FM High School Sports View Mar/Apr '17

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POISE BEYOND THE POOL

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GOING THE DISTANCE

Elite Eagle Prepares for the Next Level

BY BRENT ROGNESS

BY BEN BECKER

IN THE STEPS OF SAMMI HAIBY

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A Pacesetter and Playmaker

GAME. SET. MONTI.

Sheyenne Freshman Causing Racket on North Dakota Tennis Scene

BY MERRIE SUE HOLTAN

IN THE STEPS OF SAMMI HAIBY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JUSTIN EILER

BY TAIMOOR SATTI

COVER

www.fmsportsview.com VOLUME 2 NO. 1

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

Well-Rounded Spartan Excels In and Out of the Water

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MAR / APR 2017

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JACK’S CORNER Taylor Janssen

BY JACK MICHAELS

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THE ‘A’ LIST

BY BRENT ROGNESS

9 15 15 21 21 26 26 29 29 35 35

D-G-F: MEGAN MEYERS SHEYENNE: CASEY COSTE MOORHEAD: DEVON THOMPSON FARGO SOUTH: BEN BRYANT SHANLEY: JAKE REINHOLZ SHEYENNE: KYLE HOLOIEN D-G-F: JASMINE HANSON OAK GROVE: BRYCE BAKKEGARD FARGO NORTH: AARON MATEJKA WEST FARGO: CHASE TEIKEN SHANLEY: KOLBY JOHNSON

FM 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 Fargo-Moorhead area. Also available through subscription at the following rates: One Year (6 issues) $14.00, Two Years (12 issues) $25.00, Three Years (18 issues) $30.00. ©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

Well-Rounded Spartan Excels In and Out of the Water

by Brent Rogness | Photography by Justin Eiler

O

livia Roche commonly goes by the nickname “Lib.”

When it comes to being a high-level achiever, it’s tough to keep a lid on Lib. She may be a successful swimmer, but she metaphorically handles her lofty platforms much like a diver–climbing great heights to attain difference-making results.

Equipped with a bright, wide smile that could bridge the gap from

Fargo to Mankato, where she’ll take to the pool collegiately next year, Lib has made the most of her high school experience as a Spartan.

A quick sampling of her laurels include: North Dakota Senior Athlete of the Year for Swimming & Diving.

State record holder. Top-notch student. CNA certified. North Dakota DECA President.

You don’t get too far into conversation with Lib before realizing the

impact her three older sisters have had on her life. The youngest of four girls, she is treading in the wake of her sisters Emily, who swims at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Ellie, who swims at Michigan State. Her oldest sister Abby was in track and field at Northern Michigan.

we jump in the pool and have a workout together. It’s something we’ll always have.”

“Ever since I was little, I’ve been swimming with my older sisters,” says Lib. “Whenever my sisters come back from Christmas break,

“When she was in that ten and younger range, she definitely did swimming for the social aspect,” Ellie remembers. “We always said,

Lib showed signs of being a strong swimmer at a young age. However, Ellie remembers little sister sometimes being distracted by the camaraderie of swimming.

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OLIVIA ROCHE when she missed a race, she was stuck in ‘Libby-land.’”

As she’s progressed, Lib credits her sisters for providing the kind of support and encouragement that keep her pushing forward through each meet and early-morning practice.

“They’re really supportive and humble and modest,” says Olivia. “Ellie has eight state championships under her belt and I don’t feel like I have to stand up to her expectations. I can be Olivia Roche in the pool and they’re proud of me.”

As Lib’s decorated athletic and academic high school career approaches the rear view, her lengthy list of diverse accomplishments comes as little surprise to Ellie.

“One thing about Olivia is she’s very much the social butterfly. Making relationships is important to her,” says Ellie.

You could say Talia Butery knew the social butterfly way back in the cocoon stage, as she first coached Olivia as a six-year old in the F-M Gators swim pro-

by Brent Rogness • Photography by Justin Eiler gram. It was an experience that Olivia latched onto as a byproduct of tagging along with Ellie and Emily as the little sister.

Butery is also the head girls swimming coach at Fargo North. She is quick to point out the incredibly positive influence Lib has in the pool.

“I think one of Lib’s greatest qualities as an athlete and leader is she is relatable. The best, most experienced athletes respect Olivia for her hard work, her accomplishments and her humble personality,” says Butery. “The new and less experienced athletes respect Lib for those same reasons but also because she never flaunts her success.”

It’s a Neighborhood Thing Olivia and her sisters are the daughters of Tim and Tracy Roche, neither of whom brought extensive swimming experience into the family equation. In fact, Tim played football collegiately at what was then known as Moorhead State. For the Roche family, swimming really took hold thanks to the influence of the neighbor girls–Jenna and Carley LeDoux.

“Our neighbors, a couple houses down were the LeDoux family,” says

Olivia. “They were swimmers and we just decided to go along with them and my sisters and I stayed in it. I guess all of our credit goes to them.”

Tracy is quick to credit the LeDoux family as well, noting their ability to help them understand important terminology and become more familiar with the sport.

“The LeDoux family told us when you get a ‘DQ,’ that means you go to Dairy Queen,” jokes Tracy, who has actually taken enough interest in swimming over the years to become an official.

She and Tim enjoy the process of parenting their children through the ups and downs of every season, offering encouragement and logging extensive travel miles along the way.

“A wise coach a long time ago told me, you let me do the coaching and you just ask them if they had fun, if they need a dry towel, and if they’re hungry,” says Tracy.

As it turns out, expert insight at home wasn’t necessary. Lib’s swimming career includes the coaching guidance of some of the most recognizable names on the Fargo-Moorhead scene.

“I THINK ONE OF LIB’S GREATEST QUALITIES AS AN ATHLETE AND LEADER IS SHE IS RELATABLE. THE BEST, MOST EXPERIENCED ATHLETES RESPECT OLIVIA FOR HER HARD WORK, HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HER HUMBLE PERSONALITY,” COACH TALIA BUTERY

“In the Fargo area there are so many coaches I’ve had the privilege of having coach me,” says Olivia. “Dick Fisher, Marsha Dahl as my Gators coach, and Talia, among others. I’ve had so many other coaches around the Fargo area contribute.”

Making History While Olivia has made numerous waves at the varsity and club level, perhaps nothing tops her sophomore-year performance as part of a 400-yard freestyle relay team that broke the North Dakota state record in 2014. The mark of 3:31.81 remains the gold standard today.

“That was super fun because we worked really hard for it,” says Olivia, who teamed with a trio of now-collegiate swimmers to reach the mark, including Breah Anderson (MSU-Moorhead), Leann Mengelkoch (St. Cloud State), and sister Ellie. “Just having your name on the record board is a surreal feeling.”

As swimmers like Anderson, Mengelkoch, Carley LeDoux and the older Roche sisters came and went at Fargo North, Olivia wholeheartedly embraced her emerging role as a leader in and out of the pool.

She will do ANYTHING for her teammates,” says coach Butery.

“From dressing up in silly outfits, dancing in front of the entire state on the bulkhead during a break in the meet, making up ridiculous cheers to make her teammates smile, to giving a great pep talk, hug or high five all in the name of letting her teammates know she is proud of them or ready to cheer them on.”

Even from a distance in East Lansing, Mich., Ellie is able to pick up on the fact that Olivia is exhibiting exceptional leadership skills on the homefront.

“I can tell she’s done a great job of being a leader for those girls,

OLIVIA ROCHE

by Brent Rogness • Photography by Justin Eiler

getting them excited for future generations of swimmers,” says Ellie. “All of her swimming accomplishments, leadership accomplishments... it’s so cool for her. I’m very proud.”

“For a while I was really debating on if I wanted to swim in college or not,” Olivia says. “Last summer, I decided and nailed down that, ‘Yes, I do.’”

Lib’s exceptional ability to keep life in proper perspective and think outside of herself is part of what makes leadership come naturally to her.

While Ellie stayed more at a distance in helping Lib decide which school to go to, she did play a role in helping Lib understand the benefits of swimming in college.

“With swimming, it can get so intense. It can really grind down on you, especially when you’re doing hard AP classes, wake up early, go to school, and do it all over again,” says Lib. “But you have to realize the rest of the team is in the same boat.

There are other teams, there are people working… You have it good.

You have a choice, and you should take advantage of each opportunity.”

Next Stop, Mankato Lib’s decision to swim collegiately didn’t come easily.

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“When it came down to it, the only insight I gave her was to try (swimming) in college. I really encouraged her to at least try it out,” Ellie says.

“I love being on the team. Competing through college has been great. I was really excited when she started looking at schools more seriously.”

Her choices were narrowed down to two strong NSIC programs, each with their own interesting twist: Dad’s alma mater of Minnesota State University-Moorhead, and Minnesota State-Mankato... a

program aided by none other than all-conference performer Carley LeDoux.

“I love Fargo and I see myself coming back here, but to get away somewhere (for college) closer to the Twin Cities makes me feel good,” Lib says. “It just came down to if I wanted to get out of town… and I did.”

Some extra recruiting nudges from the person Tracy refers to as the “fifth Roche sister” didn’t hurt either, as LeDoux excitedly hosted Lib on a visit to MSU-Mankato.

“You have to come here and be a little Mav,” Lib says of LeDoux’s overtures. “She wasn’t pressuring, but she was really encouraging. She told me what she liked and didn’t like.”

The school’s strong nursing and education programs will serve as a good fit for Lib as she continues to sort through her career choices as well.

“She’s had such unique things she’s interested in,” says Tracy. “She really sees swimming as a part of who she is, but not all of who she is. She just got her CNA certification… But then she’ll say, ‘I also want to be a teacher.’”

As for what Lib expects in the pool as a Maverick? Not surprisingly, she’s open to being coachable, flexible, and having an elite-level attitude in the process.

“If they want to train me to be a distance swimmer, I’m open to try it out. Whatever they think will be best,” Lib says. “I’m honored to be part of the team, so any way I can contribute, I’ll be happy.” FMSV

Scholar Athlete > DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

REBELS

Megan Meyers SOFTBALL Nickname: Fro Moe Favorite School Subject: Speech Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Teaching Sunday School, National Honor Society, Student Council, MASA I Root For: Alabama (Roll Tide!)

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Participating in Mathletes, Qualified for NHS, A Honor Roll Throughout High School In Ten Years...I’ll Be: In ten years I hope to be starting a family and working at my dream job.

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SAMMI HAIBY

by Merrie Sue Holtan • Photography by Justin Eiler

S

tep into the shoes of Sammi Haiby for a moment and be ready for adventure. They are definitely not made for walking. Her basketball shoes have carried the 5-foot-9 inch junior up and down the floor as point guard for Moorhead High School more times than she wants to tally. They grounded her dead-eye shot as she reached 1,000 points and then broke a school record last season.

During spring season, her baseball cleats walk her to the pitcher’s mound of the junior varsity MHS baseball team where she has thrown for the same “guys” since elementary school.

On winter school breaks she takes to the hills of Detroit Mountain or further north to Lutsen where she locks her boots in a snowboard and flies down the slopes. Or she might lace her skates for a pick-up game of pond hockey.

On family vacations, Sam slides into scuba fins and dives. Quite simply, she could blow out a Fitbit with the number of steps she takes daily. But it all started with baby steps.

Jay and Janet Haiby brought Sammi home from St. Louis when she was six weeks old, where she joined her older brother Andrew, an eventual Moorhead High football player.

Moorhead High School’s athletics and academics programs were soon to realize a dynamo had just moved into the school district, where she currently has a 3.8 GPA. Janet says their daughter is driven by strong values, work ethic and a drive to get better in all areas of her life, and she doesn’t want to slip up.

From Laundry Room to Nike Nationals

“I spent so much time in our laundry room,” Sammi says, “dribbling, always ‘eyes up.’ As a kindergartner, I began playing YMCA basketball and we formed a first grade team. I always played up.”

Dad Jay often coached young Sammi’s teams, launching years of traveling team play. After first grade he remembers the great practices at Fargo Basketball Academy with traveling teams Fargo Flash, then Fusion.

“We won the Junior Grand Am tournament in Grand Forks for three years straight,” Sammi says.

“As I got older, it was a fun challenge when we had to face teams from the Twin Cities.”

“As I took Sam to Cities AAU tournaments, she wound up getting an invite from North Tartan,” Jay says.

“Growth mindset is the key with that club.”

By the end of Sammi’s eighth grade year she was coming off the bench to play for Moorhead Spuds varsity, and was starting her freshman year.

The summer AAU schedule really launched when Sam’s North Tartan squad reached the Elite Youth Basketball League. This meant traveling to top tournaments in Chicago, Virginia, Tennessee, and Nike Nationals in Georgia, where the team placed second.

“I feel my strengths lie in knowledge of the game and great court vision,” Sammi says. “North Tartan coaches stress defense; they demand it.”

Sammi believes her best coaches have had knowledge of the game, provided good instruction and criticism to help her become a better player.

Tom Wilberscheid, Fargo Basketball Academy, who coached Sammi in her traveling Flash and Fusion days, says there will be at least seven girls from those teams who will play collegiate basketball on scholarship.

“We taught Sammi and the others to be the aggressor on both ends of the floor,” Wilberscheid says. “Sam

has the athletic ability, a desire to improve her skills, leadership and a competitive nature. I’m sure she will be successful at whatever level she decides to play. “

Records Falling

Sam knew she was close to hitting 1000 points but she did not know how close. She began the game on January 16, 2016, against Bismarck Legacy with three early fouls. Then she hit a three-point shot from the right wing. Game stops. Crowd goes crazy.

On January 28, 2017, during a game with Elk River, the game stopped again. Crowd goes crazy again. Sammi breaks the Moorhead girls basketball career scoring record and currently has more than 1,700 points along with 23.8 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.1 steals.

“My great teammates had so much to do with this,” she says. “Brooke Tonsfeldt now holds the school record for career rebounds. Our team has great chemistry, and we share and pass and have dedication to the game plus have fun. I hate losing more than I love winning.”

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SAMMI HAIBY To the Mound

When the lights go out on the basketball court, Sammi turns to another passion, pitching for the Moorhead Spuds junior varsity baseball team. She started parks and recreation T-Ball as a kindergartner and went on to play Babe Ruth with “the guys.” That Moorhead team placed second in Minnesota’s 12-year-old division of the Babe Ruth tournament.

Sammi’s dad says she has a real love for baseball and is very self-motivated and has worked hard. She has attended sports performance training and embraced weight training to gain both strength and balance.

“I’ve been ‘one of the guys’ since I was little,” Sammi says. “They are used to me. I really like baseball, and when we travel I get my own room. When you are pitching it is

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by Merrie Sue Holtan • Photography by Justin Eiler

just you. Only you have the ball and can control the game. I deep breathe and focus. In basketball you feel the pressure, but it’s not as lonely.”

“Many people look at Sammi as a rarity because she is a girl playing baseball,” says Moorhead Babe Ruth baseball coach, Dean Wixo. “I look at her as a baseball player because she understands the commitment it takes to play athletics at a high level.”

Wixo remembers in Babe Ruth 10year–olds when the team came from behind against Bismarck with six runs in the last inning. Sammi hit a line drive over the right fielder for the walkoff win.

When the 14-year-old team was playing “up” against a 15-year-old Sioux Falls team, Sam lined a double. “The Sioux Falls coach heard

our players yelling, ‘That-a-girl!’”

Wixo says. “He turned to me and said, ‘Was that a girl who hit that ball?’ I said, ‘Yes, and you should see her play basketball.’”

Slopes and Seas

When the snow flies, Sammi’s family skis at Detroit Mountain, where she embraces the challenge of taking to the slopes with her snowboard.

“It’s during basketball season,” she says, “but I love going with my friends on a weekend. I take it easy and am not too crazy.”

“Sammi and our whole family likes to be outside,” says Janet. “Sammi will also play pick-up pond hockey here and there on neighborhood rinks, and she also enjoys scuba diving which she trained for much like she has trained for baseball and basketball.”

In the future, Moorhead’s girls basketball coach, Jed Carlson, knows he will have some big shoes to fill when Sammi graduates in 2018. She has been recruited by several basketball programs and hopes to decide her next step by this summer.

“Sammi is a special player and student, extremely humble, a great teammate playing with poise and control,” says Carlson. “The basketball has become an extension of her.

She has become a complete player. I am spoiled as a coach to have her.”

FMSV

Scholar Athlete > WEST FARGO SHEYENNE

MUSTANGS

Casey Coste VOLLEYBALL Favorite School Subject: History, Creative Writing Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Summit Volleyball Program I Root For: Concordia Cobbers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Hawaiian Rainbow Warriors and Philadelphia Phillies

Pets: My dog, Gunnar. He’s smelly, but adorable.

In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Involved in the history field somehow, possibly as a professor. I also hope to be coaching volleyball, and I dream of someday being a published author of sci-fi or fantasy novels.

Scholar Athlete > MOORHEAD

SPUDS

Devon Thompson SOCCER Nickname: Devo Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 3.68 Notable Academic Accomplishments: Academic Letter I Root For: Minnesota Wild

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Groups and Organizations: Tri-City Soccer In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working in my career, possibly married.

FM SPORTS VIEW MARCH / APRIL 2017 15

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HUNTER LUCAS

by Ben Becker • Photography by J Style Photography

I

t is strangely ironic that one of the best long-distance runners in the country ended up in that position because of the allure of Dairy Queen. But that is exactly what happened to Fargo Davies senior long distance phenomenon Hunter Lucas.

“In sixth grade there was an announcement over the PA asking for anyone interested in cross country to come down to the gym.” Lucas remembers, “I looked at it as an opportunity to get out of class, and then they threw ice cream into the conversation.”

Giving all credit to luck and ice cream would be doing Lucas a disservice, he admitted. “Eventually I just got sick of Dairy Queen and I was hooked on the running.”

Good thing too, the three-time individual state champion is off to the University of Minnesota next year to run track and field for Head Coach Steve Plasencia whom Lucas described as an “unbelievable coach.”

All of this comes as a surprise to nobody who knows Hunter. His long-distance coach at Davies, Troy Ivesdal, described him as “one of the most coachable kids ever.”

“Hunter is just one of those guys that is focused and task oriented. He is self-driven and self-motivated, he creates his own goals.”

Last year in Hunter’s junior track and field season he took home the state championship in the one-mile and two-mile events, and finished second in the 800 meter run. He then added a championship this past fall at the North Dakota state cross country meet.

His goal for the upcoming Track and Field season is three state titles.

Repeating in the one and two-mile events, and claiming the 800m event he narrowly missed last year. He believes he can do it, and it’s hard to find anyone who doubts him.

“In the past, Hunter has sent me his goals, there are times I have thought they were bold.” Ivesdal says, “He

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has nailed every single one of them.”

“If you believe you will win you are halfway there.” Lucas said, “You always have to be positive in racing.

I try to trust my coaches, trust my training, and you can’t let any negatives in your mind. If you don’t believe you will win a race, you’ve already lost.”

That positive mindset and attitude paid off this past summer where Lucas got to put his talents up against some of the best runners in the nation at the USA Track and Field Nationals in Sacramento. Lucas took home the title in the 3K and 1500 meters.

I asked Lucas how it felt to be the fastest. He corrected me: “I know there are people out there that are faster than me, but someday my goal is to be the fastest.”

This grounded approach seems to be successful for Lucas, who is also learning to run his own race and dictate the run, something he idolizes in the late, great Steve Prefontaine. “[Prefontaine] raced every race like it was his last race. He didn’t let anybody try to control him, he just tried to run away from everyone.”

This aggressive style is not something you see in the sport of long distance running every day.

“The prototypical long distance runner tends to be kind of passive.” Coach Ivesdal notes, “But not Hunter, he goes out, grabs the race by its ears and gets after it.”

Lucas admitted that there are definitely some adjustments to be made as he continually faces better competition. In a national meet at the University of Minnesota last year, he got off to a fast start and faltered a bit down the stretch.

But as any good runner should, Hunter took it in stride and as a learning opportunity. “I learned in bigger races with better competition that I need to remember to run a little differently.”

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HUNTER LUCAS “I need to go back to running my style of race and be confident that I can compete with the best. It’s about trusting your ability and training, and run how I want to.”

The opportunity to go to the University of Minnesota should provide an unbelievable experience for Hunter to progress as a runner. He was sought by multiple Division I schools and chose the Gophers because of the success that Coach Steve Plasencia has had as an individual in his own career, but also currently as a coach.

Plasencia competed in four World Championships and two Olympic Games in 1988 and 1992. Plasencia also had two former Gophers represent their countries in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games.

The opportunity to train with elite talent and coaching was ultimately what drew Lucas to the University of Minnesota. “Obviously if you want to be the fastest, you have to run with them. I might not be yet, but I want to be someday,” Lucas said.

And he might not be that far off.

Jason Hollan, head cross country coach for Fargo Davies describes the four-time all-conference and allstate runner as one of the most “elite athletes in the country.”

“Hunter is considered an elite athlete in the nation due to his performances on the track. Hunter’s will to compete and get better is shown through his dedication and discipline that he displays on and off the competition field.” Coach Hollan continued, “All of his track and field

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by Ben Becker • Photography by J Style Photography

accolades speak for themselves, but what’s a great indicator of Hunter is his understanding of what it takes to be a great person in victory.”

This was never more evident than this past year when Hunter won the individual state cross country event.

The mother of an opposing runner sent a letter to the Davies High School administration exclaiming her appreciation for Hunter for making her son feel great as he crossed the finish line. Her son was toward the end of the field and it meant so much to him that someone cared enough to stick around and congratulate him, shake his hand, and tell him he did a great job.

Coach Hollan beamed, “That is what makes Hunter special. He is one of the most respectful young men I have had the pleasure of teaching and coaching in my ten years as an educator and coach.”

Someone with Hunter’s ability obviously makes life a little easier as a coach, but when you have the inner drive and focus that he does, it is a coach’s dream. As Coach Ivesdal added, “He will attempt everything I have asked him to do. He will not fail due to a lack of effort.”

When I asked Hunter what the hardest part of training and running was, I expected something like, “Getting up and running miles at 6 a.m.,” or something of that nature.

I was way off.

“The diet is the hardest part. I love candy.” Hunter says with a wry grin, noting licorice is his sweet-tooth soother of choice.

There is more to life than running for Hunter. He was also a forward on the Davies Hockey team, where he netted 13 goals on the season.

The team recently took home the consolation trophy in the state tournament this past weekend after being ousted by undefeated Grand Forks Central.

Hunter plans to go to school for Sports Marketing & Management, with the hopes to “run for as long as I can,” he says. Hunter is preparing to run in the upcoming New Balance Indoor Nationals in a few weeks in New York. I asked Hunter what else may lie ahead... ESPN? Olympics?

In his spare time, Hunter enjoys spending time with his family and friends and has some friendly competition with his girlfriend Halie, who is also a track standout. Like Hunter, she has seen Division 1 offers come in, including, Minnesota.

“It’s her decision, it’d be fun if she went to the U (of Minnesota),” Hunter said, “I don’t really get into that. It’s her decision, I support it either way.”

“Who knows?” Hunter said, “I think I found my forte.”

“Forte.” Remarkably understated by this understated young man. Undeniably, it’s part of what makes him so great. FMSV

Scholar Athlete > FARGO SOUTH

BRUINS

Ben Bryant HOCKEY - BASEBALL - FOOTBALL Favorite School Subject: English Grade Point Average: 3.7 Groups and Organizations: Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Gold Club

I Root For: Minnesota Wild Pets: Two Dogs; Lilly and Teddy In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Being a dentist.

Scholar Athlete > SHANLEY

DEACONS

Jake Reinholz SOCCER - FOOTBALL - BASKETBALL - TRAPSHOOOTING Nickname: Reiny Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.95 Groups and Organizations: Shanley Service Club, National Honor Society I Root For: Duke Blue Devils

Pets: Cocker Spaniel Named Kat Notable Academic Accomplishments: Honor Roll, Student of the Quarter Spring 2016, 30 ACT In Ten Years...I’ll Be: With a full-time engineering job and a family.

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MONTI KNEWTSON

E

ver since she was six years old, Monterey Knewtson has had her eye on excelling as a tennis player.

While she has put in the time and effort to become successful, she has also wasted no time stealing the spotlight as a youngster in the varsity ranks at West Fargo Sheyenne.

A quote from tennis star Rafael Nadal goes like this: “I play each point like my life depends on it.” Knewtson, who goes by “Monti” for short, takes a similar approach. “I am always motivated and focused towards tennis and that has helped me to become a good tennis player,” she says.

As a freshman at Sheyenne, Knewtson has been quick to make a name for herself on the North Dakota tennis landscape, going toe-to-toe with

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many of the state’s most established players at an early age.

“I think she is amazing,” says Monti’s mother Lana, “a very hard-working student and athlete.”

Monti’s family moved to Fargo ten years ago. Her brother, North Knewtson, played tennis and he opened the door to her love for the game. “What I remember now is I just started because my brother used to play and I just thought to play,” Monti shares.

Staying involved in tournaments at an early age gave her the kind of experience that vaulted her game to new heights. “We started playing random tournaments and traveled a lot to Minneapolis for games,” Monti says.

by Taimoor Satti • Photography by J Style Photography

Hard work, motivation and commitment are keys to success and that’s how Monti has achieved so much in such a short amount of time. Lana adds, “She just doesn’t get tired of playing tournaments and we have always supported her.”

Lana also credits her daughter’s success to her insatiable desire to win on the court. “I don’t or never expected (my children) to play tennis, but she is taking part in so many different tournaments that she just wants more and more,” she says, adding that the travel has been a

Scholar Athlete > WEST FARGO SHEYENNE

MUSTANGS

Kyle Holoien SOCCER - TRACK Favorite School Subject: Aviation Grade Point Average: 3.6 (Weighted 4.1) Groups and Organizations: Student Council, Fuel Up to Play 60, Prom Committee I Root For: Timberwolves, Vikings, UND

Pets: Buddy (a Border Collie), Lucy (a Standard Poodle) and Tillie (a Bordoodle) In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Pursuing an aeronautical career path.

Scholar Athlete > DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

REBELS

Jasmine Hanson SOFTBALL Nickname: Jaz Favorite School Subject: Biology Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Student Council

I Root For: Vikings (Sadly) Pets: Dog, Rebel and Cats, Simba and Oliver Notable Academic Accomplishments: A Honor Roll In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Starting a family and working as a nurse practitioner.

MONTI KNEWTSON great way to meet new people and build relationships.

The attitude of a person defines a person’s future. As Monti works hard to improve herself, she also credits the teachers, mentors and leaders that have guided her along the way. These people include her father and her coach, who have helped her over the years to become a good tennis player. “These two were the ones I have always looked upon whenever I was in need of a mentor,” Monti mentions.

So far in her career, Monti has been ranked No. 1 in the USTA Northern section as an 11-year-old, and participated in the Zonals championships as well, where only 12 of the best players from each region move on to the national level.

by Taimoor Satti • Photography by J Style Photography

As a player at Sheyenne, she made a splash at the state tournament in 2016 as an eighth grader. After early success, Monti faltered in the semifinals, but proved to be a strong competitor for Grand Forks Central’s Alyssa Wolf. Losing 7-4, 6-4, it was an impressive run for a girl with so many years at Sheyenne still ahead of her.

“I was excited (to compete at state), it’s a different atmosphere. People come to watch games and it’s just an amazing feeling to be there,” Monti notes.

True to form, Monti sees her state tournament experience as a chance to refine her skills and approach. “I was disappointed, but win or lose, it’s all part of the game,” Monti says. “I know what my mistakes were and I am working on those to improve myself.”

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MONTI KNEWTSON Monti feels one way tennis is unique from most sports is that you normally know everyone. She knew nearly all the players who were able to make it through to the state tournament and were competing against her.

“I was happy to see her performing at a bigger level, she deserves that,” Lana noted.

Monti hopes to take her experience from 2016 and use it to make another push toward a state tennis title. “It’s really difficult, because you compete against so many talented players, but I am working towards it,” Monti said.

As Monti presses forward toward her goals, she also enjoys following

the successes of professional tennis players. Which player does Monti pay the closest attention to?

“It’s a really hard question to answer, which one’s my favorite. I like two and they both are world class, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal,” Monti reveals. “I am inspired by how Nadal works hard and on the other hand, Federer’s composure, it’s just amazing.

Reaching her tennis goals is important to Monti Knewtson, but even moreso, she maintains strong academic expectations for

herself. “Tennis is a major part of my life but my aim is to get an education and to do something bigger with that,” Monti notes.

Her commitment towards tennis is not something anyone can ignore.

The immense amount of time and energy she spends refining her skills is tremendous. The matching work ethic she displays in the classroom keeps her schedule full on a regular basis.

“I am very amazed by her… She just knows how to balance life,” Lana says.

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Monti’s take on her day-to-day grind is that time management and maintaining friendships goes a long way in attaining the balance she

needs to continue with her success on the court and in the classroom.

And as a ninth grader, Monti has plenty of time to enjoy high-school life, noting it’s far too early to entertain any college choice. However, she is feeling emerging interest in becoming a doctor, dentist, or lawyer after college.

In the meantime, she’ll work to maintain the tennis-classroom-life synergy that keeps her energized.

FMSV

Scholar Athlete > OAK GROVE

GROVERS

Bryce Bakkegard BASKETBALL - FOOTBALL Favorite School Subject: History Grade Point Average: 3.87 Groups and Organizations: Key Club I Root For: NDSU Bison

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Presidents List, National Honor Society In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Having a good job and coaching.

Scholar Athlete > FARGO NORTH

SPARTANS

Aaron Matejka BASKETBALL - BASEBALL Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.9887 Groups and Organizations: DECA I Root For: NDSU, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Cavaliers

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Academic Letterer Pets: Two Dogs; Rock and Pebbles - Cat; Nemo In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working as an engineer, living in a big house with a family in Oregon.

Jack Michaels is a sports broadcaster and host of the ‘Jack Michaels Show’ on 740 The Fan. Jack is the Sports Director at Midwest Radio Communications in Fargo.

TAYLOR JANSSEN

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Taylor is a senior at North Dakota State University competing in track & field and cross country. Taylor is a former all-state track and field and cross country performer for Moorhead High School.

At NDSU, Taylor and her team captured yet another summit league indoor title (it was the 10th consecutive indoor title for North Dakota State’s women’s track and field team). Taylor took home first place in the mile run clocking a career-best time of 4:53.94.

While at Moorhead High, Taylor was a three-time Minnesota class AA all-state performer in cross country, finishing in the top 20 at the state meet in each of her first three seasons. She also anchored the Moorhead 4x800m relay to a third-place finish at the state championships.

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JACK MICHAELS: What was it like to be a big part of NDSU’s tenth straight indoor track and field title?

gram. It was awesome to run that mile and get a PR (personal record) and get those points for the team

TAYLOR JANSSEN: It was just awesome to be a part of it, and to be part of such a great program. This was the tenth consecutive win so it goes back long before I was here, so it’s just great to be able to contribute to such a great pro-

JM: What is the secret recipe to the dominance of NDSU’s track & field program?

TJ: Well, we have some great coaches there so the coaching staff is a huge part. Also, when I

was a freshman the older girls set such a good example so I’ve always just tried to keep that going, and of course a big part of the success is just all the athletes working really hard to keep the tradition going.

the coaches, the team…just everything about it. I loved the atmosphere, it just felt like the right fit to go there. I’m so glad I chose NDSU and I haven’t had any regrets whatsoever.

JM: Is part of it the competition against each other just as much as the competition against other schools?

JM: Distance runners have a little different disposition, don’t they? I mean, not everyone wakes up in the morning and says, “I think I’m going to run 5 miles today.” What attracted you to being a distance runner?

TJ: Oh, that’s a huge part of it. Just our distance team alone, we have a large team and we battle each other every day at practice and push each other. It’s a friendly competition but it motivates us to take on other schools.

JM: You were a standout athlete at Moorhead High School, what made you choose to attend North Dakota State?

TJ: I just love the program and all the support the bison have. I loved

TJ: I’m not gonna lie, it can definitely be pretty tough. It takes a different kind of person to want to run that many miles, but you just keep going through it and honestly you get used to it. Having a team support you through all those miles really helps too. It’s tough, but very much worth it.

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JACK’S CORNER - TAYLOR JANSSEN

JM: What goes through your mind when you’re running all those miles?

What do you think about?

TJ: To be honest, when I’m having a good race I’m not really thinking.

Usually during the race I’m trying to shut off my mind and just trust in my practice and my training. When it comes down to those last laps I just grit my teeth and go hard for those last laps.

JM: I have been fortunate to work in the media business with your father.

Talk about the support your family has given you.

TJ: Oh, my gosh! It’s just so awesome the support I have from my family. At the end of a race I look up in the stands and I see them cheering and supporting me. It just means so much to me that they are there, at the track meets or any other time and it just makes doing all of this so much easier and so much more fun. And that’s another reason I chose NDSU because my family can come to so many meets, including my grandparents which is so awesome.

JM: Do you love running the mile so much that you’ve studied mile runners

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by Jack Michaels

before you? Do you pattern your style after anyone, or do you just run?

TJ: I guess I would say that I haven’t ‘studied’ it too much. I have been running since first grade in elementary school so it’s been something that I loved to do, and winning the mile run during the summit league indoor championships was a great way to finish that season for me.

JM: Like many athletes, you have overcome injuries, including a concussion in your career. Talk about overcoming that.

TJ: What I say about injuries is that you will have lots of ups and downs along the way in sports, and the ‘downs’ are just as important as the ‘ups.’ you’re going to have times when you’re injured, or things aren’t going well, but those times are what make you a tougher runner. Everything I have gone through in my career has helped make me a better runner.

JM: What does Taylor Janssen do when you’re not traveling around the country competing or doing homework?

TJ: Well, I love to go skiing in the winter and in the summer, I like to spend time at my grandparents’ lake cabin. I also like to hike in the mountains and spend a lot of time outdoors and just hang out with my family and friends.

TJ: Yes, I don’t think there’s a bigger Bison fan out there than my dad, and I don’t think there is anyone more proud to be Irish than my dad. For his birthday, my sister and I gave him an NDSU hat with a 4-leaf clover on it.

JM: Is it true your father has a fascination not only with NDSU, but also with Notre Dame?

JM: You don’t have long before you graduate, what is your plan in the next several years?

TJ: Well, next fall I’ll be student teaching and I’m hoping to do that abroad in Switzerland. Then the plan is to come back to Fargo Moorhead and do substitute teaching in the spring, and then look for elementary teaching jobs and hopefully coach cross country and track in high school.

JM: Wow, that’s great! Hey, I saw you were wearing dreadlocks your junior season, did that help you in your running?

TJ: I had ‘em for a year and when I finally combed them out my coach said to me, “I think you’re gonna run a lot faster now that you don’t have those on your head.” I’m not sure if it helped me run fast, but ya never know.

JM: Finally, what advice would you give to young boys or girls that wish to be distance runners but have maybe tried it and for some reason think it’s too hard?

TJ: Just to keep running and understand that distance running is very challenging. Know that you will go through times that are very tough.

I admit I have had times when I wanted to give it up in middle school, high school and even at the college level, but I knew that if I can get through those times, then there’s going to be awesome times ahead.

My advice to anyone wanting to do what I do is to stay tough and try to find a way to enjoy it because it is an awesome sport and great to be

part of it. Whether I come in first, or whether the team wins 10 consecutive championships in a row is great, but the real reward is running the race and that is very rewarding.

JM: Taylor, thank you for your time and we’ll see you around town!

TJ: Thanks Jack.

FMSV

FM SPORTS VIEW MARCH / APRIL 2017 33

JESSE SHEARER

WEST FARGO > WRESTLING Shearer recently put the finishing touches on a storied high-school wrestling career for the West Fargo Packers. The senior capped his final campaign with a third consecutive North Dakota state championship, ending his career with 231 wins. While the state’s list of 200-win wrestlers is relatively short, the Packers had a staggering three on this year’s roster alone, including Shearer, senior Brandon Metz, and junior Jared Franek.

SAMI TRANA

FARGO NORTH > HOCKEY The senior defenseman for the Fargo North-South girls hockey team brought home a multitude of honors to finish her final season on the ice. Not only was Trana an All-EDC performer, but she also earned the distinguished honor of EDC Senior Athlete of the Year. Trana paced the FNS hockey program toward a 9-1 victory over Minot to finish in fifth place at the North Dakota girls state hockey tournament.

ANDREW CHRISTIANSON

OAK GROVE > BASKETBALL Oak Grove’s run to the North Dakota Class B state boys basketball tournament was fueled in large part by Andrew Christianson. The standout junior, who averages 22.4 points per game, scored 37 points in a semifinal win against Milnor-North Sargent. He followed that up with a 28-point outburst in the Region 1 championship game against Richland.

JAKE PAPER

DAVIES > BASKETBALL The Davies Eagles posted an undefeated regular season record in 2016-17, and Jake Paper was a big reason why. Paper finished first in the EDC in rebounds per game (11.7) and blocked shots per game (2.3), as well as second in field goal percentage (61%), and fifth in scoring average (18.9). Paper and fellow senior Matt Veit (17.7 points per game, 5.1 assists per game) led the Eagles into the North Dakota state tournament, where they fell to eventual state champion Minot in the semifinal round.

MAGGIE MANSON

SHEYENNE > BASKETBALL Nobody distributed the basketball better in the Eastern Dakota Conference this season than West Fargo Sheyenne’s Maggie Manson. While leading the EDC in assists at 4.4 per game, she also finished second in free throw percentage (79%) and averaged 14.3 points per contest. In the postseason, the upset-minded Mustangs knocked off No. 3 seed Grand Forks Red River in the conference tournament’s loser-out game before falling to Wahpeton in the state qualifier.

BROOKE TONSFELDT

MOORHEAD > BASKETBALL Moorhead senior Brooke Tonsfeldt was one of the catalysts in a Spuds’ season that saw the squad win a playoff game for the first time in ten years. Moorhead ultimately climbed to the Class 4A, Section 8 finals, where they fell to unbeaten Elk River, despite a 29-point performance from Tonsfeldt. She will continue her basketball career next season for the Mavericks of Minnesota State-Mankato.

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Scholar Athlete > WEST FARGO

PACKERS

Chase Teiken FOOTBALL - WRESTLING Nickname: Chase Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 3.50 I Root For: Vikings

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Honor Roll Pets: Three Dogs; Bella, Buddy and Boe In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working.

Scholar Athlete > SHANLEY

DEACONS

Kolby Johnson WRESTLING - FOOTBALL Nickname: Kolbjohn Favorite School Subject: US History Grade Point Average: 3.96 Groups and Organizations: Boy Scouts, AV Club I Root For: NDSU, UNL, Broncos

Pets: Leopard Gecko, Izzy Notable Academic Accomplishments: Student of the Quarter - Twice, National Honor Society In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Having a family and working at a tech company.