DAILY NEWS WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW BASKETBALL • HOCKEY • DANCE TEAM • GYMNASTICS • BOYS SWIM AND DIVE • WRESTLING
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Table of contents School .................................Sport .........................Page Faribault High School ............ dance team ........................... 2 Faribault High School ............ wrestling ................................ 3 WEM/JWP ................................... wrestling ................................ 3 WEM ............................................. girls basketball ..................... 4 WEM ............................................. boys basketball .................... 4 Bethlehem Academy ............. boys basketball .................... 5 Bethlehem Academy ............. girls basketball ..................... 5 Team schedules........................................................................ 6-7 Faribault High School ............ boys basketball .................... 8 Faribault High School ............ girls basketball ..................... 8 MSAD ........................................... girls basketball ..................... 9 MSAD ........................................... boys basketball .................... 9 Faribault High School ........... girls hockey .........................10 Faribault High School ........... boys hockey ........................10 Faribault High School ............ boys swim and dive .........11 Faribault High School ............ gymnastics ..........................11
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Tuesday, December 9, 2014
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL DANCE TEAM (EMERALDS)
The Faribault Emeralds compete during last year’s Class AAA State High Kick Championships in February at Target Center. The Emeralds, who finished third at state, are back with another talented roster in 2014-15. (Daily News file photo)
Stronger than ever, Emeralds ready to shine By MILES TRUMP
mtrump@faribault.com
The Emeralds have entered a season of high expectations, and they’re already ahead of schedule. Normally, the Faribault Emeralds dance team doesn’t hit the floor until the first weekend in December, but this season the team marched out two weeks early for an invitational in Eagan. It took first in high kick and second in jazz — the latter an event Faribault doesn’t normally compete in until January. “I think it’s just a sign that our dancers are stronger this year,” Faribault head coach Lois Krinke said, “that we have a lot of really good dancers, that they’re able to pick up the choreography and (perform) cleaner routines.” The Emeralds’ first perfor-
mance of the season was by no means perfect, Krinke said, but it was an early step in the right direction for a talented squad. Faribault lost just four seniors — Alyssa Gray, Frankie McIntyre, Ellie Vieburg and Miranda Spartz — after finishing in third place at the Class AAA State High Kick Championships last season. It came after back-to-back fifth-place state finishes in Class AA. This year, Faribault returned the vast majority of its dancers and added new talent to comprise a lineup of 26 dancers, 12 who are dancing jazz. As a result, Krinke hopes the Emeralds can do as well as they did last year. High kick is Faribault’s bread and butter, and this year it also boasts “a really good” jazz dance, Krinke said. Last year’s success included not only a third-place finish
at state, but also the Emeralds’ 14th conference title in 17 competitions. They swept the Big 9 Conference Championships in Faribault High School’s Nomeland Gymnasium. Austin is the only other team to win a Big 9 championship in that span. The Emeralds also finished second in high kick at the Section 1AAA Championships behind Eastview, the eventual state champion. This season, Faribault has swapped the Apple Valley Invite for a more difficult Chaska Invitational and will perform in the Eastview Invitational, which they took fifth in last year, on Dec. 13. “We want to be able to see what the other teams have and try to compare ourselves now to know what we have to do early on,” Krinke said.
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW • DECEMBER 2014
A special project of the Faribault Daily News 514 Central Avenue, Faribault, MN 55021 • www.faribault.com Publisher Sam Gett Managing Editor Jaci Smith Sports Editor Josh Berhow Sports Reporter Miles Trump Winter Sports Preview is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Faribault Daily News at no additional charge. All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. All rights reserved. © 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
Dillon McEachran, 182 – McEachran, a sophomore, wasn’t a consistent starter for the Falcons last year, but Faribault coach Jesse Armbruster expects he could make a surge during his sophomore season. McEachran finished runner-up at 220 pounds at Faribault’s Dick Shiels Invite to open the season on Nov. 29. Felipe Ramirez, 182 – Ramirez, a sophomore, finished 10-20 as a 182-pound freshman last season, but Armbruster expects a solid season out of the sophomore. Ramirez, who lost his first two matches at individual sections last year, finished third at 220 pounds at the Dick Shiels Invite.
Ryan Mullennex, 145 – Mullennex, a junior, finished 26-12 last season and nearly made his first trip to the state tournament at 132 pounds. He ended his season with an 11-1 loss to Cannon Falls’ Connor Rohr in a true-second match at the Section 1AA Individual Tournament. Tony Avila, 132 – Avila, a junior, went 22-12 last year at 126 pounds and ended his season on a win with a fifth-place finish at individual sections. Along with Mullennex, Avila is one of the most experienced wrestlers in Faribault’s lineup.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Andy Ness, 152 – Ness was Faribault’s lone state participant last season. He lost in the 152-pound title match at individual sections but qualified to state, where he faced the third- and second-ranked wrestlers in the state and didn’t win a match. He finished the season 26-8 overall. Trevor Morris, 160 – Morris, another one of Faribault’s top wrestlers last season, finished his career with a 25-13 record his senior year and took sixth at individual sections.
WEM/JWP WRESTLING UP AND COMING
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Reid Ayers, 132 — Ayers, a junior, improved his career record to .500 last season and should wrestle at 132 as he looks for a breakthrough season. He finished 22-15 last year. Taylor Grams, 220 — Grams went 17-18 last season and finished fourth at sections at 220 pounds. Coach Adam Roesler expects Grams to have a shot at advancing come tournament time.
Skyler Petry, 120 — Petry finished his career as the 120-pound Class AA State champion and was a four-time all-state selection. He went undefeated as a senior and is now wrestling for the University of Minnesota. Colin Ayers, 132 — Ayers finished third at state at 132 pounds and went 44-2 in his final season. He also won the Section 1AA title, and his 147 career wins puts him sixth in program history.
KEY NAMES Ben Boran, 170 — Boran, a senior, qualified for state last season in the 160-pound class and returns to wrestle at the 170-pound class this season. He went 29-7 as a junior and has an 80-42 career record. Chris Pettis, 138 — Pettis, a senior, qualified for state as a sophomore and went 12-4 last season, his first at WEM after transferring from St. Peter.
BEN BORAN
GRIZZLIES SCHEDULE Thursday, Dec. 11: @ Blooming Prairie, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Triangular vs. DoverEyota, Byron @ Byron, 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: Quadrangular vs. Medford, St. Peter, St. Clair @ JWP, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20: Tournament @ St. Olaf College, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23: Triangular vs. Le SueurHenderson, Waseca @ Waseca, 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8: @ Maple River, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10: Tournament @ Maple River, 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15: @ LCWM, 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: Triangular vs. Stewartville, Goodhue @ Goodhue, 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22: Triangular vs. Madelia/ Truman, NRHEG @ WEM, 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: Triangular vs. Fairmont, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31: Home tournament @ WEM, 10 a.m. Thursday,
OUTLOOK The Falcons return with another young lineup, boasting just one senior and a slew of underclassmen. But this year they’re more seasoned, according to Faribault head coach Jesse Armbruster. Faribault, which graduated just four seniors from its 5-9-1 team last year, brought back the majority of its young lineup, led by Ryan Mullennex and Tony Avila. Armbruster expects others such as Dillon McEachran, Felipe Ramirez, Isaac VanThomme and Anthony VanThomme could make larger impacts this year. Some seventh-, eighth- and/or ninth-graders may be called upon this season as well. Armbruster said the Falcons will likely have an uphill battle this season, but he expects them to contend for a spot in the top half of the Big 9 Conference. Last year the Falcons went 5-4 and took fifth in the conference and lost their Section 1AA Team Tournament opener to WEM/JWP 4315. Albert Lea Area, ranked fourth in Class AA, is the conference favorite, and No. 3 Kasson-Mantor ville and ALA are the favorites in Section 1AA.
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Coachspeak
“I think you’re going to see a lot more fight in our kids with finishing matches, with them understanding that with a year of knowledge and experience under their belt that there’s going to be a little bit more expected of them.” – Jesse Armbruster
TONY AVILA
OUTLOOK The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton wrestling team is looking to stay healthy and chase a Gopher Conference title after last season’s second-place finish. Gone are standouts Skyler Petry and Colin Ayers, but coach Adam Roesler said there are a mix of veterans and new wrestlers who could make an impact. With many weights returning letterwinners and a good spread of wrestlers across different weights, the Grizzlies should be consistent from the top to the bottom of their lineup.
Feb. 5: Triangular vs. PEM, USC @ WEM, 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12: Section team tournament begins @ TBA, TBD Friday, Feb. 20: Section individual tournament begins @ Rochester Mayo Civic Center, TBD
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Coachspeak
“The leadership from our veterans has been positive and contagious, which is any coach’s dream.” – Adam Roesler
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
WEM GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WEM BOYS BASKETBALL
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
UP AND COMING
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Brooke Galler, G — Galler, a senior, saw the fourth-most minutes last year among this season’s returning players. RaeAhna Harmon/Kate Masberg, G — Coach Gabe Hauer said Harmon, a junior, will be strong defensively with her length, and Hauer is also counting on Masberg, a sophomore, to help spark the offense as an outside shooting threat.
Tierney Winter, G — Winter, a junior, is the leading returning scorer and rebounder for the Buccaneers and averaged 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists a game last year. Erika Olson, F — Olson, a junior, was an all-conference honorable mention selection last season and will be WEM’s go-to option inside, both on offense and defense.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
OUTLOOK
Nick Stiernagle, F — Stiernagle, a senior, will be looked to provide solid defense in the post and grab rebounds. He scored just more than one point per game and grabbed two rebounds per contest last year. Logan Sendle, G — Coach Jeff Wagner said he likes Sendle’s toughness and ability to play anywhere on the perimeter. Sendle, a sophomore, is a good defender and a capable shooter who did not see court time last year.
Landon Harmon, F — Harmon scored 13.4 points per game last season and also was second in rebounding (5.8 per game) and totaled 38 assists for WEM, helping him earn team MVP honors. Brady Dotterweich, G — An all-conference honorable mention selection at guard, Dotterweich averaged 9.8 points per game and shot 49.4 percent from the field.
Hannah Steinhaus, F — A three-time AllGopher selection, Steinhaus was the Bucs’ leading scorer and rebounder for the past two years. She averaged 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.9 assists per game last season. Kalley Kendall, F — Another all-conference performer, Kendall averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.
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Coachspeak
“I’m excited about all the different things we will be able to do defensively this season because of our quickness and length.” – Gabe Hauer
BROOKE GALLER
After winning multiple playoff games for the first time in decades last season, the WatervilleElysian-Morristown girls basketball team is looking for another upper-half finish after a thirdplace mark in the Gopher Conference in 2013-14. Coach Gabe Hauer said the Bucs will have a mix of experience and youth and should pester teams defensively with a lot of length at different positions. The key to matching or improving last season’s 19-10 campaign will be finding a consistent source of scoring. Hannah Steinhaus and Kalley Kendall combined for about 25 points per game last season, but have since graduated.
BUCS SCHEDULE Tuesday, Dec. 9: vs. Jordan, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: @ USC, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16: vs. Loyola, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19: vs. Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20: vs. St. Peter @ Target Center, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23: @ LSH, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: @ Faribault tournament, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 30: @ Faribault tournament, TBD Friday, Jan. 9: vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ BEA, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: @ Medford, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: vs. Waseca, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22: @ Triton, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23: @ Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. USC, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: @ MVL, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30: @ Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6: @ NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9: vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13: vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: @ St. Peter, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19: vs. Tri-City United, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21: vs. JWP, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26: @ Maple River, 7:15 p.m. Monday, March 2: Sub-sections begin @ high seed, 7 p.m.
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KEY NAMES Cole Pope, G — Called “one of the best shooters to play at WEM” by head coach Jeff Wagner, Pope, a senior, averaged 14.3 points per game and 4.1 assists last season. Zac Olson, F — Olson, a sophomore, has size at 6-foot-4 and is the Buccaneers’ leading returning rebounder at 6.3 per game. He also scored 12.4 points per game last season. If he can take a step forward in his offensive game, he could become an all-around threat for WEM. He’s already gotten off to a hot start this season.
OUTLOOK After a second-place finish in the Gopher Conference and a subsection final loss, the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown boys basketball team has its eyes on another upper-half finish in the conference. While the Buccaneers had a stretch of four straight Gopher titles, United South Central and NRHEG shared the top mark in the conference last season. Coach Jeff Wagner said this is the best balance he can remember in the conference, with plenty of teams returning starters. USC is ranked No. 8 in the Class A preseason poll, NRHEG returns its top nine players and Blooming Prairie has standout John Rumpza back, just to give a peek at the depth in the conference. The Bucs will run a motion offense again and try to play up tempo, relying on their shooters. Rebounding and holding up against bigger teams might be a challenge, and depth and experience could be an issue again.
COLE POPE
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Coachspeak
“If everything works out perfect, we could climb into the upper part of the conference and section.” – Jeff Wagner
BUCS SCHEDULE Tuesday, Dec. 9: @ Waseca, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: vs. USC, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19: @ Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23: @ Tri-City United, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: @ Faribault tournament, Faribault High School, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 30: @ Faribault tournament, Faribault High School, TBD Friday, Jan. 9: @ NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. JWP, 7;15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15: vs. Triton, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ USC, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30: vs. Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: @ Maple River, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6: vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9: @ Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12: @ Blue Earth Area, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13: @ Medford, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: vs. St. Peter, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19: @ Loyola, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24: Sub-sections begin @ high seed, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
PAGE 5
BETHLEHEM ACADEMY BOYS BASKETBALL
BETHLEHEM ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
Charles Kryzer, C — Kryzer, a senior, made an impact off the bench last season with his 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. The tall senior also shot a teamhigh 48.7 percent and has had two double-doubles already this season. Kyle Ell, F — Ell, a junior, didn’t play varsity last season, but he’s making a big impact in his debut. The athletic forward had two double-doubles — including a 22-point, 12-rebound game — in two of the Cardinals’ first four games this season.
Pete Clark, F — The only returning starter from last year’s team, Clark, a senior, averaged 7.1 points per game while shooting 72.3 percent from the free-throw line. The All-Gopher Conference honorable mention also grabbed 4.2 rebounds per contest and took 27 charges last season. However, Clark has missed time in the beginning of the season with a broken hand. Brendan Trump, G — Trump is one of the Cardinals’ more experienced returners despite being a sophomore. He scored 6.0 points per game and finished with more than one assist and rebound per contest his freshman year. He also shot a team-high 102 3-point field goals at a 27.5-percent clip.
Maddi Rendler, C — Rendler, a sophomore, scored 2.6 points per game and grabbed three rebounds per night during her freshman season. She’s in a starting role this season for a Cardinals team looking to make progress. Madi Strodtman, C/Hannah Robb, G — Strodtman and Robb, both juniors, transferred to Bethlehem Academy last year from Medford, where they both played for the Tigers. Both are starters this year and already making an impact for the Cardinals.
Keely Skluzacek, G — Skluzacek, a sophomore, returns after leading the Cardinals in scoring (10.8 per game), rebounding (3.7 per game) and steals (1.6 per game) last season. She was named the team’s Offensive MVP. Shelby Meyer, G — Meyer, a sophomore, averaged 8.7 points with a team-high 33-percent shooting and dished out 1.3 assists per game for the Cardinals last season. One of the Cardinals’ top offensive returners, Meyer also was named the team’s Defensive MVP last season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Kyle Novak, F — During his senior season, Novak led the Cardinals and finished second in the area in scoring (15.3 points per game) and led the area in rebounding (7.2 per game). The All-Gopher Conference pick also blocked 37 shots, the best mark in the area. Freddie Rolstad, F/Mitch Malecha, G — Rolstad was the only other Cardinal to average doublefigure scoring totals (10.3 points per game), and he also grabbed 3.7 rebounds per night. Malecha helped run the offense, finishing with an area-best 3.6 assists per game and 2.4 steals per contests. Malecha was named all-conference.
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Coachspeak
“I think we’re going to battle and we’ll find ways to win games that maybe people don’t expect us to win.” – Jeremy Wagner
OUTLOOK The Cardinals lost nine seniors and the vast majority of their scoring from last year’s team, but that’s not stopping them from holding high expectations this season. First-year head coach Jeremy Wagner said Bethlehem Academy’s goal is to top what it did last year, which was finish 15-14 overall and reach the Section 1A West championship game (BA lost to Goodhue 48-41). The Cardinals, who have just one returning consistent starter in All-Gopher Conference honorable mention Pete Clark and not many players who have substantial varsity experience, will look to do so with an up-tempo, aggressive style of play. Executing transition basketball will be crucial for the Cardinals, Wagner said. NRHEG, USC, WatervilleElysian-Morristown and Blooming Prairie will likely be among the conference favorites, but Wagner isn’t counting the Cardinals out of the mix. The Cardinals finished 8-6 in conference play last season.
BRENDAN TRUMP
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Jenna Brown, G — Brown, last year’s Team MVP, finished her senior season with 6.1 points and three rebounds per game. She also averaged one steal and 1.4 assists per contest. Nichole Van Horn, G — Van Horn, who was one of three seniors along with Brown (above) and Ro Langfeldt (3 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game) last year, scored 4.1 points and grabbed 2.2 rebounds per game last season.
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Coachspeak
OUTLOOK The Cardinals earned only two wins last season, but the coaching staff expects 2014-15 to be a season of progress for Bethlehem Academy. BA’s girls basketball team brings back nine players, including its top-two scorers in Keely Skluzacek and Shelby Meyer, after losing just three seniors to graduation. The Cardinals also added juniors Madi Strodtman and Hannah Robb, both of whom transferred from Medford last year. BA won its first game of the year this season, and it didn’t win its first game until Jan. 24 last year. This year, the Cardinals boast a deeper, athletic lineup that is expected to play a more up-tempo, aggressive style of basketball as they look to improve on last year’s 1-13 conference finish and 2-26 overall record. NRHEG and Blooming Prairie are among the conference favorites. Goodhue — which ended BA’s season in the first round of the Section 1A West quarterfinals last year — along with Blooming Prairie and Lyle/Pacelli are among the sub-section favorites. At the time this story went to press, BA coach Jake Hanson was on unpaid administrative leave from both his duties at the school and as the Cardinals’ coach. Scott Hanson and Jill Strodtman have been the interim head coaches.
“A lot of these girls played last year as freshmen and we took our lumps last year, and now it’s time for these girls to shine a little bit.” – Scott Hanson
SHELBY MEYER
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
REGULAR SEASON (All schedules are subject to change)
Tuesday, Dec. 16: vs. Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19: vs. Winona, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: hosting home tourney, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 30: hosting home Thursday, Dec. 11: vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 tourney, TBD p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3: vs. Mankato East, 7:30 Saturday, Dec. 13: @ Mankato East, p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6: @ Mankato West, 7:30 Tuesday, Dec. 16: @ Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Friday, Jan. 9: @ Rochester Mayo, 7:30 Friday, Dec. 19: @ Winona, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: hosting home Saturday, Jan. 10: vs. New Ulm, 5 p.m. tourney, TBD Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Northfield, 7:30 Tuesday, Dec. 30: hosting home p.m. tourney, TBD Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Mankato West, 7:30 Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Rochester JM, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: @ Red Wing, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9: vs. Rochester Mayo, 7:30 Friday, Jan. 23: vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. Rochester Century, Saturday, Jan. 10: @ New Ulm, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Northfield, 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: @ Rochester JM, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: @ Mankato East, Tuesday, Jan. 20: vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31: @ Henry-Sibley, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: @ Austin, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ Rochester Century Friday, Feb. 6: @ Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10: @ Winona, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: vs. Mankato East, Friday, Feb. 13: vs. Mankato West, 7:30 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: @ Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: vs. Rochester Mayo, Friday, Feb. 6: vs. Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10: vs. Winona, 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20: @ Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13: @ Mankato West, 7:30 Tuesday, Feb. 24: @ Rochester JM, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14: vs. Waconia, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Friday, Feb. 27: vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: @ Rochester Mayo, Wednesday, March 4: Sections begin, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20: vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m. TBD Wednesday, Feb. 25: Sections begin, TBD
Thursday, Dec. 11: @ Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: @ Winona, 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: vs. Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: @ Roseau tourney, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 30: @ Roseau tourney, TBD Wednesday, Dec. 31: @ Roseau tourney, TBD Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8: @ Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10: @ Rochester JM, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Waseca, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17: @ Austin, 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22: vs. Mankato East, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: @ Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31: vs. Owatonna, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5: vs. Winona, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7: @ Mankato West, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10: vs. Le Sueur-Henderson, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12: @ Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14: vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: Sections begin, TBD
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Thursday, Dec. 11: vs. Owatonna, 7:30
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: vs. Winona, 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: @ Mankato West, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20: @ Rochester Mayo, 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29: @ Waseca tourney, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 30: @ Waseca tourney, TBD Wednesday, Dec. 31: @ Waseca tourney, TBD Monday, Jan. 5: vs. Mankato West, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8: vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10: vs. Rochester JM, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Minneapolis Novas, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: @ Red Wing, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22: @ Mankato East, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31: @ Owatonna, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4: Sections begin, TBD
Friday, Jan. 9: @ Eastview, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Mankato East, 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: Quadrangular vs. Blaine, Richfield, Henry Sibley @ Henry Sibley, 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17: Invite @ Eastview, 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22: Triangular vs. Mankato West, Winona @ Winona, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30: vs. Rochester Century, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31: Invite @ Robbinsdale Armstrong, 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5: @ Owatonna, 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12: Team sections @ high seed, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20: Individual sections @ Rochester Civic Center, TBD
FHS GYMNASTICS
Friday, Dec. 12: hosting home quad, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: @ Northfield, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3: hosting home tourney, 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9: vs. Winona, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Owatonna, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17: @ Glencoe-Silver Lake quad, 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: vs. Austin, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: vs. Rochester Mayo, Friday, Jan. 23: vs. Red Wing, 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ Kasson-MantorSaturday, Dec. 20: Invite @ St. Olaf ville, 6:30 p.m. College, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3: Invite @ Maple River, Friday, Jan. 30: @ Mankato triangular, 6:30 p.m. 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7: @ Big 9 ChampionThursday, Jan. 8: Triangular vs. ships @ Northfield, 3 p.m. Rochester JM, Marshall, Northfield @ Friday, Feb. 13: Sections begin @ Rochester JM, 5:30 p.m.
FHS WRESTLING
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Wieber Physical Therapy 1961 Cardinal Lane, Suite A, Faribault P: 507.333.2986 | F: 507.333.2918
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Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
PAGE 7
GAME SCHEDULES Rochester Mayo, TBD
FHS EMERALDS Thursday, Dec. 4: Community performance, Faribault High School, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6: @ Chaska Invite, TBD Saturday, Dec. 13: @ Eastview Invite, TBD Saturday, Jan. 17: @ Big 9 Conference Meet @ Rochester Mayo, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7: Sections begin @ Bloomington Kennedy, TBD
Meet @ Rochester Recreation Center, 12 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26: Sections begin @ Inver Grove Heights Community Center, TBD Saturday, Feb. 28: Sections @ Inver Grove Heights Community Center, TBD
BA BOYS HOOPS
Thursday, Dec. 11: vs. Goodhue, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: vs. Wabasha-Kellogg, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16: @ Randolph, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19: vs. WEM, 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22: vs. TCU, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2: @ Triton, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5: @ Belle Plaine, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11: vs. Rochester Tuesday, Jan. 6: @ Blooming Prairie, Mayo, 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: @ Albert Lea, 6 Friday, Jan. 9: vs. USC, 7:15 p.m. p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20: @ Albert Lea Invite, Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Medford, 7:15 p.m. 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30: @ Northfield, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Rochester JM, 6 Thursday, Jan. 22: @ Stewartville, p.m. 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: @ Austin, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: @ NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: vs. Mankato West, Thursday, Jan. 29: @ JWP, 7:15 p.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. South Saint Paul, Friday, Jan. 30: @ WEM, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: vs. Blooming Prairie, 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: @ Owatonna, 6 Friday, Feb. 6: @ USC, 7:15 p.m. p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7: @ Pine Island, 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5: vs. Mankato East, Tuesday, Feb. 10: vs. Medford, 7:15 6 p.m. p.m. Friday, Feb. 20: @ Big 9 Conference Thursday, Feb. 12: vs. Cleveland, 7:30 Meet (diving only) @ Northfield, 5 p.m. p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21: @ Big 9 Conference Friday, Feb. 13: @ Maple River, 7:15
FHS BOYS SWIM AND DIVE
p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17: Sub-sections begin @ high seed, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9: vs. Cambridge Christian, 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15: vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: @ Wabasha-Kellogg, Tuesday, Dec. 16: vs. Nova Classical Academy, 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: vs. TCU, 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22: vs. Schaeffer Academy, 6 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 16: @ Goodhue, 7:15 Tuesday, Jan. 6: @ International p.m. School, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19: @ WEM, 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22: @ Leroy-Ostrander, Thursday, Jan. 8: vs. Chesterton Academy, 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2: @ Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9: vs. Calvin Christian, Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Blooming Prairie, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Hope Academy, 7:15 p.m. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9: @ USC, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15: @ Clerc Classic @ Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Medford, 7:15 California, 10 a.m. p.m. Friday, Jan. 16: @ Clerc Classic @ Friday, Jan. 16: @ Maple River, 7:15 California, 10 a.m. p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: vs. Randolph, 7:15 Saturday, Jan. 17: @ Clerc Classic @ California, 10 a.m. p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20: @ Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. St. Clair, 7:15 Friday, Jan. 23: vs. Christian Life, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: vs. JWP, 7:15 p.m. p.m. Monday, Jan. 26: vs. Rochester Home Friday, Jan. 30: vs. WEM, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: @ Blooming Prairie, School, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ North Lakes 7:15 p.m. Academy, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6: vs. USC, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7: vs. Southland, 1:30 Thursday, Jan. 29: vs. CPA, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30: vs. Great River, 7:30 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10: @ Medford, 7:15 Tuesday, Feb. 3: @ Hmong Academy, p.m. Friday, Feb. 13: vs. Maple River, 7:15 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5: @ Agriculture/Scip.m. ence Academy, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17: vs. SW Christian, Thursday, Feb. 12: @ GPSD @ Iowa, 7:15 p.m. 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20: @ NRHEG, 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13: @ GPSD @ Iowa, 10 Tuesday, Feb. 24: Sub-section @ a.m. High seed, 7 p.m.
BA GIRLS HOOPS
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Saturday, Feb. 14: @ GPSD @ Iowa, 10 a.m.
MSAD GIRLS HOOPS Tuesday, Dec. 9: vs. Cambridge Christian, 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15: vs. Cleveland, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16: @ Nova Classical, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18: @ Schaeffer Academy, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8: vs. Chesterton, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9: vs. Calvin Christian, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Hope Academy, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15: @ Clerc Classic @ California, TBD Friday, Jan. 16: @ Clerc Classic @ California, TBD Saturday, Jan. 17: @ Clerc Classic @ California, TBD Tuesday, Jan. 20: @ Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23: vs. Christian Life, 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26: vs. Rochester Home School, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27: @ North Lakes, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29: vs. CPA, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30: vs. Great River, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3: @ Hmong Academy, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5: @ AFSA, 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14: @ GPSD @ Iowa, TBD Friday, Feb. 20: @ EMAC Tourney, TBD Saturday, Feb. 21: @ EMAC Tourney, TBD
(See WEM schedules on pages with team previews.)
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PAGE 8
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
TJ Hunt, G – Hunt, a sophomore, will be the team’s primary point guard this year, and he’ll have even a bigger role after Nash Bauer, who held that position the past couple of years, didn’t come out for the team this season. Coach Lance Walsten said Hunt has a “calm and steady mentality” and he’s looking for him to become more offensive-minded. Brady Combs, G – Combs, a junior, will handle the majority of the ball-handling duties, along with TJ Hunt, according to Walsten. Combs will also be called upon to guard the opposing team’s top offensive threat. Win Hunter, F – Hunter, a junior, played sparingly last season but saw more action as the season went along. He averaged 4.8 points a game and led Faribault in scoring in two of its first three games this season with 10 and 12 points, respectively.
Kallan Hart, F – Hart, a senior, was the team’s secondleading scorer last season at 6.6 points per game. He had one of the team’s better shooting percentages in 41 percent, and he’ll be asked to be physical in the post and provide the Falcons with some scoring and rebounding. Kade Hart, F – Hart, a sophomore, has size at 6-foot-7 and can stretch the defense with his 3-point shot. He averaged 5.2 points a game last season and his 115 total rebounds were the second-highest number on the team.
Grace Amacher, G – Amacher, a freshman, saw lots of varsity time as an eighth-grader last year, and she should play an even bigger role this season. She also saw quite a bit of time on the varsity volleyball team during the fall, so she’s used to playing with the older girls. Laney Palmer, C – Palmer, a sophomore, saw some varsity time last year and gives the Falcons a post presence. She was injured during the summer and missed all of volleyball season, and she’ll be moved into action slowly this season.
Ellery Akemann, G – Akemann, a junior, was the Falcons’ leading scorer last season with a 10.2 points-per-game average. The Big 9 All-Conference honorable mention pick also averaged about 5.0 rebounds per game to go with 2.7 steals a contest. Jenna Wetzel, G – Wetzel, a junior, has seen a ton of varsity minutes and is now just entering her first year as an upperclassman. Her 2.4 assists per game last year were the fifth-most in the area, and she was also the area’s fourth-best 3-point shooter, knocking in 28 of them for a 29.8-percent clip.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Nate Emge, G – Emge, last year’s Daily News All-Area Player of the Year, averaged 15.9 points and 4.7 rebounds a game last season. He also averaged 3.3 assists a game and led the Falcons in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He was named Big 9 All-Conference.
OUTLOOK The Falcons will have a new look this season, and it starts with the man on the bench. Lance Walsten takes over as head coach after Scott Morrissey resigned after last season’s 2-25 record. The Falcons were 14-94 in their last four seasons under Morrissey. On top of that, Faribault graduated its only senior off last year’s team in Nate Emge, who ranks in the top 10 all-time in career scoring. Emge was the Falcons’ goto man offensively for the past several years, but the offense will have to be more balanced this year with him gone. Only two seniors suit up this year in posts Kallan Hart and Devin Jandro, and Hart, the team’s top returning scorer, has been a starter out of the gate. Faribault will also need to get contributions from a handful of younger players who will see extended varsity minutes, such as Kade Hart, Win Hunter, TJ Hunt, Cody Ehlers, Chase Ernste and Brady Combs. Faribault already notched its biggest win in five years when it beat Austin 38-35 in overtime in its third game of the season. The Packers knocked off Faribault 73-42 in the Section 1AAA opener last year and went on finish second in the Class AAA State Tournament. The Packers started this year ranked eighth in the state. Faribault finished 0-18 in Big 9 play last season, and Austin won the conference with an 18-0 mark. This year it should be up for grabs with several teams — Mankato West, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo and Northfield — in the mix. Red Wing and Kasson-Mantorville should be teams in the mix for a Section 1AAA title.
“
Coachspeak
“It’s all new, for both me and for them. There are a lot of new challenges.” – Lance Walsten
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Dani Behrens, G – Behrens was one of Faribault’s main offensive threats for the last several years. Her 29 3-pointers made last year ranked fourth in the area. Cecilia Hake, F – Hake was the Falcons’ top rebounder a year ago, and her 8.2 per-game average ranked third in the area. She was also fourth in the area in steals per game at 3.0.
“
Coachspeak
“We have a lot of good, young players, and I think we will definitely get better throughout the season.” – Bill Bardal
OUTLOOK
Despite finishing 4-23 and 1-17 in the Big 9 Conference last season, the Falcons took a big step in Bill Bardal’s first year as head coach when considering that Faribault had won just four total games in the three previous seasons combined. This year, it’s leading scorer is back, but several inexperienced girls will need to step up to continue the team’s progress. Faribault has just three upperclassmen in senior Alyssa Roushar and juniors Ellery Akemann and Jenna Wetzel. Akemann and Wetzel are long-time varsity regulars, and Roushar doesn’t have that kind of experience but did start the team’s first game of the season. Filling spots this year will be several freshmen and sophomores. Freshmen Grace Amacher and Megan Gehrke also started the team’s season opener, but other girls will get chances, too. Freshman Lauren Isaacson came off the bench to score six points — on 3-of-3 shooting — in the Falcons’ opener. Bardal said five freshmen will get considerable playing time this year, a group that includes Rachel Hanson and Bre Bresnahan along with the aforementioned three. Bardal said the Falcons, who ended last season with a 56-25 loss to Winona in the first round of the Section 1AAA Tournament, will play a slightly different style this year. He said last year the focus was on limiting turnovers, but this year he would like to push the ball more offensively and create more shots. Owatonna won the conference last year but lost several players. Rochester John Marshall finished second and could be the team that takes the top spot in the Big 9 this year. KassonMantorville will be the team to beat in Section 1AAA.
JENNA WETZEL
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
PAGE 9
MSAD GIRLS BASKETBALL
MSAD BOYS BASKETBALL
UP AND COMING
KEY NAMES
Ernelina Beldon, G – Beldon, a freshman, will get more minutes this season. She has 22 points and 15 steals through the team’s first three games. Kayla Mitchell, C – Mitchell, a freshman, will be counted on to be one of the team’s top rebounders this year. Kelsey Prickett, G – Prickett, a senior, is averaging 8.0 points per game through three games.
Kyrell Cummings, G — Cummings, a sophomore, is the Trojans’ top returning scorer (7.9 points per game) and rebounder (7.1 per game). He shot 54 percent from the field and also snatched 1.8 steals per game. Logan Waldo, F — Waldo, a senior, averaged 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest last year, the secondbest rebounding mark among returners. Waldo also led the team in blocks (14) and averaged 1.4 steals a game. Matt Sherman, G — Sherman, a junior, returns after recording 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He also had 1.1 steals per game and shot about 37 percent from the field.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
OUTLOOK
Tabitha Anderson, G/F – Anderson averaged 17.5 points and 9.9 rebounds a game last year, and she was named the NDIAA Division II Co-Player of the Year, named to the DeafDigest All-American Team and was DeafDigest’s Player of the Year. MSAD also graduated other key scorers and rebounders in Jessica Rademacher and Megan Richardson.
Last year, MSAD finished the season 19-5 and won the Neesam Classic, Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Tournament and Eastern Minnesota Athletic Conference Showcase. It was also named the NDIAA Division II Team of the Year and shared DeafDigest’s Sports Team of the Year. But gone is a strong senior class, which was led by Tabitha Anderson. This year, the Trojans will be shorter and have to get more production from their guards. Coach Sabrina Hubmer says the team will be in rebuilding mode this year.
“
Coachspeak
“Our rebounding is a concern because we are not the tallest team.” – Sabrina Hubmer
KEY NAMES
Emelia Beldon, PG – Beldon, a sophomore, averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 steals and 4.7 assists per game last year. She also knocked down 37 3-pointers as the Trojans’ top long-range threat. Eliza Linstaedt, G – Linstaedt, a junior, is one of two returning starters for MSAD, along with Beldon. She scored 17 points in MSAD’s third game of the season.
OUTLOOK The Trojans, who lost three seniors from last year’s team, return seven players and add five new players to a roster that head coach Lee Jones thinks has what it takes to win a deaf national title. Jones also expects the boys to be hungry for the GPSD, Clerc Classic and EMAC titles this season, but added that they’ll need to build team chemistry and defensive intensity before that can happen. MSAD expects to play a fast-paced offensive, highintensity defensive game. Last season, MSAD was 12-10 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Sammy/Tommy Ellenbecker, G — The Ellenbecker twins were longtime varsity players. Sammy was the team’s top scorer at 13.9 points per game last season and Tommy was the only other Trojan to average double-figure point totals (10.9 per game).
UP AND COMING
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Garrett Springer, C — Springer, a senior, scored 6.6 points per game on 50-percent shooting last year. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds a game.
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“
Coachspeak
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PAGE 10
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOCKEY
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOCKEY UP AND COMING
UP AND COMING
Olivia Williamson, F – Williamson, a seventh-grader, is the youngest player on the team but leads the Falcons with five goals through their first six games.
Austin Lewis, F – Lewis, a senior, played on the JV last season after transferring from North Carolina. He’s made a huge impact already. He scored a hat trick in the team’s 3-2 overtime win to open the season and has four goals and seven points through Faribault’s first three games.
KEY NAMES
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Megan Johnstad, F – Johnstad, a junior, was the team’s leading scorer last season with seven goals and nine assists. Through the first four games this year she has four goals and a team-best eight points. L exus Tatge, F – Tatge, the team’s lone senior, was Faribault’s second-leading scorer last season with six goals and 12 points. She’s been a varsity regular since her freshman season. Madison Beaupre, D – Beaupre, a junior, anchors the blue line for yet another season. She had six goals and five assists last season and was tied for third on the team in points.
Mallory Ward, F – Ward tied for the team-high in goals last season with seven. Her 11 points tied for the third-most on the team. Franny Ziegler, D – Ziegler was one of the Falcons’ top defenseman and one of two blue-liners, along with Chelsie Nawrocki, who graduated.
OUTLOOK The Falcons lost three girls who were on their section roster a year ago and return five of their top-six scorers from last season, but there isn’t a lot of depth. First-year head coach Alli Miller will have to try to win games with low numbers, as the Falcons have two full lines and four defensemen as their skaters. Miller, a 2007 Faribault High School graduate, replaces Steve Gravgaard as head coach. Gravgaard resigned in the offseason after coaching the team for nine of the last 11 years. Miller, a former All-State player for the Falcons, is the Hamline women’s hockey team’s co-leader in career points, and she was one of Gravgaard’s assistant coaches for two seasons. Depth may be slim, but the Falcons bring back key players between the goal posts. Junior Lauren Werner and freshman Camryn Salmonsen will split time early in the season. Werner had a 3.60 goals-against average last year and Salmonsen’s was 3.74. The Falcons’ other top returning scorers from last year are Alexis Ferris (five goals, five assists) and Shae McDonough (six goals, one assist). Faribault was 7-17-1 last year and 4-14 in the Big 9 Conference and lost 3-0 to Red Wing in its Section 1A opener. Big 9 newcomer Red Wing should be the conference and section favorite.
“
KEY NAMES Tyler Becker, F – Becker, a senior, scored seven goals last year after registering nine as a sophomore, but his 20 assists tied for the team lead. Christian VonRuden, F – VonRuden, a senior, scored goals at a furious pace last season, finishing with 29 on the year. The speedy VonRuden finished the season with 49 points — the most any Faribault player has had in the last four seasons. Koy Payne, D – Payne, a junior, had six points last season, but he’s already close to that number with his four assists through the team’s first three games of this season. He’ll be a key player on the blue line. He plays the point on the power play, and according to head coach Dean Weasler, Payne “does it all.”
“
Coachspeak
“We are looking for guys to use their assets. If you are a fast skater then use your speed, and if you are a skilled hands guy use your hands. We are looking for guys to really recognize their strengths and use them.” – Dean Weasler
“My expectations for all of them are three steps up from last year. They all know their expectations.” – Alli Miller
FA R I B A U LT G A R D E N C E N T E R Good Luck To Our Local Athletes!
1 7 1 5 L Y N D A L E AV E . N . • 3 3 4 - 9 0 1 6
Isaiah Brogden, F – Brogden ranked second on the team last season in goals (19) and points (37). He was one of a couple key forwards the Falcons lost to graduation, another being Turner Putrah, who had seven goals and 16 points on the season. Jake Murray, D – Murray had five points during the regular season, but his three points during sections (one goal, two assists) were tied for second on the team.
OUTLOOK
Coachspeak
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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
TYLER BECKER
Faribault finished last season 12-12-2 and was 7-10-1 in the Big 9 Conference, which was good for sixth place. The Falcons had a strong end to their regular season — winning five of their last six — before winning their section opener and then losing 3-2 in overtime to Rochester Lourdes in the Section 1A quarterfinals. A good core of that team returns, led by the speedy duo of Tyler Becker and Christian VonRuden. They’ll be joined on the top line this year — at least to begin the season — with Austin Lewis, a transfer who has already made a splash. Dean Weasler, who is entering his third year as the Falcons’ head coach, said if everyone does their job, the Falcons should be in good shape. It starts with those top players providing points, though, or other players on the second and third lines stepping up. Weasler said he’s also hoping this year’s senior-laden team will be a disciplined one, as he wants the club to decrease its penalty minutes from a year ago. While Becker, Lewis and VonRuden will be asked to supply most of the offensive punch — that trio has 21 of the team’s 28 points through its first three games — it will be Koy Payne and Anthony Simons leading the blue line. Simons is a converted forward. The Falcons return both goalies from last season in Chase Batchelder and Adam Johannsen. Johannsen held a 3.62 goals-against average during the regular season, and Batchelder’s was 4.03. Mankato West and Rochester Century will be the Big 9’s early favorites, and West and New Prague should be strong contenders for the Section 1A title.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SWIM AND DIVE UP AND COMING
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Sam Steinberg – Steinberg, a sophomore, will help comprise a one-two punch in diving with Austin Ferris. Last year, Steinberg finished third at the Big 9 Conference Championships and sixth at the Section 1A meet as a freshman. Head coach Charlie Fuller hopes Steinberg will become a state entrant this season.
Dakota Vininski – Vininski swam with Brady Bresnahan and the Sadergaski brothers in the Falcons’ 200 and 400 free relays at state last season. He also finished fifth at the Big 9 Championships in the 500 free.
OUTLOOK Like recent seasons, the Falcons likely won’t have large enough numbers to rack up wins in dual meets, but for what they lack in depth, they’ll be strong at the top of their lineup. Faribault’s boys swimming and diving team returns four of its five state entrants from last year who helped push the Falcons to a fourthplace finish in Class A for a second straight year. All four Falcons — swimmers Brady Bresnahan, Paul Sadergaski and David Sadergaski and diver Austin Ferris — were named All-State and in on at least one second-place finish, if not more. Faribault coach Charlie Fuller hopes those returners, along with a group of up-and-coming swimmers, will push the Falcons into one of the top-three spots at state this season, which would be the best finish in program history. The returning swimmers should be stronger than last year, and the diving duo of Ferris and Sam Steinberg (above) should be even better, too. The Falcons finished runner-up at the Big 9 Conference Championships last year. Rochester Century won the meet and is favored to do so again. St. Thomas Academy, the back-to-back-to-back state champion, is the heavy favorite in Section 1A.
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Coachspeak
KEY NAMES Austin Ferris – Coach Charlie Fuller has high expectations this season for Ferris, a senior who broke and re-broke Faribault’s six-dive record last season, won the Big 9 diving title and finished runner-up in diving at the Class A State championships after finishing third the year before. Ferris and Fuller are aiming for a state title this season. Paul and David Sadergaski – Paul, a sophomore, can swim in just about any event for the Falcons but is strongest in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. Last year, he finished runner-up at state in the 100 fly and was a member of the Falcons’ two second-place relays (he had a chance to do well in the 200 IM but was disqualified during state prelims). His older brother, David, won the 100 fly at the conference meet last season and finished eighth in the event at state. He also was on the 200 and 400 free relays at state last season. This year, Fuller hopes David can take a step up in the 50 free. Brady Bresnahan – Bresnahan, a senior sprinter, finished second at state in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles and was a key member of two relays that finished second at state. He’s the Big 9 champion in the 100 free and the Section 1A champ in the 50 and 100 free.
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FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS UP AND COMING
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Jade Bokman – Bokman, a freshman, was one of three girls to compete in the all-around during the team’s first meet. She’s one of two freshmen on the team. Haley Sullivan – Sullivan, a sophomore, competed on vault during the team’s opening meet. She could see time on the beam and bars as well.
Janelle Matejcek – Matejcek was the Falcons’ only senior last season and named Big 9 AllConference. She finished eighth on the bars (9.3) and 12th on the floor (9.25) at sections. Sophia Steinberg was all-conference honorable mention last season but did not come out for the team.
KEY NAMES Maria McDonough – McDonough, a junior, is the only returning Big 9 All-Conference gymnast for Faribault. At the conference championships she tied for fourth on the beam (9.5) and tied for sixth on the vault (9.225). Head coach Cora Packard said she’s hoping McDonough can make a run at state this year. Mary McCoshen – McCoshen, a sophomore, was the closest on the team to earning a state berth last season. She finished fifth on the vault (9.475), which was just one spot out of the final state spot. Kayla Mullenberg – Mullenberg, a senior, has been a longtime varsity contributor. Her main event is the balance beam, which she scored an 8.5 in during the Big 9 Championships.
OUTLOOK Three girls — Maria McDonough, Jade Bokman and Kayla Mullenberg — competed in the all-around for Faribault during its season-opening meet, but several other spots are up for grabs. Gymnasts such as Lydia DuPay, Kaylee Rohloff, Alexis Strouth, Haley Sullivan, Mary McCoshen and Anna Nietz could see time in different events throughout the season, some more than others depending on how their skills progress. Falcons first-year head coach Cora Packard said her team’s depth will make sure girls are competitive to keep their spots. Packard, who used to coach the St. James gymnastics team for eight years, replaces Ashley (Cummins) Kinniry, who stepped down after last year. Faribault finished last season 5-3 overall and took sixth at the Big 9 Conference Championships before taking sixth at the Section 1AA Championships. With Northfield and Red Wing joining the Big 9 this season, the Raiders will now be the likely favorites to take the conference and Section 1AA. Owatonna, Winona and Austin are often strong in the Big 9 as well.
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Coachspeak
“To be where they are at at this point of the season, I feel really good.” – Cora Packard
KAYLA MULLENBERG
Celebrating 30 Years In Business!
GOOD LUCK TO OUR LOCAL ATHLETES!
“I think (a top-three finish at state) is very realistic, and we’re going to go into the season with that in our mind again. We’re been fourth two years in a row. We want third or better.” – Charlie Fuller
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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Tuesday, December 9, 2014