|
BRAINERD DISPATCH | FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
BRAINERDDISPATCH.COM
SPORTS
| 13
BOYS SOCCER
Question marks surround Warriors, but they might be good questions By Jeremy Millsop Brainerd Dispatch BRAINERD — This will not be your normal Brainerd Warriors team. With a completely new defense and a number of other new faces, Brainerd head coach Tom Grausam isn’t quite sure what to make of this year’s team, but he believes they are in the hunt for big things. “They know what their goal is and what they’re capable of doing,” Grausam said. “They are a very confident and motivated group. They’re very eager to learn. This is an exciting group. It is an exciting group. There isn’t one player that they need to lean on. They lean on everyone a lot.” One person the team will lean is the one with maybe the most experience. Junior goalie Kalvin Stengrim returns after a full year in front of the net last season. “He’s a lot more confident and comfortable this year,” Grausam said. “He knows the role and he’s one of our captains. He’s stepping up to the plate and he worked really hard in the offseason to develop his foot speed and leg strength.” In front of Stengrim will be the defensive unit of seniors Joseph Otto, Kyle Duff, Drew Larson and Micah Halbersma. Otto played a bit of varsity last year, but the other three will be varsity rookies. “It’s a work in progress, but they are developing nicely,” Grausam said. “We’re working with them right now and they’re taking steps forward every day in practice. We lost a lot of seniors from last year so the entire team is almost a brand new squad. It’s truly different from the past. Usually, we’ve had a couple of highlight players, but this year they all could be highlight players. It’s that close. We had trouble picking between varsity and junior varsity. As a unit, they have to figure out how to play together and figure out where their teammates are going to be. It’s a learning curve, but we’ll get there.”
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Keaton Walkowiak, left, and Sean Engelstad go up for the ball during soccer practice Aug. 18 at the Brainerd High School. Grausam said the most important asset for a defensive unit is communication. He said it’s not just talking and yelling out orders, but listening and the non-verbal communication that occurs during a game for defenders. That and anticipation. The same could be said for the midfield, where Grausam says he has the most flexibility when it comes to roster moves and approach. Keaton Walkowiak, Karlton Anderson, Bennett Bernander, Cullen Davis and Sean Engelstad will see the most time in the midfield. Hunter Bergin will battle for time in the midfield “They’re fairly new,” Grausam said. “Keaton, Sean, Karlton and Cullen have experience. That’s where our strength might be is in our midfield. We have two of our captains in there and they will play together. They’re a high-energy midfield team.” On the attack for
Brainerd will be Nico Buffetta, Nick Holmberg and Cole Riffle will lead the Warriors’ offensive attack. Charlie Pikula is one of Brainerd’s fastest kids and he’ll switch between midfield and forward along with Leif Rustad. “It’s hard to say how we’ll be offensively,” Grausam said. “Brainerd has always been lacking in scoring. We’re not a high-scoring team. We’re more defensive-minded, but I think we’ll do better this year. That was one of my goals this year to be more offensive-minded and attack more.” The extra offense may have helped Brainerd outduel St. Cloud Tech and Sartell last season. Both games against Tech ended 1-1 and 0-0. That was the same outcome in both matchups with Sartell. The Sabres ended Brainerd’s season in the Section 8-2A Quarterfinals thanks to a shootout after the teams tied 3-3.
WARRIOR BOYS SOCCER Head coach: Tom Grausam, eighth season 2021 finish: 4-2-4 in CLC, 7-6-4 overall Grausam Career record: 59-43-9 (.531) Assistant coaches: Chad Morlock, Greg Whiteman, Nick Weeks Captains: Kalvin Stengrim, Cullen Davis, Kyle Duff, Keaton Walkowiak
“Our section is all tough teams,” Grausam said. “Sartell knocked us off last year. Rogers will be up there with St. Michael, Moorhead and Bemidji. They’re all tough teams and you never know in high school sports because they’re teenagers. They’re all tough teams and I don’t see one higher than the other.” JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ jeremymillsop.
WARRIOR ROSTER Seniors: Karlton Anderson, Kellan Cousino, Cullen Davis, Kyle Duff, Micah Halbersma, Drew Larson, Joseph Otto, Cole Riffle, Keaton Walkowiak, Nico Buffetta, Leif Rustad Juniors: Sean Engelstad, Bennett Bernander, Nick Holmberg, Charlie Pikula, Kalvin Stengrim, Hunter Bergin
WARRIOR SCHEDULE Saturday, Aug. 27: at Rogers 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30: vs. Rocori 7 p.m. Sept. 1: vs. Moorhead 7 p.m. Sept. 6: at St. Cloud Tech 7 p.m. Sept. 8: vs. Sartell 7 p.m. Sept. 10: at Buffalo 1 p.m. Sept. 13: at St. MichaelAlbertville Sept. 15: vs. Willmar 7 p.m.
Sept. 17: vs. Elk River 1 p.m. Sept. 20: at Fergus Falls 7 p.m. Sept. 22: vs. Alexandria 7 p.m. Sept. 24: vs. Bemidji 2 p.m. Sept. 27: at St. Cloud Apollo 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29: vs. St. Cloud Tech 7 p.m. Oct. 4: at Sartell 5 p.m. Oct. 6: vs. Sauk rapids 7 p.m.
Good Luck Athletes!
Brainerd 109 Washington Street, Suite 2 Brainerd, MN 56401 facebook.com/MinnesotaComputerSystemsInc
GOOD LUCK Athletes! Brainerd BN Credit Union “Member Friendly - Service Driven”
804 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN justforkix.com
218-829-9065
Good Luck Athletes!
Good Luck Athletes!
124 N 6th St, Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 828-1248 • breenandperson.com
505 Washington St. NE 829-6925 521 W. Washington St. 829-5201
GOOD LUCK ATHLETES!
Good Luck Athletes! National Insurance Brokers - Hice Agency Since 2015
www.insuredmn.com
218-203-5540 • Tom Hice Agent/Owner - CLCS
GOOD LUCK AREA ATHLETES
1223 Oak Street | Brainerd, MN | 218-829-7790 kthesing@lakesprinting.com | www.lakesprinting.com
WWW.BEAUDRYOIL.COM
7638 Woida Road, Baxter • 829-1484 • www.anbmn.com