Austin Daily Herald
Friday, December 9, 2011 An Austin Daily Herald publication
Young Guns.........
Text by Rocky Hulne Graphics and Design by Eric Johnson
A youthful backcourt looking to give the Packers a boost.
Starting Lineup Austin Bruins
P. 11
Bruins enjoying a good start to their second season
Riverland
P. 12-13
A rundown of the RCC men’s, women’s seasons
Southland P. 14-16
•Packer boys will put off-season P. 4
Southland girls will run with a deep bench
Lyle/Pacelli
P. 17
work to the test
LP girls hope to expound on last year’s breakout season
Hayfield
P. 18-19
Boys return plenty of experience and scoring
Grand Meadow
P. 20
GMLOK wrestling moves forward with new coach
LeRoy-Ostrander P. 21 Boys basketball hoping numbers will turn things around
Blooming Prairie P. 22-23 Girls BB looking to win despite big loss in starting five • Hayfield’s Bobbie Stephens has 217 career threes and needs 47 to tie all-time school record holder, David Johnson.
2 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
P. 3
Reloaded Grappling The gangs with all here Packer gymnasts change Girls’ hockey: eyeing a return
• Girls BB.............p.6 •Boys hockey......p.8
to state with a bolstered lineup
Changes to impact wrestlers
new faces and veterans
•Boys swimming.p.10
P. 5
P. 7
P. 8
•Dance....p.10
Time remaing on the clock Three st orelines t o watc h f or t his season
• RCC men is expecting Denzel Smith back after semester break.
• Austin’s Sela Fadness hopes to be fully recovered from a major arm injury at the season’s midpoint. Only time will tell if she can return to her top form.
Young Guns As this season moves forward the Packers young backcourt will grow into their role as leaders
Zach Wessels and Brett Lukes have been in the same backcourt for most of their basketball careers and after a year apart, they will be reunited with the Packers this season. Story by Rocky Hulne • Photos by Eric Johnson If things go as planned, the two sophomores, who have played together since they were third graders, will be starting in the backcourt for the Austin basketball team on a nightly basis. Wessels played on the varsity team his entire freshman year and Lukes was close to cracking the varsity lineup at the end of last season. It’s been a long time coming for the duo, who played on separate AAU teams over the summer, to play together at the varsity level. “They’re both gym rats and they’re hard workers,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “Zach is highly competitive and he’s tough and Brett is a strong, physical guard.” Wessels averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 assists and 2 steals per game last season and he spent the summer working on a jump shot that he struggled with his freshman year. Wessels is pleased with the progress he’s made and he’s looking forward to this season. “I’m very comfortable (with my jump shot) now and I don’t have that kick anymore. I just go straight up and I’m excited to show it off,” Wessels, a 6foot, 1-inch guard said. “It’s going to be a fun year. Our game improved last year, and we should be wanting to win our Zach Wessels conference and win our section. That takes a lot of work and we have to practice hard.” Lukes is ready for his first lengthy varsity action as he did get into a few games last season. He’s not intimidated and he’s ready to go. “I’m pretty much used to competition and I’m not real nervous about it,” Lukes, a 5-10 guard, said. “It’ll be more physical. I’ll just have to be ready and stay calm.” Fadness said that both players have already shown vast improvements due to their experience of playing over the summer. “Zach is taking it to the basket at a different level than last year with a stronger burst. Wessels 2010I wouldn’t be surprised if he was dunking by 2011 the end of the year,” Fadness said.
“...we should be wanting to win our conference and win our section.”
“Brett has very good body control and he can take it to the basket. He’s a solid shooter, but we’d like him to speed up his release a little.” Wessels and Lukes have also gotten better by playing pick-up hoops in the gym. They always always drive each other to be better in those games. “We usually guard each other and we push each other around a little bit. We help each other get better,” Lukes said. Wessels has also helped Lukes by telling him about the atmosphere of varsity games and how to prepare for them.
“Once we figure out what everybody’s doing.. I think we’ll win a lot of games.” Brett Lukes H e feels like the two will fit in just fine, just like they always have from youth basketball to middle school. “We’ll be filling in some key roles, but we’ll be fine and we’ll do pretty well,” Wessels said. “We’re pretty smart about reading each other when we’re coming off of screens and things like that.” While Fadness has a lot of trust in his young guards, there is one thing they must show that they can handle — running an offense. “Their challenge will be how do you command an offense and be a quarterback,” Fadness said. “You have to know when to slow it down and when to speed it up.” Lukes said it’s only a matter of time before the Packers’ young backcourt has the team rolling. “Once we figure out what everybody’s doing and how to work together, I think we’ll win a lot of games,” Lukes said. 4 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
Paying off big The Packer boys’ team will find out if work in the offseason pays off The Austin boys basketball team brings back all three of its top scorers as it hopes to take the next step Tom and contend Aase for a Big Nine title and a trip to state this season. The team will be led up front by junior forward Tom Aase, who averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and two blocks last season and junior center Joe Aase, who averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. Sophomore point guard Zach Wessels averaged 9.4 points per game last season. “Our guys are real confident, we’re coming off a strong season,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “In the 15 years I’ve been here, it’s the most talented team I’ve ever had, but I don’t know if it’s going to be the best team yet.” Fadness said his squad needs to show that it has chemistry and that the top of the zone defense can be as strong as it was last year if it wants to be at the top of its game. He’s pleased with the leadership amongst his squad so far. “I’ve seen Tom Aase take a huge step in becoming more vocal and Goliath Oboyo has stepped up as an emotional leader for us,” Fadness said. “Everybody’s doing their part right now.”
> PACKER BOYS continues on 9
I la
Logan
Marissa
A bby
A b by
S el a
C ar ol yn
C a s s id y
R a c h el
P a ig e
Anderson
Tischer
Bartels
Bickler
Snater
Fadness
Hackel
Bawek
Quandt
Raymond
R E L O A D E D
It’s been two years since Austin reached state, but now the hunt to return is back on Two years removed from their first Class ‘A’ state appearance in school history, the Austin gymnastics team has that look of a contender once again. Austin took sixth in the Class ‘A’ meet in 2010 and it just missed getting back to state last Abby season. Snater “I hope the community realizes they have an opportunity this year to see a team that’s spectacular,” Austin head coach Mark Raymond said. “I hope to see a lot of people come out, because there’s teams that come around every now and again that are special and it could be a fun ride at the end of the season.” Along with returning individual state qualifiers Abby Bickler and Carolyn Hackel, who are each freshman, the Packers bring back Sela Fadness, who competed in USGA at Pine Island last season after finishing third in the floor and 10th overall at state for Austin in 2010. Fadness, a sophomore, is recovering from a major arm injury, but she’s hoping to be back up to full strength by the halfway point of the season. “I’m back here to gain back what I had lost from my injury,” Fadness said. “Hopefully I’ll have it back soon enough. I’ve been out for awhile and it’s been itching at me to start competing again.” Bickler also suffered an injury to her ankle last season that kept her from putting out her best routine at last year’s state meet. She was having a great season, but couldn’t overcome an injury at the state meet and wasn’t able to go full speed. “The injury has motivated me a lot to keep my body healthy and to come in and work hard,” Bickler said. “I know where I can be and where I expect myself to be this year.” Austin has a young, but experienced squad.
Flip this house With some additions to the YMCA, the Packers will have some new equipment to train on this season. There will be a new foam pit to work on vaulting, the bar and tumbling. “Before we didn’t have a pit where we could throw things we didn’t have skills on,” Sela Fadness said. “If we threw something and we missed it, we were gonna be out. Now we can get more repetitions without any injuries.” There will also be a new tumbling strip and four low beams for younger athletes, and 10 extra feet of dismount area for the tumble track will be added. “There’s a lot of equipment coming. We are doubling our surface area,” Austin head gymnastics coach Mark Raymond said. “I’m excited for what it means to the high school team, but I’m probably more excited for the kids that are five to eight years old. They’ll get some more dedicated space to work on.” Austin gymnast Abby Bickler said the new equipment can only help the Packers. “I think it’s going to help us a lot with the skills,” she said. “We’re at the point where we’ve got to throw it big, or we’re not going to go anywhere.”
The only senior is Marissa Bartels and she’s helped the team, which includes four middle schoolers, learn the basics of a varsity sport. “Marissa is a wonderful girl to have on
the team,” Raymond said. “She’s done a lot of leadership and helped mature some of the younger girls and bring them along. She’s been an absolute blessing.” The Packers put in a lot of time in the offseason and all of that work is paying off now. The team is hoping to improve it’s score throughout the season and it hopes to be scoring consistently in the 140s by season’s end. “Our biggest goal is probably the state tournament,” Bickler said. “This team knows how much work we need to have and how much we need to put in the gym to get what we expect.” Fadness has been impressed with what she’s seen from her teammates after a year of being apart. “I’m pretty excited. We have a good team and the future’s looking bright,” she said. “We’ve all gotten so much better from where we have been. Our group is young, but we’re talented and we can all push each other.” While it’s clear the Packers would like to make it to state, Raymond isn’t about to focus on that goal. He’d rather focus on how each gymnast needs to improve throughout the year and work on their individual skills. “If you can take care of the things you can control, the concept of going to a state tournament, competing at a state tournament and eventually winning a state tournament will take care of itself,” he said.
SCHEDULE/ Home meets in bold
• Dec. 3 Austin Invite, 11 a.m. • Dec. 10 Austin at Blue Earth, 11 a.m. • Dec. 15 Austin at Mankato East, 6:30 p.m. • Dec. 17 Austin at Stewartville, TBA • Dec. 20 Mankato West at Austin, 6:30 p.m. • Jan. 5 Austin at Faribault, 6:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Century, Mayo, JM at Austin, 6:30 p.m. • Jan. 14 Austin at Farmington, 11 a.m. • Jan. 19 Austin at Winona, 6:30 p.m. • Jan. 31 Owatonna at Austin, 6:30 p.m. • Feb. 4 Austin at Breck, 11 a.m. • Feb. 11 Austin at Big Nine meet in Mankato, noon
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 5
PLAYING HARD BALL Babaye Oja
The Austin girls basketball scoring. I’d like to have three team brings back their top two SHOWING in double figures and somescoring options, but it needs times more,” Peterson said. some quality guards to step up UP WILL BE “We’re trying to figure out as they look to improve on roles and we need to find out THE FIRST who’s last year’s 8-16 record. going to handle the The first thing Austin point guard position.” STEP IN must do is to show up This season will be Peterevery night by playing BUMPING son’s last one at Austin as he their hardest. Austin head enters his 21st year at the UP LAST coach Gary Peterson wants helm. his team to “We’d like to finish on a YEAR’S crash the good note, that’s for sure,” he b o a r d s, said. RECORD hustle He’s looking to work on the for delittle things in improving flections, chase Austin’s chances of winning. down steals and “We’re going to try some different take charges. things to shoot better free throws and “The big thing is we want to keep we’re going to limit the turnovers,” Peit fun and we want to play hard,” he terson said. “You have such a higher persaid. “We want the best effort no matter centage of winning if you can cut those what and if we work hard, we’ve got a turnovers down.” chance of beating talent. But if you don’t Austin returns a few other players in work hard, you’ll never beat talent.” senior center Danielle Tschann, junior The Packers bring back two All Big forward Taylor Lady, and junior guard Nine players in senior forward Babaye Stephanie Justice. Oja, who averaged 12.8 points 7.2 reOther Packers players will be sophobounds and 3.6 steals last season, and more Merideth Fritz, juniors Allison junior forward Jenna Svoboda, who av- Stoltz, Cassidy Mayer, Christine eraged 12.1 points, 7 rebounds and 2 Barinka, Gabby Wagner, Jocelyn Sheesteals per game. han, and seniors Olivia Grev and Marwa “We’ve got to have more balanced Omot.
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Nov. 29 New Prague at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Red Wing at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Austin at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 16 Rochester Mayo at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 17 Northfield at Austin, 2:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Austin at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 26-27 Austin at Albert Lea tournament, TBA • Jan. 3 Austin at Waseca, TBA • Jan. 6 Mankato West at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Austin at Faribault, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Rochester Century at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Austin at Winona, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Rochester John Marshall at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 27 Owatonna at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 2 Albert Lea at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 3 Austin at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 4 Mankato East at Austin, 4:30 p.m. • Feb. 9 Austin at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 11 Austin at Stewartville, 7 p.m. • Feb. 14 Faribault at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Austin at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m. •Feb. 21 Winona at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 24 Austin at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.
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Grappling with change
Erick Power
The Packers are facing a lot this season, including a section change and changed weight class
The Austin wrestling team has plenty of talent this season. The trouble is, they’re all close to the same weight. The Packers bring back two state qualifiers in Devon Felton, who wrestled at 103 last season and Erick Power, who wrestled at 119 last season. The team also returns key wrestlers Brandon Cotter, Dylan Diekman and Brennen Russell, who are all in the 120 to 130 pound range. What makes it worse for the Packers is that Minnesota is going to a new weight classing system that puts just two weight classes in the 130s. “It doesn’t do us any favors,” Austin head coach Bill Kinney said. “As luck would have it, some of the best kids on our team are in the upper 20s and lower 30s. Without a weight class, it will be difficult to find a spot for some of them.” The Packers are very thin in the upper weights, but since the talent is concentrated in the lower weights, it does mean that the smaller wrestlers will have tougher practice partners. “It helps us smaller guys get better and improve, but then it leaves out the bigger
“If we have a full lineup, we’ll be stretched pretty thin” -Bill Kinney,
Head coach
guys who need to improve and get better,” Power said. “We’re just trying to get kids out and keep everybody healthy.” Kinney said the Packers may not be able to fill out a full lineup and the 195 pound spot will be especially tough to fill. He’s hoping he can get some new wrestlers to come out within the first four weeks of the season. “If we have a full lineup, we’ll be stretched pretty thin. We’ll fill the first seven or eight and those last six, we’ll just have to see,” Kinney said. “The kids that we have are very good, but we just don’t have enough of them at this point.” Newcomers Braiden Eggum and Riley Grinstead could help the Packers as they prepare for this season and Diekman should provide leadership. “Dylan’s going to need to be a leader for
us and he’s going to need to be a high performer for us,” Kinney said. “Braiden had a fantastic JV year as a freshman and Riley is a very talented kid, who’ll make a contribution right away.” Austin will make the move from Class ‘AAA’ to ‘AA’ at the section meet this season. That means, instead of going against familiar Big Nine opponents, the Packers will be taking on unknown wrestlers from schools like Byron and Caledonia at the section meet. Kinney said the switch will be a difficult one for the Packers. “I believe it’s a tougher section than what we were in,” Kinney said. “It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for us. I thought we matched up better in the ‘AAA’ section.”
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
• Dec. 8 Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 10 Austin at Andover Invite, 10 a.m. • Dec. 15 Rochester Mayo at Austin, 7 p.m. • Dec. 17 Austin at Fillmore Invite, 10 a.m. • Dec. 22 Austin at Mankato East, 7 p.m. • Jan. 5 Mankato West at Austin, 7 p.m. • Jan. 13 Austin at Faribault, 7 p.m. • Jan. 19 Rochester Century at Austin, 7 p.m. • Jan. 26 Austin at Winona, 7 p.m. • Feb. 2 Rochester John Marshall at Austin, 7 p.m. • Feb. 9 Owatonna at Austin, 7 p.m.
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 7
Abby Gallaher
The Gang’s All Here
• The Packers return veterans and some familiar faces to this year’s deep roster The Austin girls hockey team brings back two of its top scorers from last season and welcomes one of its promising players from the past as it prepares for the season. Carley Grunewald, a junior, and Abby Gallaher, a senior, each scored 36 points last season and they’ll be looking to improve this season. The third member of their line will be Kennedy Thompson, a junior who has moved back to Austin after living in St. Paul for a year. “That line’s going to be fun to watch. They’re going to be phenomenal and we’re looking forward to that,” Austin head coach Denny Bray said. “Kennedy brings good stick handling skills and she picked up some speed up there in St. Paul.” Thompson is glad to be coming back to Austin, where she was a member of the 2008 state qualifying team as an eighth grader. “It’ll be just like U12 hockey, with me, Carley and Abby,” she said. “I’m glad to be back and hopefully I help them out. I didn’t get to play a lot in the cities, so it will be nice to actually play a lot this year.” Bray said his Packers have gelled immediately and that chemistry should be the
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 1 Austin at Winona, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 3 Rochester John Marshall at Austin, 1 p.m. • Dec. 6 Albert Lea at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 8 Owatonna at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Austin at Northfield, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 15 Austin at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 17 Mankato East at Austin, 3 p.m. • Dec. 20 Austin at Mankato West, 5:30 p.m. • Dec. 26 Austin Invite, TBA • Dec. 27 Austin Invite, TBA • Dec. 28 Austin Invite, TBA • Jan. 5 Faribault at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 7 Austin at Rochester Century, 5:30 p.m. • Jan. 12 Winona at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 14 Austin at Rochester John Marshall, 3 p.m. • Jan. 17 Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 21 New Ulm at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 28 Austin at Mankato East, 6 p.m. • Jan. 31 Austin at Faribault, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 2 Mankato West at Austin, 7 p.m.
strength of the team this season. Grunewald agreed. “We’re feeling pretty good about the season,” she said. “We get along really well and I feel like there’s already a lot of team chemistry and it’s only going to get better. We have the ability to learn fast and that’s going to help us get better.” Austin’s roster covers all grade levels as there are four seniors and five eighth graders. One of the team’s lines includes two eighth graders in Madison Overby and Chloe Summerfield and freshman Mackenzie Trimble.
8 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
The other line includes Rebecca Bartlett, Kara Potach, Leah Semones, and Carissa Johnson. “We’ll be a little immature, but we have good leadership. I feel like I have eight captains,” Bray said. The elder Packers have taken it on themselves to help out some of their younger and more inexperienced teammates. “We’re like a family,” Vanessa Talamantes, a senior defenseman said. “We’re helping out the younger girls and showing them what to do. We don’t want them to be shy and we want them to ask questions.” On defense, the Packers will look to Vanessa Talamantes and Justina Talamantes to lead the way. Camille Anderson, Marie Clennon and Allison Crump could also see time on defense. The Packers have two eighth graders at goalie in Allison Hoban and Mara Overby. Hoban was the starter for most of last season. “Hoban looks pretty strong right now. She shows improvement every day,” Bray said. “Mara is not used to seeing the quickness (of varsity hockey) and she has some catching up to do, but I have confidence that she’ll catch up. She’s very athletic.”
Keeping the tank off empty
The Austin • Tim boys hockey Peterson team wasn’t a good and the very third period Packers team last sea- work son as it strug- to avoid gled and finished with a costly 4-22 overall letdowns record. this This sea- season son, the Packers are going out of their way to make sure those letdowns don’t happen again. “We’ve done a lot of extra stuff,” Austin head coach Tim Peterson said. “We’re running and doing some dry land things. They’re sore, but they’re having fun and I think they realize that we’re putting gas in the tank for later. It’s going to pay dividends when we’re in the third period and we need a big goal or a big stop.” The Packers will feature a good mix of veterans and younger players. The team will have four experienced forwards in seniors Tyler Stevens and Preston Moe, junior Pat Wagner and sophomore Nick Castellano. The younger players have already mixed in well with their elders according to Stevens, who is a captain. “We’re looking at this as a brand new season and we’ve got a lot of strong players coming up from the youth program and that’s going to help us,” Stevens said. “They’re talent is fine, they’ve just got to adjust to the speed and they’ll be good.” Austin returns senior Kevin Sauer and junior Conor Peterson on defense. Junior Marcus Stoulil, a two-year starter, will likely be back from an injury a couple of weeks into the season.
> HOCKEY continues on 9
Packer boys: “We keep getting better and better.” Continued from Pa ge 4 Joe Aase and many of the other Packers have been playing basketball since the beginning of the summer. They recently finished a fall league in the Twin Cities and they’re ready to start the high school season. “We’ve gotten to the point that we’re playing pretty well together and we like our chances to get to state,” Joe Aase said. “ Oboyo, a senior who will be on the varsity team for the first time, is looking forward to this season.
“We keep getting better and better the more we play together,” he said. “It’s going to be a really good team. I’m very excited to play with these guys and it’s just amazing to watch them.” While the Packers aren’t making any major changes this season, they would like to push up the tempo to where they can play in the 70s instead of the 50s. “We’re talented enough and we want to create more possessions in the game,” Fadness
Hockey: Coming together Continued from Page 8 After splitting time in the net last season, junior Rainer Londino-Green is ready to become the primary starter this season. “He played a lot of games last year and mentally that’s going to help him,” Peterson said. “We’ve got to help him out and limit the number of shots that he sees, then he can stay out more and limit some angles.” Londino-Green came into last season a little inexperienced and he still recalls the Rochester Century game, where he faced 29 shots in relief. But he’s feeling much bet-
“They’re a fantastic group of kids.” -Tim Peterson Head coach
ter as heads into his second season in net. “Last year I came in as a backup kind of,” LondinoGreen said. “I’ve gotten used to the speed and my confidence is up there.” Peterson is pleased with what his team as a whole has shown so far in practice. “They’re a fantastic group of kids and they’re coming together,” he said.
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 6 Austin at New Prague, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 10 Austin at Cedar Falls, Iowa, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Albert Lea at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 16 Austin at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Mankato East at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 22 Red Wing at Austin, TBA • Jan. 3 Waseca at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Austin at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Faribault at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Austin at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m.
said. “But to be real good you’ve got to be able to play two speeds. Sometimes you’ve got to crank it up, and other times it’s going
Home games in bold
• Jan. 17 Winona at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Austin at Roch. John Marshall, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 24 Austin at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 27 Austin at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 31 Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 3 Rochester Mayo at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 9 Mankato West at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 14 Austin at Faribault, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Roch. Century at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 21 Austin at Winona, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 24 Roch. John Marshall at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 25 Austin at Caledonia, 6 p.m. • March 2 Owatonna at Austin, 7:30 p.m.
to slow down. If we can play both speeds well, we’ve got the makings of something special. I think we can do it.”
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 2 Waseca at Austin, 7 p.m. • Dec. 6 Austin at La Crescent, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 8 Austin at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 10 Dodge County at Austin, 3 p.m. • Dec. 15 Rochester Mayo at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 17 Austin at Mankato East, noon • Dec. 20 Mankato West at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 27-29 Austin at Waseca Invite, TBA • Jan. 3 Austin at Waseca, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 5 Austin at Faribault, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 7 LeSueur/Henderson at Austin, 1 p.m. • Jan. 12 Austin at Winona, 7:30 p.m • Jan. 14 Roch. John Marhshall at Austin, 2 p.m. • Jan. 17 Albert Lea at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 19 Owatonna at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 21 Austin at Dodge County, 7 p.m. • Jan. 28 Mankato East at Austin, 2 p.m.
• Feb. 2 Austin at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 4 Faribault at Austin, 2 p.m. • Feb. 9 Rochester Century at Austin, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 11 Winona at Austin, 2 p.m. • Feb. 16 Austin at Roch. John Marshall, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 18 Austin at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.
Ethan Larson
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 9
Swimmers return numbers The Austin boys swimming and diving team brings back 21 swimmers from last season as it prepares for a strong year. The Packers are led by captains Caleb Bentley, Jordan Bentley, Tanner Conway, Joe Johnson, Jacob Legreid and Drew Peterson. Nick Brehmer is the only returning state qualifier as he was consolation champion in the 200freestyle last season. The Packers are hoping to improve as the season goes long and they hope their
younger swimmers can chip in. “We have a large team returning we will need to have some of the younger swimmers ready to try new events to help us fill out a line up,” said Austin head coach Lynn Gulbrandson, who is in his 26th season at the helm. “We have several strong events based on returning swimmers and divers. Relays should be a strength for this team.”
Nick Brehmer Home meets in bold
SCHEDULE
Dec. 8 Austin at Albert Lea, 6 p.m. Dec. 13 Rochester Mayo at Austin, 6 p.m. Dec. 20 Austin at Mankato East, 6 p.m.
Dec. 22 Mankato West at Austin, 6 p.m. Jan. 5 Austin at Faribault, 6 p.m. Jan. 10 Rochester Century at Austin, 6 p.m. Jan. 19 Austin at Winona, 6 p.m. Jan. 26 Rochester John Marshall at Austin, 6 p.m. Feb. 2 Owatonna at Austin, 6 p.m.
Katelyn Joseph
The Austin Packer dance team has five seniors as it looks to compete for a 10th straight trip to the Class ‘A’ state meet.
The Packers will look to seniors Anissa Zynda, Brianna Capretz, Katelyn Joseph, Kathleen Collier and Maggie Chidester to lead the way.
Austin Packer Dance
10 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
The Great Wall of Bruggeman Tyler Bruggeman
Dec. 9 Austin at Alexandria, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 Aberdeen , S.D. at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Dec. 16-17 Bismarck at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Dec. 30 Austin at Coulee Region, 8 p.m. Dec. 31 Coulee Region, Wis. at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Jan. 1 Austin at Alexandria, 5 p.m. Jan. 5-6 Austin at Bismarck, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 13-14 Minot at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Jan. 18 Coulee Region, Wis. at Austin, 7:05 p.m.
Home games in bold
REMAINING SCHEDULE/
Jan. 27-28 Bismarck at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 4 Alexandria at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 9-10 Austin at Aberdeen, 7:15 p.m. Feb. 11 Austin at Bismarck, 7:15 p.m. Feb. 17-18 Aberdeen, S.D. at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 24-25 Austin at Aberdeen, S.D., 7:15 p.m. Mar. 2-3 Coulee Region, Wis. at Austin,
7:05 p.m. Mar. 8-9 Austin at Minot, 7:05 p.m. March 10 Austin at Bismarck, 7:15 p.m. Mar. 16-17 Minot at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Mar. 18 Austin at Coulee Region, Wis., 5 p.m. Mar. 23-24 Bismarck at Austin, 7:05 p.m. Mar. 25 Austin at Alexandria, 5 p.m. Mar. 30-31 Austin at Coulee Region, Wis., 7 p.m.
The Austin Bruins are off to a solid start in their second season as they’re off to a 14-7-2 overall start (through Nov. 26). Tyler Bruggeman has been a solid force at goalie going 9-3-2 overall with two shutouts and a save percentage of 916. Brandon Wa h l i n has led t h e scoring attack with 19 points, while Christian Folin and Austin grad John Kirby each have 15 points.
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 11
Zach Bunch
Back on the right track New New coach coach and and new new faces faces try try to to get get RCC RCC some some wins wins
12 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
Things are looking very different for the Riverland men’s basketball team as they prepare for the upcoming season. They return just one player who played significant minutes last season and they’ll turn to interim head coach Scott Koenigs, who takes over after former coach Dan Swift resigned before the season. Koenigs was an assistant coach for RCC up until last year, and two players are coming back from that team — Jeff Clark-Neil and Taylor Morgan. Morgan said the coaching change was tough to deal with so close to the start of the season. “It hit a lot of people hard, but we’re coming together as a team and we’re trying to take care of business on the court. That’s the only thing that matters right now,” he said. “Everything’s going to have to be a team effort, on every possession.” The Blue Devils will be vastly undersized as they have just two players over 6-foot-3 inches. They’ll also be missing some key players early on as a few players will be ineligible, including their main returnee Denzel Smith, who averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds as a freshman. RCC will likely have nine players on the roster until the semester break. “These guys were thrown into a tough situation and they’ve adjusted well,” Koenigs said. “There isn’t any discipline issues anymore and they’re checking the attitudes at the door.” Koenigs hopes RCC can make up for its lack of height with their speed and athleticism. He said Zach Bunch, a 6-2 guard from Kenosha, Wis., and Keith Thames, a 5-7 guard from Chicago, Illinois, should chip in as well as Morgan, who is from Cripple Creek, Colo. and Clark-Neal, who is from St. Paul, Minn. “We need to be a team that really pushes the basketball up the floor,” Koenigs said. “This is a pretty athletic team and we’re going to try and force the issue and press.” RCC already got off to a strong start when it won the alumni game for the first time in five years. They held on to an 86-83 win as Smith poured in 29 points. From there the Blue Devils won their first two games on the road and went 4-2 through their first six games. Koenigs said his team must take care of the ball. “They hear me say a million times, make the good pass not the great pass,” Koenigs said. “I want to see the three good passes in a row instead of trying to make the pass that gets the crowd off their feet.” While Koenigs, who is the head coach of the RCC baseball team, took the basketball coaching job on an interim basis, he’s considering taking on the position full time. He just wants to make sure it doesn’t interfere with his baseball program. “When I first took this job it was definitely in the interim, but I’m enjoying the heck out of it and I’m a basketball coach at heart,” Koenigs said. “Chances are pretty good I’d want to come back and bring in some of my own recruits.”
RCC welcomes new faces The Blue Devils are turnPaul, Minn. and Sophia Heing back the clock a couple brink of Austin. “II think as years as they prepare for the Along with returnees long as we upcoming women’s basketRobin Arjes of Austin, Kim ball season. shoot the ball Craig of Southland, Selena Riverland has a lot of talGindratt, and Bridget well and ent, but some of that talent Bergstrom, the Blue Devils hasn’t taken the court in a move the ball have plenty of players to call two years or more. this season. well, we’ll be on “We One of the new players is have a lot of depth, but center Rebekah Aase, who if we have a group out there fine.” started on the Austin girls on a spurt, we’re going to basketball team that went to -Suzy Hebrink leave them out there until state in 2008, but hasn’t they get tired,” RCC head RCC women’s head played much since. coach Suzy Hebrink said. “We coach “We’re definitely working can go 12 deep, but sometimes on shaking off the rust.” that’s not the best way to play. Aase said. “Once we all learn We’ll try to maximize and play to play together and get our heads back in efficiently and see what happens.” the game, we’ll be a lot better. A lot of us RCC looks to hound the ball on defense haven’t played in awhile, but hopefully it to trigger its offense, where the team must comes sooner, rather than later.” replace its all-time leading scorer Krista The success has come early on. Like the Viehauser, who graduated last year. men, the Blue Devil women went 4-2 in While Stewart has made some plays in their first six games of the season. practice, Hebrink said it will likely be a Another one of RCC’s newcomers is team effort to score this season. Takiyah Stewart, who played for Min“We’ve got a lot of girls who can score, neapolis North which won three straight but it is yet to be seen if we have a go to state titles from 2003-2005. scorer,” she said. “I think as long as we RCC’s other new contributors include shoot the ball well and move the ball well, Cassie Masberg of Water- we’ll be fine. Defensively, I think we’ll conville/Elysian/Morristown, who sat out tinue to improve. There’s been a lot of last year with an injury, Skylar Anderson competitiveness in practice and that’s of Albert Lea, Brittany Murphy of St. good.”
Robin Arjes
CHEDULE • Jan. 21 College basketball: Riverland at Ridgwater, women play at 1 p.m., • Dec. 9 College basketball: Riverland at Itasca, women play at 6 p.m., Home games in bold men play at 3 p.m. men play at 8 p.m. • Jan. 25 College basketball: Fergus Falls at Riverland, women play at • Dec. 10 College basketball: Riverland at Northland, women play at 1 p.m., 6 p.m., men play at 8 p.m. men play at 3 p.m. • Feb. 1 College basketball: Minnesota West at Riverland, women play at 6 p.m., men • Dec. 16 College basketball: Southwestern, Iowa at Riverland, women play at 7 p.m., play at 8 p.m. men play at 9 p.m. • Feb. 4 College basketball: Riverland at at Anoka-Ramsey, women play at 1 p.m., • Jan. 4 College basketball: Riverland at WWTI, women play at 6 p.m., men play at 8 p.m. men play at 3 p.m. • Jan. 7 Collge basketball: Riverland at Gustavus JV, women play at 6 p.m., men play at 8 • Feb. 8 College basketball: Central Lakes at Riverland, women play at 6 p.m., men p.m. play at 8 p.m. • Jan. 11 Colllege basketball: Anoka-Ramsey at Riverland, women play at 6 p.m., men • Feb. 11 College basketball: Rochester at Riverland, women play at 1 p.m., men play play at 8 p.m. at 3 p.m. • Jan. 14 College basketball: Riverland at Central Lakes, women play at 1 p.m., men play • Feb. 15 College basketball: Ridgwater at Riverland, women play at 6 p.m., men play at 8 p.m. at 3 p.m. • Jan. 18 College basketball: Riverland at RCTC, women play at 6 p.m., men play at 8 • Feb. 25 College basketball: Riverland at Minnesota West, women play at 1 p.m., men play p.m. at 3 p.m.
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 13
D ep t h Charge Southland will have plenty of faces on the bench, but has to find a way around its lack of height
The Southland girls basketball team brings back eight of its key players from last year’s team that went 18-9 overall and it hopes to have another strong season this year. Seniors Kelli Smith, who is a strong defender that averaged 2.2 steals per game last year, Madi Schmitz, who averaged 8.2 points, 6.7 rebounds 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals, and Lindsey Bottema all return as key players. Junior guard Jana Schammel, who led Southland in scoring with 15.9 points per game last season, will also be back. “We were able to get to the semis of the sub-section last year and the girls are very excited about trying to better that,” Southland head coach Bob Sheehan, who is in his third year at the helm, said. “We are also looking to be a factor in the conference race.” Southland will look to Breanne Vogel, Betsy Oswald and Brooke Yunker to chip in as it has six seniors. The Rebels
Jana Schammel
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Nov. 29 Riceville, Iowa at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 2 Hayfield at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Southland at Saint Charles, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Lewiston/Altura at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Southland at Dover/Eyota, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 17 LeRoy/Ostrander at Southland, 3 p.m. • Jan. 3 Southland at Rushord/Peterson, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 5 Caledonia at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 7 Wabasha/Kellogg at Southland, 5:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Southland at Plainview/Elgin/Millville, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 12 Southland at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Southland at Kingsland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Southland at Chatfield, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Saint Charles at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 24 Southland at Lewiston/Altura, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 27 Dover/Eyota at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 30 Kingsland at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 31 Southland at Wabasha/Kellogg, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 2 Southland at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 6 p.m. • Feb. 6 Southland at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 9 Medford at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 10 Rushford/Peterson at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 14 Southland at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Plainview/Elgin/Millville at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 21 Chatfield at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 23 Southland at Kasson/Mantorville, 7:30 p.m.
will also get a boost from juniors Haley Kirkpatrick and Megan Mullenbach. “I see all of six seniors leading in one way or another,” Sheehan said. “One of the biggest strengths that we have this year is going to be our
14 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
depth. We have a very talented group of juniors and seniors this year and they are very athletic and quick.” The Rebels’ one
weakness will be their lack of height this season and that will be something they’ll have to overcome. “We are not very tall compared to the other teams on our schedule so we are going to have to be active and work hard on the defensive side of the ball,” Sheehan said. “With the speed and athleticism that this team posses we should be a fun team to watch. But the lack of height is going to be a concern.”
Kelli Smith
The Rebels will look to run and gun as they prepare for the upcoming boys basketball season. Southland, which went 1413 overall last year, doesn’t have any players taller than 6-foot, 3inches, but it has a few athletes who can get up and down the floor. “Our strength is athletic ability and we’ll really have to rely on it,” Southland head coach Jon Thalberg, who is in his sixth year at the helm, said. “This year we will look to push the ball on offense using our athletic ability and play hard nosed pressure defense, both man-to-man and zone.” Junior forward Mike Go-
I n t he fas t lWithaan e mind to run, Southland is looking to put opposing teams in their rearview
SCHEDULE/Home games in bold
• Dec. 2 Wabasha/Kellogg at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Saint Charles at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Southland at Lewiston/Altura, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Dover/Eyota at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 15-16 Southland Invite, 6 p.m. • Dec. 19 Southland at Riceville, Iowa, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 22 Southland at Fillmore Central, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 3 Rushford/Peterson at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 5 Southland at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Grand Meadow at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Plainview/Elgin/Millville at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Kingsland at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Chatfield at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 19 Southland at St. Charles, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 24 Lewiston/Altura at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 27 Southland at Dover/Eyota, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 31 Wabasha/Kellogg at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 2 Southland at Lyle/Pacelli at Lyle, 8 p.m. • Feb. 4 Southland at Hayfield, 5 p.m. • Feb. 10 Southland at Rushford/Peterson, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 13 Fillmore Central at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 14 Caledonia at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Southland at Plainview/Elgin/Millville, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 21 Southland at Kingsland, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 23 Southland at Chatfield, 7:30 p.m.
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ergen should lead the offense as he averaged 16.6 points and six rebounds last season and is a two-year starter. Junior guards Nick Schmitz and Decker Bendtsen also return as starters. Southland also returns two key players in juniors Sam Klaehn and Chris Wolff. Goergen is on track to score his 1,000th career point at some point this upcoming season.
Southlandʼs Nick Schmitz drives the lane against Lyle/Pacelli last year
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Numbers game The Southland wrestling team returns just six wrestlers with varsity experience as it graduated seven from last year’s team. The Rebels will look to Alex Pitzen, Christian Padilla and Matt Schmitz to lead the way this season. “With the few numbers that we have, our work ethic would be a strength,” Southland head coach Bill Feuchtenberger said. “We look to be competitive with what we have and improve every week.”
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Home meets in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 15 Southland at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.
• Dec. 16 Southland at Plainview/Elgin/Millville, 5 p.m.
• Dec. 17 Southland at Northwood/Kensett, Iowa tournament, TBA
• Jan. 5 Southland at Northwood/Kensett, Iowa, 6 p.m. • Jan. 7 Southland at Cresco, Iowa, TBA
• Jan. 20 Southland at Fillmore Central, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 21 Southland at Riceville, Iowa, TBA
• Jan. 26 Lewiston/Altura, Rushford/Peterson, United South Central at Southland, 5 p.m.
• Jan. 27 Southland at Medford, 5 p.m.
• Feb. 2 Hayfield, Saint Charles at Southland, 5 p.m. • Feb. 4 Southland at Wabasha/Kellogg, noon • Feb. 18 Southland at Maple River, 10 a.m.
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LP led by three returning starters Skylar Meyer
The Lyle-Pacelli boys basketball team returns three starters from last year’s squad that went 916 overall as it prepares for the upcoming season. Junior forward Skylar Meyer is the top returnee, averaging 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks last season. The Athletics also bring back senior forward Max Brennan and junior guard David Diang. “All three of those guys have spent a lot of the offseason in the gym and the weight room,” L-P head coach Casey Anderson. L-P will have a young squad after graduating five seniors, but six players return with varsity experience. Anderson is hoping his team can stay in games this season as they struggled in the second half of contests most of last season. He’s hoping it will help to turn up the pace. “We are looking to play more up tempo this year and also be more aggressive on both offensive and defensive boards,” Anderson said.
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
Dec. 5 Lyle/Pacelli at Randolph, 8 p.m. Dec. 6 Lyle/Pacelli at Schaeffer Academy, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 Lyle/Pacelli at Spring Grove, 8 p.m. Dec. 16 Lyle/Pacelli at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 Lyle/Pacelli at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 Lyle/Pacelli at Triton, 7 p.m. Jan. 3 Alden/Conger at Lyle/Pacelli at Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lyle/Pacelli at Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 Glenville/Emmons at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Lyle/Pacelli at Hope Lutheran, 8 p.m. Jan. 16 Lyle/Pacelli at Goodhue, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 Mabel/Canton at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 Lyle/Pacelli at Lanesboro, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 Spring Grove at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 8 p.m. Jan. 30 Schaeffer Academy at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 Southland at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 8 p.m. Feb. 3 Houston at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Lyle/Pacelli at Medford, 8 p.m. Feb. 7 Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 Hope Lutheran at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 8 p.m. Feb. 13 Grand Meadow at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 Lyle/Pacelli at Mabel/Canton,7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 Lyle/Pacelli at Glenville/Emmons, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 Lanesboro at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
LP girls find success in youth Last year the Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team had a breakthrough season, winning more games than it had in the previous three seasons combined. The Athletics, who went 17-6 last year, hope to keep that upward trend going as they bring back four starters. The Athletics have just two seniors in Abbie Leif and Whitney Hinz and they will both be asked to step up as leaders. The team, which has no juniors, will also rely on sophomore point guard Ann Rysavy, who was All-SEC last season and averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Sophomore Maggie Lewison averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds. “Our goal for the season is to win the west side of the conference, and make a return trip to Rochester for tournament play,” LP head coach Brad Walter said. “I am really looking forward to working with this group of girls. It is a great group with a lot of basketball skills and good work ethics.” The Athletics have four middle schoolers and a freshman on their roster including freshman center
Madison Truckenmiller, who averaged six points and eight rebounds last season, and eighth grade guard Courtney Walter, who was All-SEC honorable mention and averaged 9 points last season. “We have a fast team that is very athletic,” Walter said. “Our weakness would have to be that we are very young. If we have any injuries depth could become a concern. But in the past couple years we have really gotten quality minutes from some very young girls, and that could be the difference on how our season turns out.” Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
Nov. 29 Lyle/Pacelli at Schaeffer Acad., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 LeRoy/Ostr. at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 Lyle/Pacelli at Randolph, 6 p.m. Dec. 9 Lyle/Pacelli at Spring Grove, 6 p.m. Dec. 13 Lyle/Pacelli at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 Houston at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 Glen./Emmons at Lyle/Pac. in Lyle, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 Lyle/Pacelli at Lanesboro, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 Lyle/Pacelli at Alden/Conger, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6 Schaeffer Acad. at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:30 p.m.
Ann Rysavy
Jan. 9 Roch. Home Schoolers at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 6 p.m. Jan. 13 Lyle/Pacelli at Hope Lutheran, 6 p.m. Jan. 17 Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 Mabel/Canton at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 6 p.m. Jan. 23 Grand Meadow at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 Lyle/Pacelli at Fillmore Central, 6:15 p.m. Jan. 27 Spring Grove at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 6 p.m. Jan. 31 Lyle/Pacelli at Glenville/Emmons, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 Southland at Lyle/Pacelli at Lyle, 6 p.m. Feb. 3 Lyle/Pacelli at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Lyle/Pacelli at Medford, 6 p.m. Feb. 7 Fillmore Central at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7 p.m. Feb. 10 Hope Lutheran at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 6 p.m.
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 17
Big Time
The Hayfield boys basketball team is thinking big, returning four starters from last year’s squad that went 17-11 overall.
Cole Kruger
The Vikings bring back their top playmaker in sophomore point guard Cole Kruger, who averaged 9.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds last season and their best scorer in Bobbie Stephens, who averaged 13 points per game and hit 43 percent of threes last season. Junior forward Brady Kramer, who averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game last season, will also be a key player. “These guys have played in some big games and that experience should help us this year,” Hayfield head coach Chris Pack, who is in is 12th year at the helm, said. “We hope to compete for the HVL Gold Title and we expect to battle for the subsection title.” Pack’s biggest concern for the Vikings is rebounding. Hay-
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 3 United South Central at Hayfield, 5 p.m. • Dec. 9 Hayfield at Rochester Lourdes, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 13 Hayfield at Pine Island, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 16 Hayfield at Goodhue, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 17 Saint Peter at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Byron at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 22 Winona Cotter at Hayfield, 7 p.m. • Dec. 28 Hayfield at Tartan Invite, 2:45 p.m. • Dec. 29 Hayfield at Tartan Invite, 4:45 p.m. • Dec. 30 Hayfield at Tartan Invite, 2:45 p.m. • Jan. 3 Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Roch. Lourdes at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.
Bobbie Stephens
field gave up 10 offensive boards per game last season. Stephens could set the Hayfield career record for threepointers this season. He set a school record with 104 last season and has the record for one game with nine. He currently has 217 threes in his career and is 47 threes from tying the record held by
• Jan. 7 Hayfield at New Richland/H/E/G, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Hayfield at Kasson/Mantorville, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 13 Hayfield at Stewartville, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 14 Blue Earth at Hayfield, 6 p.m. • Jan. 17 La Crescent at Hayfield, 7 p.m. • Jan. 31 Stewartville at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 4 Southland at Hayfield, 5 p.m. • Feb. 6 Hayfield at Winona Cotter, 7 p.m. • Feb. 10 Kasson/Mantor. at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 14 Hayfield at Byron, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 17 Hayfield at La Crescent, 7 p.m. • Feb. 21 Kenyon/Wan. at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.
David Johnson, who will coach Hayfield’s freshman this year. As a freshman, Kruger became only the fifth player in school history to record 100 or more points, rebounds, and assists in the same season. He recorded 269 points, 135 rebounds, and 114 assists last season.
Hayfield Viking Wrestling SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
Hayfield’s Mason Moreno wrestles at last years section meet 18 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
• Dec. 6 United South Central at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 8 Hayfield at Pine Island, 5 p.m. • Dec. 10 Hayfield at Jackson County Invite, 9:30 a.m. • Dec. 13 Lewiston/Altura, Rushford/Peterson, Byron at Hayfield, 5 p.m. • Jan. 5 Hayfield at Lake City, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 10 Kenyon/Wanamingo at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 12 Hayfield at Zumbrota/Mazeppa, 5 p.m. • Jan. 14 Hayfield at Wabasso, 10 a.m. • Jan. 17 Hayfield at Goodhue, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 19 Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. • Jan. 21 Hayfield Invite, 10 a.m. • Jan. 26 Kasson/Mantorville at Hayfield, 5 p.m. • Jan. 28 Hayfield at Lake City, 10 a.m. • Feb. 2 Hayfield at Southland, 5 p.m. • Feb. 9 Hayfield at La Crescent, 7:15 p.m.
To be competitive, the Hayfield girls will have to be good ....
The Hayfield girls basketball team will be looking for some players to share the scoring burden this season. T h e Vikings bring back their top scorer from last season in senior point guard Alyssa Selk, but they need to find a few other options. Selk averaged 11.4 points, 1.9 assists and 2.2 steals as Hayfield went 13-13 last season. “We will have to find a few scorers to step up for us this year,” said Hayfield head coach Fred Kindschy, who is in his eighth year at the helm. “The conference is loaded with talent, so we are going to have to play well right from the start if we want to be in the mix.” The Vikings have plenty of experience as seven return from last year’s squad. Sophomore guard Dani Wagner, senior guards Courtney Severson and Abby Blanchard all played significant minutes last season. “We have a strong group of seniors who have been very loyal to the program. They will be counted on heavily as the leaders this year,” Kindschy said. “We are looking to start strong again this year, and keep improving as a team throughout the year.” Kindschy said Hayfield has a lot of team speed that can run the floor, but with just one post player, the Vikings may have to play some small ball.
From the opening jump
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
McCayla Thoe
• Nov. 29 Hayfield at Goodhue, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 2 Hayfield at Southland, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Hayfield at Pine Island, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 9 Triton at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 13 Hayfield at Kenyon/Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 16 Zumbrota/Mazeppa at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 22 Hayfield at Winona Cotter, 7 p.m. • Dec. 27 Hayfield at St. Clair Invite, 3:30 p.m. • Dec. 28 Hayfield at St. Clair Invite, 1 p.m. • Dec. 29 Hayfield at St. Clair Invite, 1 p.m. • Jan. 3 Blooming Prairie at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 6 Hayfield at Rochester Lourdes, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 7 Hayfield at New Richland/H/E/G, 6 p.m. • Jan. 10 Kasson/Mantorville at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 13 Stewartville at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 14 Blue Earth at Hayfield, 4:15 p.m. • Jan. 17 Hayfield at La Crescent, 7 p.m. • Jan. 26 Hayfield at Byron, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 31 Hayfield at Stewartville, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 6 Winona Cotter at Hayfield, 7 p.m. • Feb. 9 Rochester Lourdes at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 10 Hayfield at Kasson/Mantorville, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 14 Byron at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 17 La Crescent at Hayfield, 7 p.m. • Feb. 21 Hayfield at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.
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507-477-3804 WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 19
Superlarks seeking inside-out ba lance The Grand Meadow boys basketball team brings back 10 players with varsity experience as it looks to have a strong inside and outside game this year. The Superlarks will look to senior Dezmon Johnson, and juniors Collin Jacobson and Bryce Benson to lead the way. Mike Ojulu will also be asked to step up in the paint. “We will be looking to improve from game to game,” said GM head coach Chad Burmester, who is in his sixth year at the helm. “We really want to improve defensively and make it difficult for opponents to score on us and we would like to control the boards both offensively and defensively. We have decent size with Bryce and Mike. We should have pretty decent depth this year and we have a nice combination of shooters and slashers.”
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 6 Grand Meadow at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Lanesboro at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 15 Schaeffer Acad. at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 16 Grand Meadow at Spring Grove, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Lyle/Pacelli at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 27 LeRoy/Ostr. at Grand Meadow Invite, 6 p.m. • Dec. 28 LeRoy/Ostr. at Grand Meadow Invite, 6 p.m. • Jan. 3 Fillmore Central at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Grand Meadow at Southland, 7:45 p.m. • Jan. 10 Hope Lutheran at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Mabel/Canton at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Grand Meadow at Hope Lutheran, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 19 Randolph at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
GM girls return eight The Grand Meadow girls basketball team returns eight players with varsity experience as it prepares for the upcoming season. The Superlarks, who went 6-19 last season, will be led by junior point guard Autumn Thorsen, who averaged 8.9 points and 1.7 steals last season and junior forward Cortney Olson, who averaged 9 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. “We are very optimistic about improving on our record from last season. The key will be to stay healthy and injury free,” GM head coach Dawn Baduoin, who is in her 20th year at the helm, said. Stephanie Russell returns as the team’s only senior and junior forward Audra Durhman, who averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 rebounds last season, is another key returnee.
Sydney Richardson
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Nov. 29 Grand Meadow at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 1 Alden/Conger at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 6 Schaeffer Academy at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Grand Meadow at Lanesboro, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 13 Lyle/Pacelli at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 16 Spring Grove at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Grand Meadow at Pine Island, 7:30 p.m
• Dec. 22 Fillmore Central at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 28 Grand Meadow at Randolph Invite, 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 29 Grand Meadow at Randolph Invite, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 3 Grand Meadow at Glenville/Emmons, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 6 LeRoy/Ostrander at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 9 Grand Meadow at Lewiston/Altura, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 Hope Lutheran at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 13 Grand Meadow at Mabel/Canton, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 17 Grand Meadow at Hope Lutheran, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Grand Meadow at Houston, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 23 Grand Meadow at Lyle/Pacelli, in Lyle, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 27 Lanesboro at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 31 Grand Meadow at Schaeffer Academy, 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 3 Grand Meadow at Spring Grove, 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 6 Southland at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 10 Mabel/Canton at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 14 Glenville/Emmons at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Houston at Grand Meadow, 6 p.m.
20 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
• Jan. 20 Grand Meadow at Houston, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 24 Grand Meadow at Glen./Emmons, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 27 Grand Meadow at Lanseboro, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 30 LeRoy/Ostr. at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 31 Alden/Conger at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 3 Spring Grove at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 6 Grand Meadow at St. Charles, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 10 Grand Meadow at Mabel/Canton, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 13 Grand Meadow at Lyle/Pacelli at Pacelli, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Houston at Grand Meadow, 8 p.m. • Feb. 21 Grand Meadow at Schaeffer Acad., 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 23 Glen./Emmons at Grand Meadow, 7:30 p.m.
New head coach to lead GMLOK wrestling The Grand Meadow/Leroy/Ostrander/Kingsland wrestling team will turn to a long-time assistant coach to lead the way as it prepares for the season. Jim Richardson, who has been an assistant coach at GMLOK for the past 15 years, will take over the helm. Richardson said former head coach Bill Simpkins will still be part of the program. “He has not SCHEDULE only been a Home meets in bold great coach to • Dec. 1 GMLOK at Saint Charles, 6 p.m. be around, but • Dec. 3 GMLOK at Faribault Invite, TBA • Dec. 8 Southland, Dover Eyota at he has become GMLOK in Grand Meadow, 6 p.m. a very good • Dec. 17 GMLOK at Fillmore Central Invite, friend of TBA • Jan. 6 LARP at GMLOK in LeRoy, 6 p.m. mine,” • Jan. 12 GMLOK at Plainview/Elgin/Millville, Richardson 6 p.m. said. “He’s like • Jan. 14 GMLOK at Stewartville, TBA • Jan. 20 Caledonia at GMLOK in Grand family and Meadow, 6 p.m. wrestling • Jan. 21 GMLOK at Hayfield, TBA seems to do • Jan. 26 GMLOK at Wabasha/Kellogg, 6 p.m. that.” • Jan. 28 GMLOK at Wisconsin Dells Invite, The BullTBA • Feb. 3 GMLOK at FCLMC in Kingsland, 6 dogs will p.m come out • Feb. 4 GMLOK at Pine Island, TBA with all they • Feb. 9 GMLOK at Chatfield, 6 p.m. can bring this season. “We have some kids that will work very hard and will put the time into being the best they can be,” Richardson said. “In the sport of wrestling being known as a hard goer, being in great shape and having a tough mind set will always make you dangerous and in position for a win.” GMLOK returns seven varsity wrestlers from last season.
Cards hoping numbers can help turn things around The LeRoy/Ostrander boys basketball team has its most players in years and head coach Jason Jude is hoping his they can stay in games this season. The Cardinals, who went 5-21 overall last season, have 19 players out for basketball this year, which is about five more than they usually have. L/O will look to two senior newcomers in Tom Mackey and Zach Miller to provide a boost and they’ll look to sophomore Zach Royston, who averaged 6 points last season, to grow into a solid role. “How Zach develops could determine how well we do,” L/O head coach Jason Jude said. “I’m hoping he takes a big step this year.” The Cards will have two backcourt players returning with varsity experience as junior Dom Lazzara and sophomore Nate Bunne return. “We’re getting close and our conference isn’t too strong,” Jude said. “We’re hoping to be a little more competitive in games this year.” Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Dec. 6 Grand Meadow at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 9 LeRoy/Ostrander at Mabel/Canton, 7:30 p.m. • Dec . 16 Hope Lutheran at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 Glenville/Emmons at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 5 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lyle/Pacelli in Pacelli, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 10 LeRoy/Ostrander at Houston, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 13 LeRoy/Ostrander at Spring Grove, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lanesboro, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 24 LeRoy/Ostrander at Schaeffer Academy, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 27 Mabel/Canton at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 30 LeRoy/Ostrander at Grand Meadow, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 3 LeRoy/Ostrander at Hope Lutheran, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 7 Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 10 Spring Grove at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 13 LeRoy/Ostrander at Glenville/Emmons, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 17 Lanesboro at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 21 Houston at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 23 Schaeffer Academy at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m.
Making the pieces fit The LeRoy-Ostrander girls basketball team brings back three starters as it looks to improve on last year’s record of 8-20. The Cardinals will look to seniors Chanda Riedemann and Krista Bunne and sophomore Becca Bunne to lead the way. “Becca started last year and just kept getting better with each game,” said L-O head coach Aaron Hungerholt, who is in his third year at the helm. The Cards will be a little short on size this season, but they’ll have six players with varsity experience — including Jessica Jennings and Anna Miller. The team will also get point guard Megan Grant back after she missed all of last season with a knee injury. Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Nov. 29 Grand Meadow at LeRoy/ Ostrander, 7:15 p.m.
• Dec. 2 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lyle/Pacelli in Lyle, 7:15 p.m.
• Dec. 9 LeRoy/Ostrander at Mabel/Canton, 6 p.m.
• Dec. 13 Glenville/Emmons at LeRoy/ Ostrander, 7:15 p.m.
• Dec. 15 LeRoy/Ostrander at Houston, 7:15 p.m. • Dec. 16 Hope Lutheran at LeRoy/ Ostrander, 6 p.m.
• Jan. 3 LeRoy/Ostrander at Schaeffer Academy, 7:15
Chanda Riedemann
p.m.
• Jan. 6 LeRoy/Ostrander at Grand Meadow, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 13 LeRoy/Ostrander at Spring Grove, 6 p.m.
• Jan. 17 Lyle/Pacelli at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 20 Lanesboro at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m.
• Jan. 23 LeRoy/Ostrander at Glenville/Emmons, 7:15 p.m. • Jan. 27 Mabel/Canton at LeRoy/Ostrander, 6 p.m. • Jan. 31 Houston at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 3 LeRoy/Ostrander at Hope Lutheran, 6 p.m.
• Feb. 9 Spring Grove at LeRoy/Ostrander, 7:15 p.m. • Feb. 17 LeRoy/Ostrander at Lanesboro, 7:15 p.m.
105 Main Street North Grand Meadow, MN (507) 754-5123
111 20th St NE Stewartville, MN (507) 533-4081
19 East Main Street Racine, MN (507) 378-5121
www.ffmbank.com
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 21
Finding a way to win BP will be tested with top playmaker Janelle Morem out for the season The Awesome Blossoms girls basketball team will have to find ways to compete without their biggest play-maker this season. Janelle Morem, a junior who had two years of varsity experience, suffered an ACL tear during volleyball season and will not be able to play for BP this season. She averaged 8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals last season as BP went 13-13 overall. “It’s one of those situations where you have a kid for a couple of years and you get her to where you want her to be and then all of the sudden she’s not able to play,” BP head coach John Worke said. “That’s quite a void to fill.” Worke will look to senior Tricia DeBoer, junior Shelbi Swenson and freshman Madison Worke to handle the ball in Morem’s absence. “Tricia will probably be asked to handle the ball more and Shelbi’s a good athlete,” Worke said. “(Madison) does a lot of things
for us. She can handle the ball and she gets to be a hard matchup sometimes.” Besides DeBoer, BP will have four other seniors in Cortney Easton, Julia Manges, Melanie Grant, and Kelli Naatz, who has played varsity since she was a sophomore. “They’re a good group of kids,” Worke said. “There’s nothing flashy about them, but they certainly enjoy the game.” Junior guard Jenna Krell returns from last year’s team and freshman Taylor Hagen could also contribute. “Taylor gives us another six-footer along with Kelli,” Worke said. “We may be able to put them on the court at the same time, although we might lose a little defense.” While Morem is out for the season, Worke said that she will still be a strong presence from the sideline. “She is still going to be very much involved and she’ll be around,” Worke said. “Her off the court leadership will be good, but we’ll miss her on the court leadership.”
Cortney Easton 22 | WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012
Home games in bold
SCHEDULE
• Nov. 29 Kenyon/Wanamingo at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 2 Blooming Prairie at Triton, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Medford at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 8 Blooming Prairie at Goodhue, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Blooming Prairie at Randolph, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 16 Blooming Prairie at Mankato Loyola, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 20 New Richland/H/E/G at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 22 Blooming Prairie at United South Central, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 29 Byron at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 3 Blooming Prairie at Hayfield, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Janesville/Waldorf/Pem. at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Blooming Prairie at Water./Elysain/Morristown, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 12 Southland at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Bethlehem Academy at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 16 Blooming Priarie at Alden/Conger, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Blooming Prairie at Medford, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Randolph at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 28 Mankato Loyola at Blooming Prairie, 2 p.m. • Jan. 31 Blooming Prairie at New Richland/H/E/G, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 3 United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 9 Tri-City United at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 10 Blooming Prairie at Janes./Waldorf/Pem., 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 14 Water./Elysian/Morris. at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Blooming Prairie at Bethlehem Academy, 7:30 p.m.
BP boys turn to their seniors The Blooming Prairie boys at the helm, said the Blossoms basketball team will look to should be tough on defense, but nine seniors to help the squad they’ll have to look to find some bounce back from last year’s 6scoring this season. 19 finish. Michael Thomas, a 6-4 junThe Awesome Blossoms ior forward, will pick up some will have a tough time getof that load as he led the team ting going after a long footin scoring, rebounding, steals ball run, but BP head coach and three-pointers as a sophodoes like the athletic ability more. He’ll also get some help his squad will bring to the from senior guards Luc table and he thinks they will Zellmer, Luke Hueman and improve throughout the Gabe Kartes. year. Up front, BP will look to 6-2 “This is probably one of senior Alex Fiebiger and 6-6 the most athletic teams we freshman Jon Rumpza to lead have had in a while,” Bruns the way. Rumpza played in said. “That fact, coupled with two varsity games as an the experience that we have eighth grader and 7.5 points, 6 coming back is very exciting.” rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per Bruns, who is game in that in his 13th stretch. S CHEDULE year Home games in bold • Dec. 2 Triton at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 5 Blooming Prairie at Kenyon/Wanamingo, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 6 Blooming Prairie at Alden/Conger, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 8 Goodhue at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 9 Randolph at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13 Blooming Prairie at Montgomery/Lonsdale, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 15 Blooming Prairie at Southland Invite, 6 p.m. • Dec. 16 Blooming Prairie at Southland Invite, 6 p.m. • Dec. 20 Blooming Prairie at New Richland/H/E/G, 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 22 United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 3 Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 6 Blooming Prairie at Janesville/Waldorf/Pemberton, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 10 Waterville/Elysian/Morristown at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 13 Blooming Prairie at Bethlehem Academy, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 17 Medford at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 20 Blooming Prairie at Randolph, 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 28 Blooming Prairie at Mankato Loyola, 2 p.m. • Jan. 31 New Richland/H/E/G at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 3 Blooming Prairie at United South Central, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 10 Janesville/Waldorf/Pemberton at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 14 Blooming Prairie at Waterville/Elysian/Morristown, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 17 Bethlehem Academy at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 21 Mankato Loyola at Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 23 Blooming Prairie at Medford, 7:30 p.m.
Talented to the core The Blooming Prairie wrestling team is strong on numbers and talent as it brings back 13 letter winners from last season. Last year BP usually had to forfeit three or four weights in duals, but that shouldn’t be a problem this season. “We have a good core group that has been around for a while,” BP head coach Kevin Driessen, who has coached the Blossoms for 15 years, said. “I expect at least five of them to have a minimum of 20 wins, and a few should even approach 30 wins. As a team, it looks like we'll be able to fill all the weight classes, so we should be more competitive in dual meets.” BP will look to seniors Adam Driessen, who had 22 wins and took third in sections last season, and Derek Drees to lead the way, along with juniors Blake Arett, who had 16 wins last season, and Jarrod Grunklee, who had 19 wins last season. “Our middle to upper weights are where we'll be strongest,” Kevin Driessen said. “However, we do have some younger, lighter weights that we expect to do well too.”
SCHEDULE/Home meets in bold
• Dec. 3 Blooming Prairie at Faribault, 10 a.m. • Dec. 6 Blooming Prairie at St. Clair/Mankato Loyola, 5 p.m. • Dec. 8 Blooming Prairie at New Richland/H/E/G, 6 p.m. • Dec. 10 Blooming Prairie at Shakopee, 10 a.m. • Dec. 15 Southland at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. • Dec. 17 Blooming Prairie at Kenyon/Wanamingo, 10 a.m. • Dec. 22 Blooming Prairie at Janesville/Waldorf/Pemberton, 5 p.m. • Jan. 5 United South Central at Blooming Prairie, 6 p.m. • Jan. 7 Blooming Prairie at Montgomery/Lonsdale/LeCenter, 10 a.m. • Jan. 14 Blooming Prairie at Stewartville, 8 a.m. • Jan. 19 Medford, Hayfield at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m. • Jan. 21 Blooming Prairie at Nicollet, 9 a.m. • Feb. 2 Blooming Prairie at Triton, 5 p.m.
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2011-2012 | 23