High School Sports View Jan/Feb '17 by Lake & Home Magazine

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VIDEOS, ONLINE-ONLY CONTENT & PAST ARTICLES

ROSTER

F E AT U R E S COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK KEEPING VALKYRIES MOTIVATED

LOW PROFILE, HIGH RESULTS

MAKING THE GRADE ON AND OFF THE FIELD Carson Tunheim

BY JACKIE JENSON

A CONVERSATION WITH CRAIG Michael Strand

BY CRAIG OLSON

Elijah Colbeck

BY NORM NEWELL

A COACH’S DREAM Perham’s Jenson Beachy

LOW PROFILE, HIGH RESULTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JEREMY PETRICK PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BEN BECKER

COVER

www.highschoolsportsview.com VOLUME 4 NO. 3

S C H O L A R AT H L E T E S

Emily Monson and Mason Thornton BY TAIMOOR SATTI

JAN / FEB 2017

THEN & NOW Phil Moenkedick

BY LARRY SCOTT

CRAIG’S A LIST

05 05 11 11 19 19 27 27 33 33 39 43 45 45 47 47

PELICAN RAPIDS: MATT HANSON UNDERWOOD: BRAYDON CONSLEY FRAZEE: CARLY MAHONEY DETROIT LAKES: RYAN PASKEY BARNESVILLE: JOEY ROSTE FERGUS FALLS: ETHAN RINKE BRANDON-EVANSVILLE: LIZZY FRIEDRICH PERHAM: SERENA LANGEN WADENA-DEER CREEK: NICOLE IKEN ROTHSAY: RILEY LARSON HILLCREST: ANNA NEWMAN ALEXANDRIA: JACOB DREW ASHBY: CHRISTIAN KOEFOD BRECKENRIDGE: MADISON KING WEST CENTRAL AREA: MORGAN SANSTEAD BATTLE LAKE: JESSICA DRAKE

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. ©2017 Compass Media. Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without prior written consent. 218-205-2706 • artwork@fmsportsview.com

4 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Scholar Athlete > PELICAN RAPIDS

VIKINGS

Matt Hanson FOOTBALL - WRESTLING - TRACK Nickname: Hatt Favorite School Subject: English Grade Point Average: 3.47 Groups and Organizations: Student Council, SADD Notable Academic Accomplishment: B Honor Roll

I Root For: University of Minnesota Pets: Dog; Sonny and Cat, Mittens In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Married with a family and a good job.

Scholar Athlete > UNDERWOOD

ROCKETS

Braydon Consley SOCCER - FOOTBALL - BASKETBALL - GOLF Nickname: Conzdawg Favorite School Subject: Mathematics Grade Point Average: 4.0+ I Root For: NDSU Bison and Minnesota Vikings Pets: Dog named Teddy

Groups and Organizations: Boy Scouts of America, Interact, National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl, National Eagle Scout Organization, Band, Choir, Young Life In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working in the intelligence field in the Air Force.

EMILY MONSON & MASON THORNTON

ance is a movement, it’s a movement rhythmically to music and involves a set sequence. Most of the people can move their body, but not everybody can dance. Moreover, not everybody can make it to state competitions in dance. The Pelican Rapids High School Dance Team, established back in 2003, is known as the Valkyries. Since then the school has worked hard by providing enough resources and helping or motivating the team. The Valkyries dance team has advanced to the state tournament 10 of the 12 years they have had a team either in Jazz or Kick, or in both. During the 2015-2016 season, the Valkyries advanced to state competition held at Target Field in Minne-

apolis. There were total of 12 teams at the competition. The Valkyries ended up coming in seventh in the competition and were close to making the final round. The final round consists of the six best teams. Senior Emily Monson remarked, “We were disappointed, it’s really hard to go that far and come back with only memories.” Monson is a senior at Pelican Rapids High School. She has been a member of the dance team the last five years. It’s her second year as a team captain and third year as a Jazz choreographer. “Well, I was chosen as a captain by my teammates. They think I can lead and encourage people to become better.” Monson was three years old when she got involved in dance. More

by Taimoor Satti • Photography by Janssen Photography

specifically when she used to go and see her older sister performing in different competitions. “I went to all her competitions and enjoyed them. I realized people expect you to do well and ended up deciding to go for it,” Monson said. For some people dance is just to move your body and to make yourself happy but for Monson it is something more than that, “It’s challenging, and I take it as a challenge personally and for the team. It’s not easy, especially when you are dancing in a group. You have to go along with the flow, which is the difficult part, but if you try I am sure you can do it,” Monson said. Monson was the captain when Pelican Rapids dance team went to state for Jazz back in February 2016.

“It was exciting, it seems that we have worked hard this time and deserve to show people what we are capable of,” she said. A team does not only perform well if the team has good quality players, but a team under a strong supervision makes a huge difference on and off the floor. Emily Evenson, an alumna, is the Head Coach for the Pelican Rapids Valkyries. “I danced on the same team, I was a freshman when the team was established and stayed on the team all four years of high school,” Evenson said. Evenson feels a strong connection with the team and trusts in her players. 2015-2016 season was the first season for Evenson as the Valkyries head coach – a season in which the Valkyries were able to book a spot at

the state meet. Now in her second season, Evenson continues to show her love and passion for the team by helping them seek another trip to the state competition. Monson said, “We all were happy when we got to know that we are going to state, it felt as if we have accomplished our team goal and I give

a lot credit to our coach.” She says it was important to qualify because they weren’t able to make it to the state a year before. Monson is the choreographer for Jazz the last three consecutive years, “I like jazz because it’s difficult and I like the turns and jazz moves. They are just much more pleasing to me compared to any other dance,” Monson said.

Monson has a saying, “Younger ones don’t have experience, but the more you put into dance the better dancer you become.” She also says, it’s fun to help the younger team members develop. Coach Evenson says every team has a good or a bad day and everyone wants to have happy day, that’s the toughest part because every team is working to achieve the same results. Dance is a different sport, and as competitive as any other sport, “Our sport is very unique. We only get one chance or one shot to try. It’s

not like playoffs. If we make it that’s good, and if not, you are done,” Evenson said. Pelican Rapids Valkyries second team captain is senior Mason Thornton. It’s her fifth year on the team. Thornton is the team captain for the first time, “I really like being a captain, my team thought I would be a good leader and they believe in me,” Thornton said. Besides being team captain, she is also a choreographer and it’s her first year designing and directing routines used in dances and performances. She likes both Jazz and Kick, but she is more into jazz because of the jazz moves. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 9

EMILY MONSON & MASON THORNTON

by Taimoor Satti • Photography by Janssen Photography

“Our sport is very unique. We only get one chance or one shot to try. It’s not like playoffs. If we make it that’s good, and if not, you are done.” Coach and Alumna Emily Evenson Coach Evenson believes both her captains are amazing, “I think the captains of our team are true leaders, respected by teammates, and know what they are doing.” Evenson also noted, “We can coach and tell them, but players need someone else whom they can follow or listen to. That’s where our captains play vital role in leading the others around them.” Thornton wasn’t a captain last year, but she worked so hard as a team member to make it to the state. Setting up goals and achieving them is a big thing for many people and this was the case with Thornton. “It was super exciting, waiting under the tunnel, waiting for your team name to be called. Performing under the lights in front of so many people is a once in a lifetime experience,” Thornton said.

Learning is a part of life, you start doing something and by the end of it, you end up learning something. Thornton is happy that she was the part of the team, she says, she had learned how to work with others, improved her work ethic, and professionalism. The connection and understanding between the team members played a vital role in terms of qualifying for the state and doing good overall. “We are really close, like a family and are always together all day long except Sunday. We have a strong connection in between us and having that connection is one reason of our success,” Thornton said. It’s never easy to be a full-time student and be an athlete at the same time, especially for seniors Monson and Thornton. They have used their time wisely, finished with the

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homework well before the deadline, stayed focused and on top of the things, making it possible for both dance team captains to perform well in the classroom, and on the stage. Monson and Thornton will graduate in the spring of 2017. Monson is hoping to study Elementary Education, but won’t leave dance. She wants to be a coach sometime later in her life. This season will be last season for both the senior captains. Their team consists of 31 dancers – most of whom are fresh faces. “We have a bigger group this year. They are all hardworking. It’s a pretty young team,” Thornton said. “We pushed each other really hard to give their best and try to develop each other,” she added.

The Valkyries have participated in three competitions so far this season. The first one in Detroit Lakes on December 3rd, the second at home in Pelican Rapids on the 8th, and a third in Albany on the 10th. “The Pelican Rapids one was very good, or I would say best one, because we did really well in that competition,” Monson said. Coach Evenson was very proud of the last year leaders, “I was excited because we had strong positive leaders last year and that was our biggest strength.” She hopes to have similar results this season. The names of the teams who qualify for the state competition will be announced on February 4th 2017. Evenson noted, “I see a good young set of dancers in front of me this season and all have worked hard and are ready for the upcoming challenges.” SV

Scholar Athlete > FRAZEE

HORNETS

Carly Mahoney SOFTBALL - BASKETBALL Favorite School Subject: Science and Math Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Student Council, National Honor Society, and Knowledge Bowl Notable Academic Accomplishments: A Honor Roll

I Root For: Vikings In Ten Years...I’ll Be: With a degree in biochemistry working in a lab.

Scholar Athlete > DETROIT LAKES

LAKERS

Ryan Paskey HOCKEY - GOLF Nickname: Rhino Grade Point Average: 4.0 Favorite School Subjects: Math I Root For: Gophers, Minnesota Wild

Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Interact, Target In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Somewhere in school for the dental field.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 11

ELIJAH COLBECK

lijah Colbeck, a senior at Kennedy Secondary School is a three sport athlete for what the sports world knows as the Fergus Falls Otters. Football in the fall, basketball in the winter and golf in the spring. You’ve seen his name in the news for each of those teams and you’ve likely seen him play, especially in football and basketball. But do you remember what he looks like? Probably not, as in football they have those helmets on. In basketball, we mostly remember the players that jump up and down on a big shot or big play, or the players who exhort the crowd when they come out on the floor. But that’s n o t

by Norm Newell • Photography by Jeremy Petrick Photography Elijah Colbeck’s personality or style. He will rarely change expression, winning or losing, big play or a defensive gem, big shot or perfect pass, it’s all part of getting the job done the right way for him and the excitement is contained inside. So consequently when the game is done, we remember the demonstrative players and Elijah’s notoriety comes from looking at the stat sheet later…just the way he likes it…you know, low profile.

14 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

In football, Elijah was a wide receiver and defensive back. His football coach Steve Olson describes him aptly, “Elijah is usually pretty laid back, but when he steps between the lines, he plays with intelligence and intensity. He’s a quiet leader but isn’t afraid to point out defensive alignments or offensive patterns that will work in a game.” His sophomore year, Colbeck played spot duty and on special teams, then his junior year rotated at the wide receiver position where he had three receptions. He was part of an excellent team that went 7-2 on the year and was the #1 seed in their district. High results. In his senior year Elijah flourished. Playing on both sides of the ball, he had 13 receptions and 3 TD’s as a wide receiver. Most notable was his defensive back play, where he had

6 interceptions, a record 4 of those in one game. He was named to the All-Midwest District team and was voted the Most Valuable Defensive Back in the District Red Division. All as part of a team that finished 8-1 and was the #1 seed again. High results. When asked about the success of those football teams and especially his defensive back prowess and award, Elijah was quick to point out that it’s a team sport and teammates make a lot of things happen for one player’s success. He also credits the coaching and preparation before the games, along with legendary strength coach Paul Ratz getting the team into the weight room in the summers, not taking a day off. A prime example is the 4 interception game he had, when asked how exciting that was

and how did it happen, he calmly replied, “It was fun, but on two of those interceptions the D-line was all over the quarterback and made him throw bad passes. On the other two, the coaches showed film of their expected routes, so I was just keying off of what we had prepared for.” Ah yes, low profile, but high results.

Basketball is Elijah’s self-described favorite sport, partly because he has played it the most from youth on up, partly because of the constant motion and movement of the game and because of the need to use skills and think through the action every second of the game. He’s a captain this year and is described by his high

school coach Matt Johnson this way, “He is an incredibly gritty player. A terrific shooter with a high basketball IQ, extremely coachable, has great insight into the game, a great teammate. A very kind and polite kid, he’s a role model for the younger kids in the program. He’s a coach’s dream.”

Kevyn B Heck 218.998.2233 Kevyn@KevynHeck.com

Elijah grew up with a ball in his hands and comes from a basketball family. His father, Scott Colbeck, was a star player at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, the first to score over 1,000 points in a career there. Scott played for his father, Elijah’s grandfather, Bill Colbeck, who was the school administrator and head bas-

125 S Mill St Fergus Falls, MN

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 15

ELIJAH COLBECK

by Norm Newell • Photography by Jeremy Petrick Photography ketball coach for 24 years at Hillcrest. Scott went on to play basketball at M-State in Fergus Falls and finished his college career at Minnesota-Morris where he scored over 1,000 points in just two years and still holds the Cougar’s team record for 3-point shooting percentage at 48%. Scott was Elijah’s youth coach from 3rd grade until 8th grade in the Fergus Falls Backcourt Club program. High school coach Dave Rund and high school principal Dean Monke also helped coach as they had boys in that same age group. Not surprisingly, Elijah is one of the top three point shooters for the Otters, and he credits his dad’s coaching the proper fundamentals of shooting form early on in youth basketball. “Dad would stress form a lot and started us on shorter baskets to make sure we weren’t losing form trying to push up shots to baskets too high up.” That coaching worked because Elijah matched Scott’s 48% college record in 3-point shooting percentage as a junior last year with the Otters. Elijah played point

basketball and believes it is a strength for his entire team. The basketball teams Elijah has played on have been highly successful. Elijah again credits that to good coaching and having excellent players on his teams, but Elijah is an excellent player also and an integral part of why those teams have been successful. His youth teams were always winning teams, as Elijah says, “I don’t really remember the records, but we usually ended up in the tournament championships.” He never mentioned it to me, but I found out from another source that from 5th grade through 9th grade, his backcourt club teams went to the Pacesetter state tournament 4 out of those 5 years, and won the state tournament his 9th grade year. High results. Colbeck’s 9th grade school team was 29-1 playing without tall,

talented player Matt Monke, who had been moved up. Their only loss was in double overtime. His sophomore year Elijah played half of each JV game and played a number of minutes in each varsity game. The JV team was 17-9 and the varsity 12-14. Last year, Elijah’s junior year, his youth team players were all reunited again after being split up over the last two years with some players being moved up. With the team chemistry restored and the unselfish play of longtime teammates, the Otters excelled and went on to a 23-3 regular season record. Colbeck missed the last third of the regular season with an ankle stress fracture, but thankfully was able to come back and play full speed in their playoff games. He helped the Otters have a magical run through the playoffs with a stunning comeback in the section final against Alexandria to

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guard all the way through youth basketball and credits playing that position and good coaching for helping him see the floor well, see open players, and make the right pass at the right time. Fundamentals and practicing the right way… low profile stuff. His shooting skills and passing skills, ingrained and worked on since his youth years, have helped him become an excellent offensive player, but there is the other end of the floor, the defensive side. There, Elijah also excels, primarily from the natural athleticism of great foot movement, but also the mental side of great anticipation and knowing your defensive positions through preparation. Anticipation is defined as a visualization or realization of something to come. In sports, some players have it naturally, some don’t. As a defensive back in football and as a defensive player in basketball, Elijah has it. Combined with his quick foot movement, he can see things as they are developing and get there for interceptions and steals. He prides himself in his defense in

propel them to the state tournament. There they defeated Waseca and Red Wing in close games to play for the state championship against perennial champion DeLaSalle, who proved to be too strong. The Otters finished at 28-4 and 2nd in the state, the highest finish ever for a Fergus Falls boys team. High results. Life isn’t all football and basketball for Elijah. He joined the golf team his sophomore year because he enjoyed the game, wanted to be busy, enjoys competition and enjoys the camaraderie of his teammates and the players from the other team as they walk along through their holes. His coach, Ben Jurgens says of Elijah, “He has the right personality for the game of golf. He’s a competitor that holds his composure on the outside and lets it burn on the inside.” Elijah’s parents, Scott and Debbie, say he has always been active and has always had an internal competitiveness that thankfully he can express through sports. Sports run in the family as Elijah’s older sister Caitlyn was in various sports, most notably in swimming where she was on a relay team that participated in the state swimming meet. Younger sister Ellie, a 7th grader is also an excellent basketball player, currently playing on the 9th grade team. She also played JV tennis and plans on joining track in the spring. Scott and Debbie say they have enjoyed watching their children participate in co-curricular activities. They say Elijah has been fortunate to have the teammates and coaches who have helped create the success of his football teams and basketball teams. They will be memories he can carry with him forever. Elijah is one busy young man as he also plays in the wind ensemble band (the highest level) as a percussionist, sings in the Acapella choir (the highest level) as a tenor, and regularly attends his church youth group. Sunday mornings you can find him at Bethel Church teaching first grade Sunday school. You know, low profile stuff that will lead to high results for those kids later in life. He also works for Park Region TV videoing other high school sporting events. If there is any time left, he likes to hunt and fish. College is in his plans, he hasn’t decided where yet -- possibly NDSU or UND in the field of math. Dad’s alma mater Minnesota-Morris has recruited him for basketball but he hasn’t yet decided if he wants to play college basketball. If so, that would likely be his choice. So let’s do a little review shall we? Learn and practice fundamentals, acquire the necessary game skills. Listen to your coaches and prepare well for your games. Don’t waste time and energy being demonstrative about the little things. Stay focused. Keep up a weight-lifting program. Play within your team structure and be a good teammate. Enjoy your teammates and have fun. Be active in school musical groups. Be active in your church activities. Sounds like a recipe for success and high results in a low profile way. Elijah Colbeck style. SV JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 17

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Scholar Athlete > BARNESVILLE

TROJANS

Joey Roste FOOTBALL - BASKETBALL - BASEBALL Nickname: ROAST Grade Point Average: 3.6 Favorite School Subjects: Lunch Notable Academic Accomplishments: A Honor Roll

I Root For: Iowa Hawkeyes Pets: Maize, Snoopy and Minnie In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Married and starting a family of my own.

Scholar Athlete > FERGUS FALLS

OTTERS

Ethan Rinke FOOTBALL - BASEBALL Nickname: Rink, Rico Favorite School Subject: Writing and History Grade Point Average: 3.97 I Root For: Vikings, Gophers, Wild and Twins Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Choir

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Honor Roll, Academic All-Conference Pets: Dog - Murphy In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Hopefully doing something I love while starting a family.

20 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

CARSON TUNHEIM

egendary football coach Vince Lombardi famously once said, “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” Carson Tunheim, a lineman for the Detroit Lakes High School football team not only lives by this statement, he adds that hard work in the weight room provides lots of important muscle too. A senior at Detroit Lakes High School, Tunheim is half way through his last year of high school. Although he says he will miss his friends and school after graduating this spring, he knows he is leaving his alma mater confident he accomplished all he set out to do to the very best of his abilities, something he always strives to achieve. A three–sport athlete, Carson is unique in that his sports have changed through the years, but he has always excelled at more than a few along the way. In addition

by Jackie Jenson • Photography by Kim J Photography to football and hockey, two sports where he saw a lot of success, he also participated in track and field as a thrower, played some baseball and shot trap for the high school trapshooting team.

Today, Tunheim plays defensive tackle and fullback for Lakers where he received All-Section Lineman of the year for Minnesota State High School League, Section 8AAAA 2016 season.

“I enjoy lots of sports and have always enjoyed fishing and hunting. I use to take those cheap plastic kiddie pools as a kid, and I’d fill them up with water and sunfish I had caught off the dock, that way I could swim with the fish,” notes Tunheim. “So trap shooting was a good fit, but who knows, I might give tennis a try this spring.”

“I won the team award for lineman of the year,” remarks Tunheim. “I didn’t think I’d be named to AllSection, but I am very happy to have won. It was quite a surprise,” continues the senior football captain.

As for football, it has been a big part of Tunheim’s life since he first stepped onto the gridiron in the sixth grade. “Back then I tried out to be a tight end and ended up a defensive lineman, probably because of my size,” comments Tunheim.

Carson credits recently retired DL football coach and mentor, Flint Motschenbacher with teaching him how to train effectively and be a solid football player, remarking that the long time football coach always stressed that hard work always pays off, a sentiment he carries with him daily. “He taught me to be the type of football player I am today. He al-

ways told us to do our best and you’ll be the best.” Current Detroit Lakes High School Football Coach, Josh Omang, appreciates the great work ethic Tunheim brought to practice and the game itself over the 2016 season. Omang notes Carson was an effective player and captain because he is a hard worker, and very genuine. “Carson is a lead-by-example kind of guy. He is also the strongest kid in our program mostly because of his commitment to the weight room and our weight program in the offseason,” comments Omang. It is Tunheim’s commitment to the team and his training program that makes him such a valuable player and leader, continues Omang, adding the captain/lineman always does his best in whatever he is doing. “He [Carson] was a physical and emotional leader on our defense, totaling five sacks as an interior defensive lineman. Additionally, he played a role on our offense as a fullback scoring three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Overall he is very coachable, has a great work ethic, and is willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. These are his most important attributes that will give him a chance to be successful in any situation,” explains Omang.

CARSON TUNHEIM Another accolade bestowed upon Tunheim this season was being selected to and playing in the Minnesota All Star Game held in Minneapolis on December 3rd at US Bank Stadium. He played for the Minnesota North All Stars. “It is a very important honor for any high school athlete, but one that validates the good work that he did in our program as well,” continues the coach. Upon further examination, Tunheim adds that the 2016 season really stood out as a special one. Not just because it was his senior year or because he was recognized with

by Jackie Jenson • Photography by Kim J Photography a number of distinctive awards, but everything just seemed to come together. “This year in football really was my favorite. To be able to be a leader on our team as a senior and to do that with my friend Tristan Wimmer was great. I played hockey with him as well so this was just a great end to our high school football careers.” As a bonus to the season, Tunheim discovered another passion within the game he had played so long: mentoring younger players. “I love motivating and helping out underclassman. To be a good role

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model and help the younger players is what my coaches have always taught us, and it was my turn to lead. It was great to put that into action this season,” says Tunheim. “I have had so many great coaches through the years who have taught me to work hard and be a good leader too. People like Coach Omang this year, who really helped me become a role model to the younger players.” Carson acknowledges a number of great coaches have helped him to be a successful on and off the field, teaching him everything from the importance of good sportsmanship to simply being nice to everyone on the team.

Says Tunheim, “Being a captain on my 9th grade Bantam hockey team also helped shaped what kind of player I wanted to be. Ben Noah, our coach, really showed me how conditioning and hard work pays off in the end which helped me become the person I am today,” notes Tunheim. “He also taught me to respect and be nice to everyone, to lead by example,” continues the senior lineman. Hockey has been an important part of Carson’s life too – something he has participated in since the second grade. Slightly burnt out and looking to shake things up his senior year, Tunheim traded in his hockey

skates for a pair of wrestling shoes in 2016. A change in sport direction for the high school senior.

Natural Resources or U.S. Wildlife Department.

“I tried wrestling this year and saw some early success, but it ended up just not being the sport for me,” comments the football player, adding, “Maybe tennis will fit the bill this spring?”

“I like science, especially physics, as well as weight training and was accepted academically to the University of Minnesota Duluth, but I am also looking at Bemidji State University and Concordia College in Moorhead as well.”

In addition to sports, though, Tunheim has aspirations of attending a great Minnesota college, and one day working for the Department of

In this regard, academics come first for Carson and sports second with respect to picking a college. The senior lineman is not ruling out

the possibility of playing football in college. Said school, however, would have to be a good fit for his academic needs too.

letes – a few words of wisdom that remind us all that sports are first and foremost games which are intended to be played for fun.

“I might play a sport. I still enjoy them, but I am concentrating on grades at this point in school as I am taking Calculus, Academic Writing and a few other college level classes this year.”

Concludes the senior lineman, “The one thing I always tell all the underclassman is to have fun in whatever you are doing. Play sports because you want to, not because you have to; and have fun while you’re doing it!” SV

Reflecting on his time at DLHS, the senior football captain has a simple bit of advice for all high school ath-

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 25

• Must be a 2017 Graduating Senior, Attending Post Secondary School • Must have been featured in High School Sports View as a Scholar Athlete • Download PDF Scholarship Application online at www.fmsportsview.com and submit with essay (500 word max) by emailing both to artwork@fmsportsview.com • Application deadline: February 20, 2017 • Scholarship recipients will be announced in a Summer 2017 issue of High School Sports View. 26 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

Scholar Athlete > BRANDON-EVANSVILLE

CHARGERS

Lizzy Friedrich VOLLEYBALL - BASKETBALL - SOFTBALL Favorite School Subject: Math and Science Grade Point Average: 3.84 Groups and Organizations: Student Council, BPA, Band, Yearbook I Root For: NDSU Bison, Vikings and Wild

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Student of the Month, Athlete in Charge, OCHS, Academic All State, Spotlight on Scholarship In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working at the Mayo and living in Rochester with a family.

Scholar Athlete > PERHAM

YELLOWJACKETS

Serena Langen VOLLEYBALL - BASKETBALL - GOLF Nickname: Bean Grade Point Average: 3.92 Favorite School Subject: Math Groups and Organizations: Student Council, Interact, Student Rotarian

Notable Academic Accomplishment: National Honor Society I Root For: Minnesota Gophers Volleyball In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Graduated from college and starting up a family.

A CONVERSATION Michael Strand BARNESVILLE > FOOTBALL Michael Strand is a 2014 graduate of Barnesville High School. He just finished his sophomore season at MSUM as a safety on the Dragon football team, finishing second on the team in tackles with 81, tying him for 13th in the NSIC, had a team best 49 solo stops and led the team with three interceptions. Strand was named to the NSIC North All-Conference Second Team as a safety. In high school he was a Minnesota Mr. Football finalist as a senior, was named to the Associated Press All-State team twice, and was a three-time all-conference selection being named Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Offensive Back. Strand was also a two-time all-section selection. He holds Barnesville school records for rushing yards (3,423), points scored (272) and punt return yards (283).

CRAIG OLSON: Tell us about the recruiting experience and how you wound up at MSUM after high school. MICHAEL STRAND: For me, the recruiting experience was both exciting and frustrating all at once. It was exciting for the fact that it feels good to know that different universi-

28 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

ties want you, and who doesn’t like knowing they are wanted? It was frustrating because at times I felt like certain colleges that I really wanted to go to weren’t doing enough to recruit me. Ultimately though, I wound up at MSUM and that is simply because I felt like they were the one college that was real with me. They were 100%

by Craig Olson Craig follows area sports throughout the year at www.craigolsonsports.com

real with me and didn’t fill my head up with empty promises or lie to get me to come here. Also, they didn’t just want me because they thought I was a good football player, they wanted me because they thought I was a good kid and they wanted to see me succeed on and off the field. So from that standpoint, it was an easy

A CONVERSATION WITH CRAIG

decision for me because I wanted to go somewhere that cares about the type of person I am as well as help me with my future life after football. CO: In what ways did it benefit you to have a redshirt season your first year at college, and what were you allowed to do as far as team workouts, meetings, involvement? MS: I think redshirting was a huge benefit for me. For one, it’s like trading your worst year for your best year because I will be far better my 5th year than I would have been my true freshman year. Also, redshirting allowed me to develop physically as well as mentally for a year. I gained 15 pounds and learned so much about football that I didn’t learn in high school, and that’s not because I had bad coaches in high school, but because college football is way more dynamic and complex than 2A high school football. As far as team workouts, meetings, and involvement goes, we did everything the players did besides play in the games. CO: Were you recruited to play defensive back or was that a decision that

was made somewhere in the process of transitioning from high school to college football? MS: When I was getting recruited by MSUM, I was given a choice of what I wanted to play between safety, wide receiver, or running back. I thought because of my size it would be better to play wide receiver instead of running back. I played wide receiver my whole redshirt year. After the year was over, the coaches pretty much told me I would start the next season if I switched to safety so I thought it was a no-brainer. CO: In the Dragons defensive scheme and facing the teams that you do on your schedule, what are the main challenges that come with playing in the defensive secondary? MS: I would say there are two main challenges when it comes to playing safety. First, I have to know not only what I am doing on the play, but what the other 10 guys are doing as well. If someone isn’t lined up correctly or they don’t know who to guard, I have to be able to get them right. Second, playing safety is just

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MICHAEL STRAND

plain hard to do. It doesn’t matter what level you play at, you are always the last player between the ball carrier and the end zone. Nobody notices when a defensive lineman misses their gap or a linebacker misses a tackle, but everyone notices the safety screwing up. I would say being able to shake bad plays off and get ready for the next play is huge. CO: Where do you think your individual game has improved the most since becoming a Dragon? MS: I think my individual game has improved the most in 3 different areas. First, my mental game has improved an unbelievable amount. In high school, I would just run to the guy with the ball. In college, I have learned so much about the game of football, especially the different schemes and the technical part of playing defensive back. Second, my communication skills have grown as well. You never really realize how much you need to communicate every play until you aren’t on the same page as everyone else and you give up a touchdown. Communication is so key in the game of

football. Third, I think my overall physicality has gotten better since becoming a Dragon. For the most part, it is probably because I am a lot bigger and stronger, but also I now know what it takes to be successful in this league, and being physical is very important. CO: You also do some returning of kicks and punts. What do you enjoy most about being a special teams return man and what makes you the return man of choice for MSUM? MS: I like the fact that being a return man means I am out there to change the game. A special teams touchdown is such a huge play in a game, and I like that I have been given the opportunity to do that. I think my vision is what makes me the return man of choice. I am able to see a lot of holes that other people aren’t able to see. CO: The Dragons were 7-4 this past season. What are the prospects for next season? MS: I don’t want to say anything that will come back to bite me, but

I can tell you that nobody in this organization plans on being done in November. CO: Take us through a typical day for you as a student/athlete during the football season. MS: It all depends on what your class schedule looks like, but most days are the same. We usually have lift at 6 AM, special teams meetings at 7 AM, go to class or do whatever until we have position meetings at 2:30 PM, practice from 4 PM- 6 PM and then we are done with the day. Some days we have small group meetings instead of position meetings. We learn about different principles that will help us in our future lives in these small group meetings. CO: Now that the season has ended, what kind of a training schedule and football related responsibilities do you have? MS: We have to lift Monday, Wednesday and Friday where we come in whenever we want just as long as we get our stuff done. We do this until we come back for the next

semester. Winter workouts include lifting three days and running on Tuesday and Thursday with playerled position meetings and install meetings on our own time. Also, we have training sessions on our own time with our position group where we work on our craft. CO: What do you enjoy about being a student at MSUM? MS: I like that the professors are very helpful and want us students to succeed. They aren’t out to make our time here miserable, they truly want us to succeed and graduate to be successful on our career paths. I also like to learn so school has always been fun for me. CO: What career path are you on? MS: I am majoring in Finance and Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing with a Minor in Coaching. I am either looking for a financial career path or a coaching career path. I currently coach junior high basketball at DGF and really enjoy that, but I also will be interning this summer at Northwestern

Mutual as a Financial Representative. Both career paths excite me, hopefully this summer will help me choose what career I should choose. CO: How do you balance school work and football during the season? MS: Honestly, it is actually easier to balance school work and football during the season because we are always on a schedule. I know what times I have to get my homework done or it won’t get done at all. When we are out of season, it’s almost as if we have to much free time on our hands and sometimes homework gets pushed to the side for a little longer than in season. CO: What do you enjoy doing during your spare time? MS: I enjoy playing video games with my roommates and friends, I enjoy going to movies with my girlfriend, and I enjoy reading in my spare time. There definitely isn’t a lot of free time as a student athlete so when I do have free time I take advantage of it.

CO: Now that you are in your third year at MSUM you must have established some favorite eating places in the Fargo-Moorhead area. What would be your top two restaurants and your favorite meals at each? MS: I either eat at Buffalo Wild Wings and get the honey barbeque boneless wings, or I go to Qdoba and get the chicken burrito. CO: Let’s go back to your days in Barnesville. What are your earliest memories of being involved in football? MS: I remember being at practice as a ball boy with the other ball boys, and we would have competitions every day. Whether it was filling up the most water bottles, racing each other, or killing the most gophers, we were always competing. CO: With your dad being the head coach of the Trojans did you spend a lot of time growing up at team practices and on the sidelines during games? MS: I was at almost every practice until 7th grade unless I had my own

A CONVERSATION WITH CRAIG

type of practice. I was able to be on the sidelines for every game besides the playoff games until I was in 7th grade. CO: Who are the people who influenced you most through high school, whether in sports or in the classroom or the community as a whole? MS: I would say my parents, especially my father. It is hard to not be influenced by someone you see at school, practice and at home. It stunk at times, but I definitely had an advantage with him being involved in every aspect of my life and I am forever in debt to him for the amazing life he has given me. CO: You had a tremendous high school career. What memories of those years stand out the most? MS: Honestly, I don’t remember the big runs, or the big shots or any of the actual playing in my sports as much as I remember the bus rides home, or weekend sleepovers with my friends. Those memories will last me a life time. CO: The Trojans made it to the semifinals in Class AA this year. How closely do you follow them and did you get an opportunity to attend some games? MS: I was able to make it to three games this year, the Section final game, the State quarterfinal game, and the State semifinal game. I am still a part of the team on Hudl so I watched every one of their games whether it was Friday night or Saturday after my game. My dad always texts me to either talk about how great they played or ask me for some

advice on some things, so I like to say I follow them very closely. CO: You suffered some injuries in high school that caused you to miss some action. Have you suffered any injuries that have cost you game or practice time at MSUM? MS: I have had a couple injuries so far, but I have never missed a game because of them. I missed a good portion of my redshirt year due to a high ankle sprain, and I have missed a couple practices due to a torn labrum in my left shoulder and the separation of both shoulders. CO: Is coaching at some level something you see in your future? MS: If you would have asked me this three years ago, I would have laughed at you. Now, after coaching some junior high basketball and helping out at a couple football camps, I think coaching college football is something that I am definitely excited about exploring. CO: You were a multi-sport athlete in high school. Other than football, what are your top memories about competing? MS: Other than the bus rides and weekend sleepovers, I do have a couple memories from basketball that I wish I could relive. One was when we beat Perham my senior year in the sub-section final to advance to the section final. That was by far the most fun game of basketball I have ever been a part of and my teammates played awesome! I remember this because I didn’t have a great first half and they kept us in the game.

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MICHAEL STRAND

My other memory is when I hit the 1,000 point shot. Right after it went through the hoop, Matt Holland picked me up and carried me around the court like I was his king. Remembering that special moment with Matt will always be in my heart. CO: What would be your ultimate travel experience? MS: I think traveling around the US in a Volkswagen minivan for a year would be the most amazing trip ever. Also, going to a football game in every NFL stadium, and also seeing a Notre Dame vs USC football game are on my bucket list. CO: Do you have a favorite movie or TV show? MS: I can’t say I have a favorite movie or TV show, but I love Marvel and DC movies and TV shows, as well as the Harry Potter series. CO: When you listen to music, what do you listen to? MS: I like to listen to all types of music. I love Chance the Rapper, Jake Owen, or anything Christmas during the holiday season. CO: If you could sit down to dinner and conversation with any three people through history, who would they be and why? MS: I would pick Drew Brees, Michael Jordan, and Bill Gates. I would pick Drew Brees because he is one of the most prolific quarterbacks of all time and he isn’t even 6-feet tall. He doesn’t let other peo-

ple tell him what he can or can’t do, and that is inspiring. I would pick Michael Jordan because he is the greatest basketball player ever and he was cut from his varsity team in 10th grade. He went from not good enough to fill a top 15 spot on his high school team to a billion-dollar man. Finally, I picked Bill Gates because he is consistently the richest man in the world, and he has donated over $28 billion to charities. I would love to pick his brain and see how he did it all. CO: What advice do you have for high school student-athletes if their goal is to play at the next level? MS: I think the best advice I can give is to make sure your priorities are in line with what you want to accomplish as a collegiate athlete. Most people don’t realize the amount of time being a collegiate athlete takes. You don’t get to do some of the other things normal college kids are doing because you have lifts in the morning, or you have study table at 7, or you have to do community work. I think that you need to figure out if playing 4-5 more years of your sport is important enough to you to where you can’t do what your friends are doing every day. Because when you sign up to be a collegiate athlete, you already have different responsibilities from everyone else to not only yourself and your sport, but to your family who might be paying for your education, or your teammates who work their butts off to win games. Also, never stop learning or asking questions because you will never know everything you need to know. SV

Scholar Athlete > WADENA-DEER CREEK

WOLVERINES

Nicole Iken CHEERLEADING Nickname: Nikki Favorite School Subject: Math with Holly Becker Grade Point Average: 3.843 Groups and Organizations: UCA Notable Academic Accomplishment: A Honor Roll

I Root For: Blackhawks Pets: A wiener dog named Sammy and a cat named Scruffy In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Loving my job as a dental hygienist and starting a family near some hunting land.

Scholar Athlete > ROTHSAY

TIGERS

Riley Larson FOOTBALL - BASKETBALL - GOLF - TRAP Nickname: Riles, Swamp, Croc Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.7 I Root For: Vikings

Groups and Organizations: Student Council, WE Committee Pets: Black Lab, Lacy and Bassett Hound, Elvis In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Finishing veterinary school.

JENSON BEACHY

hen I walked into the Barnesville High School gymnasium, the boys basketball team was hosting the Perham Yellowjackets. It felt like an away game, for Barnesville. I made an obvious statement in the form of a partial question to a fellow spectator, a Perham fan, “Man, you folks sure travel well.” During that conversation I found out that iconic coach Dave Cresap was going for his 500th career win as a head coach. The milestone achievement was not the only thing worth the price of admission, Perham can ball. The young and talented Yellowjacket team is a must watch on the local scene with high hopes for the immediate future. One of the main reasons for the success and hype of the Perham team is sophomore guard Jenson Beachy. Jenson is a coach’s dream. Talking to Jenson’s coaches and family it was so awesomely redundant to hear the same mutual appreciation for his talent on the basketball court and football field, as well as just how genuinely good a kid he is. And then there is his work ethic. Jenson possesses a cool and calm demeanor, but inside, is a loud

By Ben Becker • Photography by Kim J Photography competitive spirit, and to be honest, I would not want to guard him. This past fall Jenson started at quarterback for the Perham football team as a sophomore. The team finished 6-4 and lost a gritty battle with perennial powerhouse DGF in the section semi-final round. The team’s first round win was the first playoff game Perham had won in years. The team hopes to build on that momentum and carry it into the 2017 season. Jenson is a dual threat-option quarterback with above-average versatility. He threw for 1,065 yards with a completion percentage of 54.6% and six

36 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

touchdowns. Oh, and he also ran the ball 122 times for 438 yards and five touchdowns. Also worth mentioning is that he only had two turnovers all year, two interceptions, zero fumbles. Efficient, and effective, he amazingly elevated his game to the next level in the postseason. Jenson’s QB rating jumped from a ‘modest’ 86.9 in the regular season to an astounding 122.8 in the postseason. Watching film, two things jumped out at me. First, he has incredible pocket presence, moves comfortably within the pocket, can scramble and still keep his eyes downfield looking for an open receiver. The arm is a close second. Not only is Jenson incredibly accurate, but he can throw from multiple angles too, which I correctly guessed came from a baseball background because, of course, what can’t this kid do? Coach Kevin Knutson had to remind me he is a sophomore and as he improves his ability to read defenses with experience, his upside is tremendous. I do not envy defensive coordinators in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference.

I asked Jenson what his most special memory was as an athlete and without hesitation he said it was when he received his varsity basketball jersey as an 8th grader and eventually went on to start. “I was the first 8th grader to start for Coach Cresap ever at Perham in his 22 years and that really meant a lot to me.” Jenson said. And not that a coach who just racked up win number 500 needs to be proven right by anybody, Jenson did it immediately for him anyway. His 8th grade year he averaged 11.96 points per game (ppg). His freshman year he averaged 12 ppg, 3 rebounds (reb), 1.7 assists (ast) on his way to an All-Conference Honorable Mention campaign. Five games into his current sophomore season he is averaging 18.8 ppg, 1.6 reb, 3.4 ast, 1.8 steals, while also averaging a dainty 1.8 turnovers a game. Jenson is shooting 52.3% from the floor, and 42.8% from 3-point range. A casual observation of the game I watched, on his shots made, I counted zero rims touched. And do not let him get hot. In a December 2nd game against Roseau, Jenson had a career high 31 points, catching fire with 8 of 9 shooting from 3-point range.

His defense might even be better than his offense. The game against Barnesville the guy(s) Jenson was guarding: one shot. His on ball defense is above-average, relentless, and important to him. I asked him if he knew how many points he gave up that night and Jenson said “No, but, that’s just what I do. I work hard for my teammates.” The highlight of the night for me really though was when Coach Cresap was directing orders to his point guard, the point guard promptly looked over at Coach and said “Yeah, Jens just said that.” I asked Jenson about that moment after the game and he very confidently explained his role,

“Coach has been open with the team basically giving me permission to lead. I have a high basketball IQ, and I want to get better for my teammates, but most importantly I just want us to get better as a team. We want to win state. That’s our goal. And we have the talent to do it, it just takes work.” I believe him; I could still sense the saltiness from the team’s only loss this year to Breckenridge back on December 9th. Jenson said, “Everything is an opportunity to get better, and we have to be accountable. It will help us down the road.” They followed that loss with a resounding 84-37 win over Frazee.

Jenson is not surprisingly a threesport athlete, has gone out for track the last few years, but is leaning towards taking the opportunity to focus on football and basketball. Jenson said “The best thing might be to go all-in with my AAU [basketball] team and hopefully mix in some individual camps or training.” Some kids in high school might just “take the spring off”, or “take a break from sports”. Not Jenson. As both Coach Knutson and Coach Cresap reiterated what I already knew from speaking to Jenson was that “this kid is special”. Coach

Knutson commended the emotional lifts he brings to practice every day, “He brings a unique sense of humor to the squad and knows how to bring the fun out when at times it doesn’t seem very fun.” Coach Cresap summarized Jenson pretty well, “He is just one of those kids who will do whatever it takes to make himself a great player. He spends countless hours outside of practice in the gym, mornings, weekends, whenever he can.” Jenson addresses his weaknesses and works on them to stay above the rest of the competition, including working with one of his role models Jordan Riewer. Riewer was a Staples

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 37

JENSON BEACHY

“I WAS THE FIRST 8TH GRADER TO START FOR COACH CRESAP EVER AT PERHAM IN HIS 22 YEARS AND THAT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME.” JENSON BEACHY High School graduate who played at MSU-Moorhead before having a nice professional career in Europe. They worked on footwork in the offseason which Jenson said has helped out a lot. It is not hard to see where this success for Jenson comes from. He works hard, and he plays hard. There is no universal measurement of an athlete but I have my own criteria: First: What kind of a leader? Motivator? Work ethic? Seems logical, right? Second: How competitive are you actually? I’ve been around sports my whole life, some care more than others. And lastly, Talent. Not only does Jenson possess all three criteria, he has them all at very high levels. Coach Cresap told me on a game day he is at the gym before school, shooting; and if he shoots poorly, “He’ll be right back there the next morning.” Jenson described himself as ‘intrinsically motivated’ which not only speaks highly of his vernacular, but also sheds some light on his intense drive that is completely unforced. Jenson comes from a family of athletes. His sister, Josie Beachy, plays on the Perham girls basketball team, and was also the number one singles player on the tennis team. Eli Beachy, an older brother, hopes to break Concordia’s pole vaulting record this year.

38 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

The biggest takeaway from speaking to the Beachy family was the mutual expectation of greatness. Nothing comes across as cocky or arrogant, just confidence, and motivation. Any athlete is capable of becoming a victim of complacency. I just don’t see that happening to Jenson Beachy. This is a mature, humble, smart and polite kid, who is also a great leader and teammate and…also just a sophomore. As a fan we all want to see great athletes do great things, but what makes sports great are the athletes that do great things, the right things, all the time, especially when nobody is watching. “I want to play for as long as I can at a very high level, which is my only goal.” Jenson said. I won’t be the first to say this and I won’t be the last but the future looks pretty good for the Perham Yellowjackets. And it looks pretty great for Jenson Beachy. SV

Scholar Athlete > HILLCREST

COMETS

Anna Newman BASKETBALL Nickname: Newman, Newmie Favorite School Subject: Book of Mark Grade Point Average: 3.7 Groups and Organizations: Youth Group Notable Academic Accomplishments: Honor Roll

I Root For: Bison Pets: Two Dogs, Penny and Tootsie In Ten Years...Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Be: At home with three kids.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SPORTS VIEW 39

Brainerd

601

Sartell

601

5:15 FF Boys Hky

St. Paul Johnson

601

1/14/17

1:45 FF Girls Hky

Detroit Lakes

601

1/17/17

7:15 FF Girls Hky

St. Cloud Ice Breakers 1

601

1/19/17

6:00 FF Boys Swim

Apollo/Rocori

601

1/20/17

7:15 FF Boys Hky

Willmar

601

1/24/17

6:00 FF Boys Swim

Triangular

601

1/26/17

7:15 FF Girls Hky

Alexandria

601

1/26/17

6:00 FF Boys Swim

Willmar

123

723

1/27/17

7:30 FF Boys BB

Alexandria

601

1/31/17

7:30 FF Boys BB

Sauk Rapids-Rice

601

2/7/17

7:30 FF Girls BB

Hawley

601

2/9/17

7:30 FF Girls BB

Willmar

601

2/14/17

7:30 FF Girls BB

St. Cloud Apollo

601

2/16/17

7:15 FF Boys Hky

Sauk Rapids-Rice

601

2/28/17

7:30 FF Boys BB

Moorhead

601

DATE

TIME

SPORT

OPPONENT

1/10/17