WASECA BLUEJAYS • JWP BULLDOGS • NRHEG PANTHERS • WEM BUCCANEERS
RACING INTO
SPRING 2013 SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW Baseball • Softball • Golf • Track and field • Boys tennis
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
STORY INDEX WASECA SOFTBALL.......................................3 JWP SOFTBALL...............................................4 NRHEG SOFTBALL..........................................5 WEM SOFTBALL.............................................6 WASECA BASEBALL.......................................7 JWP BASEBALL...............................................8 NRHEG BASEBALL..........................................9 WEM BASEBALL...........................................10 WASECA GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD............11 WASECA BOYS TRACK AND FIELD.............12 JWP TRACK AND FIELD...............................13 NRHEG GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD...............14 NRHEG BOYS TRACK AND FIELD................15 WEM TRACK AND FIELD..............................16 NRHEG BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF..................17 WASECA BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF...............18 WASECA BOYS TENNIS................................19 JWP BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF PREVIEWS For spring previews of Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s boys and girls golf teams, check in an upcoming issue of the Waseca County News.
Friday, April 5, 2013
2013 Spring Sports Preview A special project of the Waseca County News 213 2nd St. NW, Waseca, MN 56093 www.wasecacountynews.com 2013 Winter Sports Preview is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Waseca County News at no additional charge. All rights reserved. Copyright 2013. All advertising content herein is the responsibility of the advertiser.
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WASECA SOFTBALL KEY NAMES:
Doug Tramp, so Waseca will rely on bunting and timely hitting to produce runs. If the Bluejays can play solid defense, their pitching will help keep them in the game, he said. Last year, Waseca made a late run through the postseason, picking up three Section 2AA South victories before losing back-to-back games to end the season. This year, they’ll look to gain experience with a tough non-conference schedule that includes Mankato Loyola, Kasson, Blooming Prairie, New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva and Maple River. In the South Central Conference, New Ulm is the Class AA defending champions and St. Peter is coming off a 14-6 season.
Abby Collins, senior, P: Out of 148 innings of softball last season, Collins pitched in all but one. She was the team’s stud pitcher, finishing 13-9 with a 1.66 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 21 complete games (including two shutouts). When she wasn’t keeping Waseca in games from the mound, she hit .254 from the plate. Alicia Knoll, senior, CF: Knoll hit .232 last season with six RBIs and a team-leading 12 walks. She also had five stolen bases last season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Samantha Barrie, SS: Barrie had a monster senior year: She hit .500 with a team-best 38 hits, 27 RBIs and a team-record 11 doubles. She homered three times on the year – tied for a team record – two of which came in the same game (also tied for a team record). Jacie Hoehn, OF: Hoehn moved out of Waseca last year after putting together a stellar freshman season. She hit .347, the second-best average on the team, and had a team-best 13 stolen bases. She also scored a team-high 23 runs last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Katie Tlusty, sophomore, DP: Tlusty was called up midway through the season and gave the Bluejays a spark: In nine games as a freshman, she hit .391, including two doubles, a triple and six RBIs. She also scored four runs. Katie Miller, senior, 1B: The athletic first basemen hit five doubles and a home run and knocked in 9 RBIs, third-most on the team, last season. She also led the team in strikeouts (28).
2013 OUTLOOK: With senior Abby Col-
FROM THE COACH:
“If we play defense and can get any kind of hitting, we should be in the top-three in conference and sections.” – Doug Tramp
FROM A PLAYER:
“I’m really excited. I think we’re going to have a good year.” – Abby Collins, senior
BY THE NUMBERS:
1.66 – Senior Abby Collins’ ERA in 147 innings pitched last Waseca’s Abby Collins fires a pitch home during her complete-game one-hitter against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Tuesseason day, April 3, 2012 in Waterville. The Bluejays won 8-1 thanks to a five-run sixth inning. (Brendan Burnett-Kurie/Faribault Daily 86 – Number of combined News) hits for Jacie Hoehn, Bailey Krueger and Samantha Barrie, who are gone from the team this lins returning to the mound, season. Team speed will be a weak- ness, says first-year head coach season it’s no secret that pitching will be a strength for Waseca this season. Collins was the team’s workhorse last season, pitching 147 innings and finishing with a 1.66 ERA. One issue Waseca faces is trying to fill the void of the players it lost last season. Samantha Barrie graduated, Ja- Gloria Butler, Agent 2nd Ave. NE. cie Hoehn moved and Bailey 215 Waseca, MN 56093 We’re rooting for you! Krueger isn’t playing this year. Bus: 507-835-8301 Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Together, those three were Waseca’s top offensive producA Leading Manufacturer of RF, Microwave and Optical Connectors and Cables ers, each hitting .343 or higher “Consider it Solved” (Barrie hit .500) and combining for 45 of Waseca’s 79 RBIs last
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Friday, April 5, 2013
JWP SOFTBALL Editor’s note: Statistics from last year’s Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton softball team were not available.
KEY NAMES: Kaley and Jacey Anderson, freshmen: The Anderson twins, freshmen this year, could end up providing a spark for the Bulldogs this season after the team went 0-15 last year. They have a connection on the field, too: Kaley is a catcher and Jacey is a pitcher.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Salena Gahler: Gahler was a shortstop for the team last year. Haley Page: Page pitched for the Bulldogs last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Laura Trahms, sophomore, INF: Trahms has hit the ball well in practice so far this season and has a strong arm, first-year head coach Mike Barten said. She’ll likely end up playing middle infield. Aneisah Kahn, freshman, 1B: Kahn is slated to play first base for the Bulldogs this season. She’s a strong player who can hit the ball well, Barten said.
2013 OUTLOOK: Softball at JWP has endured a rough stretch for awhile. The Bulldogs, under head coach Jim McCullum, went winless (0-15) last season, losing their final game, a Section 2A playoff matchup against Madelia/ Truman, 9-8 in extra innings. The year before that, JWP won only one game. Two seasons have passed since the Bulldogs were competitive, finishing the 2010 season with a 9-10 record, and seven seasons have gone by since JWP had a winning record. This season, the Bulldogs have a new coach, Mike Barten, who hopes to turn some of those struggles around. On the basepaths, the Bulldogs will look to use their speed as an advantage. And on defense, Barten hopes the team will be fundamentally sound and not give teams many free passes. The first-year head coach also hopes JWP will be able to finish in the middle of the Gopher Conference – in which Blooming Prairie, the Class A runner-up, is the team to beat – and is able “to win a couple of playoff games and make it to Caswell Park (in Mankato) for some section games.”
FROM THE COACH: “We are young … so the kids are going to have to learn on the fly and be mentally tough. Hopefully we get used to the speed of the game right away, then things will come naturally, rather than to have to think about what to do.” – Mike Barten
FROM A PLAYER: “I think that we actually have a good shot at having some wins this year with having a good coach who’s here coaching us and has a lot of high expectations and has faith in us. I think that we can pull through and have a pretty decent season, and we also have some talent. I think that we have a lot of high JWP’s Salena Gahler fires a throw to first base in 2012 during a 14-2 loss for the Bulldogs. potential.” – Jenna Vogelsang, senior (County news file photo)
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NRHEG SOFTBALL KEY NAMES:
ting average, 16-4 pitching record) will be out for the season after she suffered a knee injury in March in the Class AA Girls Basketball Tournament. The Panthers do, however, return a solid core in Hannah Lundberg (.286 batting average), Tara Simon (.290) and Anna Stork (.268). Along with Schultz, Lundberg was all-conference and Stork was an honorable mention last season. A couple of younger pitchers will be called on to fill the void on the mound, NRHEG coach Wendy Schultz said.
Jade Schultz, junior, P: Last season, Schultz was NRHEG’s best player: The then-sophomore hit a team-best .456 with 15 RBIs and finished with a 1.98 ERA in 131 innings from the mound. She’ll miss the entire season, though, as she damaged her ACL, MCL and meniscus during the Class AA Girls Basketball Tournament in March. Hannah Lundberg, junior, C: Lundberg is an All-Gopher Conference returner who earned the “Most Improved” honor as a sophomore last season. She hit .286 and played in 132 innings last season, tied for the most on the team.
FROM THE COACH:
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Tori Raimann, SS: Raimann batted .377, second-best on the team, and had a .500 on-base percentage for the Panthers last season. The shortstop also earned All-Gopher Conference honors. Anna Schlaak, 1B: Schlaak was another solid player for the Panthers, hitting .340 with nine RBIs her senior year. She also had five doubles, two triples and Panthers’ ace Jade Schultz was the team’s standout last year, but she suffered a knee injury at the Class AA Girls Basketball Tour11 runs during the season. nament that is forcing her to sit out the softball season. (County News file photo)
KEEP YOUR EYE ON Anna Stork, sophomore, IF: As a freshman last season, Stork hit .268 with 10 RBIs to earn an all-conference honorable mention nod. Stork played 131 innings last season.
Tara Simon, senior, 3B: As a junior, Simon hit a solid .290 and knocked in 11 RBIs, second- 2013 OUTLOOK: The Panthers lost a big chunk most on the team. She was one of two Panthers to homer and was tied of their offensive and defensive for fourth on the team with 18 hits. production in graduating seniors
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“(The expectations) have shifted, but I think it might be a little different style of softball. We haven’t had to play too much defense really, a lot of times Jade would strike a lot of the batters out. ... It’s hard to say what’s going to happen with the situation but our defense is going to have tighten up and offensively we’re going to have to be aggressive, and on the bases, too.” – Wendy Schultz
FROM A PLAYER:
“I expect us to do really well and play well, but without Jade it might be a little difficult and more challenging. But I still have high hopes for our team.” – Hannah Lundberg, junior
Loyola (21-2, 10-0 Gopher) and BY THE NUMBERS: Blooming Prairie, the Class A 1.98 – Jade Schultz’s ERA last runners-up. year NRHEG found out in mid.307 – NRHEG’s team batting March that it’ll face another loss average last season this season: Jade Schultz (.456 bat-
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WEM SOFTBALL KEY NAMES Brittany Buesgens, senior, P – The team leader in at-bats, times on base, steals and runs (her 21 were second in the Faribault-area), Buesgens, a senior, was also one of the area’s top pitchers, finishing 8-11 with a 2.67 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 120 2/3 innings. She was voted the team MVP. Briana Adank, senior, C – Adank, a senior, was fourth on the team in on-base percentage last year at .424 thanks to a team-high 14 walks. She hit just .176 but when she got on she was dangerous, finishing with nine steals (tied for fifth in the area) and 11 walks.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Lindsay Ayers, OF – Ayers led the Buccaneers last year with a .382 average while patrolling center field and hitting eight doubles and knocking in 15 runs. She added 10 steals. Emily Meskan, C – Meskan was WEM’s second leading hitter with a .367 average and was second on the team with 13 RBIs. Her .516 on-base percentage was a team-high and she committed just three errors all season and won the team’s Gold Glove award.
UP AND COMING Mackenzie Taylor, senior, 3B – Taylor, a senior, missed last season due to an ankle injury suffered during her junior basketball season, but she’ll be back and taking over the hot corner for Adank, who is moving to catcher. A strong arm and aggressiveness in the batter’s box should be her strong suits. Leta Spore, senior, CF – Spore, a senior, will take over WEM’s Brittany Buesgens pitches during a game last season. (Faribault Daily News file photo) for Ayers in center field and brings a strong arm and a bat that’s been looking good thus far this spring. While she The Buccaneers, coming off an 8-12 record and 4-6 importance this season due to the weather forcing teams went 0-for-9 in limited action last year, her quickness and mark in conference in 2012, enter the 2013 season with a into a condensed season. leadership will be vital for the Bucs this spring. While Blooming Prairie is the team to beat in the strong defensive squad and Brittany Buesgens – she of the 2.67 ERA last spring – as their starter. The only question Gopher Conference, NRHEG’s loss of star pitcher Jade OUTLOOK is the offense, which lost its top three hitters in Lindsay Schultz opens up the runner-up spot, which could come down to a battle between the Bucs and Randolph. In SecWith eight seniors in the starting lineup and a four- Ayers, Emily Meskan and Ashley Sanderson. Moving into the lineup will be seniors Leta Spore, tion 1A West, the Bucs will have to contend with the Blosyear starter on the rubber, this is the season WatervilleElysian-Morristown softball has been planning for. Now Mackenzie Taylor, junior right fielder Olivia Nusbaum soms and Rockets again, as well as Kenyon-Wanamingo and sophomore pitcher/catcher/infielder Taylor Larson, (with its own star pitcher Kailee Berquam) and Hayfield. if only the offense will comply. who is the Bucs’ second pitcher, a position with more
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FROM THE COACH:
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FROM A PLAYER:
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WASECA BASEBALL KEY NAMES: Erik Balfe, senior, C/P: Balfe was Waseca’s best hitter last season, finishing with a solid .333 average, smacking six doubles and knocking in six runs. He was tied for a team-high 20 hits. This year, he’ll be a senior leader converting to catcher and pitching more often. Nick Paczkowski, senior, P/1B: Paczkowski is another returner who will look to make an impact this season. He finished with a 6.37 ERA in 18 2/3 innings pitched and will look to improve on his .156 batting average from last season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGETTON: Zach Hiller: Hiller was one of the team’s workhorse pitchers and senior leaders last year. He finished with a 3.97 ERA in 37 innings from the mound and struck out 39 hitters, the second-best total on the team. Kevin Glynn: Glynn finished with the second-best batting average on the team (.278), behind Balfe’s .330 average, and was tied with Balfe for a team-high 20 hits. Glynn also scored a team-best nine runs last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Colby Sylvester, sophomore, 3B/P: Sylvester will have chances to contribute from the plate, mound and field in his first season on varsity. Coach Ryan Krautkremer said Sylvester is a strong player who can hit the ball well. The Bluejays will need his contributions this season, he said. Austin Stroda, senior, CF: Stroda is one of three seniors on the young Bluejays team who’s looking to make an impact another year. Last season he hit .186 and smacked two doubles. He also had four stolen bases, putting him in a four-way tie for the team lead.
2013 OUTLOOK: Don’t expect to see many familiar faces when the Waseca Bluejays run out onto Tink Larson Field in their home opener this year. The Bluejays lost nine seniors to graduation – including top pitchers Zach Hiller, Brandon Sutlief and Jordan Steffens, and shortstop Kevin Glynn, who hit .278 – from last year’s 4-17 team. Waseca only has three returners this year in seniors Erik Balfe (.333 batting average last season), Nick Paczkowski (6.37 ERA) and Austin Stroda (.186 average), who each played in at least 20 games last season. Waseca’s new faces will include a crop of sophomores led by Colby Sylvester and Cody Ulfers, who each will start in the infield at the beginning of the season, Waseca coach Ryan Krautkremer said,
Waseca’s Erik Balfe, right, returns as the team’s top hitter this season. (County News file photo)
as well as new shortstop Brett Wickersheim. Fairmont and New Ulm, which each finished 9-1 in the South Central Conference last season, are the favorites to win the conference in 2013. The Bluejays, who haven’t had a winning season since 2008, hope to finish in the middle of the conference standings this year. They had a 3-7 conference record last season and lost to New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 8-0 in the opening round of the Section 2AA South playoffs. Krautkremer expects the team’s style of play to be centered on solid defense and small ball. Hitting is still a question mark, he said.
G
FROM THE COACH: “We’re going to be real young, so anything can happen. I think we’ll be much better defensively than we’ve been in years past.” – Ryan Krautkremer
FROM A PLAYER:
“Well we have a really young team, only a couple returning starters but a lot of us have put in a lot of work this offseason so I’m really looking forward to what we can get accomplished. As long as we stay healthy and keep our heads in it I think we’ll have a really good year.” – Erik Balfe, senior.
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Friday, April 5, 2013
JWP BASEBALL KEY NAMES:
but the Bulldogs return the team’s statistical leader, Sawyer Gahler, and are buttressed by junior Kyle Fisel entering the season. The focus this season will be on improved defense, JWP coach Howard Van Otterloo said – an aspect of the game that escaped the Bulldogs at times and cost them unearned runs last season. With the majority of JWP’s returners back, Van Otterloo is hoping the players will show more maturity at the plate. One thing that bodes well for the Bulldogs: They’re returning all of their starting pitchers from last year’s team.
Sawyer Gahler, junior, P/SS: Gahler was the Bulldogs’ go-to player last year, spurring the team to a fivewin season, the most wins in recent history. The thensophomore finished with a team-best .356 average and .442 on-base percentage in 17 games, striking out only four times. He was also the team’s best pitcher, throwing 57 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .216 batting average while collecting 48 strikeouts. Kyle Fisel, junior, SS/P: Fisel was one of the Bulldogs’ top starters last season, hitting .320 in 50 at-bats. He smacked 16 hits last season, including three doubles, and finished with five RBIs. Fisel also pitched the second-most innings on the team (15 2/3 innings), striking out 12 and collecting a 7.15 ERA.
FROM THE COACH:
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Brandon Janike, 1B/P: The loss of Janike, the team’s lone senior last season, will be a void that needs to be JWP’s Sawyer Gahler threw all five innings against St. Clair Friday, May 18, 2012, allowing one earned run on two hits, striking filled for the Bulldogs. He hit out four and walking three. Gahler got the win in JWP’s 12-2 victory. (County News file photo) .333 in 16 games and knocked in six RBIs. Janike also pitched in four games (9 1/3 innings), not allowing an earned run while fanning 10 batters. Sawyer Gahler, junior
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:
Entering the 2012 season, the Bulldogs had won eight games combined in the previous five seasons. So, last year’s 5-12 (2-9 Gopher Conference) record was a major improvement from the team’s rough stretch in the previous half-decade, despite a season-ending loss to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Section 2A opener. Now, with a crop of familiar faces returning, the Bulldogs look to build on last year’s season. The team lost Brandon Janike – the lone senior on last year’s team – and will need to fill his void,
FROM A PLAYER:
“Well we have two-a-days (now) so we’re taking it more serious ... than we have in the past years. I’m hoping we get double digit wins this year.” –
BY THE NUMBERS:
Tyler Cowdin, senior, 3B: Cowdin returns to the Bulldogs after a solid season at the plate: He 1 - Number of seniors JWP lost from last year’s team hit .283 last season in 15 games and knocked in five RBIs. He also had three stolen bases for the 57 — Number of innings Sawyer Gahler pitched last season Bulldogs, which stole 21 times last season, and struck out only six times. Stop by and Check out the Zach Janike, sophomore, OF: Janike hit .265 with four doubles and a couple of RBIs in 13 games as a freshman last season. His batting average was fifth best on the team. Serving all your insurance needs since 1948
2013 OUTLOOK:
“I think we will be much stronger defensively. I also believe our pitching will be much improved. Going into the season our hitting is a concern. Again we are hoping that the extra year of maturity will help improve that as well.” – Howard Van Otterloo
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NRHEG BASEBALL
eKEY NAMES: - Nic Mangskau, senior, OF/P:
Mangskau played in all 22 games glast season. He threw 40 innings and had a 3.50 ERA from the lmound as a junior. He’ll be one of the more experienced seniors returning to the lineup. e Brad Claycomb, senior, OF: Claycomb returns for his senior season after hitting .333 in 16 games last season. As a junior, she stole seven bases and didn’t gcommit an error. e Casey Rosacker, senior, e3B/P: The senior batted .353 in the 15 games he played in last season. He, too, will be one of the more experienced players returning to the lineup.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
Sam Lundberg, P/OF: Lunodberg, a senior last season, was ethe team stud: He hit .432 in 21 ogames while leading the Panthers in runs scored (25) and hits g(32) and had a fielding average -of .988. In the eight games he pitched, he went 6-0 with a 3.53 oERA. Those numbers earned him all-conference honors and a spot in the Lions All-Star Game. Mitch Akemann, P/OF: Akes mann hit .386 and knocked in e 20 RBIs in 22 games as a senior e last season. In nine games on the t mound, he went 5-2 with a 2.76 – ERA. He also was named allconference.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Sam Jewett, senior, C: Jewett played in only six games last season, but he made the most of his time: He hit .667 at the plate and didn’t commit a single error during the season. Johnny White, senior, OF: White was injured last season, but NRHEG coach Jeff Reese said White put together a good season when he played American Legion baseball last summer.
2013 OUTLOOK:
NRHEG’s Nic Mangskau pitches while a Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s player steals in a 2012 game. (County News file photo)
The list of players NRHEG lost to graduation last year is pretty daunting. Of the nine seniors, five were all-conference players – Mitch Akemann, Matt Dahle, Dave Lassahn, Sam Lundberg and Jake Staloch – and two earned all-conference honorable mentions – Lucas Meyer and Tyler Sorenson. Those players provided the bulk of the team’s success last season, which included a Gopher Conference championship and an 18-4 record. With this year’s less experienced roster, longtime NRHEG coach Jeff Reese expects some growing pains, he said. The Panthers plan to emphasize pitching and defense in the beginning of the season while searching for the right players at each position. Reese also expects several sophomores will get good looks at varsity time. The Panthers may not have the same type of experience as
last season, but they will have a few experienced returners, such as seniors Nic Mangskau and Casey Rosacker. A Faribault Daily News Gopher Conference preseason poll slates Faribault Academies as a conference favorite, with NRHEG in the middle of the pack. Last year, the Panthers
lost in the second round of the Section 2AA playoffs to St. Peter after beating Waseca 8-0 in the opening round.
younger ranks. We won’t have but I think we’ve got some good that important experience and players this year. We’ll see how mental toughness that makes it goes.” – Nic Mangskau, senior a good team great but will improve on that as the season proBY THE NUMBERS: gresses.” – Jeff Reese FROM THE COACH: 9 — Number of seniors lost “The cupboard isn’t bare as from last year’s team we have some talent coming FROM A PLAYER: 18 — Number of wins last back and coming up through the “It’ll be different, I guess, season
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Friday, April 5, 2013
WEM BASEBALL KEY NAMES Nolan Grose, senior, 1B – The Buccaneers’ star first baseman was the team leader in RBIs with 23 (fourth in the area) and added 15 runs and eight steals while playing solid defense. The coach’s son, he’s one of three returning All-Conference players. Brady Ayers, senior, OF – A Faribault Daily News All-Area team honorable mention selection last year, Ayers was the second-leading hitter in the area and the team leader at .414. He added 10 RBIs, four doubles and 15 runs scored.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Brady Hruska, 2B – Certainly the saddest circumstances in these pages, Hruska led the area in steals (16) and hit .296 with 20 runs while walking 15 times as the Buccaneers’ leadoff hitter last year. He drowned tragically in a boating accident in the fall. Tate Harmon and Cody Reinke, P – The senior duo pitched 81 of the Bucs’ 148 innings last year and went a combined 11-2 with a cumulative ERA of 1.30. Harmon alone went 7-1 with a 1.28 ERA and 54 strikeouts and was the only senior to make the Faribault Daily News’ All-Area team rotation.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON Derek Masberg, senior, SP – Masberg, a senior, has logged the most innings of any returning Bucs pitcher, with 30 1/3. His 3.00 ERA trailed only graduated seniors Tate Harmon and Cody Reinke and he added 29 strikeouts against only seven walks. Ben Boran, sophomore, SS – The only freshman to be named to the Gopher Conference All-Conference honorable mention list last year, Boran shared the Bucs’ Gold Glove award with Hruska last year. He hit .369 with 10 RBIs and shared the team lead with four doubles and five extrabase hits.
2013 OUTLOOK The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown baseball team’s hopes this season swing on one vital position: Pitching. The Bucs bring back seven of their nine position starters but lost more than 61 percent of their innings from a 2012 squad that went 15-7 overall and 9-3 in the Gopher Conference, good enough to
WEM’s Derek Masberg gets tagged out at third during the Bucs’ 6-2 eight-inning season-ending loss to BOLD last season in the Section 2A Final Four in Mankato. (County News file photo)
tie for third. Most of those innings were either Mesagna or Colin Ayers. and WEM. we can, we’ll be a very good team.” – Joe pitched by graduated seniors Tate Harmon The Bucs should be in a battle with Grose and Cody Reinke, and the Bucs and coach Faribault Academies and United South Joe Grose are still looking for a source of Central atop the Gopher Conference, FROM THE COACH: FROM A CAPTAIN: “(Pitching) will be our main thing those innings. while Section 2A is predicted to come “Pitching will be our weakness but I Derek Masberg will be the defacto ace, down to BOLD, Mankato Loyola (which and especially with a condensed schedfeel we have a veteran team who can hit while the rest of the rotation will be filled was second in the Gopher last year before ule. I suspect everybody is going to be in and play small ball.” – Nolan Grose, senior out by some combination of Nolan Grose, leaving for the Valley Conference), USC the same boat. If we play to the top that Landon Harmon, Luke Nuetzman, Tre Mesagna and Tyson Ranslow . “That’s going to be decided on which can throw strikes,” Joe Grose said. The two positions that Agronomy | Energy | Feed | Grain will have new players will be second base, which will DARFUR MADELIA be a battle between RansJANESVILLE NICOLLET low and Brady Watzek, and one outfield spot (the LAKE CRYSTAL VERNON CENTER other two will be filled with LASALLE WALDORF Brady Ayers in center and Landon Harmon in a corw w w . c r y s t a l v a l l e y. c o o p ner spot), which will go to Janesville, MN • (507) 234-5842
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WASECA GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD KEY NAMES:
Conference, second in the subsection and 10th at the Section 2A Meet. This year, the Bluejays set a goal of “pushing the teams in our conference for the title” as well as winning the sub-section and finishing top-five at the section meet, Abel said. The team sent its 4-by800-meter relay team of Klug, O’Brien, Highum and Erickson to the Class A Meet last season, where it took fourth. This year, Waseca’s expected to be strong in the distance events and improved in the sprints, jumps and throwing events, Abel said.
Sally O’Brien, sophomore, distance runner: O’Brien, an all-state and all-conference selection from last season, returns to a stronger girls team as one of the top point-getters from last year. O’Brien also was one of Waseca’s top cross country runners, which took fourth place in state last fall and at one point was ranked first in Class A. Sadie Klug, junior, distance runner: Klug, who also earned all-state and all-conference honors last season, is another one of Waseca’s top returning scorers. Along with O’Brien, Andee Erickson and Aubrey Highum, Klug was part of Waseca’s 4-by-800-meter relay team that took fourth in Class A last year.
FROM THE COACH:
“The girls should be better than last year, and we are excited about this group. We believe they can push the teams in the conference.” – Dave Abel
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
Sarah Trickey: Trickey, who graduated last year, was an all-conference hurdler and FROM A PLAYER: Waseca’s top point-getter last “I’m hoping that our 4-byseason. 800 team will be back and Paige Bartelt: Bartelt, Aubrey Highum runs in the girls 4-by-800-meter relay Saturday at the Class A Track and Field Championships at Hamline Univerhopefully make a state apalong with graduated sesity. Waseca finished fourth in the event. (Daily News file photo) pearance again, that would be niors Keari Harris and Kari pretty cool. I also hope that Simmons, earned All-South everyone in track will have a great season and just enjoy it.” – Sadie Klug, junior Central Conference honors last year, too, as a sprinter. e
BY THE NUMBERS:
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:
Aubrey Highum, freshman, distance runner: Along with Klug and O’Brien, Highum returns for her freshman year as one of Waseca’s three top scorers. She also was named all-state and All-South tCentral Conference as an eighth-grader. Andee Erickson, junior, distance runner: Erickson is the fourth runner on the 4-by-800-meter relay team, and she, too, earned all-state and all-conference honors last season. With all four girls returning, the future is promising for Waseca’s 4-by-800-meter relay team.
4 – All-state athletes returning from last year 16 – Letterwinners returning to the team SEASON UPDATE: Waseca took second at an indoor triangular April 1.
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2013 OUTLOOK: The loss of four All-South Central Conference athletes – Sarah Trickey (hurdles), Paige Bartelt (sprints), Keari Harris (sprints) and Kari Simmons (throws) – won’t be easy to make up, but Waseca is excited about the prospect of the future. Waseca returns some of last year’s top runners in Sadie Klug, Sally O’Brien and Aubrey Highum. Furthermore, the Bluejays have a boatload of returning letterwinners (16), including Mackenzie Burke (all-conference distance runner) and Carlee Diedrich (2010 state participant). Waseca coach Dave Abel expects the team to be better than last year’s squad, which finished fourth in the South Central
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PAGE 12
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Friday, April 5, 2013
WASECA BOYS TRACK AND FIELD KEY NAMES: Brock Kolander, senior, sprinter: Kolander was a big part of last year’s state champion Waseca boys team – the then-junior was part of a 4-by-100-meter relay team that won a state championship and was on a 4-by-200-meter relay team that finished second in Class A. Last year, he earned allstate and all-conference honors. Shane Streich, sophomore, distance runner: Streich was another reason the boys team won a state title. As a freshman, Streich finished second at state in both the boys 800-meter and 1600-meter runs and then anchored Waseca’s 4-by-400-meter relay team. A top cross country runner, the allstate, all-conference sophomore is one of Waseca’s top talents.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
Yves Spies: Spies capped a stellar senior season in the high jump by leaping 6-7 and winning a Class A title in the event – another big reason why the boys team won its first state championship. Wolfgang Dvorak: Dvorak, also an all-state and all-conference runner last season, was part of the Waseca’s boys track and field team won its first ever Class A title in June 2012. (County News file photo) state title winning 4-by-100-meter relay team and the second-place After winning its first state several other returners, Waseca Meet at Hamline University. BY THE NUMBERS: 4-by-200-meter team. title in school history and its first is looking to repeat last year’s suc3 – Returners from last year’s FROM A PLAYER: conference championship in 41 cess. state champion boys team “I would also like to see our The goals: Win the South Cen- FROM THE COACH: KEEP YOUR EYE ON: years, Waseca’s boys track and 1 – Boys team title in Waseca “We lost a ton to graduation team go for another state title and field team lost a group of seniors tral Conference crown (again), Dylan Hermanstorfer, sopho- that included two state cham- win the sub-section (again), finish so we will need to fill those holes. see as many Waseca track athletes history, which was won last year more, sprinter: Hermanstorfer, a pions (Wolfgang Dvorak and top-three at the Section 2A Meet I see us improving in those areas be able to make it to state as possiSEASON UPDATE: Waseca freshman last season, anchored Yves Spies), two all-state athletes (again) and advance the same in- over the season but we are not ble.” – Shane Streich, sophomore. won an indoor triangular April 1. Waseca’s state champion 4-by- (Dvorak and Spies), five all-con- dividuals and relays to the Class A there yet.” – Dave Abel. 100-meter relay team and edged ference athletes (Dvorak, Spies, Concordia Academy-Roseville’s Jacob Sass, Jared Krassin and ShaRyan Donahue at the finish line quille Harvey) and the team’s top to cap the team’s victory. He’s point scorer (Harvey). back for another year after he, Filling those voids won’t be too, earned all-state and all-con- an easy task. Fortunately for Waseca: 507-835-4220 • Waldorf: 507-239-2166 ference honors last season. Waseca, several pieces to the www.roundbank.com Member FDIC Jesse Delgado, freshm, dis- puzzle are returning for another Positively Impacting Peoples’ Lives tance runner: Delgado, who was season. Shane Streich, Brock Koone of Waseca’s top cross country lander and Dylan Hermanstorfer, runners in the fall, was All-South all-state athletes who played key Central Conference as a freshman roles in Waseca’s boys team title last season and will look to make last season, are back for another Waseca, Waldorf, New Richland: 1-800-835-1499 an impact again this year. www.roundbankinsurance.com year. Coupled with all-conference
2013 OUTLOOK:
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PAGE 13
JWP TRACK AND FIELD BOYS KEY NAMES: Ian Jewison, junior: Jewison has gotten off to a hot start for the Bulldogs, which opened the season on March 23. The junior sprinter won the 400-meter dash in the team’s season opening indoor meet and has been in on a few secondand third-place finishes as one of JWP’s top sprinters. Billy Steinhauer, senior: Steinhauer, one of two seniors on the team, is another sprinter whom JWP coach Merle Sveen expects to lead the Bulldogs this season. Steinhauer has taken part in a couple relay teams that have finished near the top of the leaderboard in JWP’s first two indoor meets, and he took fourth place in the triple jump on March 26. JWP’s Kendra Hartmann competes in a relay Tuesday, March 26 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. (Marianne Carlson/Waseca County News)
GIRLS KEY NAMES:
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
man took third place in the 200-me- ish lower in the conference rankings Jordan Vogelsang: Vogelsang Callie Morton, junior, jumps, ter dash in JWP’s most recent indoor this season because the team tallies competed in the shot put and dissprints: Morton has quickly estab- meet at Minnesota State University, only 14 athletes. cus for the Bulldogs last season. The Bulldogs finished in seventh lished herself as one of JWP’s top Mankato. James Volkmann: Volkmann place – last place – at the Section returners this season. In JWP’s two was a distance runner for last year’s 2A Sub-section 5 Track and Field early season indoor meets, Morton 2013 OUTLOOK: JWP squad. Championships last season. has taken third in the triple jump This year’s Bulldogs squad is twice, finished third in the long small and young – the team has 14 KEEP YOUR EYE ON: jump once and has been a part of a athletes, including one senior and FROM A COACH: 4-by-200-meter relay team that took four juniors, on the roster. Also Trevor West, freshman: West “There may be some other sursecond place. has made an impact in JWP’s first working against the Bulldogs are the prises to watch for (in athletes this two meets this season – he recently absences of Sara Schumacher, the season). We will have to see what took second place in the 55-meter school’s record holder in the discus, develops.” – Brad Willett GONE BUT NOT low hurdles and the 55-meter high and Kayla Sveen, an all-conference FORGOTTEN: hurdles at an indoor meet at Minsprinter who led the team in scoring nesota State University, Mankato. Sara Schumacher: Schumacher last season. FROM A PLAYER: Kelton Lynch, sophomore: However, in JWP’s first two is the school’s record holder in the “All of (my teammates) are reSveen called Lynch “one of our meets, which have been indoor at adiscus and earned “Most Valuable Minnesota State University, Manka- ally young, but they’re all getting real bright spots.” The sophomore Field Event” winner on last year’s the hang of it, too.” – Callie Morton, sprinter has been on a couple relay team. She also competed in the shot to, the Bulldogs have found glimpses junior. of success in junior Callie Morton, put. Kayla Sveen: Sveen’s void who’s been a part of three third-place will be hard to replace – she led finishes (two in triple jump, one in the team in scoring, was named long jump) and a second-place finish All-Gopher Conference and was on JWP’s 4-by-200-meter relay team. JWP also has six other returning a section qualifier as a short distance runner. She’s running track starters in freshmen Hannah Olson at Dakota State University this and Gabbie Hagen, sophomore Courtney Losee, juniors Brittany year. Anderson and Lynsey Guse, and “Safety is our goal” lone senior Allison Roberts. The Janesville, MN KEEP YOUR EYE ON: strengths of the team are yet to be Hannah Olson, freshman, determined, JWP coach Brad Willett 56048 sprinter: Olson is one of seven said, and the team’s apparent weakreturning starters looking to make nesses are its youth and low numan impact this season. The fresh- bers. Willett expects the team to fin-
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JWP’s Billy Steinhauer competes in a relay event Tuesday, March 26 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. (Marianne Carlson/Waseca County News)
teams that have found success in the triple jump and hurdles this the early going this season. season, Sveen said, and will be “OK” in the distance events. He expects the hard-working team to 2013 OUTLOOK: make significant strides throughEntering this season with a out the year. young boys squad that boasts only two seniors, Janesville-Waldorf- FROM THE COACH: Pemberton coach Merle Sveen “We’re young. We have two sethinks the Bulldogs will likely finniors, two juniors, but we do have ish in the bottom half of the Gosome quality there.” – Merle Sveen pher Conference. He also knows there are some individuals on the team who can compete with the FROM A PLAYER: conference competition. “We’re real young, so just get After losing four athletes from better. Try to get them in the mood last year’s squad, JWP returns Ian to want to run, so that when they’re Jewison, who competed at the older, they’re better. – Billy SteinSection 2A Meet last season in the hauer, senior 400-meter dash, and Trevor West, who ran the 300-meter hurdles at SEASON UPDATE: JWP’s sections last season as an eighth boys team has taken fifth out of grader. Billy Steinhauer, a sprinter seven and fourth out of six in its and triple-jumper, also returns to first two indoor meets in Mankato. make an impact his senior season. The girls team took sixth in both of The Bulldogs will be strong in its first two indoor meets.
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PAGE 14
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Friday, April 5, 2013
NRHEG GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD KEY NAMES: Carlie Wagner, junior, sprints, high jump: Wagner, known mainly for her talent on the basketball court, has some skills in track and field, too. The junior is Class A’s returning high jump champion after jumping 5-06 to beat Caledonia/Spring Grove’s Emma Lange last June at Hamline University. She’ll look to defend her title this season. Mikayla Lindell, senior, throws: Lindell enters her senior season looking to bolster a strong group of throwers. She also knows her track and field career will continue: She accepted a scholarship to throw for Winona State University’s track and field program after she graduates this year.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Danielle Krueger: Krueger competed on the girls 4-by200-meter relay team at the Section 2A Track and Field Championships last season, which took fifth out of eight teams with a 1:49.74. She also ran the 4-by100-meter relay and the 400-meNRHEG’s Carlie Wagner easily jumps 5-03 at the Section 2A Track and Field Championships in June in Mankato. Wagner went on to win the Class A high jump title ter dash for the Panthers. at Hamline University. (County News file photo)
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Katharine Lewer, freshman, distance: Lewer is a returning starter from last season, and she has the talent to make an impact in the distance events: As a cross country runner last fall, Lewer earned All-Gopher Conference honors.
2013 OUTLOOK: Last year, Carlie Wagner headlined the NRHEG girls track and field season by winning a state title in the high jump, something that NRHEG coach Duey Ferber said, in an interview with the Owatonna People’s Press, was the school’s first girls state title in his more than two decades as a head coach. Wagner was the Panthers’ lone state participant last season. After losing only one senior,
Danielle Krueger, the Panthers have several experienced returners from last year’s team, which finished second in the Gopher Conference and fourth in Section 2A Sub-section 5. United South Central/Alden-Conger is expected to be one of the strongest teams in the conference and the sub-section, but the Panthers would like to compete with the Rebels in both of those categories this season. Along with high jump, the Panthers are expected to be strong in sprints, relays and throws this season, Ferber said. With a mixture of youth and experience, NRHEG also will look for some younger athletes to step up this season.
FROM THE COACH:
“We look to have a good sea- hopefully get a few to the state tough against USC. … I just hope son. We have a lot of girls who meet.” – Duey Ferber we all succeed individually and as like to work hard and try to ima team.” – Mikayla Lindell, senior prove every day. We want to do our best every time we step on the FROM A PLAYER: “I really hope we can try to BY THE NUMBERS: track. We would like to qualify a 1 – Senior lost from last year’s bus load to the section meet, and win conference. It’s going to be
team 1 – State champion returning from last year’s team
SEASON UPDATE: NRHEG’s girls team took fourth at a five-team indoor meet March 23 in Mankato.
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NRHEG BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
The Panthers will have some upside, though, starting with their seven returning starters. First off, TJ Schiltz, the team’s lone state participant last season and top distance runner, is back for another year and is expected to have a good season in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs. Distance running will be one of the team’s strengths this year, Ferber said. The Panthers also expect to be strong in shot put and discus this season, with returning starters Keith Maxon, Todd Erickson and Kevin Kalis, as well as with Nick Goette. Junior Ross Chester also is looking to boost his results in the long jump.
FROM THE COACH:
“We hope some underclassmen step up and find events that they want to push themselves in. We will be focusing more on the individual side of track this year, knowing that team scores will have us finishing in the middle of the pack.” – Duey Ferber
FROM A PLAYER:
“We do have a lot of good talent coming back. We have Ross (Chester), who’s going for the the NRHEG’s TJ Schiltz, center, runs in the 3200-meter run in June 2012 at the Class A Track and Field Championships at Hamline University. (County News File Photo) school record in the long jump and everything. I’d say a good goal for us would be top third in the conferseason, Ferber said. Maxon, Erickson and Kalis, all sophomores, are returnKEY NAMES: ence, top half in the subsection. ” – TJ Schiltz, junior TJ Schiltz, junior: Schiltz is back as NRHEG’s best long distance runner ing starters from last season. Goette is a junior. after being the lone athlete on the Panthers boys team to earn a state berth BY THE NUMBERS: last season (He also went to state in cross country last fall). Schiltz placed 2013 OUTLOOK: 1 – Number of state entrants NRHEG had last year (TJ Schiltz) 14th in the 3200-meter run at state and will look to get back to Hamline NRHEG finished sixth in the Gopher Conference and fifth in Sub7 – Number of returning starters from last season University another year. section 5A last season. With a young, small team this season, NRHEG coach Ross Chester, junior: Chester, one of seven returning starters from last Duey Ferber says the Panthers hope to finish somewhere in the middle of SEASON UPDATE: NRHEG’s boys team took fourth at a five-team season, is looking to push the limits of NRHEG’s long jump record: Panthers the conference and the sub-section. indoor meet March 23 in Mankato. coach Duey Ferber said Chester’s on a mission to set a new school record in the event. At the section meet last season, Chester took eighth with a jump of 19-0.25.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Geoff Ramaker: Ramaker, a senior sprinter last season, competed in the 100-meter dash and the 4-by-200-meter relay at the Section 2A Track and Field Championships last year. Tyler Holtz: Holtz was another section participant for the Panthers, finishing in a five-way tie for 10th place in the pole vault at the Section 2A meet last year.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON: Keith Maxon, Todd Erickson, Kevin Kalis and Nick Goette: This quartet of throwers has a lot of potential in the shot put and discus this
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PAGE 16
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Friday, April 5, 2013
WEM TRACK AND FIELD KEY NAMES Tierney Winter, freshman, distance runner – Winter, a freshman, went to state the last two years and was fifth in Class A in the 1600-meter run in 2012 after a ninth-place finish in 2011. Winter was about 18 seconds behind state champion Clare Flanagan of Blake School. Winter also won a subsection championship in the triple jump. Lily Anderson, freshman, sprinter – Anderson, also a freshman, won the 100- and 200-meter sprints in the Section 2A Sub-section 5 meet last spring. Anderson went on to finish third in Section 2A in both the 100 and 200, missing a trip to state by one spot in each.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Lindsay Ayers, jumper – Ayers graduated after taking third in the sub-section in the long jump and third in the triple jump as one of just three WEM tracksters to advance to the section meet in multiple individual events. She finished 10th in the long jump and 13th in the triple jump at sections. Zach Erdmann, sprinter – Erdmann ran the opening leg for the WEM boys 4-by100-meter relay team, which finished third in the Gopher WEM’s Tierney Winter competes at a track meet in New Richland in 2012. (County News file photo) Conference.
realize that Lindsay Ayers was the only senior among the six girls to advance to the section meet and the remainder were seventh-graders (Samantha Petry), eighth-graders (Tierney Winter and Lily Anderson) and freshmen (Brooke Galler and Jacqueline Kaplan) and you get an idea what WEM can do this season. The Bucs lost just three seniors from last year (Haley Lhotka, Sofia Witt and Ayers) and have Winter coming off two straight trips to the Class A State Meet. United South Central and NRHEG are the front-runners in the conference now that defending champion Mankato Loyola/Cleveland has moved to the Valley Conference. On the boys side, the Bucs have nowhere to go but up after finishing last in the Gopher Conference in 2011 and last in Section 2A Sub-section 5. They were 19th out of 23 teams at sections, but only two boys made it out of sub-sections (Erik Keller and Tucker Kinniry). Other key returners are Nick Kaplan, Jake Wolf, Parker Parsons, Patrick Ely and Aaron Zimmer. As is the case with the girls, USC/Alden Conger (last year’s champ) and NRHEG are the teams to beat.
FROM A COACH:
The Bucs girls are coming off a strong season where they “The coaches’ goals are to help each athlete improve their KEEP YOUR EYE ON finished third in the Gopher Conference, third in Section 2A speed, strength and endurance and get better at their events.” – Erik Keller, senior, sprinter – Keller, a senior, scored 20 of Sub-section 5 and 12th out of 24 teams in Section 2A. Then you Craig Hauer, girls track and field coach WEM’s 46 points at last year’s sub-section meet by finishing second in the 100 (12.16 seconds) and the 200 (24.93). Keller was fourth in the section in the 200 and seventh in the 100. Keller was also a part of the 4-by-100-meter relay team that finished third in the conference. Samantha Petry, eigth-grader, pole vaulter – Petry, an eighth grader, was third in the pole vault in last year’s sub-section meet and was the youngest of eight Buccaneers to advance to the sec• Sinks • Basins • Toilets • Showers tion meet. She finished 11th at sections after clearing 7 feet, 8 • Furnace • Air Conditioner inches. Six of the 10 vaulters ahead of her were seniors. Jim and Bonnie Britton “Waseca’s Full Service Contractor” Rely on the heating and cooling specialists trusted
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PAGE 17
NRHEG GIRLS AND BOYS GOLF
sGIRLS KEY NAMES:
Maddy Reed, senior: Reed was the lone Panthers golfer ecompeting at last year’s Secation 2AA meet, after advancing with a 112 at sub-sections, but the then-junior just missed the cut to advance to state in Jordan last season. She earned all-conference honorable mention last season. Brina Bergland, senior: One of eight returning starters from last season, Bergland shot a 5257 109 at the Gopher Confersence tournament, finishing in will conveniently service your prescription refill needs 7 days a week, 24 hours. NRHEG’s Sam Grothem was one of last year’s key seniors. The Panthers now have a crop of returners ninth place and just missing a looking to fill the void of Grothem and other graduates this season. (People’s Press file photo) spot as an all-conference honor-able mention. NRHEG’s Maddy Reed shot a 106, finishing in eighth place and earnWhile the players have the BOYS KEY NAMES: KEEP YOUR EYE ON: ing all-conference honorable mention at the Gopher Conference ne in o h golf skills, they need to develop p e s a Jake sophomore: haCole ple le, Langlie, ve Lenort, sophomore: the mental aspects of the game, tournament in Janesville last season. (County News file photo) sib s l o il p w r t e yGONE BUT NOT v is e c Langlie is expected is another returning golfarmtoabe one of Lenort When thelast year’s 15-10 team Root said, which includes conbyfrom e; yourtopphreturningpgolfers c d n NRHEG’s er ie a v if FORGOTTEN: d c e a will look to improve on last sea- tions that arise on the course this meas94 at the who has the potential to make sistency and course managerefill in e tishot ouarpriority, this season. at thHe u e. o Root y r Lexi Wayne: Wayne, a senior son’s 14-6 record and third-place season will ybe o f ment. Last year, NRHEG finy d iption Linan impact this year. ea r r c r s sub-section meet last year. e e d r r P o finish in the Gopher Conference. said. d r last year, shot a 125 at the subte a you ished fifth in the conference and m to hite Au Macoy Schwierjohann, W Back again is Maddy Reed, one Outside of Reed, returning section meet in Mankato last seaty if r sixth in the sub-section. h T n sophomore: As a freshman, 2013 OUTLOOK: of the team’s top golfers, who just starters include Brenna Hagen, yson for the Panthers, who did not Schwierjohann shot a 101 at the missed a shot at an individual state Brina Bergland, Liz Eder, Jessica After finishing 15-10 last tadvance. Gopher Conference meet and berth last season. Reed earned an Nafe and Riley Koziolek. Reed, year, the Panthers are back with FROM THE COACH: s Michaela Hansen: Hansen, also is expected to be one of the andThrifty Eder are also a senior, was another Pan- all-conference honorable mention Hagen, Bergland “We need to move from Stop by the White Pharmacy for more information! Panthers’ top golfers this season. a lineup that boasts three sophonod after shooting a 106 and tak- the teams four seniors. thers golfer who contributed last being practice players to tourmores among their top golfers. * Calls originating from rotary dial phones will be automatically transferred to the pharmacy and handled as always. ing eighth overall at the Gopher season. nament players. Making sure NRHEG didn’t have a single e GONE BUT NOT Conference meet. they are prepared for whatever player compete past the sub-secr This season, the girls team FROM THE COACH: FORGOTTEN weather conditions exist, as well tion meet last season. This year, ... KEEP YOUR EYE ON: is expected to take aggressive “We hope we have some Spencer Hanna: Hanna shot the team hopes to change that. as dealing with situations on the honors as serving well Brenna Hagen, senior: Hagen, shots and big risks, Root said. all-conference Proudly allat the your family’s pharmacy needs a 94 sub-section meet last The Panthers would like the course will be a priority.” – Brad The favorite in the conference as advancement to the section among five other seniors this seaseason and was an all-confer- team to advance to the Section Root s is United South Central; in the tournament.” – Brad Root son, is expected to make an imence honorable mention after 2AA Meet at New Prague Golf Pharmacy staff left to right: e pact again this year. She shot a 129 sub-section, it’s Waseca. HowLori Barbknecht, shooting a 44-47 91 at the Go- Course this season and “get an FROM A PLAYER: ever, Root thinks NRHEG can at last year’s sub-section meet. All Conference selection or two Marlis Scholljegerdes,pher Conference tournament. “We’re kind of a young team, finish second in both the Gopher FROM A PLAYER: Sam Nafe: Nafe was another this year,” NRHEG coach Brad so I want us to do our best and Lisa Dahl, Barb Denn, “I think that maybe we’ll do Conference and the sub-section. Panthers golfer who contributed Root said. The Panthers have hopefully we get pretty far. We’ll Don Lord, Daleout Rudolph, 2013 OUTLOOK: kind of going Also, making sure the Pan- better, but just last season. five returning letterwinners in try our hardest.” – Jake Langlie, Pat fun. Lewer, Corey Rupe ” – Maddy thers are prepared to deal with there and having Langlie, Lenort, Schwierjohann, sophomore – With several returning golfers, (Not pictured: Jennifer Williams four of them seniors, the Panthers weather conditions and situa- Reed, senior Kelson Titus and Colton Ryg.
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Friday, April 5, 2013
WASECA BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF BOYS KEY NAMES:
GIRLS KEY NAMES:
Josh Kummerfeldt, junior: Kummerfeldt returns to the course as one of Waseca’s top golfers this season. Kummerfeldt made All-South Central Conference last season by shooting a 79 at the conference meet in St. James. At state last season, he finished with a twoday score of 168 (71st place).
Melissa Bartz, senior: Bartz was one of Waseca’s top golfers last season, earning All-South Central Conference honors and making a trip to the state tournament. She shot a 188 at state and finished in 55th place overall. McKenzie Filzen, senior: Filzen finished her season by shooting a solid 95, the second-best score on the team behind Bartz’s state-qualifying 90, at the Section 2AA meet last year. She’ll return looking to make an impact this Waseca junior Melissa Bartz reads the putting green on the season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Austin Snow: Austin Snow’s stellar play last season helped spur Waseca to championships in the conference, sub-section and section, as well as the team’s first state berth since the 2009 season. Snow stepped up his game at state, too, shooting a 149 and finishing in a tie for seventh place overall. Mitch DeKr uif: When Snow wasn’t leading the Bluejays, DeKruif was. His solid season culminated with a medaling 74 at the Section 2AA meet in New Prague. He shot a 167 in the state tournament and finished in 70th place.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jordan Altman, junior: Altman was part of last year’s South Central Conference and Section 2AA champion team. He finished 86th, tied for last place, at the Class AA meet.
2013 OUTLOOK Last season will be hard to top. Led by stellar seniors Austin Snow and Mitch DeKruif, Waseca won the South Central Conference, cruised through the sub-section and then won the Section 2AA meet to earn its first state berth since the 2009 season (Waseca finished in eighth place, last place, at state). This season, Josh Kummerfeldt and Jordan Altman will return to the course for the Bluejays with state tournament experience. Kummer-
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Waseca’s Josh Kummerfeldt chips a shot last season. Kummerfeldt returns to the Bluejays’ lineup as one of the top golfers. (County News file photo)
feldt earned All-South Central Conference honors last season, while Altman is an up-andcoming player that Waseca coach Ted Hammond expects to contribute this season. Several sophomores also will vie for varsity positions this season, Hammond said. With the entire South Central Conference except for St. James sharing a spot in the sub-section with Waseca, whichever team emerges as the conference champion will likely be the sub-section favorite, too, Hammond said. Early on, that’s shaping up to be New Ulm and Fairmont, he said. Waseca also hopes to be in the mix.
FROM THE COACH: “We’d like to do well at sub-sections, and we do play North Links (near Mankato) before the sub-section, so we get a chance to get a taste of the course before the tournament.” – Ted Hammond
FROM A PLAYER: “Right now I’m going into
the season with almost no expectation, because with losing so many players from last year, you can’t go in with really high expectations like we did last year, expecting to get to state. This year, we want to contend like we did, but get better each day.” – Josh Kummerfeldt, junior
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 – State berths for Waseca since in the last five seasons 4 – Key individuals lost from last season
Rachel Hoverstad: Hoverstad, along with Bartz, was among the top golfers on the team last season. Hoverstad shot a 91 and was the medalist at the South Central Conference meet to earn all-conference honors last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Corinne Dennis, junior: Dennis shot a 104 at the Section 2AA South meet last season. She’s one of four returning starters for the girls team. Loral I Barrie, senior: Barrie is another returning starter on the team who will look to contribute again this season.
2013 OUTLOOK: Fairmont is the defending South Central Conference champions, and, after finishing third last year, Waseca is hoping to
Good Luck to All Area Sports Teams!
W aseca
18th hole at Ridges at Sand Creek last season at the Class AA Tournament. (County News file photo)
make a run for the title this season. Gone is Rachel Hoverstad, one of Waseca’s top golfers and the medalist (91) at the South Central Conference meet in St. James last season, who graduated last year. The Bluejays have their all-around best golfer, Melissa Bartz, returning after she, too, earned AllSouth Central Conference honors (she shot a 92) and competed at the Class AA State Tournament (she finished in 55th place). Bartz is one of four returning starters – McKenzie Filzen, Corrine Dennis and Loral I Barrie are the others – this season. Aside from making a run at the conference title, the Bluejays hope to be in the mix come section time. With the entire South Central Conference except for St. James in the Section 2AA South subsection, the team that emerges as the conference champion is
likely to be sub-section favorite, too, Waseca coach Ted Hammond said. Waseca finished fourth at the section meet last season.
FROM THE COACH:
“If the girls improve like I think they’re going to improve, they’re going to challenge. I think they’ll challenge for the conference and they’ll challenge for the sub-section.” – Ted Hammond
FROM A PLAYER:
“If we work as hard as we did last year and if the girls practiced over the summer, I think we’ll be OK.” – Melissa Bartz
BY THE NUMBERS:
4 – Returning starters from last year’s team 1 – State participant, Melissa Bartz, from last year’s team
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Friday, April 5, 2013
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
PAGE 19
WASECA BOYS TENNIS KEY NAMES:
2013 OUTLOOK:
John Lewer, junior: Lewer returns as one of the top players from last season’s team, which finished runner-up in the South Central Conference and in Section 1A. Lewer went 15-8 at No. 2 singles and ended his sophomore season with a 4-1 conference record. Josh Kimball, junior: Kimball, along with teammate Josh Metzdorff, played No. 1 doubles last season and went 13-11 overall and 4-1 in South Central Conference play. Kimball and Lewer are captains this season for the Bluejays, which boasts a roster full of juniors and other underclassmen.
For another year, Waseca hopes to vie for the South Central Conference and Section 1A titles. Last season, the Bluejays got used to being the runners-up: They finished with a 4-1 record in the South Central Conference behind champion St. Peter; six of the seven individuals and doubles teams competing at the South Central Conference Tournament finished in second place; and Waseca lost to Rochester Lourdes in the finals of the Section 1A Team Tournament. Gone are seniors Jacob Denn (12-8 at No. 1 singles) and Matt Metzdorff (17-7 at No. 3 singles), but the Bluejays are back this year with five returning starters, including captains John Lewer (15-8 at No. 2 singles) and Josh Kimball (13-11 at No. 1 doubles), who played last season with doubles partner Josh Metzdorff. In total, Waseca returns nine letterwinners. With St. Peter graduating five of its 10 players from last year’s team, the conference title is up for grabs. Rochester Lourdes, which lost to Breck 4-3 in the Class A Championship match, is again the Section 1A favorite (despite losing three of its top four players), but the Bluejays hope to battle the Eagles again for the section title. The Bluejays will see Lourdes twice in tournament action before playing the Eagles in a dual match late in the season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
Jacob Denn: Denn, a senior last season, held down the No. 1 singles spot for Waseca by finishing 12-8 and 4-1 in South Central Conference matchups. He was last year’s Team MVP. , Matt Metzdorff: Metzdorff was the only other sednior on last year’s squad. He went 17-7 at No. 3 singles eand held an unblemished 5-0 South Central Conference record last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:
I , Josh Metzdorff, junior: Metzdorff, playing alongkside doubles partner Kimball last season, went 13FROM THE COACH: -11 and 4-1 in the South Central Conference at No. 2 “I’m looking for guys that can keep the ball in play edoubles. Ben Johnson, junior: Johnson finished above .500 consistently in singles and doubles teams that can (12-10, 3-2 South Central Conference) as a sophomore win.” – Kyle Collins last season.
d d e
m
a
FROM A PLAYER:
“I think we have a really good shot at winning SCC this year, and then we also want to make it to section finals again this year, like we did last year. We’ll see what we can do against Lourdes because they’re always good.” – Josh Kimball, junior
BY THE NUMBERS: 64 – Combined number of wins last year for returning starters this season 2 – Seniors lost from last season
John Lewer hits the ball back across the net at Waseca High School during a match in 2012. Below, left, Jacob Denn, Waseca’s former No. 1 singles player who graduated last season, hits the ball during a 2012 match. (County News file photos)
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Friday, April 5, 2013
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