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2 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
MARCH 2012 Design and graphics by Eric Johnson Stories by Rocky Hulne
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Southland Pages 11-13
Reader Extras
Hayfield Pages 14-16
Lyle/Pacelli Pages 17-18
Fueling an Athlete...P.10 What foods are good for your athlete. By Jen Haugen, registered dietitian
C OVER S TORY
Austin始s Abby Snater has an eye on returning to state, and there are some teammates who might just be joining her
Blooming Prairie Pages 19-21
At your Best...P.23
GMLOK Pages 22-23
Off Diamond..P.15
Athletes need to know when and how Steps to make you a better much to eat and drink when competing. baseball player. By Hayfield By Kris Dutton, athletic trainer baseball coach Kasey Krekling
2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 3
Numbers and talent are on the rise
A
fter making a ripple last year, the Packers are hoping to make more of a splash this season as the team has significantly increased its numbers for the 2012 sea-
son. Austin, which finished ninth in the Big Nine last year, has more than 50 athletes out for track this spring and a lot of them are full of potential. “In previous years, we really haven’t really had a team,” said Austin freshman sprinter Carolyn Hackel. “It’s nice to see some girls joining for the first time. We’ll actually have full events this year.” Hackel is one of the many freshmen who are expected to make significant contributions to the team, which is loaded with underclassmen. “We’ve got a lot of ninth-graders and I’m really excited to see what they’re all going to be able to do for us,” Austin head coach Nancy Jones said. Austin will return its lone state qualifier from last season in junior Abby Snater, who owns the school record in the pole vault with a height of 11-feet, 1-inch. Snater was seeded fourth going into last season’s Class ‘A’
4 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
state track and field meet, but an injury kept her from going full speed and she couldn’t clear the opening height of 10-6, which she had done routinely during the season. “I’m looking to get back to state and actually make height. Hopefully I don’t have any injuries and I can go higher in sections and higher in state,” Snater said. “I’m trying to get in better shape than I was last year so I can do better.” While she didn’t go to state in track last year, Austin eighth-grader Madison Overby showed she can run with the best in the state this past fall when she took 20th at the Class ‘A’ state cross country meet in her second appearance there. Overby, who competes in the 800-meter run, 1600-meter run and 3200-meter run, showed a lot of promise for the track team last season when she took seventh in the 1600 at the Section 1A meet. “She definitely has the potential and we’ll be looking to see what happens,” Jones said.
> YOUTH continues on 6
Abby Snater, from left, Madison Overby, Carolyn Hackel and Rachel Quandt will lead the younger generation of the Austin girls track team into the 2012 year. 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 5
Youth: A group that pushes Continued from Page 4 While a state berth would be great, Overby also has her eye on a couple of school records. She was within 14 seconds of the record in the 1600 last year and the 800 record may also be in reach by the time her track career is finished. “I’m really nervous, but I’m definitely more confident (this year),” Overby said. “I’m gonna try to get close this year, but by the end of my career, I want to break at least one of the records.” The distance runners will get a boost from returnees McKenzie Besel and Haley Splinter and Hackel will be pushed in the sprints by fellow freshman Alex Hansen. “It’s nice when you’ve got a core group of girls that push each other hard,” Jones said. Carolyn “We’ve got five or six girls that can run toHackel gether and train together. That makes your top and bottom runners better.” Along with Snater, the track team includes plenty of gymnasts, who recently took fifth place at the Class ‘A’ state meet. Among the gymnasts hitting the track are Hackel, Rachel Quandt, Logan Tischer and Sela Fadness. “Having the gymnasts on the team, we’re all super competitive and even though we don’t do the same events, we have a little competition with each other and it’s fun,” Hackel said. Hackel established herself last season when she finished seventh in the 200-meter dash and ninth in the 100-meter dash at the Section 1A meet and finished fifth in the Big Nine in the 200 and fourth in the Big Nine in the 100. “I hope to make it to section finals again and it would take about a half a second off my time to make state cut time,” Hackel said. “I’m hoping to pick up where I left off and get a little bit faster throughout the season.” Quandt, an eighth-grader, came on at the Rachel Quandt end of last season in the hurdles and she ended up taking ninth at the Big Nine meet in the 100-meter hurdles. “Last year was my trial to see which event I wanted to do and this year I’m really going for it,” Quandt said. With all of the talent on her squad, Jones
6 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
“I want to break at least one of the records.” -Madison Overby
is hoping the Packers can make a push into the middle of the Big Nine this year and she’d like them to be even better in the future. “I’d like to be more in the middle of the Big Nine,” Jones said. “I think we’re a couple of years off our best potential, but if we keep these younger girls out and keep them healthy, we’re just going to continue to get better.” One thing’s for sure, the Packers have plenty of potential. “There’s a ton of sprinters, there’s jumpers and there’s really good pole vaulters,” Overby said. “I’m excited.” Austin will open its season in Faribault April 10 and it will host the Austin Packer Invite April 21 at 10 a.m.
SCHEDULE/ Home meets in bold
•April 10: Austin at Faribault, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Austin at Mankato West, 4:30 p.m. •April 21: Man. West, Roch. Cent., Man. East, Roch. Mayo, Minn. South, Esko at Austin, TBA •April 26: Austin at Stewartville, 4 p.m. •May 1: Austin at Roch. John Marshall, 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Austin at Mankato East, 4 p.m.
Abby Snater
•May 8: Austin at Section ʻTrue Team,ʼ in Red Wing, 3:15 p.m. •May 16: Austin at Mankato East, 4 p.m. •May 25: Austin at Rochester Mayo, 12:30 p.m. •May 31: Section 1AA meet, Lakeville. •June 8-9: State Meet, Hamline University, St. Paul.
Finding Experience • Austin will rely on plenty of youth to bring this season around
T
he Austin boys track and field team is high on numbers but low on experience as it prepares for the upcoming season. The Packers finished 10th in the 10-team Big Nine last season with a young team. “We’re still going to be pretty young and there are a lot of new faces,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “That’s exciting for us and we’ll see what we’ve got.” The Packers will be led by an inexperienced group of distance runners in Nate Schwab, Andrew Baker, and Mason Wallsheim. Austin will also look to senior runners Caleb Bentley and Jordan Bentley and sophomore thrower Andrew Hagen to step up. In the hurdles, the Packers will feature Okello Omot, a junior transfer student from Worthington. Omot competed in the Class ‘A’ state meet last season with a time of 15.7 seconds in the 110-meter high
hurdles and he ran the 300-hurdles in 41.06 seconds. “If he runs those times again, he can compete for a Big Nine title this year,” Einertson said. “Hopefully he can do it.”
Home meets in bold
SCHEDULE/
•April 10: Austin at Faribault, 4:30 p.m.
•April 17: Mankato West, Albert Lea at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •April 21: Man. West, Roch. Century, Man. East, Roch. Mayo, Minn. South, Esko at Austin, TBA •May 1: Winona, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Austin at Mankato East, 4 p.m.
•May 8: Austin at Red Wing, 3:15 p.m.
•May 15: Austin at Owatonna, 4 p.m.
•May 25: Austin at Big Nine Invite at Rochester Mayo, 12:30 p.m. •May 31, June 2: Section Meet, Lakeville South.
•June 8-9: State Meet, Hamline University, St. Paul.
Austin thrower Andrew Hagan
2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 7
Seeking Consistency As Austin head softball coach Tina Strauss prepares for her third year on the job, it’s pretty clear what the team needs to do to improve on last year’s 5-15 overall record. Quite simply, they need to hit the ball consistently. The Packers scored fewer than three runs 13 times last season, and they’re hoping that isn’t a problem this season. “We’re going to focus on hitting and keep working on it,” Strauss said. “Our goal is to show the conference that we can compete with them and that we are ready to improve throughout the year.” The Packers only graduated two seniors from last season and they bring back their entire pitching staff in senior Marie Clennon, junior Jenni Yocom and sophomore Abbey Ball. “We’re hoping to get a lot out of Marie this year, and the younger girls have been working hard as well. We’re hoping that they’re ready to roll this season,” Strauss said. The team also returns senior catcher Danielle Tschann, who hit .340 last season, Katelyn Joseph and infielder Taylor Hackensmith. Clennon led the Marie Packers with a .357 batting average Clennon last season. “We’re always looking to better our team,” Joseph said. “There are a lot of girls that have been working in the offseason when they can to practice hitting. So far in captain’s practice, the hitting has looked pretty good.” Hackensmith said the unseasonably warm weather this
spring has gotten the team ready for the season. “You can’t really do anything indoors, so it’s much better to get outside and get in softball mode,” she said.
8 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
SCHEDULE
Home games in bold
•April 10: Austin at Winona, DH, 4 p.m. •April 12: Austin at A. Lea, DH, 4 p.m. •April 17: Owat. at Austin, 5 p.m. •April 19: Austin at Man. East, DH, 4 p.m. •Apirl 24: Austin at Man. West, 5 p.m. •April 26: Roch. JM at Austin, DH, 4:45 p.m. •April 27: Austin Invite, TBA •April 28: Austin Invite, TBA •May 8: Austin at Roch. Mayo, 5 p.m. •May 10: Fari. at Austin, DH, 5 p.m. •May 11: Austin at Stewart. Invite, 4:30 p.m. •May 14: Roch. Cen. at Austin, 5 p.m. •May 18: Big Nine at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 31, June 2, 5: Section Tourn. •June 14-15: State Tournament, various sites
SCHEDULE
Home games in bold
•April 3: Austin at Owatonna, 5 p.m. •April 5: Austin at Northfield, TBA •April 10: Austin at Man. E., DH, 4 p.m. •April 12: Man. West at Austin, 5 p.m. •Apil 14 Roch. Mayo at Austin, 5 p.m. •April 17 Austin at Faribault, 5 p.m. •April 19 Austin at Winona, 5 p.m. •April 24 Roch. JM at Austin, 5 p.m. •April 26 Owat. at Austin, 5 p.m. •May 1: A. Lea at Austin, DH, 4 p.m. •May 3: Austin at Roch. Mayo, 5 p.m. •May 8: Austin at Man. East, 7 p.m. •May 10: Fari. at Austin, 5 p.m. •May 17 Winona at Austin, 5 p.m. •May 19: Austin at Roch. Cent., DH, 11 a.m. •May 22: Austin at Roch. JM, 5 p.m. •May 23: Section Tourn., Austin •June 7-8: State Tournament at Caswell Park, North Mankato
> Austin pitcher Jacob Thompson
Trying to put it all together The Austin baseball team is hoping to step it up this spring and turn things around from a 5-15 record last year, as it prepares for the upcoming 2012 season. “We’ve got some players with potential and we’re hoping to surprise teams. If we stick together, it could be a fun season,” Austin head coach Troy Watkins said. “We’ve got some guys Obviously last coming back with year we had a experience, rough year. and hopefully we’ll We’re defiimprove as nitely looking the season to pick up a cougoes along.” ple more wins. Gabe — Gabe Kasak Kasak, a junior who hit .298 last season, is one of Austin’s returning players with varsity experience, and he hopes for a good spring. “Obviously last year we had a rough year. We’re definitely looking to pick up a couple of more wins,” Kasak said. “We’ve got a pretty good amount of underclassmen out, and it’s nice to see them.”
Austin’s Lauren Stasi
• Returnees poised to make an impact on the Big Nine
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Home meets in bold
SCHEDULE/
•April 16: Austin at Albert Lea, 2:30 p.m. •April 19: Austin at Red Wing, 12:30 p.m. •April 21: Austin at Hayfield, 8:30 a.m. •April 24: Austin at Mankato, 2:30 p.m. •April 27: Austin at New Prague, 1 p.m. •May 1: Stewartville at Austin, 2:30 p.m. •May 3: Austin at Rochester John Marshall, 3:30 p.m. •May 8: Winona, Rochester Mayo at Austin, 2:30 p.m. •May 12: Austin at Mankato East, 11 a.m. •May 24 Austin at Big Nine meet at Faribault, 10 a.m. •May 31: Sections in Cannon Golf Club. •June 12-13: State Meet at Bunker Hills
he Austin girls golf team is looking to a few returnees to chip in as they look to show improvement this upcoming spring. The Packers return a few of their top golfers in Lauren Stasi, Steph Justice, Caitlin Stanley and Shannon Stutzman. All have quite a bit of varsity experience. Austin head coach Erik LaRock hopes his team is stronger this season as a majority of the golfers were underclassmen last year. “I think the pressure’s off them now. There may have been some nerves last year, but they’re experienced this year; and it’s nice to have that,” he said. Stasi said she has come in with a little more confidence this season. “We have less girls, but I think we have more focus,” she said. “There’s a couple of new girls we’ll
We have less girls, but I think we have more focus.
— Lauren Stasi, Packer golfer
have to show the ropes. Mostly we have to work on our short game inside of 150 yards and our putting.” Stanley said the Packers are focused on keeping their scores as low as possible. “We just want to make sure we keep it under 400 as a team,” she said. “Individually, we’d like to be under 100.” So far, the Packers have been fortunate enough to have some sunshine, which has given them a chance to get on the greens early. “The weather gets you ready to go,” Stutzman said. “When it’s not good you don’t want to be out, but when it’s nice you want to be outside.” Austin will also look to senior Sidney Irish, freshman Katie Maxa and Christine Snyder. “Hopefully we’ll stay in the middle of the Big Nine,” Justice said.
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2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 9
Three’s company
Returning golfer Tony Baudler
Trio of golfers head Austin’s 2012 team The Austin boys golf team is hoping its three returnees can give the squad some improvement from last year’s finish in the middle of the pack of the Big Nine. Austin will be led by junior Alex Thorson and sophomores Isaac Christianson and Tony Baudler, who all were on the varsity team last season. “We’re trying to get better and make this a better year. We’ve got some new guys and we’ll make the best out of it,” Christianson said. “We’ve got to help (the younger golfers) out and teach them what competing in golf means and how to handle situations.” Alex Thorson was one of Austin’s top golfers last season, and head coach Chris Gogolewski is looking for big things from him this year.
them from facing any fa“I’m very interested in seeing what tigue in the late holes. Alex is going to do this year,” “We’re running off the inGogolewski said. “He’s got more confidence, and he’s put on some weight. It’ll sanity program, working on core strength and explosion be interesting to see where he takes his moves,” Gogolewski said. own game.” “It’s designed to help someAustin will look to juniors Mike one competing in any athHansen and Nick Ross and seniors Trey letics.” Miller and Cole Kroneman to step up as newcomers. “I’d like to see I’d like to see us us do at least as good as last year,” do at least as Gogolewski said. good as last The Packers are also taking on a year. new physical con— Chris Gogolewski ditioning program head coach this year that is meant to keep
•April 10: Mankato East at Austin, 2:30 p.m. •April 17: Roch. Cent., Albert Lea at Austin, 2:30 p.m. •April 24: Austin at Faribault, 3:30 p.m. •April 26: Austin at Northfield, 2 p.m.
Tennis team playing 2012 wide open
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
•April 27: Austin at New Prague, 1 p.m. •May 1: Roch. JM, Owatonna at Austin, 2:30 p.m. •May 8: Austin at Winona, 2:30 p.m. •May 18: Austin at Albert Lea Invite, 2 p.m.
Pat Wagner
The Austin boys tennis team will lean heavily on its two key returnees as it prepares for the upcoming season. The Packers bring back two of their top singles players in Pat Wagner and Bob Sherman, but the rest of the squad will be made up of some newcomers and some players who have had a little varsity experience. “It’s going to be wide open besides the top two spots,” Austin head coach Tom Tauchnitz said. “Pat and Bob will be good leaders.” Nick Brehmer and Ethan Larson return with some varsity experience, and the Packers will also turn to freshmen Colton Detwiler, Jeremy Olmsted and Seth Hebrink. “We’ve got some freshmen who will help us out,” Tauchnitz said.
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold •April: 12 Austin at Al. Lea, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Roch. Mayo at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •April 19: Austin at Man. East, 4:30 p.m. •April 20: Austin at Blue Earth, 4:30 p.m. •April 24: Man. West at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Austin at Fari., 4:30 p.m. •April 27: Austin at Decorah, Iowa, 4:30 p.m. •April 28: Austin at Mason City, Iowa, TBA
•April 30: North. at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Roch. Cent. at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Austin at Winona, 4:30 p.m. •May 8: Roch. JM at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 10: Owat. at Austin, 4:30 p.m. •May 12: Austin at Big Nine in Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center, 9 a.m. •May 15, 17, 22: Team Sections, Roch. JM. •May 24, 29: Individ. Sections, Roch. JM. •June 5-8: State Meet, Baseline Ctr.
10 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
•May 19: Austin at Albert Lea Invite, 8 a.m. •May 25: Big Nine meet at Austin, 10 a.m. •May 31, June 4, Section Meet, Bellwood Oaks •June 12-13: State Meet, Bunker Hills
Fueling an Athlete
Jen Haugen
Registered Dietitian
If you were at the gas station filling up your car, would you opt for the fuel that would offer the best performance for your vehicle? The same perspective is found in athletics. Fueling the body is just as important if you desire optimal performance. •Pretraining (one to two hours before competition): Athletes should eat something high in carbohydrates but low in sugar, low in fat and fiber. Try to eat things that have moderate amounts of protein and drink a lot of fluid. If it’s hot and humid athletes would benefit from eating things that are saltier to replace the salts lost through sweating. •Post-training (less than an hour after competition): Athletes should consume foods high in carbohydrates and low in sugar, with moderate to high amounts of protein, moderate in fat, high in fluid and high in salt.
Snacks Try these snacks to help you stay at optimal levels of performance. •Trail mix: Include your favorite nut and dried fruit (that’s not high in sugar). Add some whole grain cereal and even some popcorn. •Peanut butter: Try peanut (or any form of nut butter) with graham crackers or whole grain bread. Peanut butter is a good source of protein and good fat. •Mixture of veggies: This can include cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers or celery. Include humus for dipping. •Yogurt: Try some fruit or sunflower seeds for extra protein boost. •Banana rollup: Includes a whole grain tortilla with a nut butter and banana rolled up. •Smoothies: If you are able to refrigerate and keep things cold, a smoothie would be awesome. Include fresh fruit and granola.
More questions than Answers ADAMS — The Southland baseball team graduated nine seniors from last year’s 16-6 team and is looking to reload this spring. Southland’s only returnees with a lot of varsity experience are senior outfielder Tyler Kressin, who hit .415 with an on-base percentage of .547 last season, and sophomore catcher Luke Anderson, who hit .339 with an on-base percentage of .481 last season. “They’re going to have to be our leaders,” Southland head coach Scott Retterath said. “We’re replacing a lot of people.” Southland will have a pitching staff full of first-year players as Decker Bendsten and Anderson are among the candidates who could see the mound.
SCHEDULE/Home games in bold
•April 3: Southland at Rushford-Peterson, 5 p.m. •April 5: P-E-M at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 9: Fillmore Central at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 10: Southland at Kings., 5 p.m. •April 12: Chatfield at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 16: Southland at Wabasha-Kellogg, 5 p.m. •April 17: Saint Charles at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 20: Southland at Plainview-ElginMillville, 5 p.m. •April 24: Wabasha-Kellogg at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 26: Dover-Eyota at Southland, 5 p.m.
R&S
•April 30: Rushford-Peterson at Southland, 5 p.m. •May 1: Southland at Caledonia, 5 p.m. •May 3: Southland at Fillmore Central, 5 p.m. •May 7: GMLOK at Southland, 5 p.m. •May 8: Southland at St. Charles, 5 p.m. •May 10: Lewiston-Altura at Southland, 5 p.m. •May 14: Southland at Chatfield, 5 p.m. •May 15: Caledonia at Southland, 5 p.m. May 22: Southland at Dover-Eyota, 5 p.m. •May 29, 31, June 2, 5-6: Section Tournament, high seed, Austin. •June 14-15: State Tournament, Various sites.
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Help wanted
Southland brings back plenty except a pitcher
The Southand softball team brings back seven players from last year’s squad that finished 15-9 overall, but it must find a new pitcher. The Rebels graduated Brandi Schammel who pitched for the last five seasons. Southland returns five key seniors in outfielders Brooke Yunker, Kelli Smith and Hannah Hamilton, and infielders Celina Yunker and Lindsey Bottema. “I expect the seniors to do a good job at communicating and showing how to work hard,” said Southland head coach Greg Schulte, who is in his sixth year at the helm. “I believe that we will be competitive in every game that we play and hopefully go far in the playoffs.”
SCHEDULE/Home games in bold
•April 9: Southland at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Blooming Prairie at Southland, 4:30 p.m. •April 16: Wabasha-Kellogg at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 20: Plainview-Elgin-Millville at Southland, 5 p.m. •April 26: Southland at Dover-Eyota, 5 p.m. •April 28: Southland at Rochester Lourdes Tournament, 9 a.m. •April 30: Rushford-Peterson at Southland, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Glenville-Emmons at Southland, 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Southland at Fillmore Central, 4:30 p.m. •May 7: Southland at GMLOK in Spring Valley, doubleheader starts at 4:30 p.m. •May 10: Southland at Lewiston-Altura, 4:30 p.m. •May 14: Chatfield at Southland, 4:30 p.m. •May 24, 26: Sub-sections, High seeds and Austin •May 29, 31: Sections, Austin •June 7-8: State Tournament, Caswell Park, North Mankato
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Golf teams look for youth to step up ADAMS — The Southland boys and girls golf teams each bring back three golfers with varsity experience as they prepare for the upcoming season. The boys team graduated its top four players from last year, including state qualifier Matt Breitbarth. This year, Southland head coach Tim Brennan, who is in his sixth year on the job, is hoping that junior Marcus Johnson, junior Paul Schaefer and sophomore Tyler Westrich can pick up some of the slack. “I expect Marcus Johnson to have a good year. He played good golf the latter half of last year, and he will only get better,” Brennan said. “Being so young this year might be a hindrance. Hopefully, we will be playing better later in the year as the kids become acclimated to varsity. I think a strength will also be our youth. Younger kids play with abandon. We will need to not think too much and just go out and play.” The Rebel girls will be led by Megan Harvey, Emma Kirtz and Cassandra Hanson, and the team may struggle to field a full team because of low numbers. “We will be thin this year for numbers,” Brennan said. “Many of the girls are young and have never played competitive golf. Because we are so young, we may have difficulty fielding a competitive team.” Brennan hopes that Harvey and Kirtz, who showed improvement last year, can step it up this year. “I expect Megan Harvey to have a good year. It’s time for her to be a golfer who can score,” he said. “Emma Kirtz also has this same potential.”
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
*Denotes boys and girls combined meets (B)-boys, (G)-girls
•April 10: Southland at Kingsland, 4:30 p.m. (B) •April 13: Southland at Fillmore Central, 4:30 p.m.* •April 16: Southland at Rushford-Peterson, 4:30 p.m. (B) •April 17: Southland at Glenville-Emmons, 4:15 p.m.* •April 19: Chatfield at Southland, 4:30 p.m.* •April 21: Southland at Hayfield Tourn., 8:30 a.m. (G) •April 24: Caledonia at Southland, 4:30 p.m. (B) •April 26: Fillmore Central at Southland, 4:30 p.m.* •April 27: Grand Meadow, Hayfield, LeRoy-Ostrander, Lyle-Pacelli, St. Clair, Alden-Conger, Faribault, Faribault Bethlehem Academy at Southland, 3 p.m.* •April 30: Kingsland at Southland, 4:30 p.m. (B) •April 30: Southland at Kingsland, 4:30 p.m. (G) •May 1: Southland at Triton, 1:30 p.m.* •May 7: Rushford-Peterson at Southland, 4:30 p.m. (B) •May 8: Southland at Caledonia, 4:30 p.m. (B) •May 8: Caledonia at Southland, 4:30 p.m. (G) •May 10: Southland at Chatfield, 4:30 p.m.* •May 14: Kingsland at Southland, 4:30 p.m. (G) •May 15 Glenville-Emmons at Southland, 4:15 p.m.* •May 21: Subsection Meet in Wabasha •May 29: Section Meet in Adams •June 12-13: State Meet at Pebble Creek
Reaching for repeat Schmitz, a sophomore The Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Osthrower, McKenzie trander-Southland girls track and Kirtz, a freshman disfield team is hoping to win the tance runner, Amber Southeast Conference title this Riedemann, a senior spring, just like it did last seapole vaulter, and senson, as it brings back 15 ior sprinters Kelly athletes with varsity Gray and Betsy Osexperience. wald to lead the way. The team will be “Kelly and Betsy are led by junior hurdler very intelligent athletes, Danielle Hanson, who and this helps make has competed at the them a good leadClass ‘A’ state track ers,” McKichan meet in the 300-meter said. “Betsy has hurdles in each seen a lot of of the past three success in the seasons. 200-meter “Danielle dash.” leads by examDanielle Hanson running the GMLOS is ple,” GMLOS hurdles at the 2011 State Track Meet also hoping head coach Aneighth grader drea McKichan Sydney Bendsaid. sten can step up “One of the this season. main reasons she “She comhas competed at peted in the secstate the past tion meet last season in the 100-meter three seasons is because she is a hard dash and will have a good shot of getworker.” ting through to the state meet this seaGMLOS will look to junior Elizabeth son,” McKichan said. May, a middle distance runner, Morgan
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
•April 5: GMLOS at Saint Charles, 4:30 p.m. •April 10: GMLOS at Chatfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: GMLOS at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: GMLOS at Stewartville, 4:30 p.m. •April 19: GMLOS at Triton, 4:30 p.m. •April 24: GMLOS at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Hayfield, Kingsland, Lyle-Pacelli,
Schaeffer Academy at GMLOS in Grand Meadow, 4:30 p.m. •May 8: GMLOS at Rushord-Peterson, 3 p.m. •May 24: Subsection Meet in Blooming Prairie •May 29: Section Meet in Winona •June 8-9: State Meet, Hamline University, St. Paul
Quality assurance varsity athThe Grand We do not have a lot of letes, but the Meadowexperienced varsity ath- ones we do LeRoy-Ostranletes, but the ones we have are qualder-Southland ity performboys track and do have are quality ers,” said field team will performers. GMLOS head look to four — Scott Hall, head coach coach Scott key seniors to Hall, who is in lead the way his fourth year at the helm. “We also as it prepares for the upcoming season. have a big group of freshmen that will be These four leaders, who have been contributing to the team so we’ll have a together since junior high, are Zack good blend of experience and youth.” Canterbury, who competes in the 400GMLOS hopes to compete for a meter dash and 800-meter run, Mike Southeast Conference title this season as Felten, who competes in the 200-meter it develops its younger distance runners. and 400-meter dashes and long jump, “Our first goal is to improve each Matt Schmitz, who competes in the day at practice and transfer that effort 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and into personal records at meets,” Hall throws and Paul Apenhorst, who comsaid. “Secondly, we hope to compete petes in the 100-meter dash, hurdles for the Southeast Conference champiand pole vault. onship in May.” “We do not have a lot of experienced 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 13
Hayfield has a line-up to build on HAYFIELD — The Hayfield softball team will bring back the majority of its starting Dani Wagner, Hayfield catcher lineup from last year’s team as they look to 2011 grow stronger this year. BA —.484 The Vikings bring back their top hitter RBIs — 21 4 homeruns from last season in catcher Dani Wagner, a sophomore, who hit .484 with 4 homers and 21 RBIs in 2011. Hayfield will have five seniors on the team — first baseman Meg Tapp, shortstop Abby Blanchard, third baseman Emily Blanchard, outfielder Jaide Ryks and designated hitter Hannah Wiltgen. “Our seniors will lead us,” said Hayfield head coach Jana Wagner, who is in her 17th year at the helm. “A few will lead quietly through example of hard work and positive attitudes. The others will voice what needs to be said and done.” Hayfield will turn to junior Jocelyn Sanvick on the mound, while junior Kailee Seimers and sophomore Grace Walker will play in the outfield. Eighth grader Grace Mindup and sophomores Alyssa Monahan and Rachel Masching could also step up. “We have the entire team back from last year that had a taste of winning and they want to build on that success and as always, grow as players, people and a team,” Wagner said.
•Senior Emily Blanchard will return to hold down the corner at third base for the Vikings this season.
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14 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
SCHEDULE/ Home games in bold
•April 2: Hayfield at Triton, 4:30 p.m. •April 5: Hayfield at Kenyon-Wanamingo, 5 p.m. •April 9: Southland at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 10: Winona Cotter at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •April 12: Hayfield at Cannon Falls, 5 p.m. •April 17: Pine Island at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •April 19: Hayfield at Byron, 5 p.m. •April 20: Hayfield at Randolph, 5 p.m. •April 24: Kasson-Mantorville at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •April 30: Stewartville at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 1: Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 7: Hayfield at Lake City, 5 p.m. •May 8: Goodhue at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 12: Kenyon-Wanamingo, Plainview-ElginMillville, Saint Charles, Mabel-Canton, GFW at Hayfield Invite, 8:30 a.m. •May 14: Hayfield at La Crescent, 5 p.m. •May 15: Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 18: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 24, 26: Subsections in Austin. •May 29, 31: Sections in Austin. •June 7-8: State, Caswell Park, N. Mankato
New coach guiding young Hayfield squad Returning catcher Connor Nelson
HAYFIELD — The Hayfield baseball team will turn to one of its former players to take over the coaching duties as the program turns a new leaf this season. Kasey Krekling, who pitched for the Vikings just six years ago before playing for four years at Waldorf College, is taking the helm and he’ll have his work cut out for him early on as Hayfield has just one senior and one junior on the team this season. “I hope my two upperclassmen will take on the leadership role, and help develop the multiple underclassmen we will have to rely on this year,” Krekling said. The Vikings return starting catcher Connor Nelson, who is a sophomore, utility player
•5 things a baseball player can do outside of practice to become a better player: 1. Play Catch — This sounds like a simple thing, but going out and just playing catch gives your body better muscle memory. This will make a player better at getting the ball out of their glove faster, and could be the difference of gunning down a runner at home, or having your throw be a split second late. So get off the couch, grab dad, mom, brother, sister, friend, etc. and go enjoy the fresh air while playing catch. 2. Hit Off a Tee — This does not need to be with real baseballs if a net is not available to hit in to. You can always go into the backyard with whiffle balls and a tee, and hit without having to worry about hitting something. Make sure to move the tee around to work on inside and outside pitches. This will help every ball player with their ability to hit to all parts of the field. 3. Weight Training Program — You can
Drew Streightiff, who is a sophomore, and designated hitter JB Stackhouse, who is a sophomore. “Our glaring weakness is how young we are,” Krekling said. “With only one senior and one junior, we will have to play a lot of ninth and tenth-graders. Our strength will be at the catcher position with Connor Nelson. He keeps other teams running game in check and has a good bat at the plate.” While the Vikings aren’t expected to make a run to the section title game, as they did last season, the team is hoping to get a solid start to a new era. “We are looking to make continual improvements throughout the year and hit our stride come playoff time,” Krekling said. “With our youth and inexperience I think we might be able to sneak up on teams when it gets to that part of the year.”
SCHEDULE/ Home games in bold
•April 3: Hayfield at Pine Island, 5 p.m. •April 5: Goodhue at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •April 10: Hayfield at Byron, 5 p.m. •April 14: La Crescent at Hayfield, 1 p.m. •April 17 Kasson-Mantorville at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •April 21: Hayfield at Win. Cotter, 1 p.m. •April 24: Hayfield at Stewartville, 5 p.m. •April 27: Hayfield at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 30: Byron at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 1: Hayfield at B. Prairie, 5 p.m. •May 4: C. Falls at Hayfield, 5 p.m.
only make yourself the best you can possibly be by maximizing your speed and strength. Hitters need to work on becoming stronger so they can control their bat better, and faster so they can beat out that infield hit. Pitchers need to work on endurance running so they don’t break down in the late innings due to fatigue, and becoming more flexible, which will help minimize the chance for injury. 4. Play whiffle Ball — This is a mini version of baseball that can be played almost anywhere, and is also fun. Hand-eye coordination will be improved by trying to hit a wiffle ball with that little yellow bat. This will also teach a player to keep their head in while hitting, or they won’t have a very good chance of hitting the ball. Pulling your head while hitting is a big problem for most hitters, so if any player can work on this while playing a fun game, then I think this a worthwhile activity.
•May 7: Roch. Lourdes at Hayfield, DH, 3:45 p.m. •May 15: Hayfield at Kasson-Mantorville, 5 p.m. •May 17: Stewart. at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 18: Hayfield at KenyonWanamingo, 5 p.m. •May 22: Triton at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 25: Randolph at Hayfield, 5 p.m. •May 29, 31: Subsections in Austin. •June 2, 5-6: Sections in Austin. •June 14-15: State Tournament at various sites.
5. Watch Baseball Games — The best baseball players are also students of the game. Any chance you have to watch baseball, take that opportunity to make yourself a better baseball player. You can learn how to handle many different situations during a baseball game just by watching how other players handle those situations. —Submitted by Hayfield High School baseball coach Kasey Krekling. 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 15
Hayfield girls track An eye on records looks to everyone HAYFIELD — The Hayfield boys track and field team will turn to a new leader this season as their varsity coach Vince Reynolds is overseas serving with the military. Andrew Neumann will take the helm as the Vikings have 15 athletes returning with varsity experience. “We have a dedicated group of athletes that have set some great goals athletically and academically,” Neumann said. “The boys seem determined to work as hard as they need to in order to break their own personal records as well as potentially making it to state.” Hayfield returns Hunter Anderson, who went to state in the discus and the shot put last season, and the team will also look to middle distance runners Jon Fleischmann and Sam Freiheit, while Matt Bergstrad and Alex Lovlein will step up as sprinters. “We are looking to shatter personal records and continue improving at least one percent every day as we go through the season,” Neumann said. Hayfield graduated eight seniors from last teams.
Hunter Anderson
Bring on sections HAYFIELD — The Hayfield boys and girls golf teams each bring back five golfers with experience as they prepare for the upcoming season. “Both teams have high expectations of making it to sections,” Hayfield head coach Lisa Talcott said. “The state tournament is not out of the question.” The boys team will look to Trevor Anderson, Parker Jacobson and Nick Swanson to lead 16 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
the way and the girls will be led by Kasey Dahlen. Talcott hopes the experience can help both Viking teams. “We've been there before and have learned many lessons already,” Talcott said. “We plan to work on our weaknesses in practice to minimize their impact on our match scores.” Hayfield will compete in Class ‘A’ this season after being a ‘AA’ team last season.
HAYFIELD — The Hayfield girls track and field team returns the majority of its squad from last season as 15 of the team’s athletes already have varsity experience. “I think all of the returning athletes can and will be leaders sometime throughout the season,” said Hayfield head coach Kellie Baker, who is in her fifth year on the job. “No one knows it all and you can always learn from your peers, as well as the coaches. So, there will always be someone to look up to or ask them for advice.” Megan Ellis, who is one of three seniors on the team, will lead the Vikings in distance running, freshman Madison Heydt and junior Amber Sprau will lead in sprints and jumps, and junior Sarina Gronseth and senior Emma Van Peursem will lead in throws. Hayfield also has five seventh-graders on the team and they could be contributors. “That’s great to see,” Baker said. “Just watching them at practice, I see great potential already.” Baker said she hopes her squad embraces the team aspect of track and field and she wants to see every athlete push herself to new levels. “I, along with the other coaches, want to do our best to help each individual athlete improve from meet to meet and set new personal records,” Baker said. “We want the season to be fun and enjoyable for everyone. We want to make coming out for track and field a rewarding opportunity for each athlete for multiple reasons.”
Home meets in bold
SCHEDULE/
•April 5: Hayfield at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Pine Island, Rochester Lourdes, GMLOS, Cannon Falls at Hayfield Invite, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Hayfield at Stewartville, 4 p.m. •April 24: Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Lyle-Pacelli, Faribault BA, Cannon Falls at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Hayfield at GMLOS, 4:30 p.m. •May 8: Hayfield at Rushford-Peterson, 3 p.m. •May 12: Hayfield at HVL Invite at Triton, 10:30 a.m. •May 18: Hayfield at Triton, 4:30 p.m. •May 24: Subsection Meet, in Blooming Prairie •May 29, 31: Section Meet, in Winona •June 8-9: State Meet at Hamline University, St. Paul.
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
*Denotes boys and girls combined meets (B)-boys, (G)-girls
•April 9: Byron, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Triton at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. (B) •April 9: Byron at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. (G) •April 10: Hayfield at Stewartville, 2 p.m. (G) •April 21: Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 9 a.m. (B) •April 21: Hayfield Invitational (G) •April 26: Kasson-Mantorville at Hayfield, 1:30 p.m. (B) •April 26: Hayfield at Kasson-Mantorville, 1:30 p.m. (G) •April 27: Hayfield at Southland, 3 p.m.* •April 30: Byron at Hayfield, 3 p.m.* •May 1: Hayfield at Triton, 1:30 pm.* •May 11: Hayfield at Pine Island, 3 p.m.* •May 15: Hayfield at Triton, 3 p.m.* •May 17: Hayfield at HVL meet in Zumbrota, 9 a.m.* •May 21: Subsection Meet in Faribault •May 29: Section Meet in Adams •June 12-13: State Meet at Pebble Creek
LP third baseman Jordan Hart in a game against GlenvilleEmmons last season.
Up and coming LYLE — The Lyle-Pacelli baseball team is turning to a new head coach as it looks to improve on last year’s 6-11 finish. Brock Meyer, who graduated from Lyle in 1999, is taking control of the Athletics this spring. Meyer played baseball at University of Wisconsin-Stout for four years where he played for Joe Vavra, who is now the Twins hitting coach and Craig Walter, who pitched for the Kansas City Royals. “I have seen a little of how the college coaches and pro coaches go about teaching the game of baseball,” Meyer said. “My basic philosophy of coaching is all about preparation and getting the kids
SCHEDULE/ Home games in bold
•April 2: Lyle-Pacelli at Mabel-Canton, 4:30 p.m. •April 10: Lyle-Pacelli at Medford, 5 p.m. •April 12: Mabel-Canton at Lyle-Pacelli, doubleheader starts at 4:30 p.m. •April 19: Lyle-Pacelli at Houston, 4:30 p.m. •April 21: Lyle-Pacelli Tournament, 10 a.m. •April 23: Schaeffer Academy at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Mabel-Canton at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 27: Hayfield at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 1 Houston at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 4 Schaeffer at Lyle-Pacelli, doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. •May 7 Martin Luther at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 10 Houston at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 12: Lyle-Pacelli at Blooming Prairie, 10 a.m. •May 14: Lyle-Pacelli at Schaeffer Academy, 4:30 p.m. •May 18: Lyle-Pacelli at Houston, 4:30 p.m. •May 29,31: Subsection Tournament at High Seed, Austin. •June 2, 5-6: Section Tournament in Austin •June 14-15: State Tournament, Various Sites
ready for the next level. It is my goal as a coach and a program in general is to get these kids to realize to play at the next level you need to be prepared mentally and always be thinking out on the field.” Meyer thinks the team should have about 10 returnees from last season but he is not familiar with them yet. He hopes his older players take on a leadership role early on. “We have a lot youth on this team but I am going to rely on the upper classmen to keep things together,” Meyer said. “I think our strength as a team is that we have a lot kids returning who have baseball knowledge and are in general good kids who want to work and get better.”
Lyle-Pacelli boys and girls track •April 5: Lyle-Pacelli at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Lyle-Pacelli at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 21: Lyle-Pacelli at Austin Invite, TBA •April 24: Lyle-Pacelli at Medford, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Lyle-Pacelli at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m.
SCHEDULE
•May 1: Lyle-Pacelli at GLMOS, 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Lyle-Pacelli at Faribault Bethlehem Academy, 4:30 p.m. •May 10: Lyle-Pacelli at Medford, 4:30 p.m. •May 15: Lyle-Pacelli at GMLOS, 4:30 p.m. •May 18: Lyle-Pacelli at Triton, 4:30 p.m. 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 17
LP veterans hopin g to send mes sage o n th e l i n k s The Lyle-Pacelli boys and girls golf teams will look to remain competitive as they return quite a few players from last season. The boys will bring back senior Max Brennan, a senior who was all-conference last season with a 49.1 average and Spencer Holtorf, a junior who was all-conference honorable mention last season, with a 49. 8 average. “Hopefully both of them can get all-conference this season and the others have improved,” LP head coach Mark Buntje said. The Athletics also return sophomores Ben Aho and Thomas Marx and the team will look to Teddy King, Wyatt Blum and Justin Servellon to step up as well. The girls team will have just four golfers but Jennie Marx, who carried a 49.8 average last season, Abby Leif and Maggie Leif all made the all-conference team last season. Kim Krulish also returns to the team from last season. “The girls should at least get second in the SEC,” Buntje said. “Hopefully we’ll compete for a subsection title as well.” Buntje said Lanesboro is the front-runner for boys and girls in the SEC.
Spencer Holtorf
Jennie Marx
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold BOYS GOLF
•April 13: Lyle-Pacelli at Lanesboro, 4:30 p.m. •April 16: GMLO at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 19: Lyle-Pacelli at Stewartville, 1 p.m. •April 20 Glenville-Emmons at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 21 Lyle-Pacelli at Blooming Prairie Invite, 9 a.m. •April 23 Lyle-Pacelli at Houston, 4:30 p.m. •April 27 Lyle-Pacelli at Southland, 3 p.m. •May 1 Alden-Conger at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 4 Lyle-Pacelli at GMLO, 4:30 p.m. •May 7 Lyle-Pacelli at Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m. •May 11 Houston at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
•April 13: Lyle-Pacelli at Lanesboro, 4:30 p.m. •April 16: GMLO at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 20 Glenville-Emmons at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 21 Lyle-Pacelli at Hayfield Invite, 8:30 a.m. •April 23 Lyle-Pacelli at Houston, 4:30 p.m. •April 26 Lanesboro at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 27 Lyle-Pacelli at Southland Invite, 3 p.m. •May 1 Alden-Conger at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 4 Lyle-Pacelli at GMLO, 4:30 p.m. •May 7 Lyle-Pacelli at Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m. •May 11 Houston at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •May 18 Lyle-Pacelli at SEC Meet in Adams, TBA
State Tournament Sites Baseball June 14-15 AAA Quarterfinals, semifinals, third place game: Midway Stadium, St. Paul Consolations: Dunning Field, St. Paul AA Quarterfinals, semifinals, third place game: Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud Consolations: Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud A Quarterfinals, semifinals, third place game: Chaska Athletic Park, Chaska 18 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
Boys and Girls Golf Consolations: Mini Met, Jordan Championship all classes Target Field, Minneapolis.
Softball June 7-8 All Classes Caswell Park, North Mankato
Boys and Girls Track and Field June 8-9 All Classes Hamline University, St. Paul
June 12-13 AAA: Bunker Hills, Coon Rapids AA: Sand Creek, Jordan A: Pebble Creek, Becker
Boys Tennis June 5-8 AA: Baseline Center, University of Minnesota A: Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center, Minneapolis
BP’s Shelbi Swenson will be a key both at the plate and on the mound.
Still Solid Losses at key positions can’t keep the Blossoms from having high expectations of 2011 ence and All-Section players in seniors BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Trisha DeBoer, Centerfield Tricia DeBoer, Julia Manges and Blooming Prairie softball team graduHunter Henderson. ated two of its biggest contributors to Blooming Prairie’s DeBoer DeBoer, a slap-hitting lead-off hittheir team that made it to state in is an all-around offensive ter and center fielder, hit .550 and back-to-back seasons, but that doesn’t threat, even after reaching was 33-for-33 on steals last season, mean the Awesome Blossoms will be base. Hitting .550 last year, has led the team in hits and steals the lowering expectations this season. the senior centerfielder was perfect on steals last season past two seasons, Manges, who plays While losing two key starters from going 33 for 33. She has led in the outfield set a school record last season hurts, the Blossoms will the team in hits and steals the past with 39 RBIs last season and Henderalso bring back a bulk of its squad that two seasons. son, who has been the catcher since finished 21-3. she for the past two seasons, hit .437 “We don't look at past seasons’ with a .587 slugging percentage last success as a standard for our goals,” season. BP head coach Ali Mach, who is in her Juniors Jenna Krell and Sam Ivers ninth year with a career record of also return as starters from last sea136-58, said. “I don't feel we will be son. reloading this spring. We will have We will have some new “Jenna and Sam will have an even some new faces and some girls will take on new roles for the team, but we faces and some girls bigger role in the success of our team,” Mach said. “Both girls posted expect to continue to be dominant. At will take on new fantastic offensive and defensive all levels our girls work really hard and roles for the team, numbers their first full season as we are fortunate to have players who will put in the extra time to get better.” but we expect to starters and we expect each of them to have breakout years. BP graduated pitcher Erica Manske, continue to be BP also returns senior third basewho finished with a career record of dominant. man Kelli Naatz and senior Kelsey Ku72-21 and set a school record with 736 bista will look to find a starting spot strikeouts and shortstop Tayla Jones, who hit .395 with 28 RBIs last season. — Ali Mach somewhere in the field. At pitcher, BP is set with junior Shelbi Swenson and Mach is pretty confident she can step in and get the CHEDULE Home games in bold job done. Swenson, who hit .425 last season had a handful of appear•May 1: Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Blooming Prairie at South., 4:30 p.m. ances on the mound, is ready to take on the starter’s role. •May 3: Blooming Prairie at Faribault BA, 5 p.m. •April 14: Byron at Blooming Prairie, 3 p.m. •May 10: JWP at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •April 17: Blooming Prairie at Man. Loyola, 5 p.m. “If Shelbi was on any other team, she would have been a starting •May 12: Kasson-Mantorville at B. Prairie, 5 p.m. •April 19: Blooming Prairie at JWP, 5 p.m. pitcher long before her junior year,” Mach said. “She has been a huge •May 15: NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •April 21: Blooming Prairie at Maple River Tour•May 17: Blooming Prairie at USC, 5 p.m. nament, 11 a.m. part of our program since she her ninth grade year and she continues to •May 18: Blooming Prairie at Triton, 4:30 p.m. •April 23: Blooming Prairie at NRHEG, 5 p.m. •May 24, 26: Subsections in Austin. •April 24: USC at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. improve. I expect her to have a great junior year for us.” •May 29, 31: Sections in Austin. •April 26: Blooming Prairie at Randolph, 5 p.m. Besides Swenson, the Blossoms return three other All-Gopher Confer•June 7-8: State, Caswell Park, N. Mankato •April 30: WEM at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
S
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2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 19
Experience will go far BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie baseball team will turn to its long time assistant coach to take over this season. Paul Peterson, who has coached baseball for 12 years, will step up as the team’s new head coach. “My philosophy is to work hard, understand the game and have fun,” said Peterson, who played amateur baseball for 12 years. BP graduated just two seniors, but it already lost senior pitcher Luc Zellmer to a shoulder injury. The Awesome Blossoms, who finished 6-13 overall last season, will have seven players back with varsity experience. The Blossoms will look to senior infielder Luke Hueman, senior pitcher Isaiah Toquam, senior outfielder Ryan McCabe and freshman pitcher John Rumpza to lead the way this year. “We are looking to compete each time we take the field,” Peterson said. “We have a nice group of seniors this year. They are good athletes with good work ethic. They all will play leadership roles.”
BP pitcher John Rumpza
SCHEDULE/ Home games in bold
•April 10: Triton at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Blooming Prairie at Kenyon-Wanamingo, 4:30 p.m. •April 14: Blooming Prairie at Mankato Loyola, 3 p.m. •April 16: Blooming Prairie at Byron, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Medford at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •April 19: Blooming Prairie at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 5 p.m. •April 21: Blooming Prairie at Blue Earth, 10 a.m. •April 23: Blooming Prairie at New Richland-HEG, 5 p.m. •April 24: United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •April 26: Blooming Prairie at Randolph, 5 p.m. •April 30: WEM at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •May 1: Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
•May 3: Blooming Prairie at Faribault BA, 5 p.m. •May 10: JWP at Blooming Prairie,5 p.m. •May 12: Lyle-Pacelli at Blooming Prairie, 10 a.m. •May 15: NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •May 17: Blooming Prairie at USC, 5 p.m. •May 22: Alden-Conger at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 24: Goodhue at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. •May 29, 31, June 2, 5-6: Sections in Austin. June 14-15: State Tournament, various sites.
•Blooming Prairie’s Luke Hueman is one of seven seniors returning.
Blossoms look to conference titles
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie boys and girls golf teams will be looking to contend for conference titles as they prepare for the upcoming season. “The Gopher (Conference) always has competitive teams, so it will be fun to see how we match up at the end of the year,” said BP head coach Erik Vigeland, who is in his 13th year at the helm. “I'd also like to see both teams advance to sections, but if we can't take both teams, I'm hoping for a strong showing of individuals.” Pat Jones will lead the boys team as the only senior on the squad and Maggie Sorensen will lead the girls team as the only senior on their squad. “Pat will help dictate how well the boys do this year. He's a strong leader on and off the course,” Vigeland said. “Maggie is also a strong leader and I also expect sophomore Anna Noble to step up this year. She has put a lot of work into the game. I'm hoping she will lead by example.” In all, the boys team returns four athletes with varsity experience and the girls team returns six with varsity experience. “The boys have been young the last couple of years, but now they are very experienced, at least at the one through four positions,” Vigeland said. “I've always said that the five through six spots on the team can make or break a team. We need some kids to step up and fill those spots.” Vigeland hopes the girls team picks up experience as the season goes. “For the girls, we are still a little young, but they also have been gaining some experience,” Vigeland said. “Because not all the girls have put a lot of time into the off season, we may be off to a bit of a slow start.” 20 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
SCHEDULE/ Home meets in bold
BOYS •April 12: Blooming Prairie at New Richland-HEG, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Blooming Prairie at Faribault Bethlehem Academy, 4:30 p.m. •April 19: Blooming Prairie at Stewartville, 1:30 p.m. •April 21: Blooming Prairie Invite, 9 a.m. •April 24: Blooming Prairie at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Blooming Prairie at United South Central, 4:30 p.m. •April 27: Blooming Prairie at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Invite, 1:30 p.m. •April 30 Faribault Bethlehem Academy at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 8 United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 11 Blooming Prairie at Gopher Conference meet in Janesville, 10 a.m. •May 15 Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS •April 10: Blooming Prairie at Stewartville Invite, 1:30 p.m •April 12: Blooming Prairie at New Richland-HEG, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Blooming Prairie at Faribault Bethlehem Academy, 4:30 p.m. •April 20: Blooming Prairie at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Invite, 1:30 p.m. •April 24: Blooming Prairie at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 4:30 p.m. •April 26: Blooming Prairie at United South Central, 4:30 p.m. •April 30: Faribault Bethlehem Academy at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Blooming Prairie at Triton, 1:30 p.m. •May 8: United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m. •May 11: Blooming Prairie at Gopher Conference meet in Janesville, 10 a.m. •May 15: Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
Leaders setting the tone for BP BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie boys track and field team will feature a new head coach this season as Rhett McDonald takes over the program. McDonald comes from a long line of coaches as his dad, Mike, has been head boys basketball coach and assistant track coach at Cambridge-Isanti for the past 26 seasons, and his grandfather, Bob, was the head boys track coach at Chisholm for 45 years and his team won the state title in 2002. Rhett McDonald has recently served as the Owatonna boys basketball assistant coach, and he takes a similar approach with track as he does basketball. “I told the athletes at the beginning of the year, ‘make sure you can look yourself in the mirror after a practice and meet and tell yourself I gave my best effort, and I worked my hardest,’” McDonald said. The Awesome Blossoms will be led by seniors Adam Driessen, Gabe Kartes, Alex Fiebiger and junior Michael Thomas this season. “All of these guys are well seasoned veterans that understand the program and what I want out of the team,” McDonald said. “Overall, I am very happy with what I have seen thus far in terms of leadership,
and all of these guys work hard. Usually when your leaders are your hardest workers, your team will be successful. Hopefully that is the case this season.” BP, which graduated four seniors and returns six letter winners, has just 28 athletes in grades 7 through 12, but McDonald said they’re committed and he expects the team to be strong in jumping events, pole vault and relays. “It will take a few months to get to that point of top caliber competition level with most of these guys being multi-sport athletes,” McDonald said. “I told these guys that the process will always outweigh the product. We need to be focused on these first few weeks of practice.”
“I told these guys that the process will always outweigh the product. ”
BP girls strong at the middle-distance races
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie girls track and field team will bring back 13 athletes from last year’s squad. The Awesome Blossoms will look to seniors Cortney Easton, Lyndsay Pryor, DaVyll Smith and Kierstin Wencl to lead the way, and junior Marissa Jensen returns after competing in the section discus competition last season. “Our mid-distance races seem to be a strength for us this year,” said BP head coach Kari Botin, who is in her third year at the helm. “These will be events, along with discus, where we excel. We are weaker in the sprints this year, but we will keep working to get back to speed.” Botin hopes the team can improve throughout the season. “We have a very young team that has
been working hard so far this season,” Botin said. “I know that if they keep up the work, they will excel in the future.”
“These will be events, along with discus, where we excel. We are weaker in the sprints this year, but we will keep working to get back to speed..”
-Rhett McDonald head coach
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
•April 10: Blooming Prairie at New RichlandHEG, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: Blooming Prairie at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 17: Blooming Prairie at Stewartville, 4:30 p.m. •April 24: Blooming Prairie Invite, 4:30 p.m. •April 26 Blooming Prairie at GMLOS, 4:30 p.m. •May 1: Blooming Prairie Invite, 4:30 p.m •May 8: Blooming Prairie at Rushford-Peterson, 3 p.m. •May 24: Subsection Meet, Blooming Prairie •May 29, 31: Section Meet, Winona •June 8-9: State Meet, Hamline University, St. Paul
-Kari Botin Head coach
Main Street
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COMPLETE & COMPREHENSIVE DENTISTRY Open Monday-Saturday and 2 Evenings
405 East Main Street • Blooming Prairie • (507) 583-2141 1170 East Frontage Road • Owatonna • (507) 455-1000 3110 Wellner Drive NE • Rochester • 507-536-7700 132 North Broadway • New Richland • 507-463-0502
2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 21
Returning catcher Connor Nelson
GMLOK's Marshall Oeltjen celebrates with his teamates after hitting a three-run homer during the Bulldogs’ 10-7 loss to Southland in Adams last year. GMLOK’s near win over the then No. 1 ranked Rebels was a sign of what the Bulldogs are aiming for.
Building for the future • GMLOK baseball hoping for more after having its best season in five years as a program KINGSLAND — The Grand Meadow-LeRoy-Ostrander-Kingsland baseball team had its best record since the program started five years ago, and the Bulldogs hope to continue that improvement as it brings back six returning starters. GMLOK went 7-13 overall last season, and it brings back senior catcher Sam Eberle, who is in his fifth year of varsity.
“I think Sam Eberle will emerge as the vocal leader, he has been through the growing pains of a coop program since he first started,” said GMLOK head coach Taran Jack, who is in his fourth year at the helm. “Last year I feel we finally became a very competitive team, and this year — if we continue working on the little things we will be able to take down the top teams in the conference. A winning record is not out of the question.” GMLOK will look to juniors Trevor Gomer and Trenton Bleifus to boost the pitching staff, and the team returns its entire infield from last season.
105 Main Street North Grand Meadow, MN (507) 754-5123
SCHEDULE/Home games in bold
•April 3: GMLOK at Chatfield, 5 p.m. •April 5: Saint Charles at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 9: GMLOK at Caledonia, 5 p.m. •April 10: Southland at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 12: Fillmore Central at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 16: Dover-Eyota at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 17: Wabasha-Kellogg at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 19: GMLOK at Lewiston-Altura, 5 p.m. •April 20: GMLOK at Fillmore Central, 5 p.m. °April 23: GMLOK at Saint Charles, 5 p.m. •April 24: GMLOK at Dover-Eyota, 5 p.m. •April 30: Chatfield at GMLOK, 5 p.m.
111 20th St NE Stewartville, MN (507) 533-4081
19 East Main Street Racine, MN (507) 378-5121
www.ffmbank.com
22 | 2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE
•May 1: GMLOK at Rushford-Peterson, doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. •May 3: Caledonia at GMLOK, doubleheader at 5 p.m. •May 7: GMLOK at Southland, 5 p.m. •May 8: GMLOK at Wabasha-Kellogg, 5 p.m. •May 10: Plainview-Elgin-Millville at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •May 18: GMLOK at Plainview-ElginMillville, 5 p.m. •May 21: Lewiston-Altura at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •May 29, 31: Subsection Tournament, high seeds, Austin. •June 2, 5-6: Sections Tournament, Austin •June 14-15: State Tournament, various sites.
G M LO K Softball
Grand Meadow/LeRoyOstrander/ Kingsland’s Terrance
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE/
•April 9: GMLOK at Byron, 5 p.m. •April 10: GMLOK at Chatfield, 4:30 p.m. •April 12: GMLOK at Rushford-Peterson, 5 p.m. •April 16: GMLOK at Dover-Eyota, 5 p.m. •April 19: Lewiston-Altura at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 20: GMLOK at Wabasha-Kellogg, 5 p.m. •April 23: Saint Charles at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 27: Plainview-Elgin-Millville at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •April 28: GMLOK at Lewiston-Altura Invite, 9 a.m. •May 1: Rushford-Peterson at GMLOK, 5 p.m. •May 4: GMLOK at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, 5 p.m. •May 7: Southland at GMLOK, doubleheader starts at 4:30 p.m. •May 8: GMLOK at Mabel-Canton, 5 p.m. •May 11: GMLOK at Fillmore Central, 4:30 p.m. •May 24, 26: Subsection Tournament, high seeds and Austin •May 29, 31: Section Tournament, Austin •June 7-8: State Tournament, Caswell Park, North Mankato
At your best Often it is when and how much you eat and drink that keeps your athlete in top form
As a Certified Athletic Trainer, I am faced daily with many questions regarding the health of athletes. Nutrition alone is very complex with many variables that I feel would be better addressed by a registered dietitian. However, I not only tend to the athletes’ injuries they have sustained while competing, I also have to look at ways to help promote a healthy and competitive edge for the athletes’ and most of the time prevention is the key to success. Understanding the power of a balanced diet is crucial to the success of any athlete who is competing in a sport.
FOOD/FUEL Pre-Training/Competition • Eat 2-4 hours before competition. If competition is after school, make sure to eat a large breakfast, have a snack, and eat lunch. When you don’t have a lot of
GMLO boys and girls golf SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
•April 16: GMLO at Lyle-Pacelli, 4:30 p.m. •April 20: Houston at GMLO, 4:30 p.m.
•April 23: GMLO at Lanesboro, 4:30 p.m.
•April 27: GMLO at Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m. •May 4: Lyle-Pacelli at GMLO, 4:30 p.m. •May 7: GMLO at Houston, 4:30 p.m.
•May 11: Lanesboro at GMLO, 4:30 p.m.
•May 14: Glenville-Emmons at GMLO, 4:30 p.m. •May 21: Subsection Meet at Wabasha •May 29: Section Meet in Adams
Kris Dutton
Certified Athletic Trainer
time, make sure to have snack on hand (i.e. granola bars, fruit, bagels). • Eat foods that are easily digested and high in carbohydrates. • Avoid sugary, fried or fatty foods. Post-Training/Competition • Recovery time post exercise begins immediately. • Consume foods and fluids within 30 minutes of exercise. • Eat a combination of carbohydrates and proteins to refuel for the next day of practice or competition.
• Start hydrating 24-48 hours prior to exercise • 2-3 hours before competition drink 820 ounces of water or sports drink •During warm-up another 8oz During Exercise • When exercising more than 90 minutes, use a sports drink or when in hot/humid environments Post Exercise • Weigh yourself pre and post, and for every pound lost drink 16 ounces of water or sports drink • 15-30 minutes post exercise is optimal time to drink sports drink to replenish electrolytes lost during competition • Check urine color: Light lemonade means you are well hydrated. Apple juice or dark means you need more fluid.
Another key factor to discuss is proper hydration amongst these individuals. Some general guidelines: Daily • Drink at minimum eight glasses of water per day more if in competition Before Exercise
2012 SPRING SPORTS GUIDE | 23