Pocahontas Area

POCAHONTAS AREA

INDIAN BOYS

There will be minutes for new faces this winter for the Pocahontas Area boys.

Just one starter in Jacob Gerdes returns, with Cael Samuelson and Lucas Kopriva also back after seeing the court last year.

Gerdes scored six points a night and grabbed five rebounds, helping the Indians win eight games and finish with a winning record in the Twin Lakes Conference. Samuelson and Kopriva chipped in two a night.

Ethan Behrens, Blake Roberts, Cael Hull, Nick Erickson and Gabe Ehn are among the newcomers for Pocahontas Area who are competing for varsity minutes and roles.

“We are really a team of unknowns,” PAC head coach Brian Friesner said. “Our summer work was good. It provided the young players good court time and a chance to improve.

“With so many unknowns, though, we just really don’t know what to expect.”

—By Dana Becker

INDIAN GIRLS

Expectations are high around the Pocahontas Area girls with five returning senior starters back following a 16-win campaign.

Akaysa Duitscher, Carly Janssen, Abby Oberhelman, Paige Melohn and Meg Sump have all gained valuable experience as key members of the rotation since joining the program.

Janssen, a 5-foot-5, point guard, averaged 17 points with five steals, four assists and two rebounds per game last year. Duitscher, a backcourt mate, added 12 points, 5.5 assists, three steals and three boards.

Oberhelman, Melohn and Sump provide the strength inside, with Oberhelman coming off an 11-point, nine-rebound per game season. Melohn added six and seven, with Sump chipping in four and four.

“With all five starters back and a talented group off the bench, we really feel like this season gives us a great opportunity to build on our past success,” Maske said. “We have battled the injury bug the last two years, but we hope to use that experience of overcoming adversity to help us handle all types of situations and still come out on top.

“We are extremely deep, have great team chemistry, a will to win and an ability to adjust.”

Jenna Vonnahme, Madison Vial and Natalie Point have all been in the rotation, with freshmen Alayna Kakacek and Delaney Janssen set to add more depth.

Maske will co-head coach alongside Eric Francis this winter. Francis went 57-13 during a coaching stint at South Central Calhoun.

See INDIANS, Page 31

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla POCAHONTAS AREA WRESTLING returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Dominic Aljets, Verde Klocke and Joel Carranza. Back: Alex Welander, Ryan Panbecker, Deontez Williams and Cody Nichols.

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla POCAHONTAS AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Carly Janssen, Madison Vial and Natalie Point. Back: Jenna Vonnahme, Abby Oberhelman, Paige Melohn, Akaysa Duitscher and Megan Sump.

Praying blessings over a wonderful season for our PAC Tribe Students GO PAC GO