2016 Spring Sports

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SPRING SPORTS

2

April 20, 2016

Five seniors lead Frazee boys track

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Frazee boys track and field returns 16 athletes with varsity experience with 31 total participants out this year.

“Or numbers are pretty decent,” said head coach Brian Tangen. “We have a bunch of young kids out so that is nice to see.”

The Hornets will be led this year by five seniors: Grant Jepson, Logan Gaetz, Nathaniel Lubitz, Will Halverson and Zak Watchorn.

“These five seniors are very experienced with this being the sixth year of track for each one,” said Tangen. “We will look to these guys for leadership and scoring.”

Watchorn and Lubitz will lead the distance group and also provide depth in the field events.

Gaetz, Halverson, and Jepson will lead the group of sprinters.

All three were part of the 400m relay team that went to state last year.

“Grant and Logan are both good hurdlers and Will is strong in the jumps,” said Tangen.

The Hornets have several underclassmen looking to fill the many holes left by six graduating seniors last year.

“They will be tough to replace,” Tangen said. “We hope to improve each and every meet and have the opportunity to advance kids to sections and state by the end of the season. We look forward to that challenge.”

The 2016 Frazee boys track and field schedule: April 26 at Park Rapids Area 28 at Sebeka May 5 at Detroit Lakes 12 at Frazee 12 at Frazee 17 at Pelican Rapids

CAUFIELD STUDIOS

Frazee Boys Track has a strong group of young runners and are led by five seniors.

CAUFIELD STUDIOS

Frazee Girls Track has a number of returning state participants and will have strong finishes in the conference and section meets.

Frazee girls track has state talent Frazee girls track and field has strong numbers with 32 girls out in grades 7-12.

“They have all been rocking really hard,” head coach Jim Jacobson said. “Our preseason practices have been great and we are healthy so far. We have a lot of returning

athletes from last year; including some state participants and section qualifiers.”

Ellie Morgan broke the school record in the mile last year and was a state participant in track and cross country and will lead the Hornet distance runners.

Maddie Rue was a section runner-up in the 100 hurdles, third in the 300 hurdles, and a

state participant.

Cassidy Ziegler is a twotime returning Heart O’ Lakes champion in the 100 and 200, respectively.

“Paige Oswald, and Megan Danielson have had a lot of success for us as well,” said Jacobson.

Danielson joined Morgan at state cross country this past fall. Morgan was an all-state

finisher in 15th place; it was her second all-state finish.

Danielson placed 59th overall.

Frazee has not elected team captains this early in the season.

“We have a lot of great leaders and kids with great attitudes,” said Jacobson.

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SPRING SPORTS

April 20, 2016

3

Lormis, Parsons lead Frazee girls

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Frazee girls golf team has eight golfers, six returning from last season. The Hornets are young with two juniors, four freshmen and two seventh graders.

Juniors Maddisan Parsons and Brittany Lormis have both been varsity contributors since their seventh grade year lettering four years.

Both golfers are ready to lead the team.

“We are looking for Maddisan to be very consistent again this year as she was a year ago,” head coach Dave Conzemius said. “She is hard worker and she has the potential to be one of the top golfers in the section.”

Parsons was the team MVP a year ago.

Lormis was a Heart O’ Lakes all-conference golfer as a freshman.

She has participated in the Section meet three times.

“Both Brittany Maddisan are lot stronger and should be able to hit the ball farther this year,” said Conzemius.

“Brittany and Maddisan will do a great job leading our

young team.”

Frazee lost one senior to graduation in six-year letter winner Alexis Parsons.

Parsons qualified for sections four times and was HOL allconference twice.

Parsons was Frazee’s top golfer a year ago and earned HOL all-conference status for the second time in her career.

She qualified for the section meet and just missed on qualifying for state shooting a 93 in her third section meet.

The freshmen are Savana Bauer, Isabella Matejka, Delaney Matejka and Hayley Courneya.

Savana was the Most Improved Golfer last year.

Isabella and Delaney also played varsity last season.

“These three played quite a bit over the summer and we will need them to contribute for our team to be successful,” Conzemius said.

Hayley just started golfing last year and she has improved a lot in one year, according to Conzemius.

The seventh graders are Julia Witt and Paige Halverson.

“We are always happy to get some younger girls in-

volved as that is important for the future of the program,” said Conzemius.

Defending HOL champions Perham will be strong again in conference play this season. Hawley and Pelican Rapids will also have strong teams along with Barnesville.

“We hope to battle for a top four position in the conference,” said Conzemius.

Frazee moved to Section 6A from 8AA this season.

Ottertail Central won the 6A title a year ago.

“The girls are obviously very excited about the move from Class AA to Class A. Before we were one of the smallest teams in the Section and now we will be one of the biggest ones,” Conzemius said.

Pelican Rapids joins Frazee in the move to section 6A. “Our goals are to improve during the season and focus on having fun,” Conzemius said. “I have a great group of girls and I am looking forward to a fun season.”

The 2016 Frazee girls upcoming golf schedule: May 3 at Frazee H.S.

Caufield Studios

Frazee Girls golf benefits from a move to Section 6A this season from 8AA.

Boys team building around junior leader

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Last years’ Frazee boys golf team was loaded with seniors with the return of the entire lineup. In 2016, all of those positions are wide open and the Hornets will likely build around junior Dustin Parsons.

“We graduated all our experience,” head coach Justin Rierson said.

Parsons finished one stroke short of advancing to the Section 8AA meet last season with a score of 95 at Headwaters Golf Course in Park Rapids. Parsons was clipped by Breckenridge senior and Heart O’ Lakes allconference golfer Nick Jirak’s 94.

Frazee placed fourth at 8AA subsections last season, missing a team trip to sections finishing seven strokes back of Perham. The Hornets were highly competitive in 8AA, but this year Frazee was reas-

signed to Section 6A. “We moved down to Class A this year which will help with our inexperience,” Rierson said.

Rierson will be counting on a youth movement, as so often happens in high school sports.

In seasons with inexperienced players, anything can happen.

“We have a couple of ninth graders that have some potential to make some noise this year,” said Rierson. “It will be a building year team wise.

We will be trying to get guys varsity team experience while still playing in the tough HOL conference.”

The HOL is always competitive. The Hawley Nuggets are the defending champions.

“We will probably be toward the bottom of the conference just because of the quality of teams and our inexperience,” said Rierson.

In addition to Parsons, this season’s Frazee roster includes: Austin Wokasch,

Caufield Studios

Frazee boys golf will be looking for scoring from young players this season in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference.

Jack Mickelson, Caleb Irish, Denver Grant, Joby Giefer, Ricky Roforth, Jasper Pihlaja, Gage Amundson, Henry Kellerhuis, and Brock Riewer.

The 2016 Frazee boys upcoming golf schedule: May 9 at Frazee H.S.

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SPRING SPORTS

4

April 20, 2016

Bauer excels in senior season

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

candid moment photography

Desiree bauer leads Frazee on the rubber in her senior season.

Frazee senior Desiree Bauer will lead the Hornet girls softball team into a heated race for a Heart O’ Lakes Conference title this year as the starting pitcher, a role she has adapted to with an inner fire and a well-rounded background.

The former Miss Frazee Outstanding Teen and member of the Frazee Fly Girls state championship dance team has found success both individually and as part of the team.

However, in her favorite sport, she is still awaiting that level of success.

“You don’t really realize how far you want to go with a sport until it’s your last year and it’s all you have,” Bauer said. “My goal has been to get to state for softball since ninth grade.”

Bauer brings the Hornets experience on the mound in Heart O’ Lakes play having been in the circle since her freshman year behind Jo Shipman and Alexis Tappe.

This year, the lead role is

Bauer’s, one she has grown into.

“You can ask any of my coaches, I started off with a really bad problem between my ears,” said Bauer.

Overthinking and having high personal demands were two issues she has worked through in regards to pitching.

“I always think I should be better than what I’m doing,” she said. “I expect more from myself.”

Much of that personal growth comes from her background in pageantry and the strengths needed to perform on that particular stage.

“It’s really different,” she said. “Pageants really teach you how to be more confident with yourself. I think that goes into the sports a lot. You can’t walk on stage in a gown or do your monologue without having any confidence in yourself.”

The Heart O’ Lakes is a conference that has seen all of the top teams lose their top pitcher to graduation.

Hawley lost Jody Noreen; Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton lost Sydney Honek; Perham

is without Allie Doll and with Shipman gone for Frazee, the conference is up for grabs, along with the section.

While Frazee has a very young team and has a number of all-conference players to replace in the infield, a confident Bauer on the rubber gives Frazee an excellent chance to succeed.

“With the pageants and getting more confident with myself I’ve definitely been able to close the mechanism when I pitch now,” she said.

Bauer attributed that change in thinking to Head Coach and Pastor Bill Aufdenkamp, who is retiring after 18 years coaching in Frazee, along with assistant softball coach and head volleyball coach Tavia Bachmann.

While Bauer is closest to Bachmann as the duo share two sports, Aufdenkamp and Ta Fett, Frazee’s Head Dance Coach and a school counselor have made big impressions on the Hornet senior.

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According to head coach Andy Mekalson, this year’s Hornets baseball comes into the season bigger, faster, stronger and smarter.

Frazee will need to be as the Hornets move from Section 6A to 8AA. Frazee has consistently run into the top of 6A in the New York Mills Eagles, winners of four of the last five section titles.

“The move to 8AA this year from 6A is quite a change considering we would have probably been a favorite to come out of 6A,” said Mekalson.

Mekalson is in his third season at the helm for Frazee. He is looking to push the Hornets over the hump come playoff time.

“We competed with good teams like New York Mills to try to advance and couldn’t get over that hump the past five years,” he said. “Now we have to try to get past some tough AA schools like Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Perham. Our motto is ‘Why Not Us?’ We have the talent; we just will need to come together and execute on every pitch.”

Frazee brings back a load of experience as the Hornets did not have a senior to lose from 2015.

Senior right hander Gunnar Hilde and sophomore righty Tanner Tappe are expected to lead the starting rotation this season, with sophomore righty Logan Wacker and sophomore southpaw Thomas Stenger also taking the hill for starts.

Junior right hander Jon Hoffmann, sophomore righty Nick Endersby and senior lefty Colton Bakkila will fill reliever roles.

Senior Nate Nguyen gets the nod behind the plate with back-ups: Hilde and Endersby.

Around the infield: Logan Wacker SS, 3B, Gunnar Hilde Caufield Studios SS, Tanner Tappe 1B, Jon Hoffmann 3B, 1B, Chase Morris Frazee baseball has challenged for the Section 6A title in recent years, but gets a new start this year in Section 8AA. 2B, Nick Endersby 2B, 3B. In the outfield: Colton Bakkila LF, Rory Drewes CF, Dalton Smith RF, Thomas The 2016 Frazee baseball schedule: Stenger, Toby Drewes, Jacob April 10 at Hawley For an Elegant Event Roble, Christian Zweerink, 21 at Dilworth-G-F 10 at Hawley Keith Birkeland, and Hunter 21 at Dilworth-G-F 12 at Frazee Suedel.

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SPRING SPORTS

April 20, 2016

lot from both of them,” Bauer said.

Under Fett’s tutelage, Bauer and the Frazee Fly Girls made a big mark and created change in dance winning Frazee’s first state championship while knocking off perennial power Aitkin.

Aitkin had not been defeated in three seasons.

The Fly Girls picked up wins over the All Starz in the conference, section and at state.

“We had a completely different dance this year and we brought our girls together and tried to be more positive this year,” said Bauer. “Keep everybody uplifted and that helped.”

Frazee has made four straight trips to state winning the Jazz title in their fourth.

“Our first year at state, we were just pumped to be there,” said Bauer. “But this year, our goal was to win state. We knew we could do it.”

That win was big for more than just Frazee dancers.

“Just for all the teams around us, too,” said Bauer.

“It made it seem like it was possible, along with our girls.”

Frazee’s High Kick team finished as state runners-up one-half rank point behind Aitkin.

State tournaments create a learning experience that is much different than the regular season. Winning a state championship in any sport requires players to accept and excel in their roles on a team.

In volleyball, playing time was difficult for Bauer, but it did not change her mindset.

“I came into my senior year knowing what position I was in and made the best of it,” she said.

Now in her final season before college, Bauer will try to meld all of her experience to success on the diamond.

“We have a lot of younger and newer girls,” she said.

“Just having so many younger girls on our team, I think other teams are underestimating us.”

Doubtful, those teams will underestimate Bauer when she has the ball in her hands.

After the softball season,

Bauer has been accepted to Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, where she hopes to walk on to the Mustangs’ softball team under head coach Jamie

5

Dunn.

Continuing her mix of sports and creativity, Bauer will be majoring in creative writing.

“I tried to find a combina-

tion of a good writing program and softball team even though I knew I’d have to try out,” she said. “It’s not too far from home. They had all the things I was looking for.”

submitted photo

desiree bauer started off the 2016 season with a no-hitter against the Bagley Flyers.

Wide open conference for Hornets The Frazee softball team has 22 players on the roster, five seniors and two starters back from last year’s club.

In 2015, the Hornets came within a game from the Section 6A final losing to top-seeded New York Mills 9-8. NY Mills went on to claim their third straight 6A championship.

With the Minnesota State High School League’s move to four classes for baseball and softball beginning in 2016, Frazee bumps up to Section 8AA, a section that reflects most of the Heart O’ Lakes Conference teams.

Head Coach Bill Aufdenkamp will be coaching his final season after 18 years on multiple sports staffs at Frazee.

Aufdenkamp will be retiring and moving to Elbow Lake where there will be plenty of golf in his future, but he may not be done coaching.

“If I don’t coach, I’ll end up reffing,” he laughed. “I like the game

enough that I’ll stick with it.”

Aufdenkamp took over as head coach in 2015 after Dave Trautman retired.

Senior Desiree Bauer gets the nod as the starting pitcher and will have her eighth grade sister Alexis to throw to behind the plate.

“It’ll be an interesting battery,” said Aufdenkamp.

The sisters did play winter ball together, so it will not be a first time meeting outside of the family backyard.

Bauer takes over for Jo Shipman, who pitched five years for Frazee.

Fellow senior Whitney Janu will back up on the rubber and Abby Wothe, an eighth grade lefty, has a chance to pitch as well.

Hailee and Madison Oswald, another sisterly connection in the outfield, both seniors, and infielder Jaden Ketter round out the upper classmen for the Hornets.

Frazee opens the season at home versus Bagley, Tuesday April 12, the first of four home dates to start the sea-

Caufield Studios

the hornet softball team is young, but has five seniors to build around and a solid pitching staff.

son, including the annual Frazee tournament Saturday April 16.

Hawley and D-G-F have been near the top of the conference in recent years and expectations are the same in the preseason.

“It’s going to be interesting,” said Aufdenkamp. “Hawley is telling us they’re down. I know D-G-F will be strong.”

The 2016 Frazee softball schedule: April 21 at Frazee 25 at New York Mills 28 at Frazee May 5 at Pelican Rapids 10 at Frazee 12 at Barnesville 13 at Park Rapids Area 16 at Frazee 19 at Perham

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Detroit Lakes will defend the 2015 Mid-State Conference baseball crown this year after a season that waned quickly.

The 2015 Lakers dropped six of their last seven games after an 11-2 start to the year to finish 12-8 after a first round Section 8AA loss at D-G-F. Matt Haire, Matt Schouviller and Kavon Schumacher will man the hill for the Lakers.

Haire had a big win at Perham last year to help clinch the conference title.

“Hopefully, they can be consistent,” head coach Steve Fuhs.

Matt Bergren will also see time on the mound.

“You know you’re going to see strikes from him and that’s the first thing you need to do,” Fuhs said.

James Huwe is also slated to pitch.

Corey Hanson will start the year at catcher. Jacob Swiers will also see time, but is out two weeks with a broken finger.

“That’s the one big position

that I’m worried about,” said Fuhs. “We’ve always had real solid catching. This is the first time we’ve come in with a guy with limited experience, but Corey’s as hard a working guy as anybody on our team.”

Centerfielder Josh Bollig takes over the leadoff spot from graduated senior Ryan Cihak. Bollig was strong in the two-hole last year and has plenty of speed to cover the power alleys on defense.

Andrew Dahl will be in the outfield and also bat in the middle of the order.

Shortstop Kai McLeod, Huwe and Schouviller will be middle of the order bats, as well.

Bergren plays at first base and may bat in the nine spot to use his speed in front of the top hitters.

The bottom of the order should have plenty of speed making getting on base imperative for the bottom of the order.

Schouviller and Austin Anderson, two of DL’s 11 seniors will get time at third base.

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Baseball Team Row 1: Spencer Heimark, Korey Hanson, Kavon Schumacher, Tucker Bergquist, Hunter Jendrysik, Matthew Bergren Row 2: Kai McMcLeod, Josh Bollig, Jacob Itzen, Austin Anderson, Alex Eckman, Tyler Myhre, Jace Engelstad Row 3: Jacob Swiers, Matthew Haire, James Huwe, Mason Alexander, Matthew Schouviller, Andrew Dahl

“We have a lot of seniors, but not a lot of experience, so guys will get a chance to prove themselves and hopefully, they

do,” said Fuhs.

All 20 players on the DL roster are upperclassmen (nine juniors) with sophomores

making up the junior varsity squad. d.l. Baseball to 7 ��

DL after return to top of Mid-State The Laker softball team is coming off a 14-6 season that ended in an upset loss to Bemidji in the opening round of the section playoffs.

With baseball and softball moving to four classes, DL is in Section 8-3A and will square off against Alexandria, Sartell, Thief River Falls, Little Falls, St. Cloud Apollo, Sauk RapidsRice, and Fergus Falls in this year’s playoffs.

Senior Captain Emma Maguire will take over for Chaz Butz as DL’s top pitcher.

“Emma has been a dedicated and hard-working player for our program over the past five years and this is her year to shine,” head coach Phil Kirchner said. “She has a good work ethic and needs to hit spots and change speeds to be effective as she is not an overpowering pitcher.”

Starting shortstop Kyra Vagle will also see some time when needed.

Backing up Maguire will be

freshmen Madi Kirchner and Matteya Borah.

“Madi had some experience in the summer pitching varsity,” Kirchner said.

Junior Captain Macy Kirchner will be behind the plate.

“She is a leader and will be looked upon to anchor the infield,” coach Kirchner said.

“Her defense is her best attribute with a great arm and smarts for the game.”

Freshman Lauryn Manning will be the backup catcher.

First base will be occupied by power hitting junior Sydney Prussia.

“Sydney is capable of hitting many long balls and will be relied on to play a steady first base.”

Senior Hailey Sonstegard moves to second base to fill in for departed senior Carolyn Kinney.

“She (Sonstegard) has a tremendous bat and consistent glove.”

The other side of the infield D.L. Softball to 7 ��

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Softball Team Row 1: Madilyn Kirchner, Madi Anderson, Cherish Johnson, Matteya Borah, Mackenzie Brankmann, Maycen Kirchner Row 2: Alexis Ostlie, Rachael Perkins, Lauryn Manning, Emily Schiltz, Kyra Vagle, Betty Schouviller Row 3: Faith Weidemann, Hailey Sonstegard, Brittany Rorah, Sydney Prussia, McKenna Krengel, Emma Maguire (Not pictured Amanda Hein)

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SPRING SPORTS

6

SPRING SPORTS

April 20, 2016

7

Laker tennis newcomers to shine

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Detroit Lakes boys tennis team begins this season with three returning regulars and for the first time in years, a lineup without one of the Fondrick brothers after Alex Fondrick graduated in 2015.

Fondrick and fellow senior Caleb Howard advanced to sections last year in doubles.

Senior Jon Richards (12), freshman Trey Seebold, and sophomore Austin Baker return with experience from last year.

Gabe Hanninen (8), Conner Froke (10), Garrett Knopf (9), Anthony Boehm (12), and Dom Knopf (12) also saw some varsity matches last year.

Dawson Grimm (11) and Isaac Howard (10) are also returning players who should see some varsity matches this year.

Numbers are solid for Tanner Beauchman’s tennis program with a lot of newcomers and the tennis program has benefited form an infusion of athletes from other sports.

“We have so many new kids who are multi-sport athletes who are working hard and improving every day,” Beauchman said. “I feel bad for leaving some of them out, but I could go on and on talking about the potential and athletic ability of our many newcomers. Jens Richards and Braeden Wimmer lead a very promising group of seventh graders.

There are 14 seventh graders alone on this year’s team.

“We ended up with 43 kids this season,” Beauchman said. “Our team got so big we have to run a separate practice at the middle school courts for

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Tennis Team Row 1: Isaiah Mckenzie, Peter Allan, Parker Davis, Christian Omdahl, Dawson Grimm Row 2: Tyler LaCrosse, Garrett Knopf, Alec Kulasingham, Caleb Splonskowski, Austin Miller, Fabeon Greer, Braeden Wimmer, Jens Richards, Nick Ring, Isaac Howard Row 3: Caden Smith, Cole Bryant, Brennen Sather, Austin Baker, Isaac Eggebraaten, Conner Froke, Trey Seebold, Gabe Hanninen, Jacob Noll Row 4: Logan Johnston, Tristan Knopf, Jacob Hanson, Anthony Boehm, Noah Johnson, Dom Knopf, Tanner Doppler, Gabe Anderson

some of our middle school participants, and we had to add a coach Zach Biggar.”

A number of those newcomers should factor into the varsity lineup also.

Concordia College basketball recruit Jacob Pazdernik joins the team this season and should make an impact.

“He has looked really good and should step into a spot at the top of our lineup,” said Beauchman. “His size and athleticism makes him a versatile player for us.”

Tanner Doppler, another basketball player, has been moving up the competition ladder and has been picking things up quickly.

�� d.l. Baseball from 6 Fuhs has two sophomore pitchers in mind who have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation.

“We’re always looking, if we have a kid on JV that is lighting it up or pitching lights out, we’ll take a look at them,” said Fuhs.

This is the first year in some time that a sophomore will not be on the opening day roster.

The seventh and eighth grade programs are booming with big numbers to balance out a light freshman year this season.

Pitching will be the key, as always.

Cihak and Connor Johnson (Southwest Minnesota State University) had three years of pitching experience that needs to be replaced for the Lakers to succeed.

“We’ve got room to grow and have potential to be a good team,” said Fuhs.

“We’ve got to work at it. We’re just not as experienced.”

A third hoops player Adam Daggett and Ben Roth, who golfed last year, have also flashed a lot of potential.

“Tanner, Adam, and Ben are new to the game but as they combine their athleticism with their improving skills and knowledge of the game they will be formidable,” Beauchman said.

The Lakers also benefited from a drop to Class A from AA last year.

“The move shouldn’t affect our schedule too much,” Beauchman said. “We have always played both A and AA teams in our area. The section has Crookston in it and they return their whole state

DL’s schedule will remain mostly the same despite the move to Section 8-3A this year. In the preseason poll, two section teams are ranked in the top 10 with Alexandria at No. 1, Bemidji at No. 4.

Little Falls was also in consideration.

Class 3A and 4A have been divided into 64 teams each, with the rest making up Class 1A and 2A. The 2016 Detroit Lakes baseball schedule: April 26 at Pequot Lakes 28 at Perham May 3 at Detroit Lakes 5 at East Grand Forks 10 at Park Rapids 13 at Detroit Lakes 20 at Detroit Lakes 23 at Bemidji 26 at Thief River Falls

qualifying team from last year.”

Crookston is ranked No. 7 in the preseason Class A poll.

“Right now I am very happy with how our team looks,” Beauchman said. “We return some key contributors and have some players that have been developing in our program the past few seasons.

We also have a wild card component with all of our newcomers this year. Many of those newcomers are going to push for varsity spots in a few weeks when they get more familiar with the game. Our lineup at the end of the season could look completely different from the lineup we start

�� d.l. Softball from 6 will be experienced with Vagle, an allconference player last year and a captain this season.

Vagle has great range and is a .500 hitter.

Junior captain Emily Schiltz is another team leader with consistent fielding, according to Kirchner. She’ll play the hot corner.

Junior Betty Schouiviller and sophomore Rachel Perkins are both capable of backing up any infielders and may start in the outfield.

Outfield spots are wide open with sophomore Mackenzie Braukman and Schouviller likely to start.

Juniors Mckenna Krengel and Amanda Heim, along with newcomer junior Brittany Rorah are battling for the third spot.

“Our team will need to play solid defense, limit our mistakes on the mound and have clutch hits to be suc-

with. I think that is a good thing because it means our guys are going to have to compete to earn those spots, and competition is the best way to improve.”

The 2016 Detroit Lakes boys’ tennis schedule: April 22 at Detroit Lakes 25 at East Grand Forks 26 at Detroit Lakes 30 at Sartell-Saint Stephen May 5 at Park Rapids Area 10 at Bemidji 12 at Perham 14 at Detroit Lakes 20 at Detroit Lakes

cessful in the Mid-State Conference and our new section 8AAA,” Kircher said. “We can’t always depend on scoring 10-11 runs a game.”

The Lakers have averaged 10 runs per game the past two seasons.

Pequot Lakes has owned the MidState winning four straight conference championships. The last team to oust the Patriots was DL in 2011.

This year, the Lakers have 41 players in grades 9-12 and an additional 40 players in grades 7-8.

The 2016 Detroit Lakes softball schedule: April 23 at Detroit Lakes 26 at Detroit Lakes 28 at Detroit Lakes May 3 at Crosby Ironton 10 at Detroit Lakes 14 at Sartell-Saint Stephen 20 at TBA

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9

Smith prepared to make history

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Detroit Lakes senior Kate Smith is poised to become the most dominant golfer in Minnesota high school history this season as she chases a remarkable and unprecedented fifth consecutive individual state golf championship in June at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, Minn.

“It’s hard not to think about it,” Smith said. “It’s a big deal anytime you can say you made history.”

With her fourth Class 2A title in 2015, Smith tied Katie Detlefsen of Minnehaha Academy, who was a four-time champion in Class A from 2004 to 2007.

Smith won the Class 2A championship outright in 2012 as an eighthgrader and in 2015 as a junior. She shared the championship with teammate Natalie Roth in a weather-delayed 2013 meet and tied with Pequot Lakes’ Maggie Heggerston in 2014.

“It’s a lot of pressure; I can’t lie, but honestly I think I felt more pressure winning the third and fourth ones,” said Smith. “One year we had to wait around for six hours with Natalie (Roth), who I was trying to beat. Coming in and tying Maggie that was hard.”

Smith began her state meet career as a seventh-grader in 2011 placing fifth. She’s made a lot of memories at Ridges.

“It’s going to be sad,” she said.

“Six years of my life have been at that course.”

Six years she has shared with Head Coach Cali Harrier. Getting Smith’s

much time as I can so I feel as prepared as I can be for every meet.”

Not much has changed for Smith going into her senior season as far as preparation.

Having achieved her level of success makes for simply doing what she always has done.

“You always have to change the little things with your swing, but overall, mentally, it’s a pretty similar thought process as last year. Every hole, make sure I have an opportunity for a birdie so that I can go as far under as I can.”

The team aspect is equally as important to Smith and the Lakers want to continue the streak of six section titles and state appearances. DL has been in the top three all six of those years with titles 2012-2014, runnersup finishes in 2011 and 2015 after starting the streak with a third place mark in 2010.

“We’re young, but I think we can surprise a lot of people this year,” she said. “People might write us off, but I don’t think they have a reason too.”

It’s impossible to write off the Lakers with Smith out front putting up low scores. All that weight could lead to even more pressure, aside from chasing history and the expectations that come with such success.

“I haven’t ever thought of it that way because if you put that much pressure on yourself…you have to always play the course,” she said. “If you do your best you’re going to help your team.”

Smith also plays a coaching role on the team when out on the course, a big benefit to Coach Harrier.

fifth individual championship is equally as important to the coaching staff.

“That’s going to be really important, as a coach, to help her get there,” Harrier said.

The Ridges course boasts many changes of elevation and the first half of the month of June has presented golfers with nearly every type of weather condition possible. Smith’s experience there of more than a halfdecade of golf has her confident on this year’s return.

“I have so much under my belt at that course that I don’t think it’s that challenging,” she said.

It’s the other players who will present the challenge of trying to thwart history itself and the making of new history come June.

“It’s not going to be just a walk in the park,” said Smith. “There are still a lot of good individuals at state.”

There is also a full season to get through, which begins for Smith and the Lakers at the Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker Thursday, April 14.

“Right now, all I can think about is Becker because that’s our next meet,” said Smith. “I’m not ready and need another week of practice and it’s hard to get some quality practice time in with the weather we’ve had.”

Make no mistake; Smith will be ready to go regardless of conditions.

She spent nearly all of 2015 atop the leaderboard while breaking multiple course records, some that were already hers, along the way.

“For me, I’m just trying to go into the season like I always have been,” she said. “Make sure that I put in as

Brian Basham

kate smith is the Minnesota Class 2A four-time defending state individual golf champion and is looking to make history this year with her fifth title.

“She’s the golfer you can kind of let her fly,” Harrier said. “She’s amazing to watch and has a really good head right now. She’s been really focused and excited her senior year leading the team. “ Going to state as a team has been the norm for Smith’s entire career and that is how she wants to end her legacy at Detroit Lakes.

“I’ve never gone as an individual,” she said. “I can’t describe the feeling to have your team watching you when you come down the 18th fairway. I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

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April 20, 2016

Laker boys golf team after new tradition

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

After an early start to the golf season, the weather turned foul allowing only one qualifier for 31 golfers to compete for the top six spots for Bob Gorden’s boys team.

The opening meet of the year was postponed two days and senior captain Austin Fritz, juniors Isaac Cihak, Aaron Schnathorst, along with a trio of sophomores: Ben Unruh, Ryan Paskey. and Wyatt Blomseth head to Becker to open the season at Pebble Creek Golf Club Wednesday, Cihak, Schnathorst, Paskey and Unruh return from last year’s section runner-up team.

Fellow sophomore Collin Ginnaty qualified in the seven spot and will play Saturday in Marshall in place of Fritz, who will miss the second meet of the year.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids who are right there,” said Gorden.

Starting positions will be fluid most of the year, especially with early qualifying done in windy and tough conditions that affected scoring.

“It was a tough day,” Gorden said. “I thought anybody who broke 80 played well that day with the wind.”

Having high participation numbers

has been a key to the Lakers’ success and a number of golfers could get a chance at the starting six pack this year.

“That’ just makes it better every year,” said Gorden. “We’ve got some kids we’ll give a shot and see what happens.”

Gorden projected that the lineup could switch late into the regular season.

“Sometimes it just gets down to the last week or two,” he said. “That’s good to have that competition. They can’t get complacent and have to keep working hard.”

DL will strive for a return to the top of the section after missing state appearances as a team the past two seasons.

“That’s always your ultimate goal to win the section and get down to Jordan,” he said.

DL starts the year for the first time in a long time without any golfers who have state experience.

“None of them have been to a state tournament,” Gorden said. “It’s a start of a new tradition going in Laker golf.

Lot of good young kids and we’ll work hard at that and see what happens.”

This year’s section tournament is a two-day, 36-hole affair in Bemidji, a change from the 36 total holes of subsections and the one-day section tournament of past years, a change Gorden

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Boys Varsity Golf Team Row 1: Aaron Schnathorst, Wyatt Blomseth, Collin Ginnaty Row 2: Riley Johnson, Isaac Cihak, Ben Unruh, Austin Fritz (Not pictured, Ryan Paskey)

was a big proponent of.

“That’s something I’ve pushed for a long time,” he said. “That’ll be good.

You won’t get a team or kid that is hot one day.”

The Crookston Pirates are the defending 8AA champions. The Pirates defeated DL by nine strokes last year in a tight race between all six qualifying schools.

The 2016 Detroit Lakes boys golf schedule: April 21 at Legacy GC

22 at Ridges at Sand Creek 23 at Lakeside GC 25 at Dellwood CC 29 at Pebble Lake Golf Course May 3 at Ridges at Sand Creek 6 at Headwaters GC 6 at Edgewood GC 9 at Town & Country GC 13 at Detroit Country Club 16 at Whitetail GC 20 at Town & Country GC 26 at Detroit Lakes Country Club

Laker girls eye seventh straight state trip

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Girls Golf Team have been fixtures at the state meet the past six seasons and look to continue that streak in 2016.

While the day to day grind is imperative early in the season, a return to the state podium and another championship is definitely in the team’s thought process.

“Obviously, that’s the goal and what we want to happen,” said Harrier.

“Last year we were so happy to be at the state tournament and to take sec-

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ond place. It really showed what we were capable of.”

The middle school program has 14 future Lakers this season and given the past history of talented young golfers in the program, one could make a jump up to varsity.

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Detroit Lakes girls golf has been synonymous with the Class 2A state meet as the Lakers have placed in the top three six years running with three state championships and two runnersup finishes, including last season.

DL returns four of six section golfers after losing Sydney Busker and Katie Larson to graduation.

Busker was named the St. Catherine University athlete of the week in early April continuing a line of success at the college level for products of Lakers’ head coach Cali Harrier.

The starting six are set for this season with not much room for position changes from younger players.

“It’s kind of different this year as we have our six all set and I don’t see a lot of movement happening,” Harrier said.

“In some ways, it’s nice that they won’t be nervous about losing their spot at all and can just focus on golfing.”

Four-time state champion Kate Smith owns the top position on the team followed by junior Abby Schramel, sophomore Maddie Herzog and freshman Shelby Busker.

“We’re going to be lucky having Kate leading us,” Harrier said. “She’s a great role model for the girls and picks things up out there and can help her teammates.”

Herzog had one of her best performances last season at the Section 8AA championships placing fourth over-

all behind Smith in first and Sydney Busker in third place as DL captured its sixth consecutive title by a whopping 80-stroke margin of victory.

“Abby, Maddie, and Shelby having that varsity experience will bring them up to a different level this season,” said Harrier.

All three golfers put time in over the summer and Shelby Busker got into the weight room to improve her game in the offseason.

“She worked really hard in the weight room this winter and is hitting the ball longer,” Harrier said.

Junior Lauren Tschider led the junior varsity team last year and moves up to varsity this season, along with eighth-grader Anna Cihak in the five and six positions on the team.

“If someone does have one bad round, we’re going to be able to fall back to our five, six golfers,” Harrier said. “Not every team can do that.”

Pequot Lakes returns to the section this year with two of their top three state golfers return. The Patriots will miss Maggie Heggerston, who placed fourth at state individually last season and tied for the 2014 championship with Smith.

Harrier has scheduled more difficult meets this season including a twoday tournament at Bunker Hills and a meet at TPC Twin Cities.

“We’re a little more aggressive this year to begin the season,” she said.

DL starts the year at Becker, a place the Lakers haven’t played for five years.

001409472r1

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

SPRING SPORTS

April 20, 2016

11

Big shoes to fill for DL track teams

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Detroit Lakes track teams look to continue success built in 2015, which featured a girls team the rewrote the DL record books and sent four athletes to the college level in Kyley Foster, Ally Berg, both at UND, AddieKay Johnson at Bethel, and Shay Nielsen at the University of Minnesota. All four have made early impacts in their freshman seasons.

“We have almost a completely new team from last year, and so it’s going to take some time to figure out where each athlete will fit in,” head coach Mike Labine said.

Last season, the Lakers had top-end talent and depth to back it up. The 2015 senior girls were one of, if not the most successful group in DL history.

Of the Lakers eight all-conference athletes, seven were lost to graduation. Junior Mathia Olds returns with a number of all-conference honorable mention athletes in juniors Haidyn Gunderson, Naomi Larson and Mackenzie Ostlie, along with sophomore Emma Disse.

“They have been working hard and have been very willing to listen and be coached, so there will be some huge improvements throughout this sea-

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Girls Varsity Track Team Row 1: Breanna Price, Kylee Price, Haidyn Gunderson, Ellen Teiken, Casey Jenson, Lizzie Johnson, Kendra Kvebak, Ashley McDermond, Elizabeth Kvebak, Kenzie Ostlie, Payton Carlblom, Katrina Okeson, Clara Livermore, Josie Harrier, Megan Noel Row 2: Josie Retz, Hannah Rhodes, Dannah Nephew, Mathia Olds, Sidney Lundberg, Victoria Tinjum, Gabby Fredrickson, Zoe Allen, Cortney Brodsho, Riley Chase, Kelsie Heyer, Emma Fegely, Hailey Blonigan, Ava Geffre, Jackson Hegg, Abbi Smith Taylor Tucker Row 3: Brina Smith, Devyn Ullyott, Skylar DeBoer, Chenoa Vizenor, Sheyenne Norberg, Sydney Stewart, Marissa Gilbert, Sarah Tangen, Elise Lakin, Elle Seaberg, Olivia Hanninen, Emma Disse, Alex Day, Natalie Nelmark, Ashley Kolenda, Hannah Shoemaker, Lexi Yliniemi, Leah Chavez Row 4: Sarah Schumacher, Haley Groth, Ava Steinmetz, Auroura Eckberg, Peyton Jeraberg, Cora Okeson, Greta Peterich, Lily Burnside, Johanna Jernberg, Naomi Larson, Jasmyn Hamm-Coyne, Lexy Stearns, Jordyn Peterson, Jordan Lundberg, Jamie Bollig, Karrigan Hallisey, L’Teya Vaughn, Kennedy Hegg, Sydney Brininger

son,” said Labine.

DL will look to make a fifth consecutive appearance at the state True team meet in mid-May. Last year, DL girls placed second to Rocori in the best finish in school history.

The boys team placed ninth at state True Team returning to Stillwater after a one-year hiatus.

The girls team sent five to the MSHSL state meet last year with Nielsen’s state shot put runner-up fin-

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SPRING SPORTS

12 �� d.l. Track from 11 state meet.

Brady Labine had DL’s top finish placing fourth in the 400m dash in a time of 51.86 as a sophomore, to go with a ninth place pole vault finish.

Fellow junior Aaron Johnson had a 10th place time of 10:13.62 in the 3,200m run.

DL had two top 10 section relay teams also.

Both Johnson and Labine had strong starts to the 2016 season winning titles at the opening indoors meet at Concordia in early April.

Distance runners from the cross country team, led by Johnson, Connor Haugrud, Zack Buboltz, Van FritchGallatin and Isaiah Stokes, will benefit this year’s team.

Ben Nordmark and Jay Nielsen are likely leaders in throws.

April 20, 2016

The Lakers will defend Mid-State Conference titles on both sides, as both teams won handily last year over runnersup Pequot Lakes.

The 2016 Detroit Lakes boys track schedule: April 26 at Thief River Falls May 5 at TBA 5 at Detroit Lakes 10 at Detroit Lakes 17 at Mid-State Championship 23 at Bemidji The 2016 Detroit Lakes girls track schedule: April 26 at Thief River Falls May 5 at Detroit Lakes 5 at TBA 10 at Detroit Lakes 17 at Mid-State Championship 23 at Bemidji

Brian Basham

Detroit Lakes Boys Varsity Track Team Row 1: Trey Corcer, Austin Gedrose, Ben Heimark, Alex Beckman, Mason Sampson Row 2: Charles Wakonabo, Jordan Ryan, Isak Gloege, Brady LaBean, Will Green, Cole Metelak, Connor Bunn, Dylan Coalwell, Noah Steffl, Jack Richards, Preston LaDue, Marcus Jasken, Colby Olson Row 3: Tyler Edrall, Garrett Bakken, Brandon Carpentier, Henry Vogt, Cameran Erb, Carter Schwan, Carson Sonstegard, Brady Fischer, Max Staley, Tanner Olson, Quinn Bakken, Elliot Musielewicz, Jesse Livermore Row 4: Edward Johnson, Blade Schwartz, Reed Reller, Grant Fritch-Gallatin, Christoph Hilliard, Jake Bettcher, Ben Stearns, Axel Lindquist, Caleb Tangen, Benjamin Nordmark, Connor Haugrud, Nathan Johnson, Aaron Johnson Row 5: Anders Hedstrom, Austin Askelson, Van Gallatin, Wyatt Nelson, Jay Nielsen, Jaeger Gulseth, Cody Ulschmid, Zach Brandt, Zachary Buboltz, Jake Kerzman, Derek Gray Jake Richter, Cam Gilbertson

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�� d.l. Girls Golf from 10 Not bad for a program that had one varsity girls golfer when Harrier took over the program.

“You never know,” said Harrier.

“There might be a hidden gem out there.”

Joining this year’s coaching staff is former Laker golfer (2009) Robin Hutchinson. Hutchinson made four trips to state winning a team title in 2006.

The 2016 Detroit Lakes girls’ golf schedule: April 22 at Ridges GC 23 at Ridges GC 27 at Alexandria Golf Club 29 at Bunker Hills Golf Course 30 at Edinburgh GC

May 5 at Whitetail GC 12 at St. Cloud CC 14 at Vintage Golf Course 20 at Pebble Lake Golf Course 21 at Pebble Lake Golf Course 24 at Detroit Lakes 24 at Detroit Lakes Country Club 24 at Detroit Lakes CC

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SPRING SPORTS

April 20, 2016

13

Anderson leads with state experience

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Lake Park-Audubon boys golf returns two starters from last season and has four open spots up for contention this year.

“This year will be a definite rebuilding year as a team,” head coach Cole Wixo said.

Team captain Clay Anderson returns as a team leader who made it to the state tournament last year as a junior.

“Clay worked hard in the off season perfecting his game as well as participating in multiple MN Junior PGA events,” said Wixo. “We have already had the opportunity to hit outside and his swing and accuracy seem to be dialed in.

I can’t wait to see what the season brings for this talented and hardworking young man.

Clay always leads by example and has an amazing work ethic, and this is what makes him an exceptional captain for the Raiders.”

The other returning starter is freshman Tyler Svare.

“Tyler showed great potential last year as an eighth grader and was moved up to the varsity level at the end of last season. Throughout the summer, he has shown tremendous growth, as he and his father are avid golfers and members at Forest Hills Golf Course (LPA’s home course).

Tyler spent countless hours on the course this summer, and the practice has paid off. Much like Clay, Tyler has a great swing and has been hitting his targets on the range. Most freshman would be intimidat-

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Lake Park-Audubon Boys Golf has four open spots on the starting roster with two returning players from 2015.

ed about being named one of the top golfers on the varsity squad, but Tyler thrives on it.”

The other four positions will be determined over the course of the next few weeks.

Wixo begins his fifth year as head coach for boys golf and will be assisted by Kyle Haberman and former LPA golf coach Tom Anderson as a volunteer.

“Kyle is coming off of a terrific basketball season (Head Boys Basketball coach for LPA), as it was the Raiders first trip to the state tournament in school history. Kyle is a huge asset to our team,

the kids have so much respect for him, and he brings a ton of positive energy to the table as we head into the spring season.”

Anderson, now retired from teaching, still lives in Audubon and has a passion for the game of golf and love for the LPA school and all of the extracurricular programs.

“His help and knowledge has been invaluable over the course of the past few years,” Wixo said.

In conference play, Mahnomen is going to be extremely competitive and the top team to beat hands down.

Fosston and Bagley will also contend.

LPA lost three seniors and freshman Rece Wiedmann, who moved to Walker, Minn.

Walker is now a section opponent of LPA. “Had Rece not moved with his family, he would have been one of our top golfers this season, so it hurt to lose him this summer. However, all the guys look forward to seeing him at the section tournament in Fergus Falls in June,” said Wixo.

The Raiders finished in the top half of the conference, had three section qualifiers, and

two state participants.

Last year’s senior Sam Whitehead missed the state tournament by one stroke, and will be another golfer and leader from last year who will be missed.

The 2016 Lake Park-Audubon upcoming boys Golf schedule: April 21 at Lake Park-Audubon 28 at Ada Borup 29 at Park Christian May 3 at Fosston 10 at Mahnomen-Waubun 11 at Fertile-Beltrami 12 at Win-E-Mac

Numbers up for LPA girls golf program

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Raiders girls golf team returns two starters from last season in juniors Molly Dinkleman and Elise Whitehead for Marge Beaudine in her 15th year coaching Lake Park-Audubon.

Dinkleman and Whitehead take the top spots from departing seniors Shania Adler and Alexis Carr.

Erin Grabinger was moved up from last year’s junior varsity team taking the third spot on the team.

“I will be looking to fill the other spots with a huge numbers of new players this year,” head coach Marge Beaudine said.

Beaudine got a boost in participation numbers this season with a dozen younger players entering the program.

The Raiders remain in the Pine to Prairie Conference and will begin meets on April 14 at Sandhill River Golf Course in Fertile “I am looking forward to a great year in golf with so many enthusiastic players,” said Beaudine.

LP-A moved to Section 6A where Ottertail Central is the defending champions, led by senior Leah Weber who placed 18th overall at state last season.

The 2016 Lake Park-Audubon upcoming girls golf schedule: April 28 at Win-E-Mac May 4 at Ada Borup 11 at Park Christian 16 at Bagley

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April 20, 2016

Baune takes over at LP-A

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

With Sean Degerstrom’s move to the University of North Dakota, Michael Baune fills that vacancy taking over the Lake Park-Audubon baseball team this season.

Baune was a three-sport athlete at New York Mills high school and a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead.

New York Mills is a baseball town and Baune played the game all through his childhood to the present day.

“Growing up in New York Mills really helps a lot,” he said.

Baune continues to play in the summer for the Millers in the Hi-10 League. He brings that lifelong enthusiasm into his first year at the helm for the Raiders.

“Like I told the kids in our first team meeting, ‘I played baseball for different teams every spring and summer for my entire life with tons of great

coaches and some terrible coaches.’

It’s been a process of picking up things from a lot of those coaches and picking up things from the old guys in the amateur leagues, where you still learn every single day. Those guys play because they really love the game,” Baune said.

Baune played high school ball under Chris Bushinger at NY Mills.

Bushinger had a four-year streak of section titles and state appearances snapped last year by Brandon/ Evansville.

“He (Bushinger) preached kind of a culture and if you want to be a part of it you follow along and do what you’re told,” said Baune.

Baune was also guided by Mike Weller, a name well known in NY Mills baseball circles.

“I learned a lot from him,” Baune said.

Baune was a student teacher at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton under the Rebel’s head baseball coach Bill Ibach when he heard about the open-

ing at Lake Park-Audubon.

Ibach referred Baune to the Raiders’ program and he took the job as a fifth grade teacher in April of 2015.

He was a junior varsity assistant basketball coach under Kyle Haberman but was not involved in the baseball program right away.

Degerstrom’s relocation made that possible and Baune is seeing changes at Lake Park-Audubon after the highly successful basketball season that ended in Williams Arena at the state tournament.

Winning can turn around more than just one program; it can have a positive effect on the entire school.

“It’s huge,” said Baune. “We’re trying to make the shift here in our boys programs from being a school that hasn’t been known for anything; transitioning into a school that is good or respectable in everything.

We’re early in the transition stage with the boys.”

The basketball team captured the

Brian Basham

Michael Baune is the new head coach of the Raiders’ boys baseball team.

entire community’s attention and received statewide notoriety reeling off 22 straight wins en route to a section title at Concordia College and the state quarterfinals.

Distance to be LPA girls strength

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Coral Lunde kicks off her 21st year coaching Lake Park-Audubon girls track with participation numbers on the rise from last season with a dozen athletes.

Half of the team returns from last year, led by two senior captains Lily Ness and Hannah Strom.

Junior Alexis Gehrig and sophomores Brianne Huesman, Rachel Grande, and Jordan Seley bring the team experience also.

“We want to see improvements as individuals and as a team as the season progresses and to have individuals advance on to sections,” said Lunde.

LP-A’s strength is in distance running and have several new members to fill spots in sprints and relays.

New members on the team are junior Elsa Larson, and five freshmen: Ava Hemze, Cloe Leno, Mackenzie Ehlers, Madison Harris and Shayla Hendricks.

The 2016 Lake Park-Audubon girls and boys track and field schedule: April 26 at Barnesville May 5 at Mahnomen 12 at Frazee 19 at Ada Borup

caufield studios

Lake Park-Audubon Track returns half the girls team from 2015, while the boys try to replace college recruits from last year.

LPA boys missing college talent

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Lake Park-Audubon boys track team has some big cleats to fill after losing a number of college recruits from last season’s team to graduation.

“We’re going to miss last year’s seniors,” head coach Lori Wixo said.

Last year’s team featured

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some talented track athletes in Tory Haglund, Roman Frederick, Justin Hanson, Taylor Briard, Walker and Tyler Charboneau.

This year’s team has seven members on the roster.

Freshmen Bailey Johnson and Sanden O’Connell both ran long/ middle distance for the Raiders last season.

Junior William James III,

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sophomore Jack Osborne, and freshmen William Hannesson and Patrick Hofstrand-Cameron round out the team.

James III will lead the Raiders in the sprint events, and long and triple jumps.

Osborne is slated for the 100m dash, shot put and discus, and the 4x100m or 4x200m relays.

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“You can tell with the varsity basketball guys,” said Baune. “The confidence and leadership runs through the whole program.”

A number of those players will also be making important contributions to the baseball team in Mitch Hall, Mike Vohnoutka, Reese Mattson and Lane Ulmer.

“It definitely feels good that we had all that success and we do have a lot more confidence, but it’s still different,” Vohnoutka said. “In baseball, anything can happen.”

The basketball team star members put in the time to create their success. It may take a bit with the baseball program to catch up.

“We really focus on fundamentals,” said Baune. “The big thing here is at this school they don’t play summer baseball, for the most part.

I have two kids that have played the past couple summers from Babe Ruth on to now. Unfortunately, there isn’t a Legion program here.”

Baune is playing catch up with

the majority of his lineup instilling the basics of the game.

“I’m teaching them a lot of stuff they’ve never learned before,” he said. “It’s even got them saying they’re getting bored a bit, because we’re focusing on certain, small things because they haven’t been doing that since Little League. We’re very big from the fundamental aspect.”

Raider baseball games move from Audubon to the high school field in Lake Park this season.

“It’s going to be different,” Baune said. “I’m trying to sell it to the kids, approaching it as we can put in time and make it as nice as we can.”

LP-A also received funding from the booster club for a new batting cage.

Baune and the Raiders faced Brandon/Evansville in the road opener played at the defending 6A champs losing 11-7 and have been battling Mother Nature with two chances at the first victory postponed.

caufield studios

Lake Park-Audubon baseball Team plays on a new field at the high school in Lake Park this season.

New coach, new section

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Caufield studios

Lake Park-Audubon softball team has seven seniors to replace from 2015.

LPA softball rebuilding

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Graduation took its toll on the Lake ParkAudubon softball team last season setting up a rebuilding year in 2016 for Raiders’ Head Coach Bryan Anderson.

“After graduating seven seniors last year this is definitely a young and inexperienced team,” Anderson said. “I will be starting the three seniors plus two to three juniors, two to three freshman and possibly an eighth grader.”

LP-A had three seniors, second baseman Sierra Omvig, first baseman Paige Hovelson and Carli Raaen in center field. The trio will serve as tri-captains.

Sophomore Maria Miosek returns with starting pitching experience.

Miosk will share starting duties with freshman Carli Ecker.

Anderson plans to manipulate the lineup trying to find the starting nine with the most productivity.

The Raiders should be successful at the plate to hopefully bolster pitching.

“I think, although young, our pitching will be solid,” said Anderson.

“Defense and our overall softball IQ will be our biggest weaknesses.”

Omvig will lead off in the battling lineup.

“She has good speed and is very adept at putting the ball in play,” Anderson said.

Raaen and Hovelson, along with freshman shortstop Kailee Lefebvre who will make up the meat of the order.

“All three have good power and should be solid contributors offensively,” Anderson said.

Aubrey Somerville along with eighth grader Etta Miosek will be behind the plate with Aubrey also

fielding at third base.

“Aubrey has great hands and is also very good at getting the ball in play and is a great bunter,” Anderson said.

Juniors Myla Lewis and Savannah Schindler will help anchor the outfield.

“All in all I’m excited to see this young and inexperienced team grow and develop,” Anderson said.

“We will have our ups and downs but the girls work hard and have a great attitude so it should get better as we progress through the season.”

The 2016 Lake Park-Audubon softball schedule: April 21 at Lake Park-Audubon 26 at Win-E-Mac 29 at Lake Park-Audubon May 3 at Fertile-Beltrami 5 at Lake Park-Audubon 6 at Fosston 10 at Waubun 12 at Lake Park-Audubon 16 at Frazee

15

First-year head coach Mike Baune leads the Raiders baseball team to a new section.

The Raiders are coming off a 4-14 season, 2-7 in the Pine to Prairie Conference and a first round loss to BerthaHewitt in the Section 6A playoffs.

With the realignment to four classes in baseball this season, LP-A will move to Section 8A for the playoffs.

Red Lake County defeated Win-E-Mac for the section title last season.

The Rebels have won two straight 8A championships.

The Rebels were an overachieving young team last season and return with only three seniors looking for a third straight championship.

LP-A opened the season with a loss to defending 6A champions Brandon/ Evansville 117.

The focus for the Raiders is an even record as young players try to find spots to compliment the core players.

“We’re looking to get to .500, be in the top half of the Pine to Prairie Conference and get a home playoff game,” said Baune.

The Raiders can build off of the basketball success this winter with four stars from that team making up the nucleus of the baseball nine in Lane Ulmer, Mitch Hall, Reese Mattson and Mike Vohnoutka.

“Basketball is a totally different story than playing baseball,” said Vohnoutka.

“Baseball has a lot more mental stuff, because if you make a mistake you

have a lot more time to sit on it. In basketball, you just sprint down the court and have to run back on defense.”

Vohnoutka is an experienced leader coming off a successful run with the Detroit Lakes legion team last summer.

Ulmer will be the main man on the mound.

“Lane will pitch a lot for us,” said Baune. “He will also be our power bat in the middle of the lineup.”

Hall will lead up the outfield and use his speed to generate offense.

“Mitch Hall, freak athlete, he’s going to be out there roaming centerfield and will get on base a lot causing havoc,” Baune said. “That’s going to be a big thing for us.”

Hall led the offensive charge in the season

opener going 3-4 with a run scored and one RBI. Chance Lefebvre gets the starting nod behind the plate.

“He’s a real strong kid and provides a lot of power in the middle of our lineup,” said Baune.

Mattson, Marcus Dickelman-Stassen, Hunter Christianson, Garret Frank and Adam Wolfswinkel round out the lineup.

The 2016 Lake Park-Audubon baseball schedule: April 21 at Staples-Motley 25 at Lake Park 28 at Lake Park-Audubon 29 at Fosston May 3 at TBA 5 at Lake Park-Audubon 9 at Ulen-Hitterdal 13 at Hawley 17 at Lake Park-Audubon 20 at New York Mills

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