Bemidji area sports 2017

BEMI DJIAREA

Spor t s2017

The Bemidji Pioneer

Bemidji Area Sports Preview Hangaard hopes to lift Blackduck football

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Blackduck High School junior Kialee Brands powers down a kill during the third set of the Drakes’ 3-0 loss to Laporte on Thursday, Sept.

7, at Blackduck High School.

Micah Friez | Bemidji Pioneer

Drakes leaning on experience in 2017

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com The Blackduck High School volleyball team is bringing back experience in hopes of improving its 9-15 mark from a year ago.

“We have a lot of returning players with experience and talent,” head coach Cherry Brands said. “This group of ladies also have wonderful attitudes.”

The Drakes got off to a 3-0 start last season, but

faltered down the stretch and finished 9-15. It culminated in a 3-0 home loss to Red Lake County Central in the Section 8A opener, but Blackduck is looking to extend its success this time around.

“Our goals are to continue to improve individually and as a team and to make it (further) in playoffs,” said Brands.

The Drakes will return six seniors in Sophie Arhart, Maddie Cease, Ashlynn Nattrass, Keala

Schroeder, Deja Palmer and Kayla Hentges. Cease, Arhart, Hentges and junior Kialee Brands will serve as captains for BHS, which is hoping to keep it rolling after a 3-0 sweep over Bagley put them in the win column for the first time on the season.

Blackduck will be back home to take on WalkerHackensack-Akeley at 7:30 p.m. tonight in hopes of continuing its winning ways.

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BLACKDUCK — After a disappointing 2016 season that ended in a 1-7 finish, the Blackduck High School football team will look to return to form this year with a new head coach at the helm.

The Drakes will have Daniel Hangaard taking over this season as he enters into his first year with BHS, following a stint in Yuma, Ariz., at Gila Ridge High School.

“We are going to lean on our seniors quite a bit this year to lead us on and off the field and to try and keep some traditions in place while building our own traditions at the same time,” Hangaard said. “We have a team goal of hosting a playoff game this year.”

Hangaard’s biggest task will be helping junior quarterback Ian Frenzel to fill the void left by the recently graduated Ike Volk, who led the team with 567 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 59 attempts a year ago.

Blackduck High School junior Ian Frenzel shakes off tackles on a run during Blackduck’s 50-0 loss to AdaBorup/Norman County West on Thursday, Aug. 31, in the Drakes’ season opener in Blackduck.

Micah Friez | Bemidji Pioneer

Frenzel was the second leading rusher with 266 yards and a score on 68 attempts, while also throwing for 192 yards under center.

No other returning player rushed for more than 24 yards in 2016, meaning the Drakes will need increased production from returning backs like senior Michael Juelson and sophomore Peyton Johnson. Juelson led Blackduck on the defensive end, meanwhile, with a team-high 54 tackles throughout the season.

Frenzel finished in a tie for second at 53 while forcing

and recovering a fumble.

In all, the Drakes forced 12 turnovers last season while only committing eight turnovers of their own.

After an 0-2 start to the season, Blackduck will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, as they hit the road for the first time on the season to face Warroad.

“The only thing I hope for is that our athletes buy into the new system and work hard,” Hangaard said. “The scores will take care of themselves from there.”

Seniors leading Mustang volleyball Experience key for Mustang football season, which ended after a second-round defeat in the section tournament, but the Mustangs have a senior core that is set on taking the next step.

Northome/Kelliher will lean on Jetta Lievsay, Sophia Eitenmiller, McKenzie Hillman, Laechen Wagner and Tiana Weidenborner to lead the program in their final season in a Mustang uniform. And Ungerecht believes they can help make some noise in the section.

“They each play their own role and they’re very good at it. I feel

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like they can take us to a very successful season,” she said of her seniors.

“With the strength and unity we have, and the skills that are on our team... I plan on going hopefully into the third or fourth round (of the section tournament), if not further.”

Northome/Kelliher used a 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-17) sweep over Northland in its home opener on Tuesday, Sept.

5, to win its first match of the season. They’ll return to the court at 7 p.m. tonight to host Bigfork in Northome.

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com KELLIHER — The biggest staple for the Kelliher/Northome football team is head coach Derrick Gross. And entering into his 12th season as head of the Mustang program, Gross knows that the core of his team has experience, too. “(We have) a solid core of upperclassmen with starting experience,” he said. “Several sophomores gained a lot of valuable experience last season that will help them round out the main group early

in the season.”

K/N is already off on the right foot, having topped Northeast Range 46-14 in the season opener on Thursday, Aug. 31, and drubbing Littlefork-Big Falls 60-8 on Friday, Sept. 8. It’s the first steps in returning to a powerhouse program, as the Mustangs finished just 4-5 last season despite a state berth in 2014 and an undefeated regular season in 2015.

“If we are able to build depth while avoiding injury, we expect to be competitive throughout

the 2017 schedule,” Gross said. “Other schools in our sub-district are dealing with lower than usual numbers just like we are… With no one having a particularly deep roster, however, the subdistrict is up for grabs.”

Seniors Clyde Jensen, Titus Forseen, Hunter Lawsing, Trec Grunmeier and Wayne Lutz will bring back the most experience to the gridiron at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept.

15, as Kelliher/Northome is back in action against Floodwood in Kelliher.

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com NORTHOME — The Northome/Kelliher volleyball team has some high aspirations heading into this season.

“There’s always little things that we’re trying to work on, like coverage and tweaking that, but we don’t have one major weakness that’s showing its face,” Mustang head coach Brittany Ungerecht said.

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Red Lake volleyball Senior-heavy team leaning on Panthers hoping talent, experience for improvement coach Bryan Sathre will be relying on his seniors.

“The senior group has been through a lot over the past few years,” he said. The upperclassman need to step up and take the past 2-3 years of experience and put what they have learned and build the tradition back to what CL-B football was.”

Cass Lake-Bena has 12 seniors in total: Michael Staples, Michael Reyes,

Mark Reyes, Mark Reyes III, Jayden Seelye, Saige Humphrey, Nate Yates, David Wuori, Trystan LeBlanc, Martin Raines, Chase Johnson, Jordan Lawrence and Dylan Fairbanks.

Following its 1-1 start, the Panthers will return to the gridiron at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, against Ada-Borup/Norman County West in Ada.

sophomores and a pair of eighth-graders on its roster.

Despite an 0-2 start at the hands of Red Lake County Central and Lake of the Woods sweeps, Cass Lake-Bena hopes to turn things around come playoff time, where they’ve won their opener in each of the past three seasons.

The Panthers will be

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com RED LAKE — The Red Lake High School football team is still searching for something years in the making: a victory.

Following an 0-9 campaign a year ago, the Warriors will look to lean on its experience this

back on the court at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept.

16, for a tournament hosted by CrosbyIronton.

season. With nine juniors and five seniors on the roster, Red Lake will look to find the win column for the first time in recent memory.

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will lead the way for the Warriors to rebound from an 0-2 start to the season.

Red Lake returns to the gridiron at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, traveling to Walker to face WalkerHackensack-Akeley in a rematch of last season’s 69-28 shootout.

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it clicks, the results could speak for themselves.

“The goals I have for the upcoming season for my athletes are staying positive, great teamwork and communication, and to finish the season with a winning record,” Harris said.

Following an 0-2 start to the year, Red Lake will return to action at 5 p.m. today for a road match against Indus.

Red Lake football searching for success

Panthers eying improved season

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com CASS LAKE — The Cass Lake-Bena High School volleyball team has its sights set on returning to form this season after a 7-17 mark a year ago.

Seniors Madi White, Sam Nupson, Ramona White and Whitney Ellis will be leading the young Panthers this season, which also has four juniors, four

for the Red Lake squad.

“They are great at helping others and adjusting game play when needed,” Warrior head coach Brittany Harris said.

“These qualities could take our team to a higher level of performance this year.”

Harris also noted that her team possesses natural talent mixed with experienced players who have a good foundation of fundamental skills. If

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com CASS LAKE — The Cass Lake-Bena High School football team already has one thing it didn’t last year: a win.

Following a convincing 52-0 shutout over Red Lake on Friday, Sept. 8, the Panthers have matched their win total from the previous two seasons combined. And for the rest of the season, CL-B head

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com RED LAKE — Following a disappointing 2016, which saw the Red Lake High School volleyball team finish 1-8, the Warriors are back this season with hopes of returning to shape.

Seniors Ariel Johnson, Alexis Desjarlait and Shalana Geinety, along with junior Kianna Lussier, will be leading the charge

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Bemidji Area Sports Preview

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Wildcats working on improvements

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com LAPORTE — Only losing one senior to graduation from last year, the Laporte football team returns the bulk of its roster in hopes of improving its 1-8 mark from a year ago.

Senior captains Darin Johannsen and Jordan Lukanen, along with fellow seniors Elliott Davis

and TJ Jefferson, will be leading the Wildcats on the gridiron this season.

“We think we will be better at every position,” Laporte head coach Mike Olson said. “Our goal is to keep getting better and becoming more competitive in every game.”

With only 16 names on the roster, Olson expects

everyone from freshmen to seniors to contribute in the Wildcats want to see improvement in the win column.

Laporte dropped its season opener to Hancock on Sept. 1, but the Wildcats will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept.

15, for a road contest in Rothsay.

Laporte looking for deeper run

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com LAPORTE — Despite a 16-8 regular season last year, the Laporte High School volleyball team was upset in the opening round of the Section 5A tournament.

So, this time around, the Wildcats are gearing up for a deeper run into the postseason.

Seniors Latasha Micah Friez | Bemidji Pioneer Makarrall, Natalie Hadrava and Amelia Tusler will be Laporte High School senior Natalie Hadrava elevates leading the short-staffed for a kill in the second set of a 3-0 win over Blackduck Laporte squad, which only on Thursday, Sept. 7, at Blackduck High School. has six upperclassmen and working back towards the when they head to 11 players in total.

Nashwauk-Keewatin High Nevertheless, the successes of a year ago.

Laporte will return to School to take on the Wildcats have bagged three wins early in the season, action at 7 p.m. tonight Spartans.

Wildcats running toward growth side, all have experience in their back pocket this season.

Joining the program, meanwhile, is another pair of runners in eighth grader Warren Thompson and sixth grader Paradise Loftus, who will fill in at the junior high levels.

“Our goals, for our returning runners continue to be: improve

race times at each race over last year, reach personal best race times by midseason, place in races, love running and make it a lifelong activity,” Wildcat head coach Steve Booth said. “Our team goal is to build and spread the word about the joys of running and racing to others at our school so that we can grow our team.”

Laporte will be back in action at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, for the Milaca meet in Milaca.

Wolves hoping to turn season around

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com WALKER — The WalkerHackensack-Akeley/Cass Lake-Bena boys soccer team is off to a slow start this season, but the Wolves have four seniors who hope to turn it around come playoff time.

Keeper Shea Alto,

defenders Zach Midman and Ryan Marty-Kennedy and midfielder David Miller will lead the way for W-H-A/CL-B this year, which has seen an 0-5 start to the season.

The Wolves netted their first goal of the season against Crookston on Sept. 9, however, and

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com WALKER — With a successful 2016 in its back pocket, the WalkerHackensack-Akeley/ Cass Lake-Bena girls soccer team is hoping the momentum carries into the stretch of this year’s campaign.

The Wolves finished

4-6-2 last season, which ended via an overtime defeat in the Section 8A tournament to Fergus Falls. Senior midfielders Kya Harding-Jornlin and Mahliyah Shipley, as well as senior defender Ari McCormack, will lead their young squad throughout the remainder of the year.

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — A year ago, the TrekNorth co-ed soccer team won its first ever match, a 4-1 win over Walker-HackensackAkeley/Cass Lake-Bena.

This season, the Sundogs are hoping to build on it.

“As a team, we always strive to have fun playing soccer, to be competitive in every game, play hard to the end and continue to grow and learn as individuals and

as a team,” head coach Dan Gannon said. “We understand we are the underdogs in every game and we embrace that aspect of TN soccer.”

TrekNorth is paced by four seniors: defenders Simon Duerst and Abby Blevins, as well as midfielders Claire Londgren and Li Conklin.

Alongside the seniors will be junior forward James Duerst, who returns as

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the Sundogs’ top scorer, tallying six goals a year ago.

After falling to Mesabi East Area 2-0 in its season opener, TrekNorth will be back on the pitch at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to face WalkerHackensack-Akeley/CL-B on the road in hopes of making it two straight against the Wolves.

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W-H-A/CL-B earned its first point with a 1-1 tie against Crookston on Sept. 9 following a fourgame skid to open the season.

The Wolves will return to the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the Melrose Invitational, playing the host Dutchmen at 10 a.m. and then Rocori at 1 p.m.

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with the monkey off their back, they can look ahead toward the remainder of the season.

W-H-A/CL-B will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, to host Pelican Rapids in Walker, a rematch of the Vikings’ tight 3-1 victory from a year ago.

Wolves building off 2016 success

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com LAPORTE — The Laporte High School cross country team is a small team that’s still trying to grow, and three returners are leading the way.

Junior Keairah Urrutia and freshman Olivia Taylor on the girls side, as well as eighth grader Kaiden Urrutia on the boys

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Flyers going step-by-step Young Bears aiming for state

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BAGLEY — The Bagley High School volleyball team is taking a step-bystep approach this year.

Coming off a 3-17 campaign in 2016, which included a 14-game skid to end the year, the Flyers are hoping to build progress this season.

“We have small goals that are made from game to game. Overall, we are learning how to compete

and maintain being mentally tough when facing adversity,” Bagley head coach Leeanne Crane said.

“Our strengths this year will be our focus on small attainable goals. The girls are working hard to create more strengths for us.”

The Flyers have three seniors on the roster in Bailey Engesether, Katelyn Lindgren and Marissa Olson. So with such a young core, Crane is hoping for the talent

to develop throughout the season.

“We are a very young team. I am expecting all of them to take a leap in production this season,” she said. “These girls have made great progress from last year and, win or lose, I am looking forward to a great season.”

Following an 0-2 start to the year, Bagley will return in search of its first win at 9:30 a.m. for the Hill City Tournament.

Experienced Flyers aiming for development

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BAGLEY — The Bagley High School football team is coming off a 6-3 mark from a year ago, and with 16 seniors back, the Flyers are looking to carry the momentum into this season.

The seniors on the roster include Lavan Culkins, Carson Grover, Jarret Merschman, Jaiden Wangstad, Tannen Agnes,

William Lindbery, Lamarco Pemberton, Kyle Thorson, Jake Ubert, Mason Nepean, Scot Lundsten, Jacob Neeland, Austin Adams, Dawson Eck, Lee Waughtal, Brody Paggen and Austin Knutson.

“We will have to fill some positions from key departures from a season ago,” Bagley head coach Brandon Schwegel said. “Our main goal is

to continue to improve each week and develop confident, team-oriented student-athletes.”

The Flyers are off to a 1-1 start to open the year following a 31-7 win over Blackduck on Friday, Sept.

8. Bagley will next host Pine River-Backus at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, in hopes of getting above .500 for the first time on the young season.

Flyers hoping to keep competitive

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BAGLEY — The Bagley High School cross country program has a young team this fall, but head coach Sean Peterson is hopeful that the Flyers can still have a competitive season.

“We are young but we have a number of runners who will place high in the section,” Peterson said. “Our goals are to

have everyone improve throughout the season and come together at the end to have a top-10 finish in the section.”

Seniors Brayden Sorenson and Jacob Scherzer will serve as captains on the boys side, and, although the girls don’t have any seniors, junior Amelia Landsverk will fill the captain role

for the three-person girls team. “(They) are showing early promise to make a run at a high section finish and possibly a berth in the state tournament,” Peterson said of his captains.

Bagley will return to action at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in Bagley.

rely on its entire roster to work its way up the section ranks.

“They have put a lot of time into getting better in the off season and we expect big things from the entire group,” Kroulik said.

The Bears are out to a 1-1 start to begin the season, and they’ll return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, to host Stephen-Argyle in Clearbrook.

Bears out to fast start

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com CLEARBROOK — The Clearbrook-Gonvick High School volleyball team is already off to a fast start this season.

Following a 2-16 year in 2016, the Bears have matched the previous year’s win total in just three matches by shooting out to a 2-1 start.

Clearbrook-Gonvick has eight seniors on the roster: Brynn Hetland, Mikala Johnson, Myranda Engberg, Cami Johnson, Tamara Skinaway, Madelynne Faldet, Sierra Walters and Keisha Jones.

Despite losing 13 of its final 14 matches of the season last year, the Bears have clicked early to shoot above .500.

“The girls are working very well together,” firstyear head coach Tammie Ehlers said. “I expect all of them to take the leap together.”

Clearbrook-Gonvick will look to continue its early season success for a home match against Red Lake Falls at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Clearbrook.

C-G cross country fields young rosters

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com CLEARBROOK — The Clearbrook-Gonvick High School cross country team is heading into the season with a young team.

With no seniors on the

roster, the experience lies with juniors Joshua Lavin and Macabee Hammer on the boys side and Arabella Corey on the girls side.

Additionally, sophomore Zoe Balda Steffens will look to help build the

program throughout the coming years, which also has six middle schoolers on the roster.

The Bears are slated to race Park Rapids Area at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16 in Park Rapids.

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this year,” head coach Casey Kroulik said. “We have only three seniors this year, but they have been great leaders for our team.”

Those seniors are linemen Ben Solberg, Hunter Voxland and Ty Nelson, who will lead the junior-heavy Bears as they march back toward the postseason.

With 11 juniors and 11 underclassmen in total, Clearbrook-Gonvick will

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com CLEARBROOK — Ethan Dorman is back under center for the ClearbrookGonvick High School football team this season.

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MILLER & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Appointments available the day you call.

Sanford Bemidji Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center

(218) 751-9746 Shannon Miller

American Family Agent

Jessica Hansen

Agency Branch Manager

John Svingen

Marketing Specialist

1425 Paul Bunyan Drive NW • Bemidji, MN 218-751-5351 • www.shannonmilleragency.com

AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., & its Operating Companies, American Family Life Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison WI 53783 ©2015 008944 – Rev. 07/17

044001-00015 3/15