Fall Sports Spotlight 2019

BEMIDJI

HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS

SPOTLIGHT

THE BEMIDJI PIONEER FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2019

FOOTBALL.................................. B2 BOYS SOCCER............................ B3 GIRLS SOCCER........................... B3 VOLLEYBALL..............................B4 GIRLS SWIMMING.....................B4 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY............. B5 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY............ B5 GIRLS TENNIS............................ B6

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Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School football team. Seniors on the team are Reid Colley, Isaiah Beihn, Vinny Tesch, Caelob Staples, Joe Hudson, Ryan Yang, Jaden Clyde, Seth Glynn, Gabe Schwarzlander, Nick Snell, Wyatt Harrom, Justin Nelson, James LaValley, Javian Boykin, Sam Pfremmer, Mason Bitker, Tom Naig, Freddy Petrowski, Ryan Turner, Chase Smith, Chase Smith, Dylan Black, Noah Klinke, Garrod Woodbury, Anthony Sconce and Colten Jensen. Juniors are Isaiah Reed, JD Kondos, Isaiah Rintala, Aaron Hoeffer, Brett Tharaldson, Brandon Lussier, Matt Arel, Aaron Heger, Noah Leffelman, Haaken Vaughn, Will Falldorf, James Williams, Colton Hinrichs, Parsons Doley, Grant DeClusin, Josh Nyberg, Caleb Kalbrenner, Tristen Kindred, Tyler Simon and Mason Valerius. Sophomores are Gemini Ellis, Kolby Christiansen, Jack Larson, Jacob Kelly, Caden Bolte, Austin Skime, Logan Schultz, Carson Binkley, Braden Joyce, Dylan Berglund, Sam Wilson, Logan Glynn, Logan Willard, Hunter Webb, Thade Osborn, Gavin Luksik, Nate Schwinghammer, Dakota Canty, Isaac Frenzel, Cody Lyle, Caide Staker, Caleb Smith, Simon Mitchell, Dylan Sweeney, Dylan Headbird, Jack Twelvetrees, Gus Anderson, Wyatt Treichel, John Claven and Quentin Dever-Tiessen. The team is coached by head coach Troy Hendricks and assistants Bryan Stoffel, Steve Thompson, Tyler Kondos, Jeff Ostrom, Jack Aakus, Luke Glime, Brian Murphy, Jim McKeon, Eric Medberry, Kevin Voeller, Guy Schermerhorn, Byron Willard and Mike Rettinger.

FOOTBALL



BEMIDJI SET TO DEFEND SECTION TITLE

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — To open its section-championship encore, the Bemidji High School football team has gone back to the basics.

“Each and every year, I think our approach as a coaching staff is, ‘Let’s start at square one and pay attention to detail,’” BHS head coach Troy Hendricks said. “Really, that’s it. Start with the basics and let’s work our way through our systems: offense, defense and special teams.”

The Lumberjacks, the defending Section 8-5A

champions, have built things back up from the ground this season in their attempt for a repeat.

They have a few holes to fill, starting under center. Quarterback Jacob Beberg has graduated, as have two of his favorite targets in wide receivers Ryan Bieberdorf and Kade Peterson. Running back Caleb Grant has also departed the backfield.

Nevertheless, Bemidji believes it has the means to be a contender again this season.

“Brett (Tharaldson), as a junior quarterback, has definitely taken a leadership role. Both in the

way he carried himself throughout the offseason and the way he’s performed and communicated to his teammates,” Hendricks said. “I definitely feel comfortable with him taking over for Jacob Beberg. Defensively, we have a plethora of kids (who) know what it takes and will step into leadership roles. We have (nose guard) Chase Smith, we’ve got (outside linebacker) Ryan Yang, we’ve got (inside linebacker) Justin Nelson who are all captains on the defensive side of the ball.”

The Jacks have 26 seniors on the team in

Reid Colley, Isaiah Beihn, Vinny Tesch, Caelob Staples, Joe Hudson, Ryan Yang, Jaden Clyde, Seth Glynn, Gabe Schwarzlander, Nick Snell, Wyatt Harrom, Justin Nelson, James LaValley, Javian Boykin, Sam Pfremmer, Mason Bitker, Tom Naig, Freddy Petrowski, Ryan Turner, Chase Smith, Chase Smith, Dylan Black, Noah Klinke, Garrod Woodbury, Anthony Sconce and Colten Jensen.

BHS finished 2018 with a 10-2 record. Bemidji hit double-digit wins by defeating CambridgeIsanti 51-25 in the state opener before a 33-21 loss

Good Luck Teams!

AUG. 29 SEPT. 6 SEPT. 13 SEPT. 20 SEPT. 27 OCT. 4 OCT. 11 OCT. 16 OCT. 22 OCT. 26 NOV. 1

2019 Schedule at Andover BRAINERD at Alexandria at Sartell ST. CLOUD TECH BIG LAKE at Sauk Rapids-Rice MOORHEAD 8-5A Quarterfinals 8-5A Semifinals 8-5A Final

to St. Thomas Academy in the semifinals.

The Lumberjacks have started off the new season on the right foot, as well, pulling off a dramatic, 28-27 comeback victory at Andover in week one.

Bemidji will next look to ride the momentum into its Section 8-5A schedule, but an added target on its back as the defending champs won’t change anything.

“All we can do is control ourselves,” Hendricks

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said. “We’ve been in this position before. The boys aren’t concerned about it at all, (us coaches) are not concerned about it at all.

We know, if we come in to each and every game and punch them in the mouth, all the ideas and thoughts of what you were going to do to the Jacks becomes null and void.”

BHS will host Brainerd at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Chet Anderson Stadium.

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BOYS SOCCER

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Lumberjacks fighting for another crack at state AUG. 24 AUG. 27 SEPT. 3 SEPT. 5 SEPT. 9 SEPT. 12 SEPT. 14 SEPT. 17 SEPT. 21 SEPT. 24 SEPT. 26 SEPT. 28 SEPT. 30 OCT. 5 OCT. 8 OCT. 10 OCT. 12 OCT. 15 OCT. 17

2019 Schedule at St. Cloud Cath.

DETROIT LAKES GRAND RAPIDS DULUTH EAST at St. Cloud Apollo at Moorhead CROOKSTON at Duluth Denfeld BRAINERD PELICAN RAPIDS MOORHEAD SARTELL at E. Grand Forks ALEXANDRIA at Hillcrest Lutheran 8A Prelims 8A Quarterfinals 8A Semifinals 8A Final

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Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School boys soccer team. In the first row (from left) are Steven Peterson, Will Hubert, Chase Mock, Silas Bitter, Noah Johnson, Josh Wright, Blaine Sauer and Eric Guida. In the second row are Ethan Mock, Silas Hess, Ben Hess, JD Bitter, Aidan Helwig, Kolden Michalicek and Logan Mitchell. In the third row are head coach Rick Toward, Nik Kivi, Michael Dickinson, Chase Fillipi, Ryan Rautio, Noah Ricci, assistant coach Jeff Mitchell and assistant coach Elmer Galdamez.

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School boys soccer team has just one more step forward to take. So, fresh off a heartbreaking state-championship loss from a year ago, is that the goal this season?

“Every team, when they start their season, says they want to play in that final game of the year.

Certainly, this team is no different than that,” BHS head coach Rick Toward said. “I do think that getting to the section final is obviously the first thing we’re concerned about — playing in that game

and then giving ourselves an opportunity to get to the state tournament. But absolutely.”

The Lumberjacks went on a dazzling postseason run that brought them on the brink of a state championship in 2018.

It didn’t happen, as The Blake School scored on a double-overtime miracle shot from 55 yards out to claim the title. Even so, all Bemidji accomplished before that moment made it a season for the books.

“We played well, worked hard, we had a great team and we had some luck,” Toward said. “We dodged injuries for the most part, we got a couple bounc-

es that went our way. All those things kind of fell into place. … This team’s expectations are to get to that final game in the section and go forward from there.”

The Jacks are the threetime defending champions of Section 8A. They’re poised to contend once again this season thanks to as much experience as anyone and 12 seniors on the roster: JD Bitter, Logan Mitchell, Ethan Mock, Kolden Michalicek, Blaine Sauer, Ben Hess, Aidan Helwig, Silas Hess, Chase Fillipi, Chase Mock and Nik Kivi.

And even after all the players have accom-

plished, Toward knows the program still has room to improve.

“We know we defended for about 90 minutes in that (state championship) game. So we recognize there’s still room for our program to expand, grow, get better, to compete at that level,” he said. “… Blake’s in that game, or in that environment, every year. So, for us, it’s a growing experience. It’s a learning experience.”

BHS tallied a programrecord 19 wins as part of its 19-3-1 campaign in 2018. If it wants similar success this season, Toward said the defense will have to come through

in moments of need.

“JD needs to make that save that he’s not supposed to make. Kolden needs to make that play on the ball he’s not supposed to,” he said. “We need to have those guys, our backline, continue to play as well as they have been.

“We know there are going to be bigger games and tougher games ahead, and we need to make sure the whole team steps up.

But right now, our backline is the one that’s going to face the toughest test.”

Bemidji opened the year 2-0 with wins over St. Cloud Cathedral (5-0) and Detroit Lakes (8-0), so the Jacks have taken care of

business out of the gates.

They’ll have a much steeper test at 6 p.m. tonight at the middle school, hosting Duluth East — one of Bemidji’s two regular season losses from a year ago and the eventual Class AA state runner-up.

But, as Toward said, a worthwhile goal isn’t supposed to come easy.

“Three years ago: the first time we ever got to state,” he said. “Two years ago: back to state and lose in overtime. And then last year: Oh my gosh, the Cinderella run.

Can we make this a habit?

That’s the culture we’re trying to build.”

GIRLS SOCCER

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3-peat on the minds of BHS girls

By Austin Monteith amonteith@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — Any team that wants to three-peat as section champions knows having a lot of veterans goes a long way toward achieving that goal. Luckily for the Bemidji High School girls soccer team, that’s exactly the situation it finds itself in entering the 2019 season.

On the heels of backto-back state tournament appearances, the Lumberjacks are hoping to make it back for a third straight year with a roster loaded with experience.

Every player on Bemidji’s varsity squad this season is an upperclassmen. That’s a whopping 16 seniors to go along with seven juniors.

Among the returners is the team’s leading goalscorer in senior forward Lindsey Hildenbrand, 2018 all-state tournament forward Emma Dean and Katie Alto, the midfielder who sealed the Lumberjacks’ shootout win over Sartell-St. Stephen in the Section 8A title game last fall.

“Confidence and experience mostly,” head coach Logan Larsen said when asked how having such a veteran group could pay off for BHS. “A lot of returners, so they kind of

Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School girls soccer team. In the first row (from left) are Chantal Christofferson, Sophia Morin, Sam Hansen, Ella Martin, Hailey Nelson and Liberty Dickerson. In the second row are Emma Neubeck, Katie Alto, Becky Ritter, Susan Ritter, Lexi Paquette and Halle Solien. In the third row are Abby Kieson, Aliya Berard, Damaris Berg, Emma Stanoch, Ada Lee and Anna Garrigan. In the fourth row are assistant coach Kris VanWilgenHammitt, Lindsey Hildenbrand, Emma Dean, Peyton Oelrich, Jenna Jones and head coach Logan Larsen. Not pictured is Rosie Laitala. understand how I coach and what I expect to see.”

Dean and Alto are two of the team’s four captains alongside senior defender Jenna Jones and senior midfielder Sam Hansen “All four of our captains are very good leaders and are experienced,” Larsen said. “But honestly all our returners are great.”

Senior defender Damaris Berg helps comprise a seasoned backline that did not concede a goal through the team’s first three games this season.

“Damaris Berg is a defender who has just been playing that position for years and years,” Larsen said. “No matter what formation we play,

she’s a huge part of our defense. Same with Halle Solien: many years of experience on varsity.”

Seniors goalkeepers Abby Kieson and Anna Garrigan have also played a part in the team’s early shutout streak, splitting time in net in those contests.

The other seniors rounding out the team are Ada Lee, Susan Ritter, Aliya Berard, Becky Ritter, Lexi Paquette and Chantal Christofferson.

The Jacks went 13-5-3 en route to a section title last year before ultimately falling to eventual state champion Mahtomedi for a second straight season in the Class A quarter-

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finals. While the team’s defense held its own in 2018, Larsen would like to see some improvement in the attacking department.

“Basing off of last year, our final third of the field was a weakness,” the coach said. “I think that when we look at what we have, the biggest concern, of course, would be how finish goals against a team of extremely good defense.”

Offense wasn’t lacking in the first three matches of 2019. BHS demolished Walker-HackensackAkeley 16-0 in the season opener before shutting down St. Cloud Cathedral 4-0 and Detroit Lakes 3-0.

The early results indi-

AUG. 22 AUG. 24 AUG. 29 SEPT. 3 SEPT. 5 SEPT. 7 SEPT. 9 SEPT. 12 SEPT. 19 SEPT. 21 SEPT. 23 SEPT. 26 SEPT. 28 OCT. 3 OCT. 5 OCT. 7 OCT. 10 OCT. 12 OCT. 15 OCT. 17

2019 Schedule WHA at St. Cloud Cath. at Detroit Lakes E. GRAND FORKS CLOQUET HILLCREST LUTH. CROOKSTON MOORHEAD at E. Grand Forks BRAINERD at St. Cloud Apollo at Moorhead DULUTH EAST DETROIT LAKES at Duluth Marshall at Grand Rapids 8A Prelims 8A Quarterfinals 8A Semifinals 8A Final

cate another successful season may be on the horizon.

“I expect a lot of success,” Larsen said. “Of course, I’m going to be mixing things up, which sometimes puts us at risk. So there may be a result that isn’t exactly as expected. But I just expect us to be honed in exactly as we want to be by the time sections roll around.”

Bemidji will be tested this season, and that should be just what the

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team needs to be galvanized in time for another postseason run.

“I think just recognizing our weaknesses,” Larsen said of what it will take for the team to return to state.

“Getting games where we can get exploited and realize what we have to do to be at that point. And we have that. We have lots of tough games on our schedule. So we’ll get it figured out by the time sections roll around.”

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VOLLEYBALL

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BHS leaning on growth for breakout year

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School volleyball team is all business this year.

“We’ve had a lot of girls work really hard over the summer,” BHS head coach Alicia Kriens said. “… They’re there to work, and they all have the same mindset that we want to succeed, we want to be at our best and give our best every day. It’s been really awesome.”

This year’s Lumberjack squad boasts a solid 1-2 punch on the attack in senior outside hitters Taylor Wade and Ashley Hofstad.

“Taylor Wade was one we talked to,” Kriens said. “(We told her), ‘You’re a senior leader. The choices you make in the front row are huge. We need more production out of you.’ … Ashley has also done a great job of being a team leader, all the way around on the court.”

Others have stepped up similarly in their respective roles, Kriens said.

“Emily (Wade) has been working really well on being offensive when she’s in the front row and throwing in some dumps

Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School volleyball team. In the first row (from left) are Keena Kondos, Anikka Takkunen, Allie Lillquist, Kennedy Smith and Jenna Anderson.

In the second row are Jody Pemberton, Taylor Wade, Kate Hildenbrand, Kait Duffy and Ashley Hofstad. In the third row are Emma Huberty, head coach Alicia Kriens, assistant coach Andrew Sweet, manager Taryn Baker and Emily Wade. or big swings,” Kriens said of the junior setter. “I think it’s been a collective group effort. We’ve asked them all to step up in their certain areas, with two new middles this year. It’s definitely been a whole collective (effort). Everybody’s got to put in their time.”

And for Kriens, who is in her second year leading the program, there’s an added element of growth among this season’s group.

“This year, giving them critiques, I think they’ve completely bought in to

the system now in understanding if (they) do the things that the coaches say, this is going to help you become more successful as an individual, but also help our team in the long run,” Kriens said.

“They’re understanding that all of those things are going to make a big difference, especially when you hear from other people who come to the games and say, ‘We’ve really noticed.’”

So far, so good for Bemidji.

BHS started the season

3-1, which included fourset wins over Alexandria and Detroit Lakes, plus a sweep of St. Cloud Tech.

“They want the chance to prove themselves,” Kriens said. “And right now, being 3-1, we are only getting better every single day that we’re in the gym.”

Four seniors will hope to lead that development.

Alongside Taylor Wade and Hofstad, the Jacks have Keena Kondos and Anikka Takkunen on the roster.

Otherwise, a young core of three sophomores, five

2019 Schedule AUG. 22 ALEXANDRIA AUG. 24 Centennial AUG. 27 ST. CLOUD TECH AUG. 29 at Detroit Lakes SEPT. 3 PARK RAPIDS SEPT. 5 THIEF RIVER FALLS SEPT. 10 at D-G-F SEPT. 12 BRAINERD SEPT. 16 PR-BACKUS SEPT. 19 at Grand Rapids SEPT. 26 GRAND RAPIDS OCT. 1 at Roseau OCT. 5 at Hopkins Invite OCT. 8 at Moorhead OCT. 11 at STMA Invite OCT. 12 at STMA Invite OCT. 15 at Duluth East OCT. 19 at Chaska Invite OCT. 23 8-3A Play-In Game OCT. 25 8-3A Quarterfinals OCT. 29 8-3A Semifinals NOV. 2 8-3A Final juniors and one freshman are set to compete this year.

Despite its youth, though, Bemidji wants a crack at a stage they haven’t reached since 2014.

“The goal that we’ve talked about is that the girls want the chance at state,” Kriens said. “We’re seeing more things that we’ve improved upon. If we can continue to keep that level… I think we’ve got a real shot, come the end of the season, to make that happen.”

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And although last season’s 11-17 record won’t make instant believers out of the skeptics, Kriens said the product on the court is proof BHS is trending up.

“People (attending games) from last year to this year… see there’s a large improvement that has happened,” Kriens said. “For the girls to hear that and see (it click), they’ve now completely bought in. They’re putting in the work knowing that it’s only going to make us better.”

GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING

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Restocked Jacks hope to start new streak

By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School girls swimming and diving team doesn’t expect to slow down despite losing a near-decade long streak last season.

For the first time since 2010, the Lumberjacks didn’t claim the Section 8A championship in 2018.

But that said more about champion Detroit Lakes, co-head coach Kristen McRae said.

“This is going to sound very, very weird,” McRae said, “but: We may have gotten second place, but for us, we swam so well that it wasn’t a defeat or that we handed something away.”

BHS still sent five individuals to the Class A state meet, of which senior Laura Davis is back this season.

“They know they’ve got their work cut out for them this season,” McRae said of the returning bunch. “We graduated a lot of very, very talented and experienced seniors.

We’ve seen (this year’s) juniors and seniors really stepping up to the plate and getting the job done.”

Alongside Davis, Bemidji has Amber Korbel, Danielle LaMoure and Kayleigh Hickman to make up the senior core. Otherwise, it’s a roster of eight juniors, six sophomores and eight freshmen.

“Lauren Lundquist and Mady Schmidt are very experienced divers who are talented. In the pool,

AUG. 27 SEPT. 10 SEPT. 17 SEPT. 21 SEPT. 24 SEPT. 28 OCT. 10 OCT. 12 OCT. 22 OCT. 25 NOV. 8 NOV. 9

2019 Schedule BRAINERD L, 54-132 PERHAM, TRF 6 p.m. at Warroad 5:30 p.m. at West Fargo Invite 11 a.m. at Park Rapids 6 p.m.

BEMIDJI INVITE 9 a.m.

MOORHEAD 6 p.m.

Sec. True Team (G. Rapids) 1 p.m. at Detroit Lakes 6 p.m.

DULUTH EAST, GR 5 p.m.

8A Prelims (G. Rapids) 5 p.m.

8A Finals (G. Rapids) 9 a.m.

we have Laura Davis, who’s had experience at the state level, coming back. Other swimmers who have experience at the level would be Miranda Port and Nicki Son. And Amber Korbel… has really, really stepped up her training and her whole mindset. She’s been just awesome in the water.”

The team put in the work during the offseason, but they also aren’t afraid to have a little fun, McRae said.

“About three quarters of the girls swam in the summer, so they came in conditioned and ready to hit the water,” she said.

“As far as their mood, they’ve been hysteri-

cal. We have a good time.

Every day they show up, it’s always entertaining.

They’re working hard on their dryland program, and then that carries over into the pool, as well.”

The Jacks have a shot to start a new section title streak this season, which, understandably, is something they’re aiming for.

“The goal is always to go after and win a section title. Period,” McRae said.

“Any team in the section would say the same thing, I would hope. But for us, too, to post our best times, swim as well as we can as a team at sections and advance kids to the state tournament.”

BHS started the season

Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School girls swimming and diving team. In the first row (from left) are Ashley Pirkl, Emma Shaw, Halii Melcher, Sidney Bignall, Lauren Lundquist and Abi Lietz. In the second row are Abby Arel, Maddie Ophus, Riley McCarthy, Danielle LaMoure, Demi Fisher, Ellie Hoover and Miranda Port. In the third row are Amber Korbel, Abby Termont, Erin Myhrer, Nicki Son, Mataya Carter and Kayleigh Hickman. In the fourth row are Sophie Jones, Emily Vincent, Mady Schmidt, Marlee Bieber and Laura Davis. by dropping a dual 132-54 to Brainerd on Aug. 27. Its next chance in the pool comes at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in a home triangular against Perham and Thief River Falls.

But just as Rome wasn’t

built in a day, Bemidji knows it has to put in a season’s worth of work to reach the level it wants.

“The girls know that every day is an opportunity to get better, stronger and faster,” McRae said.

“Not just physically, but also mentally. One practice at a time, one set at a time, one interval at a time. That’s it. They’re really focused on the details and doing the best they can.”

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CROSS COUNTRY

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Bemidji runners aim to return to state

By Austin Monteith amonteith@bemidjipioneer.com

Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School boys cross country team. In the first row (from left) are Carson Maish, Brett Kurschner, Sam Gifford, Eli Berg, Bryce Kondos, Jonathan Quandt, Seth Lindgren, Hunter Heim and Ben Kostamo. In the second row are Nathan Alto, Ethan Maish, Joshua Schueller, Ashton Niemi, Josef Lalli, Nicholas Youso, Cale Newby and Owen Potratz. In the third row are head coach Ryan Aylesworth, Nathan Vleck, Riley Schollett, Gage Mostad, Calder Karger, Noah Hanks, Kevin Ward, Cameron Carleton and assistant coach Nina Lubarski. In the fourth row are Isaak McDonald, Sam Schulze, Paul Louvar, Cole Matetich, Quinn Knott, Logan Jensen, Brooks Matetich and Elias Treuer.

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Photo courtesy Lifetouch

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School girls cross country team. In the first row (from left) are Josie LaValley, Kayla DeWitt, Kylee Benso, Regan DeWitt, Mia Hoffman and Madysen Nistler. In the second row are assistant coach Nina Lubarski, Amarah Roberts, Grace Carleton, Chloe Knott and head coach Ryan Aylesworth.

In the third row are Mara Adams, Gwen Youso, Callie Cota and Camille McDermott.

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2019 Schedule Perham Invite Moorhead Invite Little Falls Invite Rocori Invite Griak Invite (U of M) Perham Invite BEMIDJI INVITE 8AA Meet (Rocori)

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some new younger kids that have come on and have done a nice job.”

While Gwen Youso and Kayla DeWitt are Bemidji’s only seniors, Aylesworth said the team has many young runners who could step up to be among the top five runners on the squad.

“What they’ve shown is they’re really strong at 1, 2, 3 and 4,” Aylesworth said. “We’ve got some girls that are coming on and learning how to race the 5k, and I think they’re going to press nicely for that fourth, fifth spot on the team.”

Bemidji got the season off on the right foot Aug. 24 in Perham. The boys topped the leaderboard in first place, and the girls finished runner-up in second place.

Come November, the Lumberjacks hope to find themselves in familiar surroundings once again.

“I think it’s just focusing on the process,” Aylesworth said of what it will take for the teams to qualify for state. “Just stay consistent, focus on the process and always remember what they’re working towards for the end of the year. And if they can be consistently working hard throughout the season, I think they’re going to make some nice progression and give themselves a chance to do well at the section meet, and hopefully the state meet.”

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BEMIDJI — Bemidji High School has been a pretty regular presence at the state cross country meet in recent years. The Lumberjacks hope to make another trip to St. Olaf College this November.

Last season the BHS boys captured a secondplace finish in the Section 8AA meet, landing them a spot in the Class AA state meet, where they would place 14th. Two runners represented the girls team at state, and both will return for another go at state.

“I’m very proud of both teams,” head coach Ryan Aylesworth said. “We had a great summer of training. I’m excited to see how that pays off for us throughout the year.”

Bemidji will return the majority of its boys team as it aims to reach a seventh state meet in eight years.

The Lumberjack boys, captained by senior Gage Mostad, return all of the runners that competed at state last season with the exception of departing seniors Riley Berg and Zac Fouquerel-Skoe.

Those returners include Mostad, juniors Nick Youso and Ethan Maish, freshmen Isaak McDonald and Seth Lindgren, as well as the team’s state alternates in junior Nathan Alto and sophomore Bryce Kondos.

“On the guys’ side we’ve got five of our seven back from our state team last year,” Aylesworth said.

“Our top runner is Gage Mostad. We’re excited to see how he and the boys can progress this year and kind of chase after a section title.”

Depth will not be a problem on a team that rolls 33 runners deep and possesses an experienced group of veterans — including seniors Joshua Schueller, Nathan Vleck and Riley Schollett — leading the way.

“Our guys team is pretty deep,” Aylesworth said.

“Our No. 2 man on the team, junior Nick Youso, is another great leader for us. Having some of those guys kind of pack up behind Nick and Gage is going to be a strength for us that we’re going to have to rely on this year.”

Two members of the BHS girls squad also advanced to the state as individuals last season, and both are back in the mix this year.

Gwen Youso, now a senior captain, and freshman Regan DeWitt will hope to bring their whole team with them to state in 2019.

“They’re both back leading the team,” Aylesworth said. “We’ve got

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6

Sports

Friday, September 6, 2019

www. bemidjipioneer.com

The Bemidji Pioneer

GIRLS TENNIS

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Lumberjacks look to carry culture forward Photo courtesy Lifetouch

2nd W, W W, 5-2 W, 5-2 CAN W, W 4 p.m.

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match play, but it’s also great in practice because our practices are so competitive,” Fodness said.

“That’s really great in tennis. You need someone across from you who pushes you. … And then it also gives us a lot of flexibility with lineups. And it makes it a lot of fun.”

However, Fodness also said the team’s record isn’t the end goal for them.

“It’s never wins and losses. We kind of always view wins and loses as a byproduct of what we do,” he said. “(Our goal) is that you come to the courts every single day and you have a positive experience, you push yourself as hard as you can. … No matter what the talent level is, that’s always our goal.

Every day, as much as you can, make it a good, positive experience.”

The team is led by seven seniors in Aftyn Schmidt, Alyssa Koebke, Bethany Chatterton, Hannah Nelson, Kylen Fenson, Macy Hietala and Paige Headlee.

Pictured is the 2019 Bemidji High School girls tennis team. In the first row (from left) are Emily Dondelinger, Bethany Chatterton, Tatum Offerdahl, Darby Neis, Alyssa Koebke and Nettie Kimble. In the second row are Kylen Fenson, Chloe Hasbargen, Paige Anderson, Aftyn Schmidt and Isabelle Meyer. In the third row are head coach Kyle Fodness, Paige Headlee, Alexis Leitner, Hannah Nelson, Macy Hietala and assistant coach Kate Langerak.

It’s a core that allows for flexibility.

“They can play anywhere in the lineup, and they are willing to play anywhere in the lineup because they just care about the team winning,” Fodness said. “It’s really fun to have a senior group like that.”

The Jacks also have a tone-setter of a first singles player in sophomore Savannah Haugen, who owns a 7-2 record against the best that opponents have to offer.

“It’s always nice to have a really tough 1. …

Savannah is really a great 1 to have,” Fodness said.

“Not just her skill — she’s obviously talented — but she just sets the tone and attitude. She’s very competitive, but you can’t find better sportsmanship or positivity. That kind of keys a lot of things in your lineup.”

The Jacks resume the season at 4 p.m. today when they host Brainerd at the high school.

Good luck, area athletes!

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By Micah Friez mfriez@bemidjipioneer.com BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School girls tennis team is under new leadership this season, but it’s still a familiar face.

Between his involvement with the middle school and summer tennis programs, Kyle Fodness knew all of his players before coming into the season. It’s helped ease the coaching transition with the new campaign in full swing.

“The nice thing is a lot of it’s in place. That’s the fun part of having been (involved in Bemidji tennis),” Fodness said. “…

It’s a really good group.

The leadership is tremendous, but that’s because the leadership comes from everybody.”

After finishing 13-7 last year, BHS is off to a 6-0 start in dual matches this season. Fodness was quick to credit the culture the program has built.

“It’s a really close team,” he said. “It’s pretty fun when the most fun thing about it is how tightknit the team is. There are never any issues, and they always have each other’s backs and support each other. Plus, it’s also a very talented team.”

That pool of talent stretches beyond the lineup filled out on any given day. So far, Bemidji has sent out seven singles players and eight doubles teams to compete this season. “(Our depth) is great in

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2019 Schedule Pine City tourney ALEX, TRF at Eveleth HIBBING at Pequot Lakes EGF, GR BRAINERD HOME TRI at Hibbing Invite CROOKSTON, DL at Thief River Falls at Grand Rapids at Moorhead Tri at Crookston 8AA North team tourney 8AA North indiv. tourney 8AA team tourney 8AA indiv. tourney