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• Must be a 2016 Graduating Senior, Attending Post Secondary School • Must have been featured in High School Sports View as a Scholar Athlete • Apply online at www.highschoolsportsview.com • Application deadline: February 20, 2016 • Scholarship recipients will be announced in the May/Jun 2016 issue of High School Sports View.
ROSTER
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FEAT URE S SIDe by side
A Season-Ending Injury Tests Diaz Brothers
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A Conversation with craig Brianna Rasmusson BY Craig olson
The Heart of a champion
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BY Emily Pascavis
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centered on winning
Breckenridge Boys Basketball
then & Now Ross Ukkelberg
BY craig olson
Detroit Lakes’ Jon Richards
Centered on winning: detroit lakes’ jon richards Photography by: thru him photography
BY jackie jenson
Cover
win as one BY Norm Newell
Barnesville’s Nicole Herbranson
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www.highschoolsportsview.com Volume 3 No. 3
s c h o l a r at h l e t e s
BY Tomi Thompson
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JAN / FEB 2016
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Craig’s “A” List BY craig olson
05 05 13 13 19 19 21 29 29 31 31 37 37 43 43 45 45
barnesville: connor meyer hillcrest: vanessa konynenbelt pelican rapids: logan knorr underwood: paige bickett west central: christian swenson brandon-evansville: melissa haseman wadena-deer creek: Casey volkmann moorhead: britta hanson battle lake: claire mathiesen alexandria: karsen granning fergus falls: tosten mann perham: Jenna wegscheid detroit lakes: kyra vagle frazee: madison OSWald Rothsay: miles mudderman breckenridge: ben ihland ashby: Miles Wing
SPORTS VIEW is published six times a year by Compass Media, PO Box 9761, Fargo, ND 58106. This is a free publication available in several retail outlets throughout the West Central Minnesota area. Also available through subscription at the following rates: One Year (6 issues) $10.00, Two Years (12 issues) $18.00, Three Years (18 issues) $24.00. ©2016 Compass Media. Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without prior written consent. 218-205-2706 • artwork@fmsportsview.com
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Scholar Athlete > BARNESVILLE
TROJANS
Connor Meyer football - wrestling - golf Nickname: Goat, Con Favorite School Subject: Human Anatomy Grade Point Average: 3.19 Groups and Organizations: Band
I Root For: Alabama, Oregon and NDSU Pets: Dog, Lacey In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Married, have kids and enjoying life.
Scholar Athlete > HILLCREST
COMETS
Vanessa Konynenbelt soccer - track - cheerleading Nickname: Ha! Some people call me Nessie or Van. Favorite School Subject: Calculus Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Key Club, Student Council, National Honor Society
Notable Academic Accomplishment: Academic Excellence Awards(s), Stan Arlton Science and Art Award Pets: I have a cat named Maximillian In Ten Years...I’ll Be: I hope to be working as an engineer with a family, living someplace warm.
alex and Hobet Diaz Alex and Hobet Diaz have spent the majority of their lives doing things as a pair. After all, they are twins. Sports have been the centerpiece of their brotherhood from a young age. The twins have spent most of their lives playing football, soccer, baseball and wrestling together. As seniors at Pelican Rapids High School, the Diaz brothers were elected cocaptains for their football and wrestling teams. The brothers saying having the opportunity to play sports as siblings is different “It just feels more comfortable when you’re out there with your twin,” Hobet says. Alex quickly chimes in, “Because I trust him.” Hobet adds, “I know I have one side and he has the other side.” The unique dynamic of playing alongside a sibling changed drastically this fall, when an injury ended Hobet’s time on the field. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Hobet ended up getting hit in the knee, and immediately knew something wasn’t right. It didn’t take long for doctors to realize he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Hobet underwent surgery a short time later. On social media the day before Hobet’s surgery, Alex shared in a post, “Playing football with your twin brother is a lot of fun. I got to
by Tomi Thompson • Photography by Thru Him Photography
experience that 7th through 11th grade and sadly he hurt his knee not too far into our 12th grade year. I already miss playing with him and it feels so different without him by my side at linebacker. I wish we could get one more play together.”
Alex says his brother’s taking on the role of being his coach and supporter in sports shows a strong commitment, “It’s nice because shows that he’s still dedicated and trying to get back and stay in sports even though he can’t play.”
After the surgery, the brothers had to come to terms with the fact their time on the field together was over. So used to having each other by their side come game time, they knew it would be a tough adjustment.
The twin’s older brother Fillo says the brothers have always wanted to work together and motivate each other in sports.
“Since we’re seniors and captains, we should probably know everything, and I just feel like we play well together,” said Alex. “When he was done, it felt different playing. With it being just me, it was kind of hard to take the leadership role without him there.” Even with a nine month road to recovery ahead, physically being out of sports wasn’t going to stop Hobet from being a part of the team. Hobet has now transitioned from a strong figure alongside Alex on the field, to a supportive role on the sidelines. “It’s obviously different; I’m more of a coach to my brother now. I was usually his partner in everything, linebacker and lineman drills in football and wrestling drills too,” Hobet said. “It all kind of changes, you can push him hard like yelling at him, but you can’t work him out, it’s just different.”
“When they were both healthy, they would always push each other to be better. We’d go practice to do some football kicking, and they’d always be competing. Hobet to me has always been one of the leaders and the one to motivate everybody,” Fillo said. A 2008 graduate of Pelican Rapids High School, who also kicked for football teams at both M State in Fergus Falls and at Concordia College in Moorhead, Fillo says he spent many weekends bringing his brothers to sporting events. “When they were in elementary school, I’d take them to weekend wrestling tournaments around the area,” he says. “I’d always be the one taking them to soccer tournaments and trying to get them involved.” Fillo said he didn’t get involved in sports until later in junior high, and he wanted to give his brothers the advantages of being involved in sports
“They’ve learned a lot from being in sports, and I think as twin brothers they’ve grown even closer together because they play every sport together.” Older brother Fillo on his twin siblings
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at an earlier age. “I kind of wanted them to get an edge and start earlier than I had. When they were little, I’d tell them to go out for sports to get involved. One they did, they picked up on it and they loved it.” Alex and Hobet constantly push each other to be better, even away from the gym and practice fields, Fillo says. “At the end of practice and at the end of the day, they’re brothers, so they get mad at each other during practice and they beat on each other. Even at home too, when Hobet wasn’t injured, they’d be wrestling all the time and trying to improve and get better.” He has appreciated seeing his little brothers grow closer together through athletics. “The friendships that they have and the sports that they’ve played together, that’s been huge. They’ve learned a lot from being in sports, and I think as twin brothers they’ve grown even closer together because they play every sport together.” The twins give a lot of credit for their interest in sports to their older brother. “It all started because of Fillo,” Hobet says. “He started by showing us how to kick, because that was his thing. He kind of presented sports to us.” The twins agreed that Fillo put a lot of time into demonstrating a hard work ethic to his brothers and
“It’s obviously different; I’m more of a coach to my brother now.” Hobet Diaz on his new role
alex and Hobet Diaz
by Tomi Thompson • Photography by Thru Him Photography
Alex Diaz on his brother’s injury “I already miss playing with him and it feels so different without him by my side at linebacker. I wish we could get one more play together.” contributed to them becoming better athletes. Watching Hobet’s high school career suddenly come to an end was tough for Fillo but he admires how his brother handled it. “I don’t even know if I would have been able to handle that as a high schooler, but he handled it pretty well. He was torn to pieces, because sports have always been huge for him. He was very strong about it. He was always with his football team; cheering them on even though he had to sit on the sidelines. Even with wrestling this year, he’s still captain of the team and he’s cheering them on and motivating them from outside of the mat.” Being on the sidelined definitely wasn’t easy for Hobet, but after a football game against Hawley this season, he got to experience a special moment in sportsmanship. Injured and watching the game from the sidelines, he stayed back as the teams shook hands after the game, and a Hawley player noticed. “I thought they were just all going to walk away and not see me, but then one of their teammates out of nowhere came and shook my hand.” Hobet said.
ery. It was really nice of them.” The nine month road to recovery is a long one, but Hobet aims to make the best of his situation. “At the start, I was like ‘Why did this happen to me?’ But there’s other bad things that happen to other people that is worse than an ACL tear,” Hobet said. “I should just be humble and keep doing my exercises and everything because I can actually come back, and I’m pretty sure there are other people that wish that they could have another opportunity when they don’t.” The brothers laugh when asked if they’re planning on heading off to college together in the future, “We probably hear that question once a day.” Hobet said. Both say they’re undecided, and they know they’ll figure it out when the time comes. Even though they’re unsure, Fillo has big hopes for his little brother’s futures. “From how they see me in their eyes, I want them to be more than what I am. I always want to set the bar higher for them. I want them to not settle for something, I want them to want more than that. I want them to beat me, and be better than I am.”
The act of sportsmanship from the Hawley team didn’t stop with just one handshake. “After that, the whole team recognized it and they all followed after him and came and did the same. That meant a lot to me. They told me to get better and wished me good luck. That means a lot, when somebody says good luck to me and wishes me a quick recov-
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Coverage you can Trust, from an Agent you Know! Auto • Home • Life • Business • Health 12 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
Scholar Athlete > PELICAN RAPIDS
VIKINGS
Logan Knorr Cross country - basketball - baseball Nickname: Knorrski Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Band, Speech, Knowledge Bowl, National Honor Society, 4-H, Math Team
Notable Academic Accomplishment: Class Rank 1 I Root For: Minnesota Golden Gophers, Vikings, Twins Pets: Cat, Puffin In Ten Years...I’ll Be: A math teacher back at Pelican Rapids.
Scholar Athlete > UNDERWOOD
ROCKETS
Paige Bickett trapshooting Nickname: Paigey Favorite School Subject: Medical Terminology Grade Point Average: 4.031 Groups and Organizations: SADD, Choir, Trapshooting, Knowledge Bowl, Interact, Business Professionals of America
I Root For: NDSU Bison Pets: A Dog Named Lilly In Ten Years...I’ll Be: An RN at Sanford Hospital.
nicole herbranson
by Emily Pascavis • Photography by Thru Him Photography
“
W
hether it’s practice or working by myself, I always go at game speed and give 100%. I put myself in game situations so when it comes to the games, I feed off of the pressure instead of getting nervous...I know that if I want to accomplish my goals, I have to work super hard for them. I might not be remembered as a great athlete to others, but to myself I want to be remembered as the great athlete I strive to be.” Those are the profound words of Barnesville High School sophomore, Nicole Herbranson. Nicole is a four-sport varsity athlete, involved in basketball, volleyball, softball, and track. In reading her words, it is clear that Nicole is very mature for her age, and truly something special. We’re All In This Together Nicole is one of five children in the Herbranson family. To say she grew up in the world of sports would be an understatement. With four of the five children being athletes, Joanne, Nicole’s mother, says they brought Nicole to her sister’s basketball game just three days after she was born. Nicole’s sister Laura played volleyball at Minnesota State Community and Technical College–Fergus Falls, her sister Jaynie played basketball at Concordia College in Moorhead, and her younger brother plays basketball, football, and baseball. Having the great relationship that she does with her family, it was no surprise to hear that Nicole’s biggest inspiration is one of her sisters. “Jaynie is my inspiration because of the kind and hardworking person she is. She’s one of the nicest people you will meet, and also one of the most competitive and hard working. I watched her play basketball and other sports growing up, and I feel I got my work ethic from her. She is always there to help me with any sport when I have questions or need to vent. When I was younger she took me into the gym to shoot [baskets] with her a lot. She’s someone I can always depend on and I hope to be like her when I am older.” Along with the support of her family, Nicole also grew up with the leaders before her reminding her and her teammates to always work their hardest, play every game like it is their last, and never take it for granted. Now, Nicole is in a position to positively influence and lead her teams. An Emerging Leader Regardless of the sport, Nicole is the type of athlete any coach wants on their team; not just because of her work ethic and athletic ability, but also because of what she brings to the team in terms of leadership, motivation, and support. “She is a gifted athlete that motivates her teammates by her actions and words,” says Nicole’s volleyball coach, Megan Askegaard. “They feed off of her big plays and follow her example. She always comes ready to work, and I have NEVER seen her complain about things that she cannot control. She is always pushing others to be better by using encouraging words, and simply cheering if she is not on the court.”
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“She is a gifted athlete that motivates her teammates by her actions and words."
Volleyball Coach Megan Askegaard
nicole herbranson
by Emily Pascavis • Photography by Thru Him Photography
“She is one of the most talented players I have ever been around. She has incredible work ethic, and the drive to be great.”
Basketball Coach Ryan Bomstad Nicole’s mom, Joanne says she is “very impressed with her type of play. She is a quiet leader, and always positive. She is competitive and aggressive, but in a good way. She’s always very conscious of the other team.” Her dad, Dave agrees, adding that, “She just has a quality about her; she is a hard worker, unselfish, and if she has something to say, she leads by example.” Age Is Just A Number Despite being young, Nicole is a vital part of her teams, and has had great success in her high school career thus far. Winning All-Conference Honorable Mention in both
volleyball and basketball, being named MVP of the basketball team in the 2014 season, and named a Captain for the volleyball team this past season, are just a few of Nicole’s accolades. She is growing into a great athlete and leader, and shows no signs of slowing down. “We live in a technology-filled world with so many challenges and things to do,” says Nicole’s basketball coach Ryan Bomstad. “Young people have so many opportunities and things they can do now. When I played,
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you played sports. Now, students are working, they have cars, they are involved in four or five different groups, and they are being pulled in all different directions. Through all that, Nicole will sacrifice some of her time with other things to be great. That is truly rare for athletes today. There is a low percentage of student-athletes who will make that sacrifice; she is in that group. She is one of the most talented players I have ever been around. She has incredible work ethic, and the drive to be great.”
“Her greatest quality is the person she is,” he continued. “She is the most humble and down to earth person I have ever met. She is respectful of everybody, she is kind and considerate to others, and she is family oriented. Her family is the biggest thing in her life. She has great relationships with all of her siblings and family. Her mom and dad are incredible people and they should be truly proud of the great young person she is. She says thank you after every practice. What athlete does that in today’s world? You add up all those qualities and you get a tremendous player, but even more, a better person. That is truly what sets her apart.”
Scholar Athlete > WEST CENTRAL
KNIGHTS
Christian Swenson Cross country - track Favorite School Subject: Chemistry Grade Point Average: 3.9 Groups and Organizations: One-Act Play, Knowledge Bowl Notable Academic Accomplishment: All-State Academic Runner
I Root For: Golden Gophers Pets: Dog, Pekk and Cat, Tula In Ten Years...I’ll Be: An accomplished engineer.
Scholar Athlete > BRANDON-EVANSVILLE
CHARGERS
Melissa Haseman volleyball - basketball - track Nickname: Hase Favorite School Subject: Math and Chemistry Grade Point Average: 4.0 Your Role Model: My role models would definitely be my amazing parents
Notable Academic Accomplishment: A Honor Roll, Spotlight on Scholarship, REA Washington D.C. Youth Tour Representative In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working as a pediatrician, married and starting a family of my own.
nicole herbranson Going The Extra Mile One wouldn’t think there would be much spare time, or much of an off-season when you are involved in four varsity sports, yet Nicole still finds the time to put in extra work. During the school year, she goes to school early, taking any chance she gets to shoot extra baskets. This summer she lifted weights at the school and was a part of J.O. volleyball and A.A.U. basketball travel leagues. “Her work ethic is second
to none,” explained Bomstad, “She is always in the gym, works on her fundamentals constantly, studies the game, and pays very close attention to the little details.” With a plate as full as Nicole’s, one can imagine that balancing school, sports, friends, and family is a struggle; especially at a young age. Nonetheless Nicole seems to have a pretty good grasp on how to manage it all. “Though nights get to be late, I al-
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by Emily Pascavis • Photography by Thru Him Photography
ways make sure I get my work done after games,” says Nicole. “School is very important to me, as well as sports. So finding time for both is tough, but I am able to manage just fine. Spending time with friends and family usually comes on the weekends, although sometimes I don’t even have time then...but I know that it’s just part of being in sports.” You can never be sure what the future holds, but one thing you can
be sure of is that Nicole’s future is bright. Her level of maturity, selflessness, optimistic mindset, and fundamental desire to succeed will take her far, not only in sports, but in life as well.
Scholar Athlete > wadena-deer creek
wolverines
Casey Volkmann volleyball - basketball - softball Favorite School Subject: Algebra and Choir Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Knowledge Bowl and Jazz Band I Root For: Minnesota Gophers
Pets: A dog named Buddy and a cat named Kitty In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Graduated from college and pursuing a career in engineering.
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Jon Richards
by Jackie Jenson • Photography by Thru Him Photography
T
om Ward, a former assistant hockey coach for the University of Minnesota mens hockey team, once described hockey as the original extreme sport and National Hockey League Hall of Famer Wayne Gretsky, described the game as, “A unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction to be successful.” For Detroit Lakes High School’s Jon Richards, hockey is both, plus a whole lot more. “I like the pace and physicality of the game,” describes Richards. “It’s fast and exciting every time.” For ten years and counting, the DLHS senior center has been practicing, playing and perfecting his game with regards to the frozen, fast-paced sport played in arenas and on ponds across the state of Minnesota almost year round these days.
“There are so many challenges with hockey. Making a shot or play work is an amazing thing to be a part of.”
Jon Richards Richards was introduced to hockey in the second grade. That is when he noticed a hockey flyer posted on a bulletin board at the Becker County Fair. “I thought it looked like fun. Most kids start when they are five or six years old, so I knew I was coming to the game a little late.” Richards caught up fast, though, by deploying a two-pronged attack of hard work and smart play to get up to speed quickly. A second year captain, Richards’ biggest attribute says DLHS Varsity Hockey coach Todd Dwyer, is his work ethic on and off the ice. “He knows how to battle through adversity. Not everything is gonna go the way you want [during a game]. He knows you can’t let bumps in the road get you off track to accomplishing your goal,” explains Dwyer. “Jon also has great speed and an excellent shot,” adds the coach.
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Jon Richards Richards’ love of the game is as philosophical as it is physical. In this respect, he notes hockey is a very mental game. “There are so many challenges with hockey. Making a shot or play work is an amazing thing to be a part of,” says the starting center. “Defense is important, not to get scored on is the goal. You get the job done on defense and work to offense,” expounds Richards. As captain, the goal is to get everyone on the same page. Managing a season, however with homework and college applications looming, is a different kind of unification project, but one Richards is glad to take on. “Our current team has lots of talent and we have played together for a while now. This group of seniors and juniors has the skills to do something special,” explains Richards. “We have the same passion to win and make plays. There is a lot of talent coming up too and depth is
by Jackie Jenson • Photography by Thru Him Photography
the key to winning,” adds the senior captain.
means I need to work on skills and get bigger, stronger and faster too.”
in hockey in the winter and plays tennis in the spring.
Richards notes that not only has this particular team been playing together for a while, it is comprised of basically the same set of guys that as eighth and ninth graders, took the Minnesota Youth League State Championship.
Currently, his college goals include majoring in orthopedic surgery and possibly playing for University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of North Dakota or the granddaddy of all college hockey teams, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
“That was probably the favorite game I’ve played in, the Regional Youth League Finals against Hopkins. It came down to our very last game. Win it, and we have a shot at state: Lose, and we go home. We got to go on.”
“Jon wants to play in college. He has set goals and I believe he will achieve them,” says Coach Dwyer.
Cross country is new to the mix, though. Always preparing in whatever off-season he has, Richards joined the high school cross country team this year for two very different reasons: to continue to challenge himself physically in the fall to better prepare for the winter hockey season and for the opportunity to participate in a sport with one of his brothers.
With aspirations of playing college or maybe even professional hockey someday, Richards knows he needs to get bigger and stronger to do so – something accomplished in the off season with cycling (road and mountain) and weight training. “This generation of players is very big and very strong. The game is fast. To play at the college level,
A fan of all things hockey, some of the current NHL players Richards likes to watch are Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. “I like Bergeron because of his unique play on defense and Crosby is very good on offense,” offers Richards. “My favorite team to watch is the Edmonton Oilers. They are full of young talent.” A three-sport athlete, Richards runs cross country in the fall, competes
With four active boys in the Richards’ home, each son has carved out their own sports path. Jake, 22, was a cross country skier and runner in high school; Jon, 18, plays hockey and tennis; Jack, 16 is a runner and skier; and Jens, 14, is a hockey devotee. “Because of our ages, I knew this would be my only chance to be in a sport with my brother, Jack,” explains Jon. “It was fun to be able to run with him this year. Don’t know how well I did, but I learned a lot.”
“Hockey is such a mental game. You have to be very sport minded and you have to play smart and trust each other. Hockey is always a life lesson.”
Jon Richards
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Jon Richards
by Jackie Jenson • Photography by Thru Him Photography
“Most kids start when they are five or six years old, so I knew I was coming to the game a little late.”
Jon Richards
Being on a hockey team, though, is a lot like being part of a family, a family where everyone comes together to get things done. And for a hockey team preparing for a winning season that sentiment holds true. Much like a family, they need to draw on each other’s talents to “get things done”, which in this case means getting to the Minnesota State High School League Tournament.
Says Coach Dwyer, “The top teams in Section 8 this year are East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, and of course, Warroad. We have a lot good players; we need to learn from every experience this year to accomplish our goals.” “Our challenge will be East Grand Forks,” notes Richards who is confident his team has the ability to compete in the section and earn a state birth this year.
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The dictionary definition of hockey is as follows: “A game played on ice between two teams of six skaters each, the object being to score goals by shooting a puck into the opponent’s cage using a stick with a wooden blade set at an obtuse angle to the shaft.” This definition seems very simplistic after speaking with Richards who sees the game as complex and metaphoric.
“Hockey is such a mental game. You have to be very sport minded. You have to play smart and trust each other. Hockey is always a life lesson,” says Richards. “It helps you develop as a person, through its decision making and team work,” he concludes, summing up his thoughts on the sport.
Scholar Athlete > MOORHEAD
SPUDS
Britta Hanson Volleyball Nickname: Britots Favorite School Subject: Anatomy and Biology Grade Point Average: 3.96 My Role Model: My Parents Pets: Two Cats, Sugar and Cocoa
Notable Academic Accomplishment: AP Student and Lettering in Academics I Root For: The Gophers, NDSU, Twins and Vikings In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working as a nurse or doing something in the medical field.
Scholar Athlete > battle lake
battlers
Claire Mathiesen Volleyball - basketball Nickname: Clairebear Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 3.69 Groups and Organizations: Boy Scout Leadership, Chorale, Ensembles, Youth Group, BPA, Musical, Choir, Band
Notable Academic Accomplishment: National Honor Society I Root For: Timberwolves In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Nursing
Sheri Hanson has provided excellent customer service to our bank customers for many years. We’re proud to have her part of our team!
Vergas Insurance Agency • Vergas, MN 56587 Ph: 218-342-2481 • Fax: 218-342-2510
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Scholar Athlete > ALEXANDRIA
CARDINALS
Karsen Granning soccer - softball Nickname: KG Grade Point Average: 3.89 Favorite School Subjects: History Notable Academic Accomplishment: National Honor Society Member
I Root For: Montana State University Bobcats Pets: Dog, Josie; Two Cats, Angel and Milkey Currently Listening To: The Black Keys In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Getting my PhD and hopefully doing medical research.
Scholar Athlete > FERGUS FALLS
OTTERS
Tosten Mann Hockey - football - baseball Nickname: Tmann Favorite School Subject: History or Science Grade Point Average: 3.3 Groups and Organizations: Choir, Youth Group I Root For: The Minnesota Wild
Pets: Dog Named Mazzy In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Have a job with a family.
A CONVERSATION Brianna Rasmusson Fergus Falls > basketball / volleyball Brianna Rasmusson graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 2014 and is currently a sophomore at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota. Bri led the Otters to a third place finish at the Minnesota Class AA State Volleyball Tournament as a senior setter in 2013. She was an all-state and all-tournament team selection her senior year and was also an all-state basketball player, by Craig Olson scoring more than 1,000 career points and setting the Craig follows area sports throughout the year at www.craigolsonsports.com school’s all-time assists record before the end of her junior season. She helped lead Fergus Falls to 89 wins and three state tournament appearances in three years, including a third place finish as a senior in 2014. In track and field she is the school record holder and a state meet qualifier in the triple jump. She just completed her sophomore season with the Bison volleyball team.
CRAIG OLSON: Give our readers an update on your status as a college student. What are you studying at NDSU and what career path do you hope it leads you to? brianna rasmusson: I am currently a sophomore majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Psychology. I plan on going to grad school after I graduate at NDSU to study physical therapy. CO: What do you enjoy most about the student life at NDSU? BR: I enjoy going to other NDSU athletic games the most. 32 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
CO: The Fargo-Moorhead area has a lot of good eating places. What would you say are your top two or three dining destinations?
CO: Your volleyball season just ended. How would you assess the season as a whole for you, individually, and for your team?
BR: That’s a tough question. There are still many restaurants I haven’t tried yet. A couple of my favorites though, are Granite City, Olive Garden and Kroll’s Diner.
BR: I think we did some good things this season as a team. We had a great preseason and competed with some tough non-conference teams. We had a strong conference this year, and I thought we competed well and came up with some big wins. Individually, I made some great improvements from last season and it was exciting to see that this year.
CO: Can people follow you on Twitter or through other social media? BR: I don’t go on them much, but I have Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
CO: What were some of the top highlights for you this fall?
a conversation with craig
brianna rasmusson BR: We have little scheduled time to workout and play as a team until after Christmas break. Right now we are lifting twice a week as a team and having open gym. We get to spend all of Christmas break at home and lift three days a week on our own. After Christmas break is over, then we can start practicing as a team again. During spring season we lift, condition, practice and compete in tournaments. In the summer, we stay in Fargo to work camps, lift and condition. CO: You were a three-sport athlete in high school. Do you miss basketball this time of year or is that a distant memory?
BR: One of the top highlights this season was taking Mizzou to five sets at their home tournament to start off the season. Though we didn’t end up winning in the fifth, it was an exciting match and we played well. Some other highlights were beating IUPUI at home in three sets and beating Denver at home in five sets. Home games are always a highlight because of the great atmosphere we get at the BBF. CO: You’ve traveled to some interesting places with the Bison over your first two years. Share a couple of your favorite travel experiences with your teammates. BR: This past summer our team went on our first international trip to Nicaragua. We spent 10 days volunteering in schools, sightseeing and playing volleyball. Though that has been by far my favorite trip, some of my other favorites have been the Baltimore/Washington DC area and San Francisco.
BR: My role this year has mostly been setting and hitting on the right side. I still train a variety of different positions to make me more versatile and to allow our team to have different options. CO: Where do you think your game has improved the most over the first two years of college competition? BR: My biggest improvement has been in setting. Getting more experience and reps has helped me not only produce better sets, but also with decision making. CO: Now that the season is over, what type of a schedule, related to volleyball, do you have?
CO: You are such a versatile volleyball player and could fill a number of different roles for a team. Have you settled into a defined role with the Bison or are you being used in a variety of different positions?
34 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
BR: Yeah, I miss getting the opportunity to play basketball with my friends, especially around this time of the year. But I love that I still get to watch some of them compete at the college level and I love coming back to Fergus to watch the high school games. I still go to the gym and play pickup games or shoot around, but getting to compete with some of my best friends is definitely something I miss. I was fortunate to get to play with some amazing girls, great coaches and great community support. What I miss most is being able to put on an Otter jersey and play in that atmosphere. CO: Tell our readers about the recruiting process you experienced and how you wound up choosing NDSU over your other options.
BR: My recruiting process was a little different because I didn’t decide what sport I wanted to play until I made my decision on where I was going. I had more exposure in basketball because of the success our team had at state tournaments and playing AAU. Early on in the recruiting process it never really occurred to me that I could even play volleyball in college, but I was lucky to have had some college coaches from around the area that saw me play. I decided to go about the recruiting process by not so much choosing what sport, but instead focusing on the school and the team that I would be joining. That is how I came to my decision to play volleyball at NDSU. I loved the school, the coaches and the team. I am very happy with my decision to go to Fargo and compete as a Bison. The support we get is very similar to the support I received as an Otter growing up. CO: Who are the people who have influenced you the most over the years, both personally and as an athlete? BR: My parents definitely influenced me the most. I am who I am today because of them. In sports, they taught me to work hard and to enjoy every minute of it. I also learned a lot from my teammates throughout the years. I am so thankful that I got to play with some amazing athletes and even better people. CO: What do you miss most about Fergus Falls High School and being an Otter?
in the numbers AT NDSU: 2014 (Freshman) 15-17 Overall, 8-8 conference
Named to The Summit League’s All-Freshman Team
32/30
Played in all 32 matches with 30 starts
ranked
ranked
ranked
2
3
5
on the team with
on the team with
on the team with
total assists &
total blocks &
total kills &
assists per set
blocks per set
kills per set
439 57 108 3.60
0.47
0.89
AT NDSU: 2015 (SOphomore) 19-12 Overall, 10-6 conference Distinguished Scholar on Summit League Fall Academic Honor Roll (3.943 GPA)
BR: I miss being able to see my classmates every day and being able to compete as an Otter. To play in front of a packed gym almost every night shows that the community support in Fergus Falls is like no other. My teammates and coaches are what I miss most. From long bus rides, summers spent in the gym and challenging practices to competing in state tournaments and everything in between, it would not have been the same if it weren’t for the people around me.
CO: Do you have any favorite college or pro sports teams you root for?
CO: When you are away from school what type of hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
BR: Starting a family and working as a physical therapist.
BR: I enjoying reading and watching movies when I have free time.
BR: The Bison of course! CO: If you could pick anyone in the world to sit down and have a conversation with over lunch who would it be? BR: God CO: If all goes according to plan, where do you see yourself in ten years?
Climbed into 12th place on Bison all-time assist list with 1,172 career assists Earned All-Tournament honors at Missouri’s Tiger Invitational averaging 7.64 assists and 1.71 digs per set in three matches
LED THE TEAM
13
748
6.29
double doubles
total assists
assists per set
ranked
ranked
ranked
2
3
5
on the team with
on the team with
on the team with
service aces
total digs &
total kills &
digs per set
kills per set
24 294 138 2.47
1.16
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS VIEW 35
Scholar Athlete > PERHAM
YELLOWJACKETS
Jenna Wegscheid CrOSS COUNTRY - Speech - track & Field Favorite School Subject: Science Grade Point Average: 3.995 I Root For: Twins Notable Academic Accomplishments: Highest Academic Honors, National Honor Society, Letter Winner
Pets: MinPin named Cookie, Two Cats named Pickles and Dori Your Role Model: My Parents In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Graduated and hopefully a research scientist
Scholar Athlete > DETROIT LAKES
LAKERS
Kyra Vagle Basketball - Softball - Volleyball Nickname: Snoop Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.9 I Root For: Minnesota Vikings, U of MN Mens Basketball Your Role Model: My Grandma
Notable Academic Accomplishments: National Honor Society, Volleyball Academic All-State, Will Graduate with My Associate of Arts Degree this Spring In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Graduated from college with a good job and have a family started.
tyler bormann
B
reckenridge boys basketball is on the rise and had a break-out season last year, going 21-8 and reaching the state tournament for the first time since 1979. The 2014-2015 season followed four losing seasons since 2010. It was a defining moment for the team, finally getting over the hurdle of defeating their nemesis, Hawley, in the section tournament and making a fairy tale buzzer-beater basket to defeat Crosby-Ironton by two points to make the trip to the big dance. The Cowboys had winning seasons from the 2003-2004 campaign through the 2009-2010 year under Coach Dean Haugo, now the athletic director at Moorhead High School. However, they would perennially run up against powerhouses Pelican Rapids and Staples-Motley and couldn’t make their way out of the section. When current coach Tyler Bormann took over in the 2012-2013 season, the team had their third straight losing year. In 2013-2014 they went 12-14, but Coach Bormann’s defensive intensity and offensive up-tempo play was starting to take hold, going 9-2 in February heading into sections. However, they fell to Hawley in the section tournament. Coach Bormann was undeterred by that, feeling the team had bought in to the culture of hard work and being “all in” for each other. Bormann’s philosophy of “win as one” was starting to take hold. During the 2014-2015 season, the Cowboys were led by the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder Nate Lorenz, a 6-foot-7 player with a full set of skills, now playing college ball for MinnesotaCrookston. While Lorenz was the leader in many categories, the development of all the players on the team is what led to their success. In fact, in the section semi-final against Hawley, Lorenz spent the majority of the game
by Norm Newell • Photography by Justin Eiler
on the bench in foul trouble and sophomore Stevin Lipp and junior Ashton Hegge led the Cowboys in scoring for the game, while senior Nate Blaufuss hit a late threepointer to make the Cowboy lead insurmountable. Coach Bormann could see the development as a team to “win as one” coming to fruition. When it came to the section final, another player, Zarek Reiff, was one of the leading scorers and Ashton Hegge stepped up for the big shot at the buzzer to win the game by that two-point basket. Tyler Bormann is a self-described basketball junkie. He grew up in the Detroit Lakes area, playing
Bormann went on to be a graduate assistant coach at Augustana College in Sioux Falls under Coach Tom Billeter where he enjoyed the experience of the team making the Division II National Tournament. In 2008-2011, Bormann continued his coaching journey as the lead assistant coach for Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 2011-2012, he was an assistant coach at Jamestown College. He and Cheryl had their first child, Graeme, that year and Bormann realized that all the time away from home on the recruiting trail had to come to an end. “Cheryl has been an outstanding coach’s wife and supporter so I’m truly blessed. She
“Pressure defense, many times full court, along with quick transition to offense and pushing the ball up the court will be our style.”
Coach Tyler Bormann basketball for the Lakers, graduating in 2002. He attended Concordia College, where he met his wife Cheryl, a Perham High School graduate who played basketball, volleyball and is talented musically. Bormann did not play basketball at Concordia, instead taking another path into coaching. As a 19 year-old college sophomore, he was invited to be the JV boys coach under legendary coach Bob Torgrimson at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School and he jumped at the chance. Coaching is in Bormann’s DNA, as the grandson of legendary coach Denny Anderson, who coached at Fergus Falls High School and later Moorhead State College. Anderson, along with another Fergus Falls coach, Wally Pearson, started the Otter summer basketball camps in the 70’s, when summer basketball was in its infancy.
40 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
understands my passion for the sport, but it was time for me to turn more of my time to her and our new family,” Bormann says. A good decision, as a second son, Bennett, came along and another Baby Bormann is due in April. When Coach Haugo left for the Moorhead AD position, Bormann was selected as the new Breckenridge coach. By day, he is a middle school science teacher. Then as the final school bell rings, he heads for the gym where he relishes the basketball experience. “My day just couldn’t end at 3:30 pm, I love the coaching aspect as much as the teaching,” says Bormann. “Teaching and coaching is such a rewarding experience. You can see and feel how you can make an important impact on the development and maturity of your students and players.”
Fully committed, enthusiastic, energetic...these are Coach Bormann’s expectations of his players, but he has exactly the same expectations of himself. “If this is the culture I expect from my kids, I have to live up to those expectations also,” states Bormann. Watching his team practice, it quickly becomes clear that energy and enthusiasm are a staple in developing the hardnosed in-your-face defense that Coach Bormann is expecting. The practices are fast paced, moving quickly from one activity to another, with pressure defense and up-tempo offense featured in many of the drills. “Pressure defense, many times full court, along with quick transition to offense and pushing the ball up the court will be our style,” noted Bormann. “We have a roster with many athletic players so we will use ball movement and motion to put them into positions to make plays throughout the game.” The six seniors on this year’s team, Ashton Hegge, Hunter Aigner, Brock Pearson, Jaxton Henning, Erik Manning and Austin Ramos all stopped after practice to talk about last season and this season’s expectations. To a man they all said the state experience was “sweet” and it’s their goal this year to make a return trip. Hegge, who is quiet by nature, said the buzzer beater basket he made to send the team to state was “hard to put in words” but you could see by his shy smile it will be a memory that will stay with him. Asked about what they like about Cowboy basketball, they all stated they enjoy the “press and push” style and it’s clear they accept and actually relish the hard work involved, but also the freedom involved in playing that style. Their one-word description of Coach Bormann? Intense, emotional, fastpaced, vocal, intelligent, a leader. Coach Bormann gives credit to his assistant coaches, Dick Cordes and Dan Dahlgren, along with previous assistant Tony Bogenreif, for their years of coaching expertise and suggestions in refining the
“My day just couldn’t end at 3:30 pm. I love the coaching aspect as much as the teaching.”
Coach Tyler Bormann
tyler bormann team’s up-tempo style. “Coach Bogenreif played a key role in our program for years; always willing to do what was needed. He had a great rapport with our players and I truly appreciated his contributions in our culture.” Coach Bogenreif accepted an assistant coaching position with the Breckenridge Cowgirl program in the offseason. Cordes has coached basketball in other locations, including a number of years as head coach in Springfield, MN. “Coach Cordes’ impact on our program has been substantial. He does a tremendous job working with our 9th graders to get them acclimated quickly to high school basketball and holding them accountable for doing things the right way,” states Bormann. “He is a true teacher of the game and has contributed in many ways toward building our program.” Dahlgren was the head women’s coach at Wahpeton State College of Science for six years and also coached girls basketball at Breckenridge High School. Dahlgren has a son, Derek,
by Norm Newell • Photography by Justin Eiler
on the Cowboys team. “When the opening on our staff became official this offseason we were fortunate and excited to welcome a coach of Dan’s caliber to our staff. In his short time with our program he has already contributed to developing this year’s team and I look forward to the impact he will continue to have on our program.” Describing the state experience from the coach’s perspective, Coach Bormann says that first of all it was a great experience for the players to validate all the hard work they had put in to get there. Also, walking out on the University of Minnesota court where greats like Mychal Thompson and Kevin McHale played brought a sense of sharing the history of basketball. The coaching staff and the boys were very proud of the community support they received and Bormann felt the boys represented Breckenridge and their basketball program very well. Finally, he felt the team really belonged there and that their play
42 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
made their community proud. Coach Bormann summed it up in a word, it was an “awesome” experience for the players, coaches and community. This season, the Cowboys only have one starter back from last year, Ashton Hegge. But they have a number of other players with significant playing time last year, including Hunter Aigner, Stevin Lipp, Carson Yaggie and Austin Ramos. They also have a number of other athletes coming through the ranks, that will fit into Coach Bormann’s pressure defense and uptempo offensive style. As I sat through a practice session for the team, I saw that the players are spot on in their assessment of Coach Bormann. He is clearly energetic, very enthusiastic and definitely vocal. While not afraid to correct the players on the things that need correction, Bormann spends much more time encouraging the players and giving loud and
generous affirmations of things well done throughout the practice. He has the players cheering and yelling throughout the drills and keeps everyone involved, true to the “win as one” philosophy. I also made note that Coach Bormann was right about his players, they are quick, very athletic, energetic and having fun with their teammates. I witnessed a real sense of team camaraderie. The coaches’ practice shirts have “prACTice like a Champion” printed on one side and “Win as One” on the other. Sometimes those are just nice T-shirt catch-phrases, but for the Breckenridge boys basketball squad, it is an already established culture that Coach Bormann looks to steadily enhance throughout this season, and seasons to come. Come watch the Cowboys play this year, you will see a team ready to “Win as One.”
Scholar Athlete > FRAZEE
HORNETS
Madison Oswald volleyball - basketball - softball Nickname: Maddie Favorite School Subject: English Grade Point Average: 3.72 Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Band
Pets: Dog - Toaster, Cat - Scooter In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Hopefully married, with a steady teaching job.
Scholar Athlete > ROTHSAY
TIGERS
Miles Mudderman football - basketball - track Favorite School Subject: Chemistry and Robotics Grade Point Average: 3.6 Groups and Organizations: Chess Club I Root For: Vikings, Timberwolves, Clippers
Notable Academic Accomplishment: A Honor Roll Pets: A Lizard Named Ricardo Ramano Rodrego Rodregez In Ten Years...I’ll Be: A fireman in a big city.
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44 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
Scholar Athlete > BRECKENRIDGE
COWBOYS
Ben Ihland football - baseball Favorite School Subject: History Grade Point Average: 3.8 I Root For: Minnesota Gophers, Oregon Ducks and NDSU Bison Pets: Two Dogs, Allie and Carly
Notable Academic Accomplishment: Excellence in Education, Student of the Month In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Graduated college with a good job and a happy/healthy family.
Scholar Athlete > ASHBY
ARROWS
Miles Wing Football - basketball - baseball - TrapShooting Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Student Council, Mock Trial
Pets: Two Dogs, Gilly and Reggie I Root For: Minnesota Vikings, Timberwolves, Twins, Gophers In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working in the engineering field.
Ross Ukkelberg grew up on a dairy farm, milking cows. That didn’t leave a lot of time for sports. To compound that situation, there was no such thing as organized elementary athletics in the Battle Lake area at that time. “We had a hoop hanging on a garage and it was sloped off to one side with a tree hanging over the other side,” recalled Ukkelberg. “That meant 46 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
I was only good at a couple of different shots because that’s all I could practice. Plus, it wasn’t a cement surface, but the driveway leading into the garage which featured some ruts, making it tough to be a good ball handler. Football started with involvement in Punt, Pass and Kick and I just missed advancing to the regional competitions at the Vikings game by a foot-and-a-half.”
ross ukkelberg Ukkelberg didn’t actually begin competitive, organized athletics until seventh grade. Tony Thiel, who would wind up coaching Ukkelberg in high school football, actually served as his eighth-grade basketball coach. “I remember in my elementary years Battle Lake won state football titles (Class C) in 1974 and 1977 and were runners-up in 1978,” Ukkelberg recalls. “Tony’s son, Tony Jr., and my brother Todd were on some very good varsity football teams. Your heroes were those guys. There was a kid named Mark Hustad who was a junior on the 1974 team who was pretty much known as the greatest athlete ever in Battle Lake. We looked up to them. I tried to pass that on to my kids; that the little kids are looking up to them and watching them and it means so much to the kids if you even just say ‘hi’ or call them by their name.” Ross and his buddies realized in their elementary days that football was going to be a part of their life because that’s the way it was in Battle Lake. Football was king. There were no weight lifting programs, but they were farm strong, which got you a long way on
the football field. The Battlers made it to state in Ross’ junior year, 1982, losing to eventual state runners-up, Belgrade in the quarterfinals. He earned the nickname ‘Bigfoot’ from legendary radio broadcaster Oats LeGrand because, as LeGrand said, “His feet are so big he is taller when he lies flat on his back than when he stands erect.” Ukkelberg was a three-sport athlete, excelling in track and field with two state tournament appearances in the discus and the shotput, and scoring over 1,000 career points on the basketball court. When you mention coaches who influenced him, Ukkelberg focuses in on three of them. “Mike McCarney was a top shelf coach. He was a ninth grade football coach and a junior high basketball coach and he made the game fun. He wasn’t a screamer, but you sure didn’t want to disappoint him. Chuck Evert was a great motivator. I remember he would write poems to motivate us before the games and we responded by playing some great games against some very good teams. He knew how to get us going. They were great, but the guy was Tony Thiel. We’d run through a brick wall for him. He yelled and screamed, but he got results. He was very
by Craig Olson black and white and always told it like it was. He was my number one coach at any level. I just wanted to play well for him.” “Ross was 6-foot-5, 245 pounds when he was a freshman and we put him at tackle that year,” recalled Coach Thiel. “We moved him to an end on offense when he was a junior because he could catch the ball, and then he played fullback his senior year and he just punished people,” says Thiel. “Defensively, he played the nose guard as a sophomore on our five man front. He started his sophomore, junior and senior years on defense and was a handful for opposing teams. On top of his athletic ability, Ross was an outstanding student and an accomplished singer.” After high school Ross had an opportunity to go to the University of Minnesota. He received a full scholarship, getting his schooling paid for and gaining unique and valuable life experiences while participating in a Division I football program at his home state university. Lou Holtz presented him with the Most Improved Spring Player award the spring of his freshman season saying, “We’re going to give this award to a guy we thought when he showed up for fall practice, ‘Why did we give this guy a scholarship?’ He is the most improved spring practice player.” Coach Thiel remembered when a Gopher assistant coach showed up to watch Ross play basketball, “I was watching the game with this assistant and he asked me if I thought Ross could play Big Ten football. I told him I was just a high school coach and didn’t really know what it took to compete at that level. About that time Ross got the ball on a fast break and was coming right at the basket on our end of the
48 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
floor. He went up and rattled home a dunk. The coach looked at me and said, ‘I think he has what it takes.’”
for dad, because I’m not the nicest coach. We worked hard to get better, we played to win and the boys caught the brunt of my hollering, but I believe kids need to know where the line is. If you’re playing a team sport, it’s not okay if you don’t do your job. I always felt I was trying to make them better athletes and better people, because I really do care for them. That goes for all the kids I coached.”
“John Palermo was my defensive line coach for four years at the U,” says Ukkelberg. “He was a 6-foot-5 Italian who was a screamer. He gave this slow, weak kid from a small town a chance. I started for two years and Palermo was in my corner. He really pushed for me and I did what I was told. My technique was good and my work ethic helped a lot. I saw him for the first time in twenty years this past summer and I got really choked up.”
Ukkelberg and his extended family, his wife was a VanErp, got to enjoy watching their boys and their nephews play together in high school athletics. “That has been the highlight of us moving back to Battle Lake,” he said. “I’m glad we came back. With the cousins moving here also it has been a huge bonus. The cousins are best friends to my boys and on top of that they are teammates. They push each other and are all very competitive. It couldn’t get much better.”
The Butch Nash Award was presented to Ukkelberg his senior year. The award recognizes competitiveness on the field and in the classroom. Nash was also an assistant coach while Ukkelberg was with the Gophers. One of the highlights as a Gopher came when Ross was a redshirt sophomore in 1986 when they won in Michigan in front of over 105,000 fans, about 500 of whom were wearing maroon and gold. Ukkelberg knocked down two of quarterback Jim Harbaugh’s passes and the U of M won on a Chip Lohmiller field goal at the end of the game. “The whole place went dead silent except for our little corner of fans who were screaming like crazy,” said Ukkelberg. “Our sideline was a jumbled mess. People were piling on each other. We ran over, got the jug, headed to the locker room and proceeded to have two players get injured during the celebration.” Ross and his wife, Theresa, raised four boys and he says, “I’m thankful I married a gal with some athletic ability, otherwise my kids wouldn’t have had much. They would have been big galoots and not been able to run and jump. Thankfully they got their mom’s genes. She was a very good high school basketball player at New York Mills and was Dairy Queen MVP in the first game at the state tournament one year.” Ross continues, “Her two brothers were two of my biggest rivals in
high school from New York Mills. Tom was my age and Ted was a year older. Theresa was not a fan of mine in high school because I was the enemy, and probably a pretty cocky enemy.” Ross recalls, “One night I was singing at a ballroom with the Johnny Holm Band. Theresa and her roommate lived about a block away. She saw me up on stage and thought, ‘This should be good.’ Well, she was shocked that I could sing. She came up and talked to me, and we hit it off from there. It was interesting getting together with her family the first couple of times, but everything is good now. She’s the love of my life and is definitely the caregiver in our family. She believes in hard work and discipline and is a very caring person.” All of their boys were three sport athletes. They all played football and basketball and two were golfers (Jake and Tyler) and two were track guys (Alex and Tony). Jake is 23, Alex is 21, Tyler is 20 and Tony is 17.
Jake is an electrical engineer and lives in the Twin Cities. He had some unfortunate injuries in high school but was a very good athlete for the time he was able to compete. Alex has gone to a couple of different colleges and played a couple of different sports. He was a decathlete at St. John’s and at the University of Minnesota-Morris. There, he got into volleyball coaching and through that, got an opportunity to play men’s volleyball at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. Tyler is a sophomore at the U of M-Morris and is on the basketball team. He is in pre-physical therapy and is a sophomore. Son number four, Tony, is going to attend NDSU on a track scholarship next fall. He has been a key player for the Battle Lake basketball team, but is missing his senior year due to a knee injury he sustained during the football season. He is hoping to be able to compete for the Otter Tail Central track and field team in the spring.
Ross buys and sells construction equipment like bulldozers and back hoes. He started out in the business right out of college at a dealership in Burnsville and worked his way up the ladder for about ten years before deciding to become self-employed in the business. He does some traveling, finding equipment around the country and bringing it back here where he has them serviced and then sells to local contractors in the Midwest. With their last son about to graduate high school, the Ukkelbergs are about to experience the empty nest. As for the future, will Ross coach his grandchildren someday? “Absolutely not. I don’t think my sons will allow me to. If we have them for a weekend, I might show them something on the side, but my coaching days, like my playing days, are behind me.”
Ross spent some time coaching the boys over the years, but he says, “Sometimes it was a struggle playing
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS VIEW 49
Brynnan Covington
perham > cross country Junior Brynnan Covington is the 2015 small school individual Girls Cross Country National Champion with a time of 19 minutes, 14 seconds. She led her Perham Yellowjackets to the national team championship at the National Championship Race in Lexington, Kentucky in November. She also led Perham to a Class A Minnesota State Girls Cross Country title on November 7 at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
Laura Gaustad
volleyball > fergus falls 2014 Fergus Falls High School graduate Laura Gaustad completed her volleyball career at NDSCS in Wahpeton in third place on the career digs list (1,139) for the Wildcats. Gaustad was named to the 2015 Mon-Dak AllConference Volleyball team and the All-Region team. She was second on the team with 86 blocks, third with 259 kills and second with an attack percentage of .277 her sophomore season. Gaustad was a member of the 2014 Fergus Falls volleyball team which finished third in the state.
Tony Ukkelberg
battle lake > track and field Battle Lake High School senior Tony Ukkelberg has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the NDSU Men’s Track and Field team. Tony won the Minnesota Class A state title in the triple jump for Otter Tail Central as a sophomore in 2014 and holds school records in that event, along with the long jump, and as a member of the 4 x 200 meter relay team. Following the football season, Ukkelberg was named the Midwest Blue Sub-District Player of the Year and Most Valuable Quarterback.
Ryley Nelson
west central area > cross country West Central Area junior Ryley Nelson completed an outstanding cross country season by finishing eighth at the Class A State Cross Country meet on Saturday, November 7 at St. Olaf College in Northfield. His time of 16:25.9 helped him lead the Knights to a fourth place team finish. Nelson established a new school record in the boys 5K race when he ran a 16:24 at the Park Rapids Invitational in October. He was also the individual champion in the Section 6A race.
Olivia Anderson
Fergus Falls > bowling Senior Olivia Anderson of the Fergus Falls High School bowling team became the first female and second junior bowler to bowl a 300 game at Northern Aire Lanes in Fergus Falls when she accomplished that feat during Monday Junior League Bowling. Olvia was named Most Outstanding Bowler in the co-ed high school season and twice during the girls winter season (2014, 2015). Anderson also holds the record for the highest series recorded in Junior League history at Northern Aire Lanes with a 756. underwood > coaching Jeff Gronner Jeff Gronner, a 1993 Underwood High School graduate who is now in his 18th year as a coach at Cromwell High School, 12th as head coach, recorded his 100th career coaching victory when the Cardinals defeated Hill City 60-6 in the Section 5 Nine Man quarterfinals on October 13, 2015. Gronner has coached five state tourney teams, with one state title and a runner-up finish as an assistant, and has coached five state tourney teams, with one state title and a runner-up finish, as head coach at Cromwell.
50 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
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