Fall/Winter, 2012
Twice as dangerous Determination fuels Mankato West senior
In this issue
• She has the Nack • Inside Pack the Stands • The Jug: Always a battle
Also inside • Fall moments • Area players reach milestones • Blue Earth Area’s perfect season 00 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Fall/Winter, 2012
$2.95
00 • DECEMBER 2012 •
5
Moments
A look back at the highlights from the fall sports season.
Milestones
Several athletes hit season and career marks.
22
11 Phenoms
Mankato West junior Danielle Nack is leaving her mark on swimming records around the region and state.
Feature
Mankato West senior “has the right character” to succeed.
25
14
Teams
Blue Earth Area wasn’t interested in rebuilding in 2012. On the Cover: Fall/Winter, 2012
Twice as dangerous Determination fuels Mankato West senior
Mankato West soccer and football standout Bill Lietch.
4 | From the Sports Desk Through the eyes of the sports department.
19 | A cold windy Jug night East-West rivarly always draws a crowd.
Photo by Pat Christman
In this issue
• She has the Nack • Inside Pack the Stands • The Jug: Always a battle Also inside • Fall moments • Area players reach milestones • Blue Earth Area’s perfect season
Fall/Winter, 2012
$2.95
24 | Pack the Stand Annual fundraiser promotes soccer, unity.
• DECEMBER 2012 • 3
.
Sports Desk
From the
DECEMBER 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1 Publisher James P. Santori Editor Joe Spear Writers Jim Rueda Shane Frederick Chad Courrier Photographers John Cross Pat Christman Pager Doug Monson designer Advertising David Habrat Manager Advertising Karla Marshall sales Advertising Barb Wass assistant Advertising Christina Sankey designers Sue Hammar Circulation Denise Zernechel Director Final Buzzer is published three times a year, after each season of high school sports. The Free Press Media, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN., 56001, owns rights to all material. Reuse by permission only. To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $8.85 for 3 issues. To order photo reprints contact The Free Press Media or go to www. mankatofreepress.smugmug.com For editorial inquiries, call Jim Rueda, 507-344-6381 or email jrueda@mankatofreepress.com. For advertising, call 507-344-6336 kmarshall@mankatofreepress.com.
4 • DECEMBER 2012 •
I
t seems like yesterday that local high-school athletic teams were gathering for the first practice in mid-August, eager to improve skills, have successful seasons and win championships in football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross country and swimming. As the season moved along, there were several special moments and great achievements, both from individuals and teams in southcentral Minnesota. The “Final Buzzer” tries to capture and document some of the milestones and memories from local athletes, who have worked countless hours before and during the season. Through photos, prose and design, this is what The Free Press sports staff and photographers saw as they covered the region. Mankato West’s Bill Leitch has established records for kicking in the highly successful Mankato West football team, while at the same time, juggling practice and game schedules and academics. He’s also become the leading scorer in the history of the Scarlets’ boys soccer program. Mankato West’s Danielle Nack is not only the top swimmer in this area, but she’s established herself at the state and national levels, winning two individual championships and a relay title at
the state meet. She broke a state record in the 100-yard butterfly that also stands as the fastest time nationally for her age group, and she set another record for Class A swimmers in the 50-yard freetyle. And she has another year of highschool swimming remaining. Blue Earth Area’s football team won a state championship, sailing through an undefeated season that ended at Prep Bowl with a 30-7 victory over Rochester Lourdes. While winning a championship is never easy, the Bucs won all 13 games by 9 or more points, combining a no-nonsense offense with a tough, aggressive defense. Other local teams made it state tournaments and didn’t have as much success, but making it that far still takes a special effort by athletes, coaches and support staff. To get to 1,000 yards rushing, a football player must average around 100 yards a game. A 2,000yard passer needs to double that. For 1,000 career kills, a player needs to put together two or three outstanding seasons. We’d like to hear from the fans as to where this publication should go in the future. We plan to put out a magazine three times each year, following the fall, winter and spring sports seasons. We hope you enjoy these highlights, but the pleasure has been ours. We have attended many events, and area coaches have passed along information on the milestones and accolades achieved by their teams. Without the athletes from southcentral Minnesota, these pages would be blank and our evenings would be less entertaining. Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To offer comments on this publication, please email to sports@mankatofreepress.com.
• DECEMBER 2012 • 5
Moments
They ’re off Each season, teams gather for first practices, get acquainted with new coaches and teammates and gear for another year. Along the way, milestones happen. Here is a look back at a collection of those moments. Aug. 13 High-school teams begin practicing for fall seasons in football, volleyball, girls swimming, girls tennis, boys and girls cross country. Mankato East has new coaches in football, volleyball, girls tennis and girls cross country, while Mankato Loyola, which switched to the Valley Conference, has new coaches in boys and girls soccer. Aug. 22 Mankato East/Loyola’s Katie Karkoska and the doubles teams of Kjersten Lemke and Paige Lingbeck and Justine Pasker and Katelyn Scharmer each win championships at the East/ Loyola girls tennis tournament. Aug. 25 Aunikah Bastian scored four goals as Mankato Loyola/Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial/St. Clair defeated Hutchinson 4-0 in a girls soccer match at the Crusaders Tournament. Aug. 30 Mankato West opens the football season with a 35-0 victory over New Prague at Todnem Field.
6 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Waseca’s Shane Streich finished third at the Class A boys cross country meet on Nov. 3 at Northfield. Streich finished the 5,000-meter race in 1:52.9. Waseca also finished third in the team competition. Pat Christman
Mankato East’s AllisonTaylor (12) had a season-high 22 kills in a match against Albert Lea on Sept. 20. Pat Christman
Aug. 31 Tri-City United gets a touchdown and PAT kick late in the game to defeat Waterville-ElysianMorristown 21-20. It’s the first football game for the school that was formed by the merger of Montgomery-Lonsdale and Le Center. The St. Peter football team broke a 12-year winless streak against Le Sueur-Henderson by winning the season-opener 34-7 at Le Sueur. Sept. 4 Mankato East and Mankato West battle to a 0-0 tie in a boys soccer match at St. Thomas. Sept. 6 Waseca’s Shane Streich was the individual winner at the 28-team Gerry Smith Invitational boys cross country meet at Montgomery. Streich covered the 5,000 meters in 16:09 to win by more than 20 seconds.
Mankato West’s Bill Leitch has three goals and two assists as Mankato West defeats New Prague 8-0 in a nonconference boys soccer match at Dakota Meadows. Sept. 7 Quarterback Derek Frentz rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 169 yards and two touchdowns in Mankato West’s 5723 victory over Austin. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s Sawyer Gahler accounted for six touchdowns in a 46-34 victory over Randolph. Gahler passed for three touchdowns, rushed for two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another score. Sept. 8 Mankato West wins three matches to claim the championship of the Waseca Invitational girls tennis meet. Lauren Makela and Maddy Valentine each won three singles matches in the tournament.
Marta Anderson scores three goals in Mankato East’s 7-1 victory over Waseca in girls soccer. Sept. 10 Bill Leitch has three goals and an assist as Mankato West blanks Worthington 8-0 in a nonconference boys soccer match at Dakota Meadows. Sept. 13 T.J. Schiltz of New RichlandHartland-Ellendale-Geneva was the medalist at the Maple River Invitational boys cross country meet. Schiltz finished in 16:42, and United South Central won the boys title. Sept. 14 Kyle Ziebarth of Cleveland scores five touchdowns in a 38-26 victory over Janesville-WaldorfPemberton. Ziebarth rushed for four touchdowns and also scored on a kick return. • DECEMBER 2012 • 7
Madelia’s Adam Cooling passes for 372 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther/Truman. Sept. 15 Mankato West won its own girls tennis tournament, led by first-place finishers Miranda Wynkoop and Justine Scheller (No. 1 doubles), Meaghan Haley and Melissa Lager (No. 3 doubles) and Julia Snelson (No. 3 singles). Mankato East/Loyola’s Justine Pasker and Katelyn Scharmer won the No. 2 doubles championship. Sept. 17 Mankato West’s Trace Johnson was the individual winner at the Fairmont Invitational boys cross country meet. Johnson’s time was 17:17. Sept. 18 Mankato Loyola/Cleveland won the New Richland-HartlandEllendale-Geneva Invitational girls cross country meet, led by the second-place finish of Kyla Haas. Tierney Winter of WatervilleElysian-Morristown/JanesvilleWaldorf-Pemberton was the girls winner in 15:50. Loyola/Cleveland also won the boys race, with Cade Ekstrom of Madelia-Truman taking first in 15:52. United South Central defeats River Valley 5-2 to win the Gopher Valley Conference girls tennis championship. Sept. 22 Shane Streich of Waseca was the medalist at the 21-team Apple Valley Invitational boys cross
8 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Senior Alicia Knoll and her Waseca teammates played their way to a third-place finish in the Class A state girls tennis tournament in Minneapolis in October.
Pat Christman
country meet. He finished in 16:04. Sept. 25 Waseca wraps up its sixth South Central Conference girls tennis championship in nine years. Sept. 28 Mankato West’s 24-game home winning streak ends in a 35-28 loss to Rochester John Marshall at the annual homecoming football game. The Madelia football team amasses 626 yards of offense, 348 rushing, in a 66-8 victory over Alden-Conger. Sept. 29 Casye Rezmerski of St. Peter wins four events to help her team with the team title at the St. Peter Invitational. Rezmerski won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle and swam a leg of the firstplace 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. Waseca wins five of seven brackets to take first place at the
South Central Conference girls tennis meet. Oct. 1 Mankato West announces it must forfeit the first four games of the football season for using an ineligible player. Oct. 4 Mankato Loyola/Cleveland’s Kyla Haas was the individual winner at the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Invitational girls cross country meet. Oct. 5 Brady Ayers breaks the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown record for career touchdowns in a 39-14 victory over Medford. Ayers rushes for 215 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 42 scores in his career. Oct. 8 Haley Jaeger scored four goals as St. Peter defeats Faribault 6-1 in the opening game of the Section 2A
girls soccer tournament. Oct. 9 St. James defeats Luverne 7-0 to win the Section 3A girls tennis championship and earn a berth into the Class A tournament for the eighth straight year. Mankato West senior Bill Leitch breaks the school record for career points in a 5-0 victory over New Prague in the opening round of the Section 2A tournament. Leitch had a goal, which gives him 61 career points, breaking the record set by Tommy Saffert in 2005. Oct. 10 Mankato West quarterback Ryan Schlichte ties a school record with five touchdown passes in a 58-8 victory over Rochester Century. He also has a rushing touchdown to give him six for the game, all in the first half. Oct. 12 Madelia quarterback Adam Cooling accounted for seven touchdowns in a 52-8 victory over Fulda. Cooling passes for three touchdowns and runs for four. St. Clair’s Michael Nett rushed for 159 yards and five touchdowns in a 62-0 victory over Mankato Loyola. Oct. 15 St. Peter’s Calleigh Carlson and United South Central’s Claire Christian earn berths in the Class A girls state tournament in singles, as did the Waseca doubles team of Abbe Hoehn and Alicia Knoll. Oct. 16 Mankato East defeated Mankato West in a shootout
The Mankato East band at the Jug game Oct. 17 at Blakeslee Stadium.
Pat Christman
in the semifinals of the Section 2A boys soccer tournament at Dakota Meadows. St. James advanced five players to the Class A girls tennis tournament. Arin Eckstrom and the doubles teams of Meghan Lahti and Michaela Nelson, and Michaela Nordby and Acacia Foss represented the Saints. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown’s Shayna Kinniry broke the school’s single-season record with her 255th kill. Oct. 17 Mankato West defeated Mankato East 44-0 in the 40th annual Jug football game at Blakeslee Stadium. Oct. 18 St. Peter’s Emily Lind scores in the second half to lead St. Peter past Mankato West 2-1 to win the Section 2A Blue Earth Area fans Maroon Platoon - turned girls soccer tournament at Dakota Meadows field. Mankato West received the No. 2 seed for the Section out in big numbers to watch their 2AAAAA football playoffs. The seeding process was football team controversial because West had to forfeit four victories, win a state championship. leaving the seedings up to a vote by the section Bucs defeated coaches. Rochester Oct. 19 Lourdes 30-7. Ahmed Sugulle scored a second-half goal as Mankato East wins Section 2A boys soccer tournament. Oct. 23 Dalton Elliott of Nicollet set school records with 471 yards passing and eight touchdowns in a playoff victory against Alden-Conger. Oct. 25 Waseca and Martin County West finished 1-2 the Section 2A girls cross country championship. Martin County West won the boys title with Waseca as runnerup. Emily Mator of United South Central was the girls winner, and Shane Streich of Waseca won the boys race. Oct. 26 Rochester Lourdes scored three goals in the second half and defeated Mankato East 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Class A boys soccer tournament at Roseville.
John Cross
• DECEMBER 2012 • 9
Top-seeded Benilde-St. Margaret’s scored Weber is named the Big Nine in 52.41 seconds to win that with five minutes remaining in overtime to Conference’s defensive player event at the state meet. She also defeat St. Peter 2-1 in the quarterfinals of of the year. Teammates Alex set a Class A record of 22.82 to the Class A girls soccer tournament. Knutson, Will Claussen, Ryan win the 50-yard freestyle. West St. James senior Aryn Eckstrom won the Schlichte, Trenton Marks, totaled four state championships consolation singles title of the Class A girls Tyler Jakes and Bill Leitch are as Chantal Nack won the 200tennis tournament. all named to the all-conference yard freetyle and Danielle Nack, Nov. 1 team, as is Mankato East’s Cody Chantal Nack, Nicole Lohman Jessica Thelemann of Le SueurLorentz. and Madison Bacon won the Henderson established a school record Nov. 14 400-yard freestyle relay, placing for kills with 23 during a Section 2AA Mankato East’s Savannah fourth as a team, the best finish volleyball match. Quandt signs a letter of intent to in school history. Nov. 2 join the Minnesota State women’s Nov. 20 Mankato West defeats Chanhassen 28-21 hockey program. Mankato Krista Hassing of Blue Earth in overtime to win the Section 2AAAAA West softball players Jessica Area and Haley Fogarty of Belle football championship to earn a berth in Goerger (St. Cloud State) and Plaine sign letters of intent to the state tournament. Nissy Elkins (Northern State) continue volleyball careers at Blue Earth Area (Class AAA), Sibley also signed letters of intent, and Minnesota State. East (AA) and St. Clair (A) earn trips to Mankato East girls basketball Nov. 24 the football state tournament by winning player Minnie Frederick signs Blue Earth Area defeats section championships. Blue Earth Area with Division I Detroit Mercy. Rochester Lourdes 30-7 to win defeats Tri-City United 35-0, Sibley East Nov. 17 the Class AAA championship defeats Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 21Blue Earth Area downs Perham at Prep Bowl XXXI. It’s the first 15, and St. Clair defeats Adrian 15-12. 31-21 to advance to Prep Bowl football state championship in Nov. 3 XXXI at the Metrodome. school history. Belle Plaine defeats Le Sueur-Henderson Mankato West junior Danielle in five sets to win the Section 2AA Nack breaks the state record in volleyball championship and earn a berth the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in the state tournament for the first time in seven years. Shane Streich places third and helps Waseca to a third-place finish at the Class A boys cross country meet at Northfield. United South Central’s Emily Mantro places fourth in the Class A girls meet. Nov. 9 Mankato West falls 28-0 to Owatonna in the quarterfinals of the Class AAAAA football tournament at Lakeville. Sibley East loses 27-6 to Caledonia in Class AA, and St. Clair loses 38-20 to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in Class A. Nov. 10 FREE Varsity and Belle Plaine loses to Sauk Centre in Jr. Varsity Haircut five sets in the third-place game of For New Clients Only Valid ID Required. Please Use Offer Code 2116 On This Offer the Class AA volleyball tournament Expires 02/28/13 at Xcel Energy Center. Blue Earth Area defeats St. Croix $10.00 Varsity and Lutheran 21-12 in the quarterfinals Open 7 Days a Week Locally Owned and Operated of the Class AAA football playoffs Jr. Varsity Haircut Sports On TV, Guy-Smart Stylist, Open Everyday, For New Clients Only Valid ID Required. and advances to the semifinals at the For Returning CLients Offer Code 2117 No Appointments Needed. Expires 02/28/13 Metrodome. Nov. 13 Sport Clips Mankato East: 507-720-0027 Mankato West linebacker Isaac hairtcutmeneastmankatomn.com 1872 Madison Ave Mankato, MN 56001
It’s Good to be a Guy!!!
10 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Milestones
Mankato West junior Molly Lohman (right) had four matches with 20 or more kills this season. She also made a verbal commitment to the University of Minnesota on a volleyball scholarship after next season.
Pat Christman
200-yard rushing games
Brad Claycomb, NRHEG, 271 yards vs. St. Charles, Oct. 5 Kysten Zierke, Blue Earth Area, 265 yards vs. St. Peter, Oct. 5 Dalton Elliott, Nicollet, 260 yards vs. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Oct. 5 Adam Cooling, Madelia, 239 yards vs. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Oct. 23 Kyle Ziebarth, Cleveland, 237 yards vs. Fulda, Aug. 30 Brady Ayers, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 217 yards vs. Medford, Oct. 27 Brady Ayers, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 215 yards vs. Medford, Oct. 5 Aaron Trio, Maple River, 207 yards vs. Medford, Sept. 21 Erik Danielson, Sibley East, 206 yards vs. Belle Plaine, Sept. 21 Peter Wagner, LSH, 200 yards vs. Central of Norwood Young America, Sept. 7. Brandon Martin, Fairmont, 200 yards vs. New Ulm, Oct. 17
300-yard passing games
Dalton Elliott, Nicollet, 471 yards vs. Alden-Conger, Oct. 23 Josh Plonsky, Cleveland, 384 yards vs. Mountain Lake Area, Oct. 27 Adam Cooling, Madelia, 372 yards vs. Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman, Sept. 14 Kolten Barker, LCWM, 346 yards vs. Maple River, Sept. 7 Ryan Schlichte, Mankato West, 345 yards vs. Rochester JM, Sept. 28 Kolten Barker, LCWM, 318 yards vs. Murray County Central, Oct. 23 Sawyer Gahler, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, 309 yards vs. Madelia, Oct. 23 Ryan Schlichte, Mankato West, 307 yards vs. Rochester Century, Oct. 12 Adam Cooling, Madelia, 306 yards vs. Fulda, Oct. 12
15 or more tackles
Isaac Weber, Mankato West, 20 tackles vs. Faribault, Sept. 21 Andrew Sweere, Mankato Loyola, 20 tackles vs. Springfield, Oct. 23 Ben Kittler, New Ulm Cathedral, 19 tackles vs. Wabasso, Sept. 28 Jake Denn, Madelia, 17 tackles vs. GHEC/Truman, Sept. 14 Tyler Jakes, Mankato West, 16 tackles vs. Faribault, Sept. 21 Alex Knutson, Mankato West, 16 tackles vs. Rochester John Marshall, Sept. 28 Xavier Dahlgren, Mankato West, 15 tackles vs. Faribault, Sept. 21 Ryan Hoehn, St. Peter, 15 tackles vs. New Ulm Brandon Beranek, New Ulm Cathedral, 15 tackles vs. BLHS, Sept. 7 Jeff Osborne, New Ulm Cathedral, 15 tackles vs. Springfield, Aug. 31
1,000-yard passing season
Ryan Schlichte, Mankato West, 2,278 Dalton Elliott, Nicollet, 2,704 Adam Cooling, Madelia, 2,160 yards Josh Plonsky, Cleveland, 1,961 yards Kolten Barker, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 1,623 yards Kysten Zierke, Blue Earth Area, 1,083
1,000-yard rushing season
Adam Schnobrich, New Ulm Cathedral, 1,414 yards Brady Ayers, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 1,313 yards Erik Danielson, Sibley East, 1,273 yards Adam Cooling, Madelia, 1,215 yards Kyle Ziebarth, Cleveland, 1,161 yards Kysten Zierke, Blue Earth Area, 1,035
• DECEMBER 2012 • 11
Pat Christman
! w record NeMankato West’s Maddy Burandt (19) set
a single-season program record with 19 goals this season, and her career points total of 63 also set a new Scarlets’ record.
1,000 career assists
Lindsey Pleiseis of Le Sueur-Henderson, Aug. 30 Sami Sorenson of Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial, Sept. 21
1,000 career kills
Haley Fogarty of Belle Plaine, Sept. 28 Tailor Raymond of St. Peter, Oct. 2 Jessica Thelemann of Le Sueur-Henderson, Oct. 30
1,000 career digs
Haley Fogarty of Belle Plaine, Sept. 28 Haley Reed of Madelia, Sept. 27 Kayla McCabe of Medlia, Oct. 9
20 or more kills in a match
Carlie Wagner, NRHEG, 34 kills vs. Maple River, Sept. 11 Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 31 kills vs. Mayer Lutheran, Sept. 20
12 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Pat Christman Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 31 kills vs. Belle Plaine, Oct. 4 Tailor Raymond, St. Peter, 28 kills vs. Fairmont, Sept. 20 Taylor Holicky, Cleveland, 28 kills vs. Mankato Loyola, Oct. 2 Tailor Raymond, St. Peter, 26 kills vs. Waseca, Sept. 27 Gabby Thomas, Le Sueur-Henderson, 25 kills vs. Jordan, Sept. 13 Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 25 kills vs. Blue Earth Area, Oct. 30 Taylor Holicky, Cleveland, 24 kills vs. Maple River, Sept. 11 Haley Fogarty, Belle Plaine, 24 kills vs. Mound Westonka, Nov. 1 Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 24 kills vs. Belle Plaine, Nov. 3
Mankato West linebacker Tyler Jakes (56) brings down New Prague quarterback Kyle Stepka during a semifinal game of the Section 2AAAAA playoffs at Todnem Field.
Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 23 kills vs. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Nov. 1 Allison Taylor, Mankato East, 22 kills vs. Albert Lea, Sept. 20 Tailor Raymond, St. Peter, 22 kills vs. Blue Earth Area, Sept. 11 Jessica Thelemann, Le Sueur-Henderson, 22 kills vs. Hutchinson, Sept. 25 Krista Hassing, Blue Earth Area, 22 kills vs. St. James, Sept. 27 Sarah Burk, Minnesota Valley Lutheran, 22 kills vs. GFW, Oct. 4 Molly Lohman, Mankato West, 22 kills vs. Faribault, Oct. 16 Molly Lohman, Mankato West, 21 kills vs. Owatonna, Sept. 11
Krista Hassing, Blue Earth Area, 21 kills vs. Waseca, Sept. 20 Shayna Kinniry, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, 21 kills vs. Medford, Sept. 20 Kailey Kendall, WEM, 20 kills vs. Blooming Prairie, Sept. 18 Molly Lohman, Mankato West, 20 kills vs. Albert Lea, Sept. 17 Molly Lohman, Mankato West, 20 kills vs. Mankato East, Oct. 9 Amber Brokl, Tri-City United, 20 kills vs. WEM, Oct. 30
• DECEMBER 2012 • 13
Phenoms
The right attitude West senior takes love for kicking to a new level
By Shane Frederick
B
ill Leitch didn’t really have time for this, did he? Not if he wanted to do it right, anyway. Here was a kid, about to start his junior year at Mankato West High School, whose days were full, even though it was still summertime. He played tennis in the mornings and then coached the sport for the Y after that. He had soccer practices and games in the evenings. In between, there weren’t many open hours left in his days. A little time to eat, a little time to rest. A little time to work on those Ivy League college applications. A little time to kick some field goals.
Photos by Pat Christman
14 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Leitch, who had never played tackle football in his life, decided in the summer of 2011 that he wanted to kick for the Scarlets football team. “I actually approached coach (Mark) Esch and asked if I could try out in the summer,” Leitch said. “No one besides me went for it, and so he just handed me the job. It really worked out.” Tryout or not, Leitch didn’t take anything for granted. He was serious about doing it the right way. It’s how he approaches everything he does. Today, Leitch is ranked seventh in West’s senior class with a 4.02 grade point average. He’s a National Merit Scholar semifinalist and he has dreams of studying economics at Stanford University or maybe one of those Ivy League schools out east. He plays clarinet in the high school band and orchestra.
• DECEMBER 2012 • 15
On the soccer field, Leitch is also exceptional. In his fourth and final varsity season for the Scarlets, he became the school’s all-time leader in goals and points (goals and assists combined). “If Bill says it’s going to be done, it’s going to be done,” West soccer coach Leonard Woelfel said. “He takes the time. He digs in and gets down and makes it happen. That says a lot about his character.” So when Leitch decided he was going to kick for the football team, whose season coincides with the soccer season, he wasn’t going to go halfway — in either sport. Every day in the summer of 2011 and again in 2012, he’d take an hour or so out of his busy day to work on his new hobby. He’d go to West’s practice field with six or seven footballs and a small stand that holds up the ball. 16 • DECEMBER 2012 •
No friends. No headphones. No distractions. “I’d be out here basically every single day just working at it, and kind of refining myself,” he said. “The first few I just went out there and did it and didn’t really care what I was doing as long as it was going through the uprights. Eventually as it became more and more clear to me that this is something I was actually going to do and realizing that, ‘My God, I’m actually going to be playing football in a month or two.’” “Then I really began seriously going through myself and just thinking about how I would do things. And after each kick, I’d stop and think about what happened and why it happened. ... It took a long time to get where I wanted to be.” With the Scarlets’ high-powered offense, Leitch didn’t have too many pressure-packed kicks. This
fall, however, he needed to make an extra point to force overtime in the section championship game against Chanhassen. West went on to win the game in extra time and returned to the state tournament. The most nerve-wracking moment for Leitch probably came during his very first football game. The soccer team had a game that day, too, and as soon as that ended, he raced from Dakota Meadows Middle School in North Mankato to West High School and changed into his football uniform. “Ran out 5 seconds before the national anthem,” he said. “That was crazy.” Leitch had to miss one football game so he could play soccer (“I think we went for 2 every time,” he said), and he missed one soccer game because he got injured on a kickoff. “I was playing safety on kickoffs,
“
I was actually out for a soccer game. The soccer coach said, ‘If you want to play football, run off the field.
”
and in one of the games I got blocked with a helmet right into the leg,” Leitch said. “I was actually out for a soccer game. The soccer coach said, ‘If you want to play football, run off the field.’ “After that happened, during soccer season, I’d run off the field. We never gave up a touchdown, so that was all right.” As his junior season went on, Leitch rolled like the entire Scarlets team, which advanced all the way to the state championship game. He kicked 66 extra points — third in Minnesota high school history — on 69 attempts. He also made 3 of 4 field goals with a long of 38 yards. This past season, he was 42 of 48 on PATs and 5 of 7 on field goals with a long of 32. He said his warm-up long was 55 yards, but he never got to test that distance in a game. Both years, he was named second-team All-State by the Associated Press. Not bad for a soccer standout. Leitch admits that the fact he was able to do both sports so successfully is unusual. This year, he was an honorable mention selection for the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association’s Class A All-State team.
“Last year I made it to state in two sports in one season. This year, we made it again in football and came just short in soccer,” he said. “The success we’ve had with both teams has been incredible, really. But last year making it in twice in one season was pretty special. ... We have some incredible athletes here at West. Like Philip (Nelson) last year and (Danielle) Nack. Incredible athletes. Yeah, doing something like that in one season is something that’s never been done, I don’t think.” Nelson is now the starting quarterback for the University of Minnesota football team, and Nack, a junior at West, is a state-champion swimmer who competed in the Olympic Trials last summer. While Leitch’s athletic career won’t last beyond • DECEMBER 2012 • 17
high school like Nelson’s has and Nack’s likely will, he’s not done yet. There’s still tennis in the spring, and Leitch plays No. 1 singles for the Scarlets. “Winter’s my time to relax and focus on school.”
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1881 Madison Ave Mankato, MN 18 • DECEMBER 2012 •
507-625-9318
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Jug
For the
The East-West game: An annual rite of passage continues By Chad Courrier
• DECEMBER 2012 • 19
I
t seemed as though the cool, windy weather might keep fans away from Blakeslee Stadium as Mankato West and Mankato East faced off in the 40th annual Jug Game on Oct. 17. But as the opening kickoff drew near, about 3,500 fans took their seats on opposite sides of the stadium, with East kids dressed in black and the West students wearing white. West had won the previous six Jug games, pulling within 22-17 in the series, and the prediction was for another Scarlets’ victory. In a change of philosophy, West, known for its prolific passing attack, featured a dominant rushing attack, grinding out 159 yards rushing in the first half to lead 27-0. West added two touchdowns and a field goal to finish with a 44-0 victory, totaling 214 yards on 33 rushing attempts, and passing only 16 times. It was one of the most lopsided games in Jug history and the seventh straight victory in the series for the Scarlets. Photos by Pat Christman
Top right: Mankato West running back Trenton Marks (4) led a successful ground attack against Mankato East, rushing for 95 yards and helping the Scarlets accumulate 214 yards on the ground. At right: A cold, windy night didn’t seem to affect the enthusiastic crowd much as about 3,500 fans turned out at Blakeslee Stadium for the annual contest. Previous page: Mankato West defensive back Will Claussen knocks the ball away from Mankato East receiver Walabu Bati during the 40th annual Jug Game at Blakeslee Stadium.
20 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Mankato West seniors Conor Wanderscheid (50) andTyler Jakes (56) race to claim the Jug before other players and students swarm after defeating Mankato East in the Jug Game at Blakeslee Stadium.
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Pat Christman
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By Chad Courrier Coming off a summer trip to the U.S. Olympic Trials, it should be no surprise that Mankato West junior Danielle Nack had a good swimming season. She dominated the local pools and set several records. She was at her best in the state meet, breaking the state record in the 100-yard butterfly at 52.41 seconds and the Class A record in the 50-yard freestyle at 22.82 seconds. Nack also combined with her younger sister Chantal, a state winner in the 200-yard freestyle, Nicole Lohman and Madison Bacon to win medals and break records in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays. Below are Nack’s meet and pool records. And to think, she has another season of high-school swimming remaining.
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Kickin’ good time Normally rivals, Mankato East, West turn rivalry into annual fundraiser to promote soccer, raise money for programs
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By Jim Rueda
ack in 2007, the Mankato high school boys and girls soccer programs decided to initiate a promotion called Pack the Stands to showcase their sport and raise some money. Six years later, it’s safe to say the annual event can be labeled a success. “The main goal was bring awareness to the sport,” said Mankato West athletic director Ken Essay. “We wanted to get people together to watch our soccer programs and to raise some money, and I’d say we’ve succeeded.” Pack the Stands has evolved into an alternating home game every season that features Mankato East playing West in boys and girls soccer. Local merchants and business provide prizes that are given away in raffles or as door prizes during the games. “It’s really grown since it started six years ago,” Mankato East soccer booster Carolyn Clause said.
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West’s AishaAbdo keeps the ball away from East’s Emily Stengel.
Photos by John Cross
“When it began there was just one varsity boys game and one varsity girls game. This year there were seven games — two on varsity, two on JV and three C-squad games. It’s become a great day for soccer.” Clause has served on the joint Pack the Stands committee that features parents or boosters from both schools the last two years. That committee, in effect, organizes the event. Any proceeds that are garnered through ticket sales or merchant donations is split evenly between the East and West soccer programs. “I don’t have the exact number but I think we raised about $1,300 for each school this year,” Clause said. “But our primary goal is to showcase the sport of soccer. It’s been growing and growing in the Mankato area, and I’d like to think we’ve helped that growth a little bit.” Clause said a by-product of the promotion is that the boosters from both schools have learned to cooperate with each other and fostered a feeling of unity. It’s not as much East vs. West as it is about promoting soccer overall. The 2012 event was held Sept. 22 on a chilly, windy day at Dakota Meadows Field in North Mankato but still drew from 1,200 to 1,500 people. “To me that’s an incredible success,” Essay said. Mankato East’s Nick Olson comes up with a big save. “I know people had a lot of fun and we’re hoping it continues to grow.”
Teams Blue Earth Area players (from left to right) Kysten Zierke, Carter Hanson, MicahTwedt and Chris Ramos celebrate after winning the Class AAA football championship at the Metrodome.
Photos by John Cross
The rebuilding year that many fans expected from the Blue Earth Area football team never materialized as the Bucs rolled to an undefeated season to win the Class AAA state championship at the Metrodome. The title game at Mall of America Field pitted secondranked Blue Earth Area against top-ranked Rochester Lourdes. The Bucs started slow but used a strong second quarter to cruise to a 30-7 triumph. Rochester Lourdes went into the game possessing one of the best option running games in the state but the Bucs defense held Lourdes to minus-27 rushing yards in the second half. Junior linebacker Gus Phillips blocked two kicks and made five tackles for loss, including three sacks. David Franta wasn’t bad either, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Bucs’ David Franta sweeps around left end during the Class AAA title game against Rochester Lourdes at Mall of America Field.
Blue Earth Area • DECEMBER 2012 • 25
For Mankato West sophomore Connor Watts, you catch some passes and some get away. He caught more than most, finishing with 32 receptions for 685 yards and seven touchdowns. In a victory over Chanhassen in the section championship game, Watts set a program record with 13 catches.
Photos by Pat Christman
Mankato West The Mankato West football team made its fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs this season, looking for the fourth championship in program history, though it was certainly an interesting path. The Scarlets won their first four games but had to forfeit those victories because of using an ineligible player. The roster was soon restored, and West won the last two games of the regular season with a record of 2-6. The Scarlets earned the No. 2 seed in the Section 2AAAAA playoffs and defeated New Prague 2110 and Chanhassen 28-21 in overtime to secure another state tournament berth. However, The Scarlets ran into a strong Owatonna team in the quarterfinals and lost 28-0.
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26 • DECEMBER 2012 •
Mankato East senior Albert Podshivaylov (11) battles for the ball during the Class A state quarterfinal game against Rochester Lourdes.
Sophomore Nick Olson makes a save during a state tournament game.
Photos by Pat Christman
Mankato East In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Mankato East boys soccer team, the Cougars caught fire late in the season and rolled to the Section 2A championship. In the quarterfinals of the Class A state meet, East fell 4-0 to eventual champion Rochester Lourdes. Freshman Ben Schwartz led the Cougars with nine goals and six assists heading into the state competition. Sophomore Nick Olson won the starting goalkeeper job at the start of the year and steadily improved as the season progressed. Olson had two big penalty-kick saves in the section finals to help lift the Cougars into the state meet. The Cougars finished the year with a 109-2 record.
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Mankato West swimmers
Photos by Pat Christman
The Mankato West girls 400-yard freestyle relay team of Danielle Nack, Nicole Lohman, Chantal Nack and Madison Bacon turned in a Class A state championship time of 3:32.63 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The Scarlets finished fourth place in the team competition, the best finish in school history.
Belle Plaine
The Belle Plaine volleyball team finished fourth in the Class AA tournament. The Tigers won seven of their final nine matches and finished with a 25-7 record. 28 • DECEMBER 2012 •
St. Peter’s Emily Lind is congratulated by Haley Jaeger after scoring the game winning goal against Mankato West in the Section 2A championship game Oct. 18.
St. Peter
Photos by John Cross
Benilde-St. Margaret’s player Kelly Pannek and St. Peter’s Marta Springer clash during their quarterfinal match Oct. 26.
The St. Peter girls soccer team pushed eventual champion Benilde-St. Margaret’s to the limit in the Class A state quarterfinals in October, dropping a 2-1 decision in overtime. The Saints, making a the third consecutive state tournament appearance, took a 14-6 record into the competition. Sophomores Marta Springer and Emily Lind were the team’s top scorers with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Senior Tori Wilking scored the lone goal for St. Peter in the state tournament, connecting on a free kick at the 57-minute mark that sent the game to overtime.
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