Northfield spring sports 2018 by Kate Noet

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 1

Northfield High School Wednesday, April 11, 2018 BASEBALL (pg. 3)

SOFTBALL (pg. 4)

BOYS TENNIS (pg. 5)

GIRLS GOLF (pg. 6)

BOYS GOLF (pg. 7)

2018 SPRING SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD (pg. 8)

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD (pg. 8)

CLAY TARGET (pg. 9)

BOYS LACROSSE (pg. 10)

GIRLS LACROSSE (pg. 11)

PAGE 2

Spring Sports Spotlight A special project of the Northfield News 115 W. Fifth St., Northfield, MN 55057 www.southernminn. com/northfield_news Editor/Publisher: Chad Hjellming Associate Editor: Phillip Weyhe Sports Editor: Michael Hughes Creative Services: Jenny Schoenbauer Sales Associates: Jay Petsche Kari Clark The Northfield News’ 2018 Spring Sports Spotlight is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Northfield News at no additional charge. All rights reserved. Copyright 2018. All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. Please patronize and thank the advertisers for helping make this special section possible.

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

2018 SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULES As of April 8

BASEBALL

Tuesday, April 17 Albert Lea at Northfield, 5 p.m. Friday, April 20 Rochester Century at Northfield, 5 p.m. Saturday, April 21 Austin at Northfield, 12 p.m. (doubleheader) Tuesday, April 24 Northfield at Mankato West, 4 p.m. (doubleheader) Thursday, April 26 Northfield at Red Wing, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Winona at Northfield, 5 p.m. Thursday, May 3 Rochester Mayo at Northfield, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 Faribault at Northfield, 5 p.m. (doubleheader) Thursday, May 10 Northfield at Albert Lea, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Mankato East at Northfield, 5 p.m. (doubleheader) Thursday, May 17 Owatonna at Northfield, 4:30 p.m. (doubleheader) Saturday, May 19 Burnsville at Northfield, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 Rosemount at Northfield, 5 p.m.

CLAY TARGET

Sunday, April 15 Reserve Week at Morristown Gun Club Sunday, April 22 Competition Week 1 at Morristown Gun Club Sunday, April 29 Competition Week 2 at Morristown Gun Club Sunday, May 5 Competition Week 3 at Morristown Gun Club Sunday, May 12 Competition Week 4 at Morristown Gun Club Sunday, May 19 Competition Week 5 at Morristown Gun Club

BOYS GOLF

Monday, April 16 Mankato East at Northfield Golf Club, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19 Lakeville North at Northfield Golf

Club, 2 p.m. Monday, April 23 Northfield at Austin Country Club, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Owatonna, Winona at Northfield Golf Club, 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 30 Northfield, Mankato West, Rochester Mayo at Rochester Eastwood Golf Course, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Lakeville Invitational at Lakeville Legends Golf Club, 10 a.m. Thursday, May 3 Boyum Invite at Northfield Golf Club, 2 p.m. Monday, May 7 Albert Lea, Northfield at Red Wing Mississippi National Golf Links, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10 Northfield at Owatonna Brooktree Golf Course, 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11, 12 Mankato East Invitational at LeSueur Country Club, 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 14 Faribault, Northfield, Rochester Century, Rochester John Marshall at Rochester Northern Hills Golf Course, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17 Red Wing Invitational at Red Wing Mississippi National Golf Links, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19 Owatonna Invite at Owatonna Country Club, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 Lake City Invitational at Lake City Jewel Golf Club, 2 p.m.

GIRLS GOLF

Monday, April 16 Northfield, Mankato East at Mankato Northlinks Golf Course, 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 Northfield at Red Wing Mississippi National Golf Links, 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 23 Chaska Invitational at Hazeltine National Golf Club, 12 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Northfield, Owatonna at Winona Bridges Golf Club, 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 30 Mankato West, Rochester Mayo at Northfield Golf Club, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3 Boyum Invite at Northfield Golf Club, 2 p.m.

Monday, May 7 Byron Invitational at Somerby Golf Course, 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 Northfield at Red Wing Mississippi National Golf Links, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10 Northfield, Red Wing at Albert Lea Wedgewood Cove Golf Course, 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 14 Faribault, Rochester Century, Rochester John Marshall at Northfield Golf Club, 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 Lake City Invite at Lake City Jewel Golf Club, 2 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE

Monday, April 16 Northfield at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20 Northfield at Owatonna, 7 p.m. Monday, April 23 Rochester Century at Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Rochester Mayo at Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 Shakopee at Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 30 Northfield at Mankato, 6 p.m. Friday, May 4 Northfield at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7 Northfield at Hastings, 6 p.m. Friday, May 11 Owatonna at Northfield, 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 14 Northfield at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 18 Northfield at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19 Apple Valley at Northfield, 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 21 Mankato at Northfield, 6 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Tuesday, April 17 Rochester John Marshall at Northfield, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 19 Hastings at Northfield, 5:45 p.m. Friday, April 20 Owatonna at Northfield, 5:45 p.m.

Monday, April 23 Northfield at Rochester Century, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Northfield at Rochester Mayo, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, April 28 Shakopee at Northfield, 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 Mankato at Northfield, 5:45 p.m. Friday, May 4 Northfield at Rochester John Marshall, 5:45 p.m. Friday, May 11 Northfield at Owatonna, 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Northfield at Rochester Century, 5:45 p.m. Friday, May 18 Rochester Mayo at Northfield, 7:15 p.m. Monday, May 21 Northfield at Mankato, 5 p.m. Thursday, May 24 Northfield at St. Croix Preparatory Academy, 5 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Saturday, April 14 Rochester John Marshall at Northfield, 5 p.m. (at Dundas Dome) Saturday, April 14 Farmington at Northfield, 8 p.m. (at Dundas Dome) Thursday, April 19 Northfield at Kasson-Mantorville, 5 p.m. Saturday, April 21 Northfield at Academy of Holy Angels, 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 24 Mankato West at Northfield, 5 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Red Wing at Northfield, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Northfield at Winona, 5 p.m. Thursday, May 3 Northfield at Rochester Mayo, 5 p.m. Monday, May 7 Nortfield at Red Wing, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 Northfield at Faribault, 5 p.m. (doubleheader) Thursday, May 10 Albert Lea at Northfield, 4 p.m. (doubleheader) Tuesday, May 15 Mankato East at Northfield, 5 p.m. Thursday, May 17 Northfield at Owatonna, 4 p.m. (doubleheader) Friday, May 18

Northfield at Rochester Century, 5 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS

Friday, April 13 Northfield at New Prague, 4:15 p.m. Monday, April 16 Hastings at Northfield, 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 Winona at Northfield, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19 Albert Lea, Northfield at Rochester Mayo, 2 p.m. Monday, April 23 Lakeville North at Northfield, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 Northfield at Austin, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 Rochester Century Invitational, 9 a.m. Monday, April 30 Northfield at Rosemount, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Rochester John Marshall at Northfield, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3 Northfield at Mankato East, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 Red Wing at Northfield, 4:30 p.m.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Tuesday, April 17 Northfield, Owatonna at Mankato West, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 Northfield, Rochester Century at Red Wing, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Northfield, Rochester Mayo at Red Wing, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Northfield, Rochester John Marshall at Mankato East, 4:30 p.m.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Tuesday, April 17 Northfield, Mankato West at Owatonna, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 Northfield, Red Wing at Rochester Century, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Northfield, Red Wing at Rochester Mayo, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Northfield, Mankato East at Rochester John Marshall, 4:30 p.m.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2018

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 3

Northﬁeld baseball tasked with replacing 7 starters By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

ith the loss of seven starters from last year’s team, it doesn’t take Northfield coach Mark Ague long to go through the experience the Raiders are returning this year.

SECTION 1AAA Albert Lea Austin Byron Kasson-Mantorville Northfield Red Wing Stewartville Winona

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ter claiming senior or junior class standing. “We’ve got a pretty strong junior class, so we feel like there will be some good competition in some of those open spots,” Auge said. In addition to Hodapp, Prestemon, Blundred and Albers, Auge is expecting large contributions from players like junior Jim Vitito, who

first established himself as a varsity player late last season but immediately provided valuable at-bats as the team’s designated hitter. Junior Blake Christensen should see plenty of reps in the infield, while junior Michael Ims is slated to occupy his time on the mound and in the outfield. Juniors Luke Johnson and Mason

Zick should also eat up some innings for the Northfield pitching staff, as well as senior Joe Pesta, who might also see some time at first base. Last year’s record: 15-10 Last year’s finish: Lost 6-4 to Red Wing in Section 1AAA final First game: Tuesday at Rochester John Marshall

QUOTABLE

We hope do be right up there.”

“I think even with a young team we expect to compete,” Auge said. “We were 15-10 last year and second place in the section. We lost to Red Wing in the section finals. I think we can compete. There’s some other teams that are right up there as well, but this junior class is pretty good and we’ve got some seniors.

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Junior Michael Ims will be one of many Raiders with little to no varsity experience tasked with replacing seven starters from last year’s team. Ims is also one of 14 juniors on the roster this year for the Raiders. (News File Photo)

Aside from senior Carter Hodapp, who earned all-conference honors last year for his work at shortstop, there’s seniors Jasper Blundred and Derek Albers. “They were a couple righthanders who pitched well for us last year so we’re expecting big things out of them,” Auge said. Senior Lars Prestemon also returns to compete for playing time at the catcher spot. After that, helping to replace all-conference players Hunter Koep and Danny Glampe is a roster filled out with players who have made small contributions on the varsity level or who are stepping into varsity roles for the first time. Still, even if the experience isn’t quite there, the age is, with the every Raider listed on the ros-

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NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Northﬁeld so tball ad sting to sta ing indoors By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

hus far, Northfield softball holds the distinct honor of being the lone Raiders spring sports team to have started its season. Last week, Northfield traveled to Austin to win 10-9. Still, since that contest was played indoors, the softball team is stuck in the similar situation of not being able to spend any time outside in the buildup to the season. “We’ve been doing a lot of hitting and our pitchers and catchers have been doing a lot and working hard,” Northfield coach Ryan Pietsch said. “We’ve been doing some fielding stuff, but obviously we’re kind of limited, especially Northfield junior Jillian Noel, left, and junior Annika Guggisbergm right, are a couple of experithe outfielders on what you can enced Raiders returing to try and improve on last year’s 10-win campaign. (News File Photo) do.” Some of those include sopho- this year’s practices. leading hitter junior Jillian Noel and junior Caroline Pritchard, more Emma Johnson, who Pietsch Last year’s record: 10-10 SECTION 1AAA one of the team’s two primary expects to see an expanded role on Last year’s finish: Lost 7-5 to Kasthe mound this year, junior out- son-Mantorville in Section 1AAA pitchers last season. Albert Lea Noel powered her way to a fielder Marissa Nelson and fresh- consolation semifinals Austin .500 batting average and swatted man outfielder Payton Fox. Kasson-Mantorville First game: 10-9 win at Austin on “We’ve got some good sopho- April 5 five home runs last year, while Northfield Pritchard struck out 52 batters in mores and some freshman who Red Wing have been playing primarily on 52 innings in the circle. Winona QUOTABLE Also returning for the Raiders our nine-grade teams and some “I think we’ve been lookPietsch said the Raiders have is junior Anika Guggisberg, who JV mixed in, but they’ve been been fortunate enough to have scored 18 runs in 20 games, and looking good as well,” Pietsch ing good at practice the last few access to both the Dundas Dome sophomore Anne Fossum, who said. “Hopefully we’ll get some weeks,” Pietsch said. “We’ve got and the Carleton Recreation Cen- hit .344 in 20 games last season. of them in the mix and they’ll be 47 kids out this year and have all ter to allow them to mimic out“We lost some good var- ready to step up and help the team been working hard from out 9B team all the way up to our vardoor practice as much as possible. sity players but have some good as well.” As for when Northfield does younger players who are ready to Beyond that, Pietsch said he sity team. Overall I’ve been very start playing outdoors, it will have step up and take on a more promi- expects a handful of other young impressed with the overall work the benefit of returning a wealth nent role at the varsity level,” Pi- Raiders to step up and contribute ethic of all the kids. We’ve got kids of talent, including last year’s etsch said. based on the early returns from here who are passionate about the

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Junior Caroline Pritchard is back as the team’s primary pitcher, and is already 1-0 this season after hurling a complete game in a 10-9 win against Austin on April 5. (News File Photo)

game of softball, want to be there Caroline Pritchard, junior, pitcher and work hard every day and push Anne Fossum, sophomore, catcheach other to get better.” er and infield

KEY DEPARTURES Sierra Barck Olivia Keske Kat Smith

RETURNING PLAYERS

KEY NEWCOMERS Marissa Nelson, junior, infield Emma Johnson, sophomore, pitcher Payton Fox, freshman, outfield

Reach Sports Editor Michael Molly Gehrke, senior, catcher Anika Guggisberg, junior, outfield Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him on Twitter @NFNSports. Jillian Noel, junior, infield

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Wednesday, April 11, 2018

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 5

Boys tennis keeping it simple during delayed start By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

ew Northfield coach Marty Johnson has a simple strategy for his first season in charge. As the Raiders start to the season has been delayed because of the ongoing winter, Johnson has kept the training regimen simple. “We’re just going to be hitting a million tennis balls until their arms fall off,” Johnson said. “That’s what I know works. Hard work gives you the ability to rest. Train smart and hard and win easy, that’s my motto.” Johnson has the pedigree to back that training method up. Throughout his nearly 40 years of coaching, Johnson brought Orono High School to a state runner-up finish in 2003 and spent time coaching at Cornell before serving as the school’s Director of Tennis. He also served as the Director of Tennis at the Wayzata Country Club. As a player, Johnson starred

ers make their way onto the court. Last year’s finish: Third in Big 9, lost 4-3 to Lakeville South in Section 1AA quarterfinals First match: Tuesday at Rochester Century

SECTION 1AA Albert Lea Austin Faribault Farmington Lakeville North Lakeville South Northfield Owatonna Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall Rochester Mayo Winona

for South Dakota State, where he’s a member of the school’s Hall of Fame in addition to the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame. Now, he’s excited to be back coaching high school tennis for the first time since his stint at Orono. “I’m really looking forward to working with them on the basics of mental competencies and strategy strengths so if they play anybody they know a basic strategy to come

QUOTABLE

“I got to work with several of the kids this last summer,” Johnson said. “It’s a great group of guys with a strong ability. They have strong skills and they’re good tennis players and even more important than that they’re good sportsmen and good people. I love working with them.”

KEY DEPARTURES Northfield’s Tim Roback is one of three captains for this year’s Raiders. (News File Photo)

out on the court with and they know different game styles to play so they have more than one game style in their head,” Johnson said. He’ll have to cope with the loss

of last year’s strong senior class, including James Miller, Dez Young and Christof Zweifel. Despite that, he feels confident with the young group he’s directing that’s led by

James Miller Dez Young Christof Sweifel

captains Tim Roback, Griffin Rod RETURNING and Jeremy Nelson. PLAYERS Other that that trio, it’s still a Jeremy Nelson toss-up how the rest of the starting Tim Roback lineup might look when the Raid- Griffin Rod

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PAGE 6

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Northfield girls golf filling in the holes, looking to close the section gap By MICHAEL HUGHES

gaps after leading the Northfield JV squad last season. After that, though, Stevens it’s just as curious as anyone else about who might stand out to fill out the varsity lineup. Last year’s finish: Second in Big 9 Conference, third at Section 1AAA tournament First match: Monday vs. Austin

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

n his 14 years as the coach of the Northfield girls golf team, there’s been two trends that are paramount for Brian Stevens to continue each year. First, in every season since 2007, the Raiders have sent a golfer to compete at the state tournament. Second, if there’s any student that wants to come out and play for Northfield, she’s more than welcome. “My goal is always to have a lot of girls,” Stevens said. “We don’t cut anybody, so grade seven through 12 if you want to come out and give golf a try we take you. That’s been a good thing for us I think, because we’ve had a lot of players to pick from. Some choose to go for it and work on it more in the offseason with summer tournaments and that kind of stuff.”

QUOTABLE

“I’m just as anxious as everybody else to see how the lineup is going to shake out and who’s going to be there,” Stevens said. “There’s probably some other names I’m not mentioning that I just don’t know about yet. It’ll be interesting to see how that all shakes out, I just don’t know enough yet.”

KEY DEPARTURES Emma Iverson Taylor Pleshcourt Marissa Ruppe Betsy Schuerman

SECTION 1AAA Austin Faribault Farmington Hastings Lakeville North Lakeville South Northfield Owatonna Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall Rochester Mayo Winona

RETURNING PLAYERS Hannah Breiland, senior Molly Stevens, sophomore

KEY NEWCOMERS May Hayes, senior Rachel Bielenberg, junior the Raiders will accomplish that Sydney Noel, junior goal with the help of the depth Sylvia Koenig, freshman that’s been building on the junior varsity teams. For this year, he figReach Sports Editor Michael ures senior May Hayes and junior Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him Sydney Noel will help plug in the on Twitter @NFNSports.

Northfield sophomore Molly Stevens will look to make her third consecutive appearance in the state tournament. (News File

their streak of representation at the state tournament. Northfield loses four seniors who consistently contributed to last year’s varsity That will be key this season efforts, so other than sophomore as the Raiders try and continue Molly Stevens and senior Han-

nah Breiland there’s not much in terms of experience. “We had one of the best teams that we’ve had in the 14 years that I’ve been here,” Brian Stevens said. “That’s really kind of hard to come

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back from, it’s hard to replace those four. Realistically, our goal is to always be in the upper half of the Big 9 Conference. That’s our goal year in and year out.” Hopefully, Brian Stevens said,

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NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 7

Limited prep time doesn’t worry experienced boys golf By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

o far, it’s been a little slowstarting for the Northfield boys golf team due to the extended winter. The Raiders have been stuck inside and relegated to working solely on short games, but Northfield coach Adam Danielson isn’t too worried.

SECTION 1AAA Austin Faribault Farmington Hastings Lakeville North Lakeville South Northfield Owatonna Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall Rochester Mayo Winona

Northfield senior Casey Parker will be looking to make another trip to the state tournament this year. (News File Photo)

By the end of it, Danielson hopes there’s some Raiders joining Parker for this year’s trip to the state tournament if all goes right for Fischer and Stevens. Also returning to the varsity lineup for the Raiders is junior Danny Gill, but after that the final two scoring positions are wide open. If those final couple spots are sorted out, Danielson believes he has a team more than capable of doing some damage in the postseason. Last year’s finish: Third in Big 9 Conference and third at Section 1AAA tournament First match: Monday at Austin

That’s because he returns three golfers in senior Casey Parker, senior Jimmy Fischer and eighth-grader Nate Stevens who earned all-conference honors last season. Parker also qualified individually for the state tournament. “You feel pretty confident when you have experience like that,” Danielson said. Danielson said a few players took trips to warmer climates during spring break before Northfield reconvened for week of outdoor practice. Then, the Raiders wre trapped inside. Luckily, Dan- QUOTABLE “Hopefully our goal is to win a ielson said, with the amount of experience coming back most of conference title,” Danielson said. the team is well-suited for the ab- “Us, Red Wing, Mankato West and breviated preparation time. Owatonna will be up near the top

but we have to be up there. We finished third last year but were basically neck-and-neck with Mankato West and Red Wing. The confer- Northfield’s Jimmy Fischer is one of three Raiders returning this season after earning a spot on ence championship is at Northfield the Big 9 all-conference team last year. (News File photo) Golf Club this year so hopefully it will be our goal there to win a conference championship.”

KEY DEPARTURES Henry Hofstad Andrew Kivell

Good Luck Teams!

KEY RETURNERS Jimmy Fischer, senior Casey Parker, senior Danny Gill, junior Nate Stevens, 8th grade

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KEY NEWCOMERS Owen Bernstorf, sophomore Haakon Rustad, freshman Zach Frank, junior

Baseball: Raiders believe they can compete From Page 3

RETURNING PLAYERS Derek Albers, senior, pitcher Jasper Blundred, senior, pitcher Carter Hodapp, senior, pitcher Lars Prestemon, senior, catcher

KEY NEWCOMERS

Mitchell Stanchina, junior Jim Vitito, junior, DH and outfield Joe Pesta, senior, pitcher and first Mason Zick, junior, pitcher base Blake Christensen, junior, infield Reach Sports Editor Michael Michael Ims, junior, pitcher Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him Luke Johnson, junior, pitcher on Twitter @NFNSports.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Rising to new heights Strength in numbers

Northfield junior Karissa Ricks is back this season after finishing eighth at the state meet in the pole vault last season. (News File photo)

By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

t the moment, practice time is at a premium for the Northfield girls track and field team. After initially missing a number of athletes from practice due to them either participating in the girls state basketball tournament or trekking up to watch the competition, the season’s early practices were sparse with Raiders. Now, with the fist meet of the season approaching, Northfield is starting to get down to work. “Right now we’re just focused on getting in shape and trying to identify areas where our athletes have potential to really help the team and get kids going in the right direction,” Northfield coach Karl Viesselman said. Already, the Raiders have a

SECTION 1AA Albert Lea Austin Faribault Farmington Hastings Kasson-Mantorville Lakeville North Lakeville South Northfield Owatonna Red Wing Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall Rochester Mayo Rosemount Winona

return to make up most of last year’s 1,600-meter relay that finished second in the state and set a new school record in the process. Also coming back for Northfield is junior pole vaulter Karissa Ricks, who leapt into a tie for eighth at the state meet. After that, Viesselman said he’s hoping for some younger Raiders to step up and round out a Northfield squad trying to make a mark as a team this season. Last year’s finish: Fifth at Setction 1AA meet First meet: Tuesday at Mankato East

number of standout contributors QUOTABLE returning from last year’s squad including a few athletes who finished on the podium at the state meet. Senior Katie Brust, junior Hailey Mackenthun and junior Elizabeth Acheson all

“Obviously we’re going to need some younger athletes to step up and fill some varsity roles,” Viesselman said. “We’re going to

See GTRACK on page 10

Northfield senior Ben Palmquist is one of four senior captains for this year’s Northfield boys track and field team, which has received an influx of new members. (News File photo)

By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

ne change for the Northfield boys track and field team this year will be its coach, Tyler Balow, who is taking over the program after spending the last two seasons as an assistant. The program he’s now tasked with running, though, will now look drastically different. Balow estimates that out of the 60 athletes set to compete this year for the Raiders, 35 are newcomers. “I’m really excited with the energy and the enthusiasm right now that we have in our practices,” Balow said. “We’re definitely not exactly sure what we have as far as ability with some of those new athletes.” Those new faces range from freshmen or middle-school students to upperclassmen who are

giving the sport a try for the first time. Balow isn’t quite sure where the surge in numbers came from, but did credit the efforts of returning athletes convincing their friends to come out for the team.

He also said whenever he might have seen a student in the hallway or at another sporting event he thought might transition well to track and field, he had his elevator pitch prepared. Now that they’re all here, Balow isn’t quite sure how they all stack up in the early stages of practice. The Raiders are in the midst of a feeling out process of sorts and attempting to figure what the correct combination of athletes and events might be. Last year’s finish: 11th at Section 1AA meet First meet: Tuesday at Mankato East

QUOTABLE “There’s been a lot of senior leadership and just returning athlete leadership right now, which has been great with that many new athletes,” Balow said.

See BTRACK on page 10

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 9

Clay Target returns experience from historic team By MICHAEL HUGHES mhughes@northfieldnews.com

fter finishing 14th at the state meet last spring, Northfield brings back a number of shooters to possibly follow up the program’s first appearance at the state level as a team.

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Leading the way is freshman Sam Miller, who was an individual state qualifier last season and finished in a tie for 45th. Also

returning this season for the boys side are top-25 finishers in the conference last year Noah Miller, Matthew Riehm, Cole Dack and Elias Quiring. At the team’s first spring practice April 8, Dack, Garrett West and Danny Gill all shot at least one perfect round. The girls portion of the squad brings back its fair share of conference standouts as well, with Shelby Mathews, Katie Brust and Hannah Boudreau all back after finishing top-25 in the conference last year. “We have a lot of those varsity shooters who were a little bit younger and are filling in to this varsity role of the seniors that graduated,” Northfield coach Scott Quiring said. “We have 10 or 12 or 13 of them that are continuing to step up.” The Raiders will have to replace team MVP Ashton Croy, who fin-

ished tied for 19th at last year’s state meet, as well as Clay Quiring, Luke Schewe, Emily Rinas and Mary Baumgartner. Helping with that transition will be a roster of 104 shooters, the largest since the program’s inception in 2013. At the top of that large group of Raiders is the established leadership, which Scott Quiring said will be key for how Northfield fares this spring. Last year’s finish: 14th at the state meet First competition: Sunday at Morristown Gun Club (reserve week)

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KEY DEPARTURES Mary Baumgartner Ashton Croy Clay Quiring Emily Rinas Luke Schewe

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RETURNING SHOOTERS

Hannah Boudreau Katie Brust Cole Dack Danny Gill Shelby Mathews QUOTABLE Noah Miller “They know the proper tech- Sam Miller niques and they’re comfortable up Derek Salba there on the line,” Scott Quiring Garrett West said. “They just get up there and Reach Sports Editor Michael do their thing and that’s good, because it allows some of the newer Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him shooters and junior varsity shoot- on Twitter @NFNSports.

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Sam Miller is one of many Northfield shooters back from last year’s team that finished 14th at the state meet. (News File Photo)

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PAGE 10

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

New faces stepping in to replenish boys lacrosse

First game: April 16 at Rochester John Marshall

By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

QUOTABLE

f Northfield might appear inexperienced this year, it isn’t because of a lack of talent. After last season, the Raiders graduated 14 seniors, a number which created a bit of a logjam for younger players to find a spot on the varsity roster.

“It’s kind of crazy actually, but I guess that’s the way it is with the weather and the field’s and everything,” Olson said. “It’s really important that we get off to a fast start and we have two weeks to prepare for our first game, which is more than usual actually for us. Once the games start we’re three or four games a week all the way until playoffs. It’s really a sprint and we have to do a lot of the teaching up front with the young guys especially. I think they’re up for it. These are guys we’ve been coaching as youth all the way up. I think they’re going to be ready and from what I’ve heard they’re excited to do so.”

SECTION 1 Farmington Lakeville North Lakeville South Mankato Northfield Owatonna Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall/ Lourdes Rochester Mayo Shattuck-St. Mary’s

This year, with that blockage cleared, a number of older players are stepping into concrete varsity roles for the first time. “There’s a tier of guys who were pretty much ready last year that we pretty much didn’t have space for,” Northfield coach Gunnar Olson said. “I think that role might be served by committee, we could have five or six guys who might be ready to make that next step.” Returning from last year’s varsity Raiders will be senior attacker Brandon Foster, junior attack Dawson Foster, junior defender Logan Bornick, junior midfielder Zach Marvin and sophomore goalie Cristoph Tisdale, who all contributed in major ways to last

KEY LOSSES Chase Marnlenee, midfield Griffin Loecher, attack Quinn Beithon, attack Nicholas Kvernmo, midfield Lane Dornbusch, defense

KEY RETURNERS

Brandon Foster, senior, attack Logan Bornick, junior, defender Dawson Foster, junior, attack Zach Marvin, junior, midfield Cristoph Tisdale, sophomore, goalie Northfield senior Brandon Foster looks to lead the Raiders into this season after losing 14 seniors from last year’s team. Foster scored 14 goals and compiled 10 assists last season. (News File photo)

year’s team that advanced to the Section 1A semifinal. After those five, it’s a bit of a question who will find their place among Northfield’s regular rota-

tion. “I fully expect a couple more guys are going to make their presence felt as the year goes on, we just don’t know exactly who those

GTRACK: Experienced Raiders ready to rise From Page 8 need some older athletes to step KEY DEPARTURES in and fill some varsity roles, Mya Jirik, sprints too. Nothing’s set in stone but Joan Kornkven, sprints we’re going to hopefully see a Emma Rezac, sprints lot of improvement and a lot of kids getting a chance to compete KEY RETURNERS on varsity.” Katie Brust, senior, middle distance

guys are yet,” Olson said. With only 13 regular-season games on the schedule, though, those adjustments to the varsity level will have to happen quickly.

Last year’s record: 10-5 Last year’s finish: Co-champs of Big 9 Conference, lost 17-9 to Lakeville South in Section 1 semifinal

KEY NEWCOMERS

Skylar Parsons, senior, attack Zach Anderson, junior, midfield Kearic Gargrave, sophomore, attack Brady Mingo, sophomore, defender

BTRACK: New athletes flood Northfield From Page 8

Hailey Mackenthun, senior, sprints Annalee Olson-Sola, senior, throws Elizabeth Acheson, junior, middle distance Grace Acheson, junior, hurdles Mallory Godfrey, junior, hurdles Karissa Ricks, junior, pole vault

at this point just how to run properly and do things effectively and efficiently so they don’t get themselves hurt. They’re just learning the right way to run and complete different skills like high jump and long jump to set them up for success later in the season.”

KEY DEPARTURES Gus Foss, middle distance Clay Quiring, sprints Jon Vitito, sprints

KEY RETURNERS Curt Haan, senior, sprints

Joe Neufeldt, senior, distance Kenyon Nystrom, s enior, distance Ben Palmquist, senior, sprint David Urke, senior, sprints Josh Grabau, junior, hurdles and sprints Eli Bowman, sophomore, throws

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

NORTHFIELD SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 11

Northﬁeld girls lacrosse searching or ret rn to or By MICHAEL HUGHES

mhughes@northfieldnews.com

or Dan DuPay, last year’s final record doesn’t hold much significance.

SECTION 1AAA

Farmington Lakeville North Lakeville South Mankato Northfield Owatonna Rochester Century Rochester John Marshall Rochester Mayo Shattuck-St. Mary’s

The Northfield girls lacrosse team was dealing with the loss of 11 seniors from the previous year, and even if the defeats started to pile up, four were by less than three goals. “Last year we lost a lot of close games, too, especially in our conference,” DuPay said. “We lost a lot of close games and ended up being in the bottom of our conference just because we split with some teams and some teams beat other teams and we just ended up being last.” This season, the Raiders

have to cope with only the loss of a few seniors from last year’s squad. One of those holes to fill belongs to Kieran Rodning, though, who finished second in the Big 9 Conference with 42 goals last season. That’s the area DuPay feels his team needs to improve the most: increasing its aggressiveness around the net to force more balls into the goal. The Raiders will have the help of returning senior attackers Sarah Will, Emma Brezina and Jaclyn Swenson. “I think they’ll be the ones to lead the team and hopefully be aggressive and go to goal and not be hesitant,” DuPay said. “We’re a team that’s a little more hesitant to get the ball and go right to goal. These other teams that have been around longer, they get the ball and they’re jammin.” If Northfield can pull that off, DuPay doesn’t see a reason why his squad can’t return to the type of form that netted it a secondplace finish in the conference two years ago up among the likes of Owatonna and Mankato. Last year’s finish: Lost 7-6 to Rochester Century in first round of Section 1 tournament.

Last year’s record: 3-11 First game: April 17 vs. Rochester John Marshall

QUOTABLE “I think this year we’ll be third and will be battling up there with those two teams a little bit,” DuPay said. “The girls are excited and a lot of them have been practicing a little bit more this year. We have a lot of returners, which is awesome.”

KEY DEPARTURES Kate Bornhauser, attack Kieran Rodning, midfield

KEY RETURNERS Emma Brezina, senior, forward Jaclyn Swenson, senior, attack Sarah Will, senior, attack

KEY NEWCOMERS Abby Borene, junior Becca Hollister Serena Malecha Nina Pratt

Northfield senior Sarah Will will be one of the Raiders tasked with trying to replace Kieran Rodning’s 42 goals last year. (News File Photo)

SKIP THE LINE

Reach Sports Editor Michael Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him on Twitter @NFNSports.

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