PR EV IEW sports
BOYS BASKETBALL
Patriots look to improve after winning state consolation title
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
PEQUOT LAKES — The Pequot Lakes Patriots boys basketball team is looking to improve as the season progresses after winning the Class 2A state consolation title the past two seasons.
“We’re looking for help from a lot of our players as we look to improve as the season moves along,” said Patriots head coach Rich Spiczka, whose team opens the season at Pillager on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Last year, the Patriots finished fifth at the state tournament and ended 28-5 overall after defeating Jackson County Central 51-44 in the consolation championship game.
The Patriots had lost to Minnehaha Academy 63-47 in the state quarterfinals.
Pequot Lakes advanced to state by upsetting top-seeded Esko 55-42 to claim its third straight Section 7-2A title.
Two Pequot Lakes players made last year’s Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team — senior forward Harrison Keenen, who averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks; and senior guard Blake Spiczka, a secondteam pick who averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 repounds and 4.5 assists.
Senior Connor Quale was also a regular for the Patriots — averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. They all played a key
“We’re looking for help from a lot of our players as we look to improve as the season moves along.”
SPICZKA,
RICH
PEQUOT LAKES BOYS BASKETBALL COACH
role on defense for the Patriots as they allowed under 20 points per game. Other letterwinners include: seniors Brayden Dornseif, Mason Lundgren and Tollef Birkeland. Others who could contribute are senior Bryar Nordby; juniors Gus BolzAndolshek, Owen Krueger, Jadyn Peterson and Dylan Pederson; and sophomore Rock Holubar. Among the section favorites this season, Coach Spiczka lists Staples-Motley, Esko, Moose Lake and Pillager.
Last year, Pequot Lakes finished 12-2 in their first season in the Granite Ridge Conference.
Coach Spiczka, who has a 303-192 record in 19 seasons of coaching, is assisted by Greg Martig, Luke Friedrich and Jeremy Max. Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
Pequot Lakes boys basketball
December 12 - Pequot Lakes at Pillager 7:15 p.m.
17 - Little Falls at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m.
19 - Pequot Lakes at Crosby-Ironton 7:15 p.m.
20 - Pequot Lakes at Grand Rapids 7:15 p.m.
27 - Pequot Lakes tournament 5:45 p.m.
28 - Pequot Lakes tournament 3 p.m.
January
7 - Pierz at Pequot Lakes 5:45 p.m.
9 - Pine River-Backus at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m. 10 - Pequot Lakes at Albany 7:15 p.m. 14 - Milaca at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m.
16 - Perham at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m.
17 - Pequot Lakes at Foley 7:15 p.m.
20 - Park Rapids at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m. 23 - Pequot Lakes at St. Cloud Cathedral 7:15 p.m. 24 - St. Cloud Apollo at Pequot Lakes 5:45 p.m. 28 - Nevis at Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m. 30 - Pequot Lakes at Staples-Motley 7:15 p.m. 31 - Pequot Lakes at Little Falls 7:15 p.m.
4 - Pequot Lakes at Esko 7:15 p.m. 6 - Pequot
BOYS BASKETBALL
Tiger boys looking for improvement
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
PINE RIVER — The Pine River-Backus Tigers boys basketball team, with 11 returning letterwinners, is looking to bounce back this season after finishing 6-21 last year.
“We’re looking to the future after a tough 2023-24 season.”
JORDAN ACKERMAN, PINE RIVER-BACKUS BOYS BASKETBALL COACH
“We’re looking to the future after a tough 202324 season,” said head coach Jordan Ackerman, whose team was scheduled to open the season Friday, Dec. 6, at home against Menahga. “We have many returning players who gained a lot of experience last year. We’re hoping to compete each night against the many talented teams in our area,” he said. “Our goal is to be playing our best basketball by March.”
Letterwinners include seniors Tate Norman, Talin Vilnow, Waylon Peterson, Grady Mongan and Dahlton Minion; juniors Isaiah Aulie, Koal Oberfell, Mason Nelson, Jon Shogren and Eli VanderArk; and sophomore Isaiah Downie.
Last year, Aulie and Norman made the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team. Aulie, a guard, averaged 13.1 points and 4.3 rebounds while Norman, a forward, averaged 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Oberfell added 6.0 points and 4.9 rebounds. Others who could contribute are Khellar Kline Bauman, Gabe Diers and Scott Schovel.
Last season, the seventh-seeded Tigers finished 6-21 overall after
PR-B boys basketball
December 6 - Menahga at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m.
9 - Pine River-Backus at Swanville 7:30 p.m.
10 - Sebeka at Pine
losing to No. 2 Browerville/Eagle Valley 84-49 in the West Subsection 5A quarterfinals. PR-B finished 5-9 against Northland Conference teams. Rick Aulie is the Tigers’ assistant coach.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
The Pequot Lakes boys basketball team includes: front row from left, Ethan Quale, Bryar Nordby, Mason Lundgren, Blake Spiczka, Jadyn Pederson and Dylan Pederson; back row from left, Ben Anderson, Brady Dorseif, Owen Krueger, Harrison Kennen, Gus Bolz-Andolshek, Rock Holubar, Mason Shetler and Tollef Birkeland.
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pine River-Backus boys basketball team includes: front row from left, Nathaniel Treague, Koal Oberfell, Gavin Tulenchik, Jester Ellestad, Waylon Peterson, Grady Mongan, Ike Larson, Brody Day, Scott Scovel and Tristan Johnson; middle row from left, Gabe Diers, Talin Vilnow, Isaiah Aulie, Isaiah Downie, Jon Shogren, Reece Trumble, Logan Swiggart and Khellar Kline-Bauman; back row from left, Dominic Zwart, Sam Pflugshaupt, Mason Nelson, Dahlton Minion, Bristol Alecson, Tate Norman, Eli Shamp, Xander Mickelson and Eli VanderArk.
Patriot girls have a new basketball lineup
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
PEQUOT LAKES — The Pequot Lakes Patriots girls basketball team is replacing a large amount of playing time with the graduation of four longtime regulars from last year’s squad that finished 25-5 overall.
“We graduated four seniors who played a lot of minutes and had large roles over the past four years,” said Pequot Lakes coach Brian Lempola, whose team opened the season Friday, Nov. 22, at Willmar.
“We are excited for the next group of established veterans and newcomers to learn and grow throughout the season. It will take us some time to find out what kind of team we can be, but I expect that we will be a team that competes hard every night,” he said.
Lempola does like the work ethic he has seen early in the season.
“This crew has established great practice habits over the past weeks,” he said. “Our players have shown a variety of skill sets that really compliment one another.”
The Patriots finished 25-5
overall last year after losing to rival Crosby-Ironton 48-45 in the final seconds of the Section 7-2A championship game. It was the second straight season that Pequot Lakes lost to the Rangers in the section tournament.
Letterwinners who contributed to the Patriots’ success last season include
seniors Reese Laposky and Genevieve Birkeland; juniors June Ruud and Alexa Pietig; and freshman Chelby Wothe.
Last season, Ruud was a Brainerd Dispatch All-Area selection as a sophomore. She averaged 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Pietig averaged 4.6 points while Birkeland averaged 4.3 and Laposky 4.2. Laposky grabbed 101 rebounds and had 14 blocks.
Others who could contribute this season include juniors Olivia Den Hartog and Addison Lillo; sophomore Addison Headley; and freshmen Emersyn Sullivan and Brooklin Hansen.
Seven letterwinners return for Tiger girls
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
PINE RIVER — The Pine River-Backus Tigers girls basketball team hopes to improve this season with seven letterwinners returning from a team that finished 10-17 overall.
“We’re looking forward to being competitive in our conference and in our section,” said Tucker Sheley, whose team opened the season with a 84-66 win over Ogilvie. “The coaching staff is excited to see how the girls embrace their new roles as the season progresses.”
Those letterwinners are juniors Mimi Bueckers, Caylei Johnson and Sawyer Tulenchik; sophomores Leah Eveland and Ella Brewer; and seniors Aliyah Lewis and Paige Holm.
Bueckers scored 27 points in the Tigers’ season opening win.
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pine River-Backus girls basketball team includes: front row from left, Paige Holm, Maren Lindquist, Caylei Johnson, Evelyn Peterson, Leah Eveland and Lily Barchus; back row from left, Mildred Bueckers, Sawyer Tulenchik, Aliyah Lewis, Ella Brewer, Margaret Crimmins and Bernadette Bueckers.
Last season, Tulenchik and Bueckers both made the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area second teams. Tulenchik averaged 10.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists while Bueckers averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Johnson averaged 3.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and had 51 steals while Lewis averaged 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Others who could contribute include Margaret Cummins, Lily Barchus, Maren Lindquist and Bernadette Bueckers.
Last year, the sixthseeded Tigers lost to No. 3 Nevis 62-46 in the West Subsection 5A quarterfinals. PR-B finished 6-7 overall against Northland Conference teams.
Sheley, who is starting his fifth season as head
coach, is assisted by Jenny Travis.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Lempola said that Crosby-Ironton, Duluth Marshall and Proctor are among the section favorites this season.
Pequot Lakes is coming off a successful first season in the Granite Ridge Conference as they finished 12-2 overall.
Bret Sergent and Scott Ebnet are assistant coaches for the Patriots.
- Ogilvie at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 26 - Wadena-Deer Creek at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m.
3 - Laporte at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m.
- Pine River-Backus at Blackduck 7:30 p.m. 10 - Pine River-Backus at Sebeka 7:30 p.m. 12 - Pine River-Backus at Nevis 7:30
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
Contributed / Kelli Engstrom Photography
The Pequot Lakes girls basketball team includes: front row from left, Olivia Den Hartog, Addison Lillo, June Ruud, Emme Sullivan and Chelby Wothe; back row from left, Brooklin Hansen, Addison Headley, Genevieve Birkeland, Reese Laposky and Alexa Pietig.
takes over as head coach for Road Crew
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
After eight years as an assistant coach, Justin Franke takes over as head coach for the Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus wrestling team this season.
Franke, who replaces Travis Hoffarth, takes over a successful Road Crew program that finished 25-5 overall last year after losing to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 36-20 in the Section 8-2A semifinals.
He will have 20 letterwinners back, but some new faces will also contribute.
“We are going to have some weights with a ton of experience and other weights where we need guys to step up for us,” said Franke, who has coached wrestling for 15 seasons. “I think it’s going to be a great year with some new faces on the varsity mat.”
Letterwinners include
seniors Kamrin Hulke, Connor Welle, Colton Christopherson, Earl Stockman and Eli Abraham; juniors Jackson Olson, Parker Zutter, Owen Dabill, Lake Mongan and Dennis Rahm; sophomores Joe Lendway, Shaunn Reyes, Bryce Mick, Wyatt Borders, Blake Hoplin, Jay Rahm, Lo gan Tymenski and Gunner Peters; and freshmen Tucker Johnson and Landon Ashman.
“We will see where
“I think it’s going to be a great year with some new faces on the varsity mat.”
JUSTIN FRANKE, ROAD CREW WRESTLING COACH
everything shakes out after weight certification, but we will be a young team and anyone on our roster could contribute,” said Franke, whose squad is scheduled to open Thursday, Dec. 5, at Deer River.
As a sophomore last winter, Zutter finished fourth at the Class 2A state individual tournament. He lost to Simley’s Jake Kos 4-2 in the thirdplace match at state and finished with a 49-10 record.
The Road Crew earned the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Gold Plaque for a team grade-point average of 3.67. Varsity awards included: Most Takedowns, Zutter, 100; Most Falls, Riley Peters, 33: Rookie of the Year, Mick; Most Improved, Johnson; Jackhammer Award, Payton Scott; and Most Valuable, Zutter and Peters.
Franke said his team’s goal is to return to the
section semifinal round this season.
“Our goal is to reach the final four in the section, and then see where things go,” he said. “We have a tough section with other teams returning a lot of quality wrestlers. We will push to get better every time we touch the mat, and we look forward to seeing new faces step up.”
The Road Crew will not participate in a conference this season after finishing 4-1 overall last year in the Mid-State Conference. Assistant coaches are Tom Demars, Jon Rowell, Alex Diaz and Kevin O’Brien.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew wrestling team includes: front row from left, Wyatt Borders, Harry Stockman, Landon Ashman, Tristan Ashman, Blake
Hoplin, Eli Marcum, Easton Blank, Carter Splichal, Thomas Ritter, Carter Leeds and Dan Johnson; second row from left, Kamrin Hulke, Chloe Swenson, Lidia Pfeiffer, Tucker Johnson, Jordan Aase, Dane Olsen, Gunner Peters, James Ritter, Dawson Gravelle and Logan Sargent; third row from left, Joseph Lendway, Dalton Tymenski, Zach Thorson, Briar Crawford, Trevor Holmberg, Bryce Mick, Owen Dabill, Shaunn Reyes, Dawson Dabill, Adrian Schrupp and Jake Olsen; back row from left, Eli Abraham, Jonathan Downie, Dennis Rahm, Jackson Olsen, Parker Zutter, Nathan Schneider, Colton Christophersen, Connor Welle, Jay Rahm, Logan Tymenski and Andrew Volk.
Grant Vershey, Waylon Katterhagen, Colton Vry, Grady Tjaden, Huck Balmer
Familiar face is new Lightning boys coach
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
The Northern Lakes Lightning boys hockey team has a familiar face as its new head coach this season — Mike Randolph. The veteran coach was one win away from becoming the winningest coach in Minnesota high school hockey history.
Randolph has 18 state appearances, two state titles and 707 career wins over 40 seasons of coaching, with 32 years at Duluth East. He recently completed three seasons coaching at St. Thomas Academy.
Randolph was poised to make history with his 708th win when the Lightning opened the regular season against Prairie Center in St. Cloud on Monday, Nov. 25. Randolph takes over a squad that reached the Section 6A championship game last season, losing to the top-seeded Alexandria Cardinals 6-1. It was Northern Lakes’ first time in the section final since the 2020-21 season when the Lightning made their only state tournament appearance. The Lightning finished 18-10 overall last season, including losing three times to the three-time defending section champion Alexandria. Northern Lakes reached the final by downing Fergus Falls 7-3 in the semifinals. Returning letterwinners include seniors Finn Fogarty, Easton Anderson, Anthony Noyes, Jerome Martin, Preston Verness, Jack Carr, Jaden Marthaler, Drew Paulbeck and Wyatt Balmer; juniors Sutton Sullivan, Jacob Peterson, Leyton Cable, Garrett Furry, Damon John and Hunter Moreland; and sophomores Bodie
Nybakken, Josiah Reier, Wyatt Verville, Vinny Przybylski, Huck Bulmer, Landen Cartie, Griffen Hannah, Grant Vershey, Colton Kaufenberg, Parker Fulton and Grady Tjaden.
Last season, Paulbeck led Northern Lakes in scoring with 29 goals and
30 assists while Martin was second with 18 goals and 21 assists. Other top returning scorers were Balmer, 7 goals and 20 assists; Anderson, 13 goals and 9 assists; Fogarty, 5 goals and 10 assists; and Peterson, 5 goals and 9 assists. Moreland played 211 minutes in goal for the Lightning and registered a 4-0 win-loss record with 0.72 goals-against average and 95.3 save percentage. Tom Klein is the assistant coach for Northern Lakes, which plays in the Granite Ridge Conference with Little Falls and St. Cloud Cathedral. Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Contributed / Kelli Engstrom Photography
The Northern Lakes Lightning boys hockey team includes: front row from left, Hunter Moreland, Jerome Martin, Finn Fogarty, Preston Verness, Wyatt Balmer, Anthony Noyes, Sam Suja, Drew Paulbeck, Jack Carr, Easton Anderson, Jaden Marthaler and Damon John; middle row from left, Coach Tom Klein, Griffen Hannah, Jacob Peterson, Leyton Cable, Landen Cartie, Garrett Furry, Parker Fulton, Kylar Rikala,
Verville, Sutton Sullivan, Colton Kaufenberg, Nolan Hall and Coach Mike Randolph; back row from left, Derek Berg, Josiah Reier,
and Bodie Nybakken.
Staying healthy is key for Lightning girls
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
Despite having 13 letterwinners, the Northern Lakes Lightning girls hockey team will need to stay healthy to be competitive at the end of the season, said head coach Bryan Boreen.
“We need to stay healthy and injury free to be as competitive as possible come playoff time,” said Boreen, who is starting his third season as head coach.
The Lightning return their top two goalies and eight of the top nine scorers from last year’s squad that finished 8-18-1 overall after losing to Fergus Falls 5-1 in the Section 6A championship game.
Returning letterwinners include seniors Ava Merta, Jenna Stoerzinger, Jasmyn German and Corah Meschke; juniors Natalie Stueven, Rayna Hopia and Lilly Logelin; sophomores Myah Reuper, Kambria Thompson, Sarah Maroney and Kayla Landt; and freshmen Karly Haff and Avery Lonergan. Merta scored twice in Northern Lakes’ 6-4 seasonopening loss to East Grand
Forks on Friday, Nov. 8. Last year, Merta led the Lightning with 11 goals and 25 points while Stoerzinger finished second in points with 12 goals and 22 points.
Landt compiled a 4-5-1 record with a 3.00 goals against average and stopped 88% of shots while Maroney was 4-13 with a 4.22 goals against and saved 84%.
“We need to stay healthy and injury free to be as competitive as possible come playoff time.”
BRYAN BOREEN, NORTHERN LAKES LIGHTNING GIRLS HOCKEY COACH
Northern Lakes assistant coaches are Kirsten Harsha, Jay Hopia and Joe Herda. Team captains are Meschke, Merta, German and Stueven. The Lightning play in the Mid-State Conference with Detroit Lakes and Prairie Centre. Boreen believes that Fergus Falls and Northern Lakes will be the favorites in the section this season Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
Contributed / Kelli Engstrom Photography
The Northern Lakes Lightning girls hockey team includes: front row from left, Sarah Maroney, Natalie Stueven, Jasmyn German, Ava Merta, Corah Meschke, Jenna Stoerzinger, Taryn Tjaden, Brielle Jones, Rayna Hopia and Kayla Landt; back row from left, Coach Joe Herda, Coach Kristen Harsha, Manager Jettie Vargo, Avery Lonergan, Shaylee Swenson, Karlene Haff, Lilly Logelin, Kambria Thompson, Myah Reuper, Brooklyn Raisch, Calah Corbett, Eva Anderson, Leah Doughty, Cassondra Smythe, Coach Jay Hopia, Manager Aisley Kerger and Head Coach Bryan Boreen.
Pequot Lakes skiers on Warrior squad
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
A handful of Pequot Lakes students will be competing on the Brainerd/Pequot Lakes Warriors alpine skiing team this season.
Those students on the Warrior girls team include junior Svea Streeter, eighth-grader Cecelya Rasinski and seventh grader Clara Anderson.
Pequot Lakes students on the Warrior boys team are senior Teagan Burton
and sophomore Max Spartz. Additional Pequot Lakes students could join closer to the start of the regular season when the Warriors compete at Wild Mountain Ski Hill on Friday, Dec. 20, in Taylors Falls.
Last season, the Warrior girls earned the secondbest finish in program history when they placed third at the state meet in Biwabik. Pequot Lakes graduates Calia Chaney and Lauren Kalenberg earned all-state finishes to
lead the Warriors. Minnetonka won the title with 168, followed by Washburn with 141 and Brainerd/Pequot Lakes with 137. An updated preview is planned the week before the opening meet. Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
Revolution team has mix of veterans, rookies
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
The Pequot Lakes/ Pine River-Backus Revolution dance team has a mix of strong veterans and talented rookies on this year’s team.
“We had no seniors last season so we have a strong veteran team returning this year,” said head coach Kate Goerges.
“We also have a talented rookie group so we have a lot of excitement coming into the season,” she said. “We compete as a whole team; all athletes bring so much to the table. We look forward to seeing our veterans lead the rookies and see the rookies rise to the occasion.”
Last season, three Revolution dancers made the Class 2A All-State Dance Team. Gia Ostrowski, who was then a junior captain, made the All-State Jazz team, while sophomore Ahnika Weik and freshman Madison Kinnan made the Kick team.
The Revolution finished third in the conference meet last year before placing 12th in high kick and 13th in the jazz category at the Section 4-2A tournament.
Becker swept both the kick and jazz titles at the
section meet.
“Becker will likely do well again this season, but we are hopeful to
“We have an incredibly driven group of dancers this year. While our team is small, they have grit and drive.”
finally see Monticello crack the top three and earn a trip to the state meet,” Goerges said.
“We have an incredibly driven group of dancers this year. While our team is small, they have grit and drive,” she said. “We are expecting tough competition, but hopeful to break into the top six at sections.” Assistant coaches for the Revolution are Kendra Kozelka and Sam Jackson.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus dance team includes: front row from left, Claire Glaser, Charlee Child, Gia Ostrowski, Addy Rau, Lacey Sundvahl, Kaylee Bachmann, Lillian Boso and Dagne Neale; back row from left, Addy Johnson, Kenzie Kozelka, Madi Dupre, Mady Kinnan, Victoria Mayer, Caitlyn Cook and Kaylee Kozelka.
Four Pequot Lakes gymnasts in Warriors’ program
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
PEQUOT LAKES —
Four Pequot Lakes students are competing this season in the Brainerd/ Pequot Lakes Warriors gymnastics program.
Those athletes include junior Tatum Christophersen, sophomores Payton Nations and Mya Carr, and seventh-grader Adelyn Benzick.
Christopherson will be one of the Warriors’ team captains this season.
“Tatum has been a great leader on our team,” said Brainerd/ Pequot Lakes coach Jessica Lofrano-Larson.
“Tatum has also been working through some injuries, and we aren’t sure yet what her season is going to look like. She was a regular part of our varsity beam lineup last year, and we’re hoping to see her there again this year,” Lofrano-Larson said.
Besides the beam, Christopherson is working on the other four gymnastics events.
“She has also been working hard, and I hope to see her in some other lineups as well,” said Lofrano-Larson.
“She does clean and beautiful gymnastics routines, and it’s been fun to
see her progress, and come out of her shell a bit over the years,” the coach said. “Regardless of what she’s able to compete in this year, she’s a great leader and athlete and we’re really lucky to have her on the team.”
Last year, Nations was 27th overall on vault to help the Warriors finish fifth at the Section 8-2A meet. She also placed 30th on vault as the Warriors placed fourth in the Central Lakes Conference meet.
“Payton (Nations) and Mya (Carr) were both regular competitors in our junior varsity lineups last year,”
Lofrano-Larson said.
“Toward the end of the season, Payton was in a few of our varsity lineups for vault and floor. They’ve both been working on some upgrades, and I’m excited to see both of them work their way into some varsity line-ups this season.
“They are talented athletes, and I think this year they will realize what they are capable of, and how they can contribute to the team. It will be fun to see them step up and fill some key roles in our lineups,” she said.
Benzick will be a new member of the Warrior
program this season.
“Addie competed in all four events on our Brainerd Elite team last year, and I expect that she’ll be competing in most events throughout the season,” Lofrano-Larson said.
“This year will be about her getting used to the competition schedule and practice schedule, and getting comfortable
on the high school team,” she said. “It’s a big adjustment coming from our Elite team that only competes in four meets a year, and only practices a few days a week.
“So far Addie is handling it well and she brings a lot of fun and energy to the gym each day. I’m excited to see her progress over the years
since she’s only in seventh grade,” Lofrano-Larson said.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.
Pete Mohs / Echo Journal
Pequot Lakes students competing on the Brainerd/Pequot Lakes Warrior gymnastics team include, from left: Mya Carr, Adelyn Benzick, Peyton Nations and Tatum Christopherson.
