualifiers in 2019. BP was led by junior Gabe Hagen.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE GOLF
Blooming Prairie sophomore Kollyn Alwes took 52nd place at the Minnesota Class A State Golf Meet with a two-day score of 179. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
19
Hayfield Hayfield’s Brady Nelson flips to Luke Dudycha during a rundown against Sacred Heart in the Minnesota Class A Baseball Tournament quarterfinals at Mini Met in Jordan. Herald file photo
20
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
HAYFIELD FOOTBALL
The Vikings finished with a record of 3-6 as their season came to an end in a 54-13 loss to Rushford-Peterson in the first round of the Section 1A Tournament. The Vikings were led by senior Tristan Rieken, who had 106 tackles.
HAYFIELD VOLLEYBALL
The Vikings finished with a record of 11-18 and their season came to an end in a threegame loss in the opening round of the Section 1A West Division Tournament. Hayfield was led by sophomore Maryx Young, who had 701 set assists and 271 digs, and sophomore Jenna Jacobsen had 200 kills and 313 digs.
HAYFIELD CROSS COUNTRY
The Vikings didn’t have any state qualifiers in 2018. The Hayfield boys were led by Jackson Struck and Ethan Slaathaug and the Hayfield girls were led by Megan Johnson.
HAYFIELD BOYS BASKETBALL
The Vikings finished with a record of 24-5 and their run came to an end when they lost to Spring Grove 45-43 in a Section 1A semifinl game. Spring Grove’s Ethan Matzke ended Hayfield’s season when he scored on a put-back at the buzzer after a Hayfield turnover. Hayfield won 19 more games in 2018-2019 than it did in the 2017-2018 season. The Vikings were led by the play of senior Mason Tapp, who averaged 20.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Tapp Hayfield’s Luke Dudycha finished with 1,102 career points. battles for a rebound against Blooming Prairie during the HAYFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL Section 1A quarterfinals The Vikings finished with a record of 19-9 as their season in Rochester’s Mayo Civic ended on a 38-29 loss to Goodhue in the Section 1A semifiCenter. nals.
Rachel Pack sets for the Vikings against Pine Island in Hayfield this season. Herald file photos AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
21
Hayfield’s Easton Fritcher delivers against Sacred Heart in the Minnesota Class A State Baseball Tournament at Mini Met in Jordan. Herald file photo Hayfield was led by senior Emma Holst, who averaged 14.9 points per game. She hit 108 three-pointers on the season and had a 44-point game, which is tied for the second most for a girl in MSHSL history.
HAYFIELD BASEBALL
The Vikings earned their first trip to state in school history as they finished 24-3 and took fifth place in the Minnesota Class A State Baseball Tournament. Hayfield lost its first game at state to Sacred Heart by a score of 10-6 and it bounced back to beat South Ridge 6-5 and top Randolph 16-5. Hayfield graduated just one starter and the Vikings will look to be back in the thick of things next season. Hayfield was led by freshman Easton Fritcher, who was 9-1 on the mound while hitting .364 at the plate, and junior Brady Nelson, who hit .396 at the plate, while going 8-0 on the mound.
22
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
HAYFIELD SOFTBALL
Hayfield went 13-11 overall and its string of four straight state tournament appearances came to a halt when it lost to Blooming Prairie 2-0 in a Section 1A elimination game. The Vikings were led by sophomore pitcher Caitlynn Hendrickson.
HAYFIELD TRACK AND FIELD
Hayfield sophomore Madison Johnston took 13th in shot put in her first ever apperance at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet.
HAYFIELD GOLF
Hayfield had a pair of state qualifiers as freshman Keegan Bronson represented the boys team and eighth grader Macy Holton stepped up for the girls at the Minnesota Class A State Meet. Bronson finished with a two-day score of 181 to take 53rd place and Holton finished with a two-day score of 201 to take 46th. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
Packer fans rush the field and mob the boys soccer team after Austin claimed the Section 1A title over Rochester Lourdes this past fall. Herald file photos
Fan Service Blooming Prairie fans huddle together underneath plenty of layers as the Awesome Blossoms took on United South Central in the Minnesota Class A State Football Tournament in New Ulm.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK
The Grand Meadow fans react to a change of possession.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
23
2018-19 Season
Austin Bruins RIGHT (going clockwise): The Bruins’ Reginald Millette fires the puck forward while hitting the ice against Aberdeen in game three of the Central Division semifinals at Riverside Arena. Austin’s Terry Ryder rides Bismarck’s Adam Stacho into the boards. Austin’s Dante Sheriff, center, celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against Minnesota Magicians during the annual Paint the Rink Pink game.
Austin’s Kyle McClellan makes a stop in the first period against Brookings at Riverside Arena. Herald file photos
24
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK