Spring 2017 Sports Preview

SPRING 2017

SPORTS

Preview

Published by Detroit Lakes Newspapers

DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS • LAKE PARK-AUDUBON RAIDERS • DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS

LAKE PARK-AUDUBON RAIDERS • DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS

DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS • LAKE PARK-AUDUBON RAIDERS • DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS

DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS • LAKE PARK-AUDUBON RAIDERS

SPRING SPORTS

2

April 26, 2017

Section True Team champs look to defend

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Frazee boys track team is coming off a strong season and look to defend the Section True Team championship won in 2016.

Frazee also advanced six competitors to the MSHSL state meet.

“Our goal is to always advance as many as possible to that level,” said head coach Brian Tangen.

Logan Gaetz led the Hornets at state with a fourth place finish (40.71) in the Class A 300m hurdles and a seventh place finish (15.97) in 110m hurdles.

Will Halverson qualified in the 100m dash and the 4x100m relay team of Grant Jepson, Gaetz, Caleb Drescher, and Halverson also qualified. The team set a new school record in the event during the regular season.

Drescher, a junior this year, is the lone Hornet from the state team back on this year’s squad.

“We lost six seniors and another athlete who moved away,” said Tangen, in his 26th year of coaching. “These seven guys we lost provided most of our scoring last year so we have some big holes to fill.”

Tangen will be assisted on staff by Jim Rader, Russ Hackel, and Jeff Johanssen.

Charleton Wake and Anthony Santos will captain this year’s team.

“These two experienced veterans will bring some leadership to our team,” said Tangen.

Drescher, Mike Miller, and Caleb Wutzke will be looked to for team points and to

the Frazee Boys Track TEam photo by Caufield Studios

provide leadership to an influx of young competitors.

“We have an awesome group of inexperienced youngsters that have a lot of potential and we are excited to get them into the mix and see what they can do,” Tangen said.

With a successful season to build upon, this year’s Hornets’ team has a lot of confidence in the preseason.

“I can’t say enough about the attitude and work ethic of this team this year; it’s awesome,” said Tangen.

Frazee has gotten some early returns from underclassmen with strong performances from eighth-graders Alex Beck and Christian Carlson running distance, along with Joby Geifer in hurdles and field jumps.

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Perham

are the early favorites in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference.

Frazee (82.5) placed third at the HOL Championships last season behind the Yellowjackets (162) and Rebels (153).

The 2017 Frazee boys track and field schedule: May 11 at Frazee 16 at Barnesville

Big meet experience a boost for Hornet girls

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Frazee girls track team made it a clean sweep of Section True Team last year matching the boys team and the team goal for this year’s Hornets’ squad is to return to the State True Team meet.

“I think depth and experience are big for us,” head coach Jim Jacobson said. “We have girls in almost all events that have experience in section and state competition. On top of that, we have had a great season so far with girls willing to work hard, and have fun doing it.”

Jacobson is in his seventh year of coaching and will be assisted

by Jim Rader, Russ Hackel, and Jeff Johannsen.

Cassidy Ziegler, Ellie Morgan, Paige Ziegler, and Paige Oswald are all award-winning returners for the Hornets.

Ellie Morgan, Cassidy Zielger, Cassidy Nelson, and Hailey Ellingson will serve as quad-captains of the team.

“I think we have a lot of great leaders on our team, especially

the Frazee girls Track TEam photo by Caufield Studios

in our captains,” Jacobson said.

“Ellie has been a great distance runner for us and brings a great attitude, an incredible work

ethic, and lots of experience.

Cassidy Ziegler is a great sprinter and has been a great example in attitude and passion for track.

Cassidy Nelson is a natural leader and has been a tremendous addition to our throwers. Hailey Ellingson brings a lot of energy

OK LUMBER & HARDWARE

Your Complete Building Materials Dealer 203 East Main, Frazee • 334-2961

122 WeSt Main FRazee, Mn 56544 001354010r1

001405432r1

~WE DELIVER~

Agent, License #20057738 Phone 218/334-6551 Fax 218/334-5500 e-Mail: ucinS@loRetel.net

Frazee Girls Track to page 4 ��

Live sporting event coverage

Get Friendly Hometown Service At

Rita StelzeR, CISR, CIC

and is a lot of fun for our girls to be around.”

With plenty of leadership and experience, Frazee track members are looking to create more team momentum gained from big meet experience gained last season.

“I think our big goal is to make it back to the State True Team,” Jacobson said. “Last year was a great experience, and is something we would like to build on.”

According to Jacobson, Perham is always the team to knock off as far as the Heart O’ Lakes Conference is concerned.

“Within the section, there are always a lot of great performances at the section level so the competition is always incredible, regardless of where they are from,” he said.

The Hornets graduated two significant contributors in 2016, Maddie Rue and Holly McCamant.

Rue is the school record holder in the 100m Hurdles and owned the first leg in the school record holding 4x100m relay team. McCamant was a nice

FOLLOW @DLAKESSPORTS FOR EXTENDED SPORTS coverage!

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

3

Parsons, Lormis return from record season for Frazee girls golf team

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Frazee head girls golf coach Dave Conzemius heads into his seventh year at the helm on the back of a record year for the Hornets.

In 2016, Maddisan Parsons and Brittany Lormis were the first state qualifiers in Frazee girls golf history as juniors and return to lead Frazee in their final high school season.

Parsons was all-conference with a fourth place finish; Lormis also earned all-conference distinction in the Heart O’ Lakes.

“Maddisan and Brittany have both been on the varsity since seventh grade,” said Conzemius.

The two golfers both took different routes to qualify for the state meet. Lormis shot a career low the first day at Sections with a 94 that offered her a little breathing room heading to the second

day. Lormis didn’t play as well the second day with a 103 score, but she still finished two strokes inside the cut line for state.

On day two, a determined Parsons, posted the second lowest score of the day with a 93.

She was able to pass five girls in front of her to claim the last spot to state. She made up deficits of seven, nine and 10 shots on three of the girls in front of her to punch her ticket.

“Maddisan is a three-time all conference player, and Brittany is a two-time all conference player.

Both seniors are comfortable being the leaders of this team. They both work hard and have a desire to be the best that they can be.

Great examples for the rest of the girls in the program.”

Frazee also returns five of the starting six golfers from last year with sophomores Savanna Bauer, Isabella Matejka and Delaney Matejka. Newcomer Madeline

Matejka will likely fill the sixth roster position.

“Our goals are to improve as the season goes on and have fun,” said Conzemius. “Hopefully, everyone can have a lower stroke average.”

Fun is a definite part of the team structure for the Hornets.

“The girls all get along and are very easy to coach,” said Conzemius. “They making going to practice and to tournaments a lot of fun.”

The Perham Yellowjackets are the defending Heart O’ Lakes Conference champions and begin the year as the favorites. The HOL is wide open after Perham.

Defending champions Park Christian are the clear favorites in Section 6A. The Falcons won by 22 strokes over Ottertail Central last season and did not lose any golfers off of that team.

Frazee finished in fifth place in the conference and placed

the Frazee Girls Golf TEam photo by Robert Williams/Tribune ...

fourth at sections.

Jerry Bellefeuille will be assisting Conzemius with coaching duties and heading up the junior high and junior varsity teams for both the boys and girls programs.

The Hornets open the season at Wildflower in Detroit Lakes Tuesday, April 18 at 1 p.m.

The 2017 Frazee girls golf schedule: May 2 at Frazee

Hornet boys return entire lineup

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

the Frazee Boys Golf TEam photo by Robert Williams/Tribune

For an Elegant Event

choose the

Frazee Event Center

Spacious & Affordable

The 2017 Frazee boys golf schedule: May 8 at Frazee

Frazee, MN • 218-334-3923 001236990r2

Frazee Electric, Inc. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING

Quality Comes First • Licensed & Bonded For Your Protection RESIDENTIAL • FARM • COMMERCIAL WIRING

Paul

218-334-2382

www.frazeeelectric.com Mike

001571185r1

The Frazee boys golf team did not lose a golfer to graduation and have a pair of team leaders to build around for the 2017 season.

Senior Dustin Parsons was the lone returner after the Hornets graduated five of six starters in 2015 and brings consistency and experience to the top of the lineup.

Sophomore Henry Kellerhuis made a big impact as a freshman earning a Heart O’ Lakes All Conference distinction for Head Coach Jason Reierson.

Reierson is in his fourth year as head coach of the Hornets and Assistant Coach Jerry Bellefeuille will handle duties with the junior high and junior varsity teams for both the boys and girls programs.

The Hornets placed fourth in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference championships. The Hawley Nuggets return as the defending champions. Barnesville joins the Nuggets as preseason favorites. Perham was last year’s HOL runner-up team and should be in the mix again as well.

Frazee benefits from playing tough competition of mainly Class AA schools during conference play and the regular season before competing in the Section 6A tournament in the postseason.

“We need to be more consistent in our top six to get where we want to go,” said Reierson.

The Park Christian Falcons are the defending section champions. The Falcons placed sixth at the Class A state tournament last year at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.

The Hornets begin the season at Birchwood Golf Course in Pelican Rapids Tuesday, April 11.

001354211r1

Frazee Golf Course

www.otpco.com ••1-800-257-4044 www.otpco.com 800-257-4044

The Sportiest Nine-Hole Course in the Lakes Area!

(218) 334-3831

uck GoodnLets!

Hor

34482 State Hwy. 87 Frazee, Minnesota

001571203r1

218-334-2131 • Frazee, MN

Heath & Cindy Peterson, Owners

001571193r1

SPRING SPORTS

4

April 26, 2017

Frazee baseball starts season strong

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

the Frazee Baseball TEam photo by Caufield Studios

the team championship by three games over a nine-win Breckenridge Cowboys club. The Hornets finished 5-7 for a fifth place finish behind Barnesville (8-4) and Perham (6-6).

The Hornets will get an early test to begin conference play hosting the defending champion Rebels in Frazee’s home opener Friday April 21.

The 2017 Frazee baseball schedule: April 27 at Frazee May 1 at New York Mills 4 at Pelican Rapids 9 at Frazee 11 at Barnesville 18 at Perham 19 at Park Rapids 23 at Frazee

Robert Williams

Pitching has been a strength early in the season for Frazee baseball.

�� Frazee Girls Track From 2 complement to Rue starring in distance races for the the Hornets.

Paige Ziegler and Jaryn Johannsen are expected to move into the top hurdles positions and McCamant’s spots will be replaced by committee.

Frazee also has two state experienced cross-country runners in Morgan and Megan Danielson.

Johannsen posted an early 300m hurdles victory for Frazee at the Barnesville

Early Bird, along with strong performances by eighth-grader Ellie Reierson in sprints.

Ziegler proved a multi-event threat on the track and in the field. Danielson claimed a runner-up 3,200m finish and the distance relay 4x800 team of Johannsen, Danielson, Shania Lehmann, and Morgan posted an early season victory.

i’m lovin’ it

®

try!

The 2017 Frazee girls track and field schedule: May 11 at Frazee 16 at Barnesville

Every day is a news day www.dl-online.com

BUSES WELCOME • CALL AHEAD FOR EVEN FASTER SERVICE • 218-847-3558 415 Frazee Street E. • Detroit Lakes, MN

001518958r1

The Frazee baseball team started the 2017 campaign winners of three of their first four games.

The only blemish coming in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel in the championship game of the Park Rapids tournament to the host Panthers.

Thomas Stenger has been the man on the hill picking up two of the three pitching victories for head coach Andy Mekalson in his fourth season as the Hornet skipper.

Jon Hoffmann has provided plenty of pop from the core of the batting lineup while Tanner Tappe has proven effective out of the bullpen.

The Hornets also return plenty of starting experience in outfielder Rory Drewes and Dalton Smith, along with infielders Logan Wacker and Nick Endersby.

Endersby was a backup catcher to graduated seniors Nate Nguyen and Gunnar Hilde last season.

Endersby has one of the three pitching victories joining Stenger in the rotation. Wacker was strong in the lone defeat allowing only one run in five innings of work. Pitching is a strength for Frazee with plenty of arms back with 2016 experience on the mound.

The top of the lineup has been Wacker at leadoff, followed

by Rory Drewes, Hoffmann and Tappe in the cleanup spot.

Smith, Hunter Suedel, Stenger, Endersby and Gabe Drewes have all provided offense from the bottom half of the batting order as well.

Frazee posted a 12-11 overall record last season and won their Section 8AA playoff opener in extra innings over Barnesville before being knocked out in consecutive losses to Breckenridge and Perham.

East Grand Forks came out of the 16-team section tournament and claimed state AA consolation honors defeating Paynesville and Proctor after an opening-round loss to No. 2-seeded and eventual Class AA state champions Minnehaha Academy.

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton ran the table winning all 12 Heart O’ Lakes Conference games to claim

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

5

Left: the Frazee softball TEam photo by Caufield Studios. Right: .The Hornets are a young team with holes to fill up the middle on defense and in the strenght of the batting order.....

Young Hornets looking to improve on 2016 numbers

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Matt Bauer takes over head coaching duties for the Frazee softball season inheriting a team that was 9-12 in 2016 and ended the season in the opening round of Section 8AA with a close 2-0 loss to Hawley.

Frazee graduated five seniors last year with two of them being pitchers and have holes to fill up the middle at at shortstop, second base, and centerfield.

“We are fortunate to have five seniors again this year with four of them with previous varsity experience,” said Bauer.

Team captains are senior Brittany Bachmann and junior Carly Mahoney. Kindra Bursheim, Audreana Fleisher, Chelsea Samuelson and Shauntel Johannes are the other four seniors.

Hornet pitching will be anchored by pair of freshman in Abby Wothe and Clara Scolley.

Junior Bailey Aho will also help fill in with some pitching duties this year.

Alexis Bauer has a strong bat and returns as the starting catcher. Bauer is only a freshman.

Bachmann gets the nod at first base. Aina Olson, a junior, with Annie Bachmann, a sophomore will also contribute at first base and as utility players.

Junior Grace Hilde will fill in at second base with Mahoney taking over at shortstop with another young face completing the infield in eighth-grader Dani Piche at the hot corner.

Samuelson will also be in the infield/utility and Shauntel Johannes will see some action in the infield.

Ana Fleisher, Shauntel Johannes, and Kindra Bursheim, all seniors, along with freshman Brenna Mahoney will be in the outfield.

“We are a young team and are looking to improve on our performance from last year,” said Bauer. “The focus is to keep improving each week and hit our stride come playoffs to make a deep run.”

Robert Williams

Frazee third baseman Carly Mahoney tags out Bagley’s McKinzie Halverson as she tries to advance to third base.

The 2017 Frazee softball schedule: April 27 at Breckenridge May 1 at Frazee 4 at Frazee

5 at Sebeka 9 at Hawley 12 at Frazee 15 at Lake Park-Audubon 18 at Frazee

QUALITY TOYOTA BEST OF LUCK TO ALL AREA BEST OF LUCK TO 1125 West Lincoln Avenue, ATHLETES FROM QUALITY TOYOTA, Fergus Falls, MN ALLYOUR AREA ATHLETES

218-998-1900 “Quality FROM QUALITY TOYOTA, YOUR 800-666-0952 Player of the Game”

“Qualitywww.qualitytoyota.net Player of the Game” SPONSOR!

SPONSOR!

001405407r1 001571248r1

SPRING SPORTS

6

April 26, 2017

Lakers look to buck trends in 2017

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Sometimes, numbers really do tell the story of a team and this season’s Laker baseball team has one statistic that would be nice to repeat and a few others better forgotten.

In 2016, Detroit Lakes went 8-0 against Mid-State opponents to capture the conference championship outright by three games over runners-up Pequot Lakes.

That’s the good news The bad news was the Lakers were 0-9 against Section 8AAA opponents and finished the season 1-9 in the final 10 games. DL’s lone victory over non-conference and non-section opponents was a 4-3 win at Perham early in the season.

The Lakers lost the last nine games in a row including a first round playoff loss to Bemidji 11-6 which preceded the knockout punch from Thief River Falls 14-4 in the elimination bracket. The Lakers finished the season with an overall record of 9-13, four of those losses coming to the Prowlers. DL faced Thief River Falls in three of the final four games of the season.

Home field advantage was a push with the Lakers going 5-5 at Washington Park and 4-8 on the road.

This year’s team looks for a fresh start under new management in the dugout with former head coach Steve Fuhs stepping

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes Baseball TEam — Row 1 (L to R): Jackson Haire, Ethan Schweigart, Kai McLeod, Jace Engelstad, Mason Blank, Zach Leeb, Tyler Myhre Row 2: Tristan Wimmer, Tucker Bergquist, Spencer Heimark, Lane Moe, Eli Brooks, Jacob Swiers, Jacob Bren, Ryan Soyring, Mike Hoban

back to an assistant role, while Mike Bommersbach moves up from an assistant role to the varsity helm.

DL will have new faces on the mound. Matt Haire and lefty Kavon Schumacher handled much of the duties on the hill last season.

Eli Brooks was the opening day starter while Jackson Haire pitched game two in a conference sweep to open play at Crosby-Ironton. Jacob Bren and Tristan Wimmer have been early

calls to the bullpen.

Pitching will see a new wrinkle in strategy this season with mandated pitch counts for all pitchers.

Varsity pitches a required one day of rest after pitching 31-50 pitches, two days after throwing 51-75 and three days rest after 76-105 pitches with 105 being the daily maximum pitches allowed.

Once the limit is reached a pitcher may finish pitching to that batter

One day of rest is required if a pitcher pitches two straight days. Days of rest are measured in calendar days, not 24 hour periods. If a player throws 55 pitches on Monday they are not able to pitch on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but could pitch again anytime on Thursday. Only pitches thrown to a batter count toward the pitch count.

The daily maximum is extended to 115 pitches once section playoffs begin.

Ethan Schweigart will handle duties behind the plate. He was a backup at catcher last season along with playing second base.

Mason Blank takes over at second base and will lead off for the Lakers.

Kai McLeod returns at shortstop as the only player back up the middle. Jacob Swiers will roam centerfield taking the place of Josh Bollig. Bollig signed to Laker Baseball to page 8 ��

DL softball building on 18-win season

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Laker girls softball team enters the 2017 season looking to build off a successful campaign last year after Detroit Lakes finished with an overall record of 18-5.

According to Head Coach Phil Kirchner, the team was disappointed they did not meet their goal of a trip to the state tournament after entering the section playoffs as the top seed.

Detroit Lakes finished third in Section 8AAA losing to Thief River Falls and the eventual state consolation team (5th place) Alexandria.

The Lakers have key spots up the middle to replace in the lineup. DL will miss the play of AllState shortstop Kyra Vagle, power hitting second baseman Hailey Sonstegard, and reliable starting pitcher Emma Maguire.

“Those girls will be hard to replace,” said Kirchner Last year’s Lakers followed up the spring varsity season with a successful summer where the

16U team captured second place at the State Class B tournament.

A trio of young but experienced starters will battle on the rubber for pitching duties in sophomores Madi Kirchner, Lauryn Manning, and Matteya Borah.

Junior Madi Anderson and freshman Jocelyn Patnaude may see some innings as well.

Kirchner and Manning did most of the pitching last summer.

“I am very confident they will get the job done,” Coach Kirchner said. “Throwing strikes, locating the pitch and understanding the game mentally are goals the pitchers must meet to be successful. Madi puts a lot of time in the off-season with her conditioning and appears to be ready to lead in the circle.”

Catching for the Lakers will be veteran captain Maycen Kirchner, a Concordia College commit. She has been a starter since ninth grade and is a leader on and off the field.

“It will be her job to calm, control and lead the young pitchers,” Laker Softball to page 10 ��

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes Softball TEam — Row 1 (L to R): Madi Anderson, Jocelyn Patnaude, Lauryn Manning, MacKenzie Braukmann, Alexis Ostlie, Rachael Perkins. Row 2: Sydney Prussia, Maycen Kirchner, Betty Schouviller, McKenna Krengel, Emily Schiltz. Row 3: Madilyn Kirchner, Josey Allen, Amber Lyman, Matteya Borah, Taylor Prussia. Not pictured: Brianna Clem

Good Luck to all Area Athletes!

Dr. Larry Morrison Optometrist

Dr. Michael Dr. Becky Morrison Vandeberg Optometrist

Optometrist

General Optometry • Contact Lenses Pediatrics • LASIK Consultant Diseases of the Eye

www.morrisoneyecare.com

1244 Washington Ave. • Detroit Lakes, MN • 218.847.2020 • 800.441.2020 Manitok Mall • Mahnomen, MN • 218.936.2020 • 800.696.2312 001520301r1

1155 Hwy. 10 East, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 | 218-847-2121 | 1-877-251-9348 www.facebook.com/holidayinonthelake | www.dlinn.com

001571171r1

1050 Hwy 59 South • Detroit Lakes • 847-9775 www.ddappliance.net

001347460r1

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

7

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes boys tennis TEam — Row 1 (L to R): Jackson Lawrence, Carson Froke, Parker Davis, Austin Miller, Christian Omdahl, Elijah Blow, Jordan Fields, Blake Skaaland.

Row 2: Garrett Knopf, Gabe Hanninen, Brodie Cariveau, Nick Ring, Caleb Splonskowski, Jacob Swanson, Alec Kulasingham, Braeden Wimmer, Jens Richards, Ben Roth, Nate Cihak. Row 3: John Gulon, Trey Seebold, Conner Froke, Austin Baker, Issac Eggebraaten, Sam Spry, Caden Smith, Tristan Knopf, Jake Hanson, Adam Daggett, Tanner Doppler, Connor Kalway

Depth a big team strength for Laker tennis

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Detroit Lakes looks to have a strong tennis team with a big roster full of talent from multisport athletes this spring.

“We are a deep team and we have a lot of guys who are fighting for playing time,” said head coach Tanner Beauchman.

The Lakers have two experienced seniors in Adam Daggett and Ben Roth, both solid performers in their other sports in DL. The junior class is the largest with six players in Austin Baker, Conner Froke, Isaac Howard, Jacob Hanson, Tanner Doppler and Tristan Knopf.

Ben Boomgarden, Isaac Eggebraaten and Garrett Knopf make up the sophomore class and potentially Trey Seebold, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered late in the hockey season.

Gabe Hanninen is the lone freshman and the hockey duo of Braeden Wimmer and Jens Richards have proven to be strong in doubles. Both players were recently selected for the CCM

high performance district hockey team, which could interrupt some of the tennis schedule.

Hanninen got the nod at No. 1 singles giving Beauchman the potential to have a top singles player leading the lineup for four seasons if Hanninen finds success early in his career.

Doppler, Garrett Knopf and Roth have made up the early season starting singles lineup.

In doubles, the team of Daggett and Baker started off in the top spot. Froke and Eggebraaten started in the two spot. Hanson and eighth-grader Kaden Smith began the season in the three-spot and won the third flight championship to open the year at the Park Rapids tournament.

DL suffered a close first round loss in the Section 8A team tournament last season 4-3 to East Grand Forks. The Green Wave swept all four singles matches, while DL answered by taking all three doubles matches.

Seebold, Hanninen and Daggett were spread out on each of the three pairings at sections, while Baker, Froke, Knopf and Doppler all return with a taste of singles action in the postseason.

Hanninen teamed up with graduated senior Jon Richards and posted a first round doubles victory in the individual portion of the section tournament.

Seebold suffered a first round singles loss while Daggett and teammate Anthony Boehm were eliminated in first round doubles.

The Lakers have an evenly split schedule this season with seven matches at home and seven on the road.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes boys tennis schedule: April 27 at Park Rapids May 2 at Detroit Lakes 4 at Detroit Lakes 5 at Moorhead 9 at Bemidji 11 at Detroit Lakes 13 at Detroit Lakes 16 at Detroit Lakes 19 at Alexandria

Robert Williams

Conner Froke is one of six juniors returning for the Lakers with experience from last season.

“For Your Family’s Comfort” Visit Your KOHLER® Registered Showroom

18550 Highway 59 North - Detroit Lakes, MN Green’s 218-847-7542 Modern 218-847-7459 nick@gpmh.biz www.modernheatingandplumbing.com 001565460r1

001406725r1

SPRING SPORTS

8

Big guns returning for Laker trap team

The Detroit Lakes trapshooting team is coming off an 11th place finish at the Class 4A trapshooting championship in Alexandria last June.

Ricky Borash returns as the team high gun shooter at the championship. He also qualified for the Minnesota State High School league tournament.

Borash led the team with a score of 95 finishing in a tie for 10th place and was named to the all-state team, which is awarded to the top 100 shooting averages in the state.

He held the top DL season average of 23.30/25 in Class 4A Conference 2.

Other top performers from last year returning in 2017 are Dillon Oien (T-91st), Cade Ramsey, Jacob Teiken, and Alex Willette (T-103rd).

All four finished in the top half of a field of 292 shooters.

The Lakers placed 11th out of 27 teams in Class 4A with a team score of 447.

Detroit Lakes finished a wireto-wire run in the regular season to place atop the conference with 26,759.5 total points. Bloomington Jefferson was a distant second place finisher with 19,953.

DL has been near the top the past two seasons in conference competition after finishing second in Class 2A, Conference 1 to Worthington in the 2015 season.

Conference designation is done prior to week one competition and organized by team size – not geography or school size. By using team size, competition is fair using the League’s True Team® scoring method.

The 2017 Lakers have 35 shooters on the roster.

This year’s team will also get a taste of Mid-State regional competition as Wadena-Deer Creek has joined the Knob Hill Sportsman’s

club in hosting the first Mid-State Conference Clay Target Championship May 17 at the Knob Hill shooting facility.

The 10 a.m. event will include Staples-Motley, Pequot Lakes, Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes and Crosby-Ironton. The five conference teams will compete against one another on the varsity and junior varsity levels.

Head Coach Perry Nodsle returns to lead the team along with Assistant Coach Shawn King.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes trapshooting conference assignment: Class 4A Conference 2 Bloomington Jefferson High School Cleveland High School Detroit Lakes High School Heritage Christian Academy Kasson-Mantorville High School Sibley East High School St. Charles High School Warroad High School

Three state returners lead Adapted Bowling team

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Class AAA state baseball rankings 1. Henry Sibley 2. Northfield 3. Mahtomedi 4. Little Falls 5. New Ulm 6. Marshall 7. Benilde-St. Margaret’s 8. Winona 9. Delano 10. Rocori 11. Mankato West 12. Waconia 13. Fridley 14. St. Cloud Tech 15. Bemidji 16. South St. Paul 17. Chisago Lakes Area 18. Hibbing 19. Faribault 20. Worthington Also receiving votes: Albany, Hutchinson, Sartell-St. Stephen, Albert Lea, Alexandria, Kasson-Mantorville, Mankato East, St. Thomas Academy, Detroit Lakes, Red Wing, North Branch, St. Anthony Village, Orono, Austin, Willmar, Holy Angels, Jordan

Robert Williams

the Detroit Lakes Adapted Bowling TEam: (Left to Right) Clay King, Matthew Branch, Stephine Lemon, and Darby Johnson

Kristine M. Riewer, DDS Donald L. Steinmetz, DDS Ryan R. Manke, DDS

701 Hwy 10 E Detroit Lakes, MN (218) 847-9214 "New Patients Welcome" 001360889r1

is currently working with the DCD/ SP population at the high school.

“I work with students in 9th grade through age 21,” she said. “This is my first year coaching the adaptive bowling team and I am excited to be coaching some awesome kids this year.”

We ProvideGLakers!

Come watch Peace of Mind! your favorite O

R T RY O U NEW A N go team on our IC The place to LIMERER! S 75" BIG OLResidential R E G R U B G r fo BU R

is your Vikings, Bison & Wild game headquarters!

FOOD AND

DRINK S Commercial & GRINDER SCREEN SPECIALS New Construction BLEACHERS...Your LAKER Sports Bar & Grill! during the Service •&25807 Installation games!

218-844-6820 Cty Hwy 22 • Detroit Lakes South the General Store & Just of WE Fest on Cty Hwy 22 Find us on 24ofHour Service - 7 North Days a Week Guaranteed Satisfaction

Main Street Restaurant Monday-Friday 7am to 4:45pm Saturday 7-3:45 • Sunday 8am to 1:45pm 900 Washington Ave. Detroit Lakes • 847-3344

Plumbing • Heating • Air Conditioning Plumbing - Heating - Air Conditioning Fireplaces • Water Treatment • 24 Hour Service

Water Treatment - Duct Cleaning - Fireplaces

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Detroit Lakes Full Service Contractor

847-1309

1034 Hwy. 59 S. • Detroit Lakes • 218-847-1309 NEVER AN OVERTIME CHARGE! Come visit our showroom at 1034 Hwy 59 South, Detroit Lakes

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

NEVER AN OVERTIME CHARGE!

001571252r1

The 2017 Detroit Lakes baseball schedule: April 27 at Perham May 4 at Detroit Lakes 9 at Staples-Motley 12 at Detroit Lakes 18 at Detroit Lakes 19 at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 23 at Detroit Lakes 25 at Detroit Lakes

BLEACHERS

001518978r1

School District, but not new to teaching.

She brings 11 years of teaching experience ranging from preschool through age 21 with majority of that time spent working in an urban school district in Kansas City. Flynn

001410267r1

The Detroit Lakes Adapted Bowling team will have plenty of new faces participating and a new coach in Lisa Flynn this season.

“Yes, we lost a lot of experienced bowlers,” Flynn said. “Hope to get the program built back up next year.”

The 2016 team featured a strong group of seniors that sent eight bowlers to the state tournament. Of those eight, three bowlers do return to this year’s team in junior Clay King, and sophomores Matthew Branch, and Darby Johnson along with newcomer Stephine Lemon.

In state CI team competition, King and Johnson placed 20th in the state with a score of 1,528 total pins, with former teammates Derek Hanson and Nick Ohm. Branch teamed up with Hanson to roll a score of 806 to finish 21st in CI doubles.

Flynn is new to the Detroit Lakes

play baseball at the University of MinnesotaCrookston after graduation.

Tyler Myhre and Tucker Bergquist have gotten early season starts in left and right field, respectively.

Haire will be at first base when not pitching and sophomore Sully Wood has earned the starting nod at third base.

Wimmer has been the big bat at cleanup playing mostly a designated hitter role. He will backup Wood at third. Wimmer homered twice at Crosby-Ironton in a big five-hit performance to get year started hot at the plate.

In Section 8AAA, Little Falls ran the table winning all nine regular season section games.

The Flyers swept four games, including back-toback victories over Bemidji to clinch the section championship. Little Falls advanced to the state semifinals and captured third place defeating Benilde-St. Margaret’s 3-2 in consolation play.

Henry Sibley defeated Mahtomedi for the Class AAA state championship.

The Lakers’ home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, a doubleheader against Pequot Lakes. DL did receive votes in the first state rankings of the season.

001409887r1

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

�� Laker Baseball From 6

Full Breakfast, Lunch, Homemade Pies & Desserts

001309791r2

By ROBERT WILLIAMS

April 26, 2017

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

9

Laker golf defending section champions

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Detroit Lakes boys golf team returns all but one golfer in the starting lineup and added competition from underclassmen after the 2016 team made a return trip to the state tournament.

The Lakers captured the Section 8AA championship in Bemidji for the first time since 2013 after dispatching defending section champions Crookston by seven strokes.

DL had the two top individual performances at sections by first round leader Isaac Cihak and section champion Aaron Schnathorst.

Schnathorst was fifth on the DL depth chart at sections but shot a 73 after opening with a 79 to defeat Cihak by one stroke. Cihak carded consistent rounds of 76 and 77.

Ben Unruh and Ryan Paskey struggled on day one but made up strokes in crunch time on day two to help the Lakers secure the title.

Detroit Lakes’ last appearance at state was a runner-up finish in 2013 to Staples-Motley. The Laker program has made 10 state appearances with three championships in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

The boys rounds at last year’s state meet in Jordan were severely weather-impacted after rain delays in the afternoon interrupted play on day one and

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes Boys Golf TEam — Row 1 (L toR): Hunter Burnside, Riley Johnson-Nason, Ryan Paskey, Wyatt Blomseth, Collin Ginnaty, Logan Burhans. Row 2: Jackson Carlblom, Tyler Burnside, Ryan Genz, Jacob Walther, Ben Unruh

forced players to awaken at the crack of dawn to finish play before waiting around to hit their originally-scheduled second rounds.

The Lakers finished the first round in fifth place 17 strokes behind The Blake School.

The standings remained the same after a late finish on day two. Blake won the title with a score of 589, followed by Holy Family 604, Minnewaska and Hermantown with 614 and the

Lakers scoring 620, ahead of Rochester Lourdes 652 and Albert Lea 666.

Paskey recorded DL’s best individual finish in 12th place, followed by Schnathorst and Wyatt Blomseth in a tie for 28th place.

Cihak and Unruh placed 45th and 50th, respectively, in a field of 88 golfers.

“For the first time down here, a young team, they should realize they’re as good as anybody down here and we can come down and

be under 300 next year,” DL head coach Bob Gorden said after the state awards ceremony.

DL got the 2017 season started how they would prefer with a home victory at Lakeview defeating Crookston by three strokes in an early rematch of section leaders.

Blomseth paced the Lakers with a two-over 66 to earn medalist honors.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes boys golf schedule: April 26 at Alexandria 28 at Eden Prairie May 5 at Fargo North 8 at Bemidji Invite 9 at Nelson Invite 12 at Detroit Lakes 15 at Mid-State Championship 19 at Detroit Lakes 20 at Detroit Lakes 23 at Detroit Lakes

Wishing All Laker Teams a Great Season!

1244 Hawk Street • Detroit Lakes, MN 218-847-4034 Laser Cutting • Press Brakes Machining • Turret Punching Plasma Cutting • Powder Coating Painting • Sand Blasting • Welding 001528959r2

Together they practice

903 Washington Avenue Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-847-4858 www.pemlaw.com

Sam Rufer

Dynamic Homes is an Energy Star Partner 525 Roosevelt Avenue • Detroit Lakes, MN

Charlie Seuntjens

001571363r1

• Estate Planning • Real Estate Law • Civil Litigation • Personal Injury • Business Formation • Family Law

1-800-492-4833

www.dynamichomes.com 001571393r1

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

New challenge for defending state champions

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Detroit Lakes girls golf team will defend their state championship and be without team leader Kate Smith for the first time in six seasons.

Smith’s legacy will linger over the team but be buffered by her parents Kris and Margery taking over the head and assistant coaching duties. Assistant coach Robin Hutchinson also returns from last year’s team.

The entire state team, minus Smith, returns in senior and University of North Dakota golf commit Abby Schramel, juniors Madison Herzog and Lauren Tschider, along with freshmen Shelby Busker and Anna Cihak.

A number of younger golfers will vie for spots on the starting varsity squad.

Eighth-grader McKenna Burhans and seventh-grader McKenna Mallow were two new names who qualified for the seasonopening varsity team at Becker in early April.

Last year’s team captured a seventhconsecutive Section 8AA team championship. Schramel led the way in fourth place behind Smith’s second consecutive individual title. Busker (T-8th) and Herzog (T-8th) and Tschider (10th) all had top 10 finishes. Cihak was 26th in her section

�� Laker Softball From 6 Coach Kirchner said. “Macy is the field general.”

Kirchner has displayed excellent defensive skills throwing out more than 60 percent of the attempted base runners trying to steal over the past two seasons.

“I can count on Macy to lead the team defensively, she is very smart and knows the game,” Kirchner said.

Manning will be in the backup role behind the dish, along with freshman Josey Allen.

Another college commit will guard first base in future University of Jamestown Jimmie and quad-captain Sydney Prussia.

Prussia has a big bat and has led the team in home runs the last two years.

“Sydney knows her job: have good at-bats and hit the ball hard,” Kirchner said. “The home runs will take care of themselves.”

Backing up Prussia at first will be sophomore Brianna Clem and freshman Laura Prussia.

Second base is wide open with Anderson and Manning competing for the spot.

Both girls had extensive playing time there in the summer.

Senior Betty Schouviller takes over at shortstop after an impressive defensive showing in centerfield in 2016.

“Betty make the plays wherever she plays and is very consistent,” said Kirchner. “She is very coachable.”

Four-year starter and quad-captain Emily Schiltz returns at third base. Emily was honorable mention all-conference the past two years and brings leadership to the team at the hot corner.

“I can rely on her defensively, offensively, and as a team leader,” said Kirchner. “Emily brings everything a softball coach wants on and off the field. Emily hits for power and for average and is very consistent at third.”

Schiltz and Maycen Kirchner have

debut.

Smith drained a dramatic must-make par putt on 18 in Jordan to capture her state record-setting fifth individual state championship a week later. Detroit Lakes defeated Lake City by 11 strokes to seal the program’s fifth team state championship.

Four of those titles were won under the tutelage of Head Coach Cali Harrier who retired after the season.

Schramel continued to pace the team behind Smith setting up as the leader in 2017. Schramel was strong both days at state making the podium in a sixth place tied with Ally Tiedeman of Crookston.

Herzog just missed the top 10 in 12th place. Tschider and Busker were 38th and 42nd, respectively, and Cihak placed 59th in the field of 88 golfers.

The Laker schedule is a bit more regional this season after last year’s team made a number of trips to the metro to face top teams in the state. The trips down south were part of Harrier’s plan to get the team in a mental state against the best competition for a tough grind with such high expectations hanging over the heads of the 2016 Lakers.

This year’s team will have less stress in Smith’s absence but will certainly have targets on their backs at every meet as already been selected to the 2017 Academic All-State team.

In the outfield, Rachael Perkins returns to start in left and will see some time at short. She will be backed up in left by Alexis Ostlie.

Quad-captain Mackenzie Braukmann takes over for Schouviller in centerfield.

“Braukmann stepped up her game last year and in the summer and became an important piece to this team,” said Kirchner. “She hits for power, average, and is excellent in the outfield. More importantly, she is the constant communicator and leader for the outfielders. Mackenzie is the ultimate team player and will do anything for her team.”

Right field is currently open with senior Mckenna Krengel or junior Amber Lymann slated to get the start.

In 2016, Park Rapids won the MidState Conference title going 7-1, followed

by Pequot Lakes 6-2 and DL at 5-3. The same three should compete for the top spot again with Staples-Motley and Crosby-Ironton in the race as well.

Defending champions Alexandria, along with Sartell-St. Stephen and Thief River Falls will likely be in the mix with the Lakers in Section 8AAA. The Lakes have 13 home games this season beginning Tuesday, April 18 against Crosby-Ironton.

Coach Kirchner will be assisted by Tom Vagle, Aimee Truedson, Katelyn Englund, and Jessica Pudwill.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes softball schedule: April 28 vs Sartell/Little Falls/TRF 11 a.m.

May 2 vs Perham 4 p.m.(DH) 4 @ Park Rapids 4 p.m. (DH) 9 vs Staples 4 p.m. (DH) 11 @ Alexandria 5 p.m.

19 vs Moorhead 5 p.m. (DH)

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes Girls Golf TEam — (Left to right) Abby Schramel, Maddie Herzog, Shelby Busker, Lauren Tschider. Not pictured: Anna Cihak

teams vie for supremacy in fields that have been Laker-dominated from conference meets to the section championship.

DL will continue two trips to the metro at the TPC of the Twin Cities in Irondale April 17 and Jordan, the site of the state meet at Ridges at Sand Creek a week later, so there is not a huge change in schedule strategy.

Fans of the team will need to be road warriors to watch the Lakers this season as every meet until the Lakers’ home invitational on May 23 will be on the road.

The Lakers will be in the area at Park Rapids April 24 and May 15, along with a meet in Wadena May 4.

DL opened the season with a big 36-stroke victory in Becker at the Bulldog Invitational. Herzog led the way with a meet victory shooting a strong round of 72. The Lakers posted the victory without Tschider, who was out of state to begin the season.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes girls golf schedule: April 26 at Alexandria 28 at Bemidji May 4 at Wadena-Deer Creek 9 at Moorhead 11 at St. Cloud 13 at Staples-Motley 23 at Detroit Lakes 25 at Detroit Lakes

detroit lakes newspapers

Good L uck To All t he Athlete s!

We are the ONE STOP for all your needs.

Cenex Community Coops 14583 Highway 10 West • Lake Park, MN 56554 • 218-238-5911 911 Hwy. 34 E • Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 • 218-847-3190

001406728r1

10

f ot Stuf A&W, H d f’real Pizza an

NOW E BL AVAILA ark! in Lake

P

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

11

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes Girls Track TEam — Row 1 (L to R): Ava Geffre, Hailey Blonigan, Kendra Kvebak, Lydia Gag, Clara Livermore, Johanna Jernberg, Leah Chavez, Liz Kvebak, Abbi Smith, Taylor Tucker, Grace Lawrence, Sidney Lundberg. Row 2: Hope Weidemann, Elise Lakin, Zoe Allen, Sydney Goldstein, Cortney Brodsho, Lyla Hansen, Ashley Kolenda, Mary Nelmark, Grace Van Offelen, Josie Harrier, Peyton Jernberg, Brina Smith, Cora Okeson, Karrigan Hallisey, Whitney Schons, Madison Bowers. Row 3: Ava Steinmetz, Kennedy Hegg, Katie McConkey, Maren Daggett, Liberty Oche-Niewind, Emily Skjonsberg, Amber Haarstick, Tosha Noel, Kaitlyn Cameron, Natalie Nelmark, Kenzie Ostlie, Skylar DeBoer, Casey Goltz, Hanna Howard, Erin Milligan, Anneka Lindstrom, Emma Disse, Livi Hanninen, Anna Payne, Sarah Tangen. Row 4: Nicole Swanson, Cara Seaberg, Riley Chase, Chelsy Johnson, Hope Hansen, Lizzie Johnson, Ellen Teiken, Josie Retz, Dannah Nephew, Heather Kunkel, Haidyn Gunderson, Casey Jenson, Sydney Goltz, Emily Larson, Katrina Okeson, Carly Fritz, Emma Fegely, Brooke Tulius, Gabby Fredrickson

Price lone state competitor returning for DL girls

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Getting out of Section 8AA and advancing to the state track and field championships is no small task and the Lakers girls track team looks to have at least one entrant signed up for a few more years after Breanna Price advanced to state as a freshman in the discus throw.

Price was seeded sixth in her flight of eight throwers entering with a qualifying distance of 132-08, but placed eighth in her preliminary discus flight with a throw of 113-10.

Price made her state debut, but also returns as the thrower to beat as the defending section champion.

Jackson Hegg is another young name who made a push to the section podium last year placing sixth as an eighth-grader in the 300m hurdles after being

seeded ninth.

Hegg also brings the calm of being able to handle pressure from her state tournament appearances with the three-time state champion DL gymnastics team.

Two other gymnasts, senior Leah Chavez and junior Emma Disse, return with the sisterly duo of Naomi (senior) and sophomore Emily Larson in relays. The foursome placed eighth at sections last year in the 4x100m race.

Another young face sure to be in the news for some time is eighth-grader Gabby Fredrickson. Fredrickson has multiple wins early this season in the high jump after coming on strong last year.

Senior Dannah Nephew has joined up with Price to be a strong one-two punch in throws for the Laker girls. Nephew has set personal bests in both discus and shot put early in the

season and has multiple top five finishes already, including a discus victory in Fergus Falls in place of Price at a meet held during spring break.

The Laker jumpers have gotten decent returns from four different competitors in sophomores Karrigan Hallisey, Peyton Jernberg and Teeya Doppler, along with senior Josie Harrier.

Jernberg and Hegg have also used their gymnastics experience in the pole vault.

Emily Larson has been the early season leader in sprints and was joined by Hegg and Disse last season in short distance.

The main focus of the team, according to Head Coach Mike Labine, is getting up to speed for the section True Team meet in May. DL was denied a trip to state True Team last year by Perham after winning four in a row from 2011-2015.

The Lakers have two home meets in the same week this season. DL hosts the Fredrickson Invitational May 4 at 3 p.m. and Section True Team at noon on Tuesday, May 9.

The MSHSL Section 8AA prelims will be held at Moorhead High School Wednesday, May 31. The finals will take place at Sauk Rapids-Rice high school Saturday, June 3.

The 2017 Detroit Lakes girls track schedule: April 28 at Lake Park May 4 at Detroit Lakes 9 at Detroit Lakes 11 at Frazee 16 at Staples-Motley

Robert Williams

Emily Larson is one of the Lakers’ versatile performers on a team looking to get back to state True Team .

DAIRY QUEEN

“Let’s All Go To The Dairy Queen” Add your own message by selecting: Dealer Messaging

001236977r2

Detroit Lakes • 847-9292Add/Upload your dealerships JPG 800-908-BANK (2265) • Bremer.com logo by Member FDIC selecting: Logo

900 MCKINLEY AVENUE • DETROIT LAKES

Layer

AIL SALES

DL 3.458x.1.5.indd 1

Edit/Change your dealership information by selecting: Dealer Name

4/7/14 11:14 AM

24360 Cty. Rd. 113, Detroit Lakes (6 Miles North on Richwood Road, Then 1 1/2 Miles East on #32 Then 1 1/2 Miles North On #113)

001410173r1

Polaris Sales, Parts &Service OPEN MON-FRI 8:30-5:30 • SAT 8:30-1:00 847-9304 or 847-3997

847-8154

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

001571174r1

Ph: 218-847-0472

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

GOOD LUCK TEAMS!

705 Hwy 10 E Detroit Lakes

Hours of Operation: Mon.-Sat.: 6am-9pm Sunday: 7am-9pm

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

001350661r1

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

001352545r1

AY FOR OFFERS AND SERVICE.

www.mmcdc.com • 218-847-3191

001351383r1

SPRING SPORTS

12

April 26, 2017

Meagan Pittelko

the Detroit Lakes boys track TEam — (Front to back, left to right) Floor: Carson Tunheim, Tristen Rader. Row 1: Durgan Whitaker, Cameron Erb, Reed Reller, Ben Nordmark, Elliot Musielewicz, Max Staley, Brady Labine, Reece Skarie, Jack Richards, Preston LaDue, Tucker Strawsell. Row 2: Avery Wolz, Connor Haugrud, Jesse Livermore, Aaron Johnson, Tanner Olson, Brock Harrier, Quinn Bakken, Garrett Bakken, Matthew Jutz, Kole Metelak, Will Green, Dylan Coalwell, Jordan Ryan, Jayden Geerdes, Jacob Trout, Jordan Weets. Row 3: Van Gallatin, Cody Ulschmid, Jay Nielsen, Nathan Johnson, Caleb Tangen, Alex Beckman, Keith Swenson, Chase Davidson, Jon Hausten, Braedon Davidson, Isaiah Thompson, Logan Bunnis, Thomas Krabbe, Ben Heimark, Sam Fegely, Austin Gedrose, Isak Gloege, Joshua Brahmer, Zane Freeman, Trey Greer. Row 4: Zach Brandt, Jaeger Gulseth, Grant Fritch-Gallatin, T Hazen, Peyton Nordby, Connor Bunn, Blade Schwartz, Brady Fischer, Tyler Wirtz, Elijah Kitzmann, Zach Buboltz

Laker boys defending True Team section champs

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Laker boys enter the 2017 season winners of two consecutive Section 8AA team championships showcasing a team made up of depth spread throughout the lineup, which is key to winning at the True Team level.

Detroit Lakes placed sixth at State True Team last year seven points behind fifth place Totino Grace. The Lakers outscored Perham by 50 points to advance. The finish is up three spots from a ninth place finish at state in 2015.

Brady Labine had key finishes sweeping the 200m and 400m races, along with a third place pole vault finish. Labine is the school record holder in the 400, a memorable record he set last season at the Craig Fredrickson Invitational. Fredrickson was the former record holder.

Zane Freeman has been competitive in pole vault as well coming off a podium finish at state diving to cap his senior winter season.

The Lakers have plenty of depth in distance racing with cross-country performers Aaron Johnson, Zach Buboltz and Connor Haugrud, among others.

Johnson is trying to advance to a state meet in all three seasons in one calendar school year after placing 48th at the Class AA state cross country championships and 77th in the state Nordic Ski championships.

Haugrud has committed to run distance for the Cobbers in Moorhead next season. He has posted 800m victories, while Johnson has proven to be the Lakers’ best

threat so far in the 1,600m and both runners definitely have the endurance for the 3,200m run if needed.

Johnson, a MSUM commit, was top five at state True Team in both races.

DL also has a host of successful throwers led by Jay Nielsen in discus and Ben Nordmark in shot put.

Nielsen has already improved his personal best and has posted multiple wins during April. Nordmark has been near the top of shot put finals, with Nielsen in tow.

Carson Tunheim will also be in the mix.

Cody UIschmid has been the Laker leader in jumps. He posted an 11th place mark at state True Team last season and has top five finishes in both long jump and triple jump so far in April.

The Lakers have two home meets in the same week this season. DL hosts the Fredrickson Invitational May 4 at 3 p.m. and Section True Team at noon on Tuesday, May 9.

The MSHSL Section 8AA prelims will be held at Moorhead High School Wednesday, May 31. The finals will take place at Sauk Rapids-Rice high school Saturday, June 3.

Make the switch to Amerigas • World-class safety • Competitive prices • Guaranteed price programs • Automatic delivery • 24-hour emergency service • Visa/MasterCard accepted • Online and automatic payments • Dedicated, experienced & knowledgeable staff

RELIABLE, SAFE, RESPONSIVE 1602 Dan Street, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

218-847-1133 • 1-888-757-1133 The most reliable, the safest and the most responsive propane company.

24 hour Customer Care and Payment Plans Available

Robert Williams

Ben Nordmark is one of a number of Lakers strong in throws with teammates Jay Nielsen and Carson Tunheim.

Education Educationmatters. matters.

Congrats Congrats PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIPPROGRAM PROGRAM athletes! detroit lakes newspapers

If you’re an Internet customer andand signsign up,up, If you’re an Internet customer ® ® donate $1.00 each month to Arvig will Arvig will donate $1.00 each month to thethe local school of your choice. local school of your choice.

athletes!

Choose a school online at at Choose a school online arvig.net/supportyourschool. arvig.net/supportyourschool.

888.99.ARVIG | arvig.com 888.99.ARVIG | arvig.com

The 2017 Detroit Lakes boys track schedule: April 28 at Spring Lake Park May 4 at Detroit Lakes 9 at Detroit Lakes 11 at Frazee 16 at Staples-Motley

001571298r1

001518960r1

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

13

LP-A boys golf has plenty of room for growth

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Kyle Haberman and Brian Robertson head up coaching duties for the Lake Park-Audubon boys golf team.

The Raiders will field an inexperienced team behind one returning starter in sophomore Tyler Svare.

LP-A’s lack of experienced players leaves team goals rather simple for the 2017 season in getting guys to compete at the varsity level, according to Haberman.

“We will be very young and inexperienced which will allow for any of our ninth through 12th-grade players to get to varsity meets,” he said.

The Raiders lost Clay Anderson to graduation last season. Anderson qualified for state in 2014-15 along with teammate Chase Wiedemann. Wiedemann was 35th overall; Anderson placed 39th in 2015.

Neither Lake Park or Audubon has made a state team appearance in boys golf, nor has the co-op of LP-A. Anderson posted top 10 finishes in

the Lake Park-Audubon Boys golf TEam photo by Caufield Studios

a tough section dominated recently by Mahnomen/Waubun.

Mahnomen/Waubun finished in second place by 11 strokes behind state champions Mounds Park Academy. Mahnomen/ Waubun was led by senior state champion Blake Kalhbaugh who won the individual title by 11 strokes.

Kahlbaugh was the co-op’s first state golf champion.

Mahnomen/Waubun returns four starters in juniors Lucas Clark-Burnette and Brady Liebl, along with sophomores Jaycee Clark and Jon Starkey.

The 2017 Lake Park-Audubon boys golf schedule: April 4 at Ada Borup 28 at Park Christian May 2 at Fosston 8 at Bemidji 10 at Red Lake Falls 11 at Win-E-Mac 15 at Bemidji 18 at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley

Raiders girls golf made up of seniors and youngsters The Lake Park-Audubon girls golf team starts the year with a decent-sized roster of 15 golfers for head coach Marge Beaudine.

The Raiders got a boost in participation last season with a dozen golfers entering the younger ranks and will be seeing the benefits of those golfers over the next few seasons.

Beaudine brings plenty of experience herself, now in her 16th season of coaching.

Seniors Molly Dinkelman and Elise Whitehead return as multiyear starters and team leaders.

Fellow senior Erin Grabinger

RECYCLE!

For a complete list of recyclable items visit www.minnkota.biz or contact MinnKota Recycling

512 Highway 59 N Detroit Lakes Tel: 218.847.4790 HOURS: MON-FRI 9am-5pm Sat 8am-noon Information provided by

DL Newspapers

Together we can make a difference!

made the move from junior varsity last season to grab the third starting position on the team.

Elsa Larson is the fourth senior on this year’s squad.

Behind the four upperclassmen is the group of youngsters.

LP-A has no juniors on the team and only one sophomore in Melissa Asplin.

The core group of up-andcomers consists of eight freshmen: Bella Wollenberg, Hailey Milletto, Haylee Hovanec, Kay Pederson, Kylie Stevens, Morgan Krueger, Morgan Nelson and Payten Braseth.

The Raiders also have two rostered eighth-graders in Bethaney Vareberg and Katherine Pickett.

the Lake Park-Audubon Girls golf TEam photo by Caufield Studios

Lake Park-Audubon will compete in Section 6A for a second consecutive season. Park Christian won the section title last season and placed sixth at the state meet in Becker.

The 2017 Lake Park-Audubon girls golf schedule: April 27 at Win-E-Mac H.S. May 3 at Mahnomen-Waubun

8 at Park Christian 8 at Lake Park-Audubon 15 at Bagley

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

GOLF COURSE County Road 6, Lake Park, MN 218-532-7447 Mountainous golf 1 mile NW of Big Cormorant Lake

For peace of mind…

W agner

First Hawley Agency

Insurance Agency

W agner

Life • Health • Home • Auto • Commercial • Crop • Farm 1018 Hobart St. • PO Box 579 710 South Ten Dr. • PO Box 256 Hawley, MN 56549 Lake Park, MN 56554 Insurance Agency Ph. (218) 483-3526 Ph. (218) 238-5696 firsthawleyagency@arvig.net wagneria123@yahoo.com 001393619r1

First Hawley Agency

BAIT • TACKLE ARCHERY PRO SHOP • FIREARMS

See our website at www.thelakeplace.biz

001571162r1

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

001236988r2

By ROBERT WILLIAMS

SPRING SPORTS

14

April 26, 2017

the Lake Park-Audubon Track TEams photo by Caufield Studios

Raider girls track looking to gain experience

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

The Lake Park-Audubon girls track team return seven experienced team members in head coach Coral Lunde’s 22nd year in coaching.

Alexis Gehrig, Brianne Huesman, Rachel Grande, Chloe Leno, Mackenzie Ehlers, Ava Hemze, and Shayla Hendricks all return looking to make a mark in conference action.

Gehrig, Huesman and Grande will serve as the team’s tri-captains.

Gehrig is the only senior on the Raiders’ squad this season and will be key in scoring in shot put.

Huesman and Grande, both juniors will run sprints and relays.

Ehlers, a sophomore, will also be back running sprints.

“We are going to be a young and inexperienced team,” said Lunde. “The goal this year is to work on individual strengths and events and advance to the section meet.”

Sprints and middle distance events will be strengths for the young Raiders.

Lunde is looking to younger runners to fill in the distance spots. LP-A ‘ost Lilly Ness and Hannah Strom, both distance runners, to graduation.

One not-so-secret weapon in distance will be seventh-grader Lily Peterson. Peterson snapped an 11-year drought for the cross-country program in making her debut at the state meet this year. She placed 125th in a field of 176 runners at St. Olaf in November.

Peterson backed up her fall performance by winning the 1,600m run in her varsity debut at the Barnesville Early Bird

and posted the fifth fastest 1,600m time for any seventh-grader in the state.

Other Raider contributors will be: junior Shayla Hendricks in the long jump; sophomore Grace Bowers running the 100m, 200m and the 4x100 or 4x200m relays; sophomores Allison Rohweller and Angelica Ballard are new to track but will be helping out in shot put, discus and sprints; freshmen Kay Peterson, and Mia Gehrig will run 100m, 200m and the 4x100 or 4x200m relays, along with fellow freshmen Hailey Frohman, Sydney Porter.

Talented staff leading young Raider boys team

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Lake Park-Audubon cross country coach Laura Januszewski takes over the Raiders boys’ track team and adds to a talented staff with assistant and former NDSU track star Ashley Tingelstad as an assistant and Dan Sederquist, who ran for MSUM Dragon track and cross country.

Januszewski ran track and field and cross country at NDSU and also ran the 800m semi-professionally for three years.

She placed 10th at the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 800m and was a 2012 Olympic Trials participant in the 800 as well.

Tingelstad was a second-team AllAmerican for the Bison at the NCAA Indoors and Outdoors championships giving Raider runners plenty of experience to draw from this season.

Januszewski has been the business teacher at the high school for the past four years and made the jump to coaching varsity after three years in the junior high program at LP-A. The Raiders begin the season with 11 athletes on the roster with only one

senior, captain Will James III. LP-A participation numbers are up from last year when the team started the season with seven runners.

James finished last season with a personal best triple jump of 38-9.5 at the Section 8A meet in Warren to place eighth overall.

Joining James as team leaders will be Jack Osborne, Sanden O’Connell, and Bailey Johnson. “(They) have the most experience in this young squad,” Januszewski said. “Will and Jack will lead the sprints while Sanden and Bailey will lead the distance crew.”

The sophomore trio of O’Connell, Johnson and Will Hannesson made up three-quarters of the 2016 Pine to Prairie 4x800m conference champion relay team.

With graduated teammate Patrick Cameron, the team knocked six seconds of their best time of the season to finish in 9:36.08.

Working hard and pushing for personal bests are the early season goals for the young Raiders squad.

Osborne is the only junior on the team as the remainder of the squad consists of six sophomores and three freshmen.

Up to 3400 Gallon Capacity

3 Trucks To Serve You

file photo

Will James III is the lone senior and captin of this year’s Raiders’ team.

STATE BANK OF LAKE PARK YOUR HOMETOWN BANK Serving the area since 1926

TIM SMITH

Owner-Operator

LICENSED • INSURED • BONDED

218.532.2516

Cormorant DEWEY’S SEPTIC SERVICE Year-Around Pumping • Farm • Residential • Commercial • Lift Pump Replacement • Portable Restroom Rental & Service • Sewer Line Jetting & Thawing • Sewer Line Camera Inspection

001351627r1

@dlakessports

The 2017 Lake Park-Audubon track schedule: April 27 vs. Hawley/Ulen-Hitterdal at TBA May 2 vs. Hawley/Ulen-Hitterdal at TBA 4 vs. Pelican Rapids at TBA 11 vs. Ada Borup at TBA 18 vs. Ada Borup at TBA

Lake Park Office: 238-5955 • 1-888-228-1381 Hitterdal Office: 962-3246

A FULL SERVICE BANK 001393606r1

SPRING SPORTS

April 26, 2017

Senior leadership key to Raider baseball success

By ROBERT WILLIAMS rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Mike Baune enters his second season as head coach of the Lake Park-Audubon baseball team coming off a 6-11 season and a fourth place finish in the Pine to Prairie Conference in 2016.

The Raiders return key starters up the middle in senior shortstop Mike Vohnoutka, senior centerfielder and pitcher Mitch Hall, junior infielder and pitcher Marcus Dickelman-Stassen, junior catcher Jacob Anderson and senior Adam Wolfswinkel in the outfield and on the hill.

Vohnoutka and Hall were both Pine to Prairie All-Conference selections last season and captain this year’s squad with Wolfswinkel.

“Mikey Vohnoutka and Mitchell Hall bring years of experience to the team,” said Baune. “They also bring leadership, reliable gloves at key spots and are both exceptional hitters. Adam Wolfswinkel also brings a hardworking attitude as an influential character on the team.”

Baune’s aim for the team is to

be in the top half of the Pine to Prairie Conference again and to win a playoff game.

“We did finish in the top half last year and that is something that I would really like to repeat,” he said.

The Raiders were eliminated

by Red Lake County 10-1 in the opening round of the Section 8A playoffs.

LP-A is set for an intriguing year with some openings in the lineup that could be the difference in building around the key components already on the roster.

“This will be an interesting season for the boys,” Baune said.

“We have a couple of outstanding long-time starters returning and then we have a truck load of juniors to fill in the rest of the gaps. There really are a ton of open spots for hard working kids to come in and fill. Just a week into the season I have already been surprised by a few players who are competing for those spots, so I really anticipate the season to be quite the same.”

The Raiders have five seniors including Ben Jaster and

15

the Lake Park-Audubon baseball TEam photo by Caufield Studios

Alec Korby and a large class of eight juniors fighting for playing time.

“I really like our seniors and the leadership they provide,” said Baune. “I also feel very comfortable with our top pitcher, Marcus Dickelman-Stassen. He came on strong towards the end of last year and threw a bunch of innings over the summer up in Crookston. He is still only a junior and if he can continue to develop as a go-to guy on the mound, I like our chances of winning that first playoff game.”

The Raiders lost Reese Mattson, Lane Ulmer, Chance Lefebvre, Hunter Frank and Hunter

Christianson to graduation.

Jaster will look to fill in at first base, Vohnoutka will move over to short for Ulmer, Anderson will be behind the dish in place of Lefebvre. Junior Trevor Loberg will man second base and junior Grant Pederson will be roaming the outfield in place of Christianson. Juniors Jon Donovan, Josh Cigelske and Seth Felker will also man outfield positions for the Raiders.

Alex Becher will assist Baune with coaching duties.

Badger/Greenbush-Middle River is the defending section champion. The Gators went 0-2 at the Class A state tournament.

The 2017 Lake Park-Audubon baseball schedule: April 28 at Tri-County May 1 at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 2 at Bagley 4 at Lake Park-Audubon 5 at Lake Park-Audubon 8 at Ulen-Hitterdal 9 at Lake Park-Audubon 11 at Lake Park-Audubon 12 at Hawley 15 at Lake Park-Audubon 16 at Fertile-Beltrami 23 at Lake Park-Audubon

New coach and new faces for LP-A softball

By ROBERT WILLIAMS

to Prairie Conference favorites.

“For us every team is the team to beat,” said Snyder. “Teams change so much from year to year, but NCE/UH has always been a very competitive team.”

The Titans were 14-9 overall and undefeated in conference play. Both of the Raiders’ victories in 2016 came against Pine to Prairie opponents.

This year’s team will need to replace departing seniors in Paige Hovelson (1st/3rd), Sierra Omvig (2nd), and Carlee Raaen in centerfield.

“These three players were huge leaders on the team and along with being excellent players,” Snyder said. “Our girls are going to have step up to be leaders on and off the field to fill their vacancies.”

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Lake Park-Audubon softball looks to bounce back from a 2-14 season in 2016 with the help of a bumped-up coaching staff in first-year head coach Amanda Snyder and assistant Don Donarski.

“I am excited for my first year as head coach, said Snyder. “I have been the junior high and junior varsity coach for LP-A for the past three years so I know the girls really well. I look forward to a great season of playing hard and having fun.”

The Raiders have a trio of seniors on the squad who will serve as captains in Savannah Schindler, Aubrey Somerville, and Myla Lewis.

Junior Maria Miosek will also be key in team leadership this season.

“Miosek is a great leader on the team,” said Snyder. “She has a great attitude that brings the whole team together from seventh to 12th grade. She keeps the team positive even when things don’t go right.”

Snyder’s team goals this year are to be a fundamentally strong team that keeps their collective heads in the game.

“We need to be able to bounce back from setbacks and thrive on success,” she said. “We are looking forward to another year and are excited to see what this new group of girls can do on and off the field.”

the Lake Park-Audubon softball TEam photo by Caufield Studios

Snyder is the benefactor of a lot of returning infielders this year.

“Infield positions are the heart of a defense,” she said. “That fact that we have

218-238-5974 • 1-888-232-7166 Lake Park Insurance Agency, Inc. LICENSED IN MINNESOTA & NORTH DAKOTA

The “No Problem” People!

Debra Nelson - Lic. 43687 Jane Mattson - Lic. 20295735 Paulette Opatril - Lic. 20325900

001393601r1

an experienced infield will really help our team.”

The Titans of Norman County East/ Ulen-Hitterdal are the early-season Pine

KEVIN LEFEBVRE

C ONSTRUCTIO N LLC 218-530-0238

Residential Construction New and Remodeling Skidsteer Work Kitchen Bathrooms

The 2017 Lake Park-Audubon softball schedule: April 27 at ake Park-Audubon 28 at Lake Park-Audubon May 2 at Lake Park-Audubon 4 at Red Lake County Central 5 at Fosston 8 at Lake Park-Audubon 9 at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 11 at Bagley 12 at Lake Park-Audubon 15 at Lake Park-Audubon 16 at Lake Park-Audubon

AUDUBON NORTHSIDE AUTO BODY SHOP SPECIALIZING IN BIG TRUCK REPAIR

MN license #BC635703 ND License #44571

001350888r1

North End of Audubon

218-439-6050

001520399r1

SPRING SPORTS

16

April 26, 2017

Proud Supporter of Our Athletes

We are dedicated to cheering on your children while they grow, shine and win. Sanford Health Detroit Lakes Clinic provides quality local health care backed by a system of specialists to serve your sports medicine and family health care needs.

Clinic Hours Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–Noon

Call (218) 846-2000 to schedule an appointment.

sanfordhealth.org

038003-00079 4/17