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SPORTS
Echo Friday, April 28, 2017
Out of the PARK
It gives (the baseball team) an opportunity to play on the big stage and really show what they are capable of. Cole Beaton, sophomore Under the lights: Senior captain Jack Elias winds up to throw a fastball at U.S. Bank Stadium against Richfield April 18. Elias threw six strikeouts in four innings, holding Richfield to two runs. The Orioles won the game 9-2 in what senior captain Connor Cornell called a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.
Esther Gendler esthergendler@ slpecho.com
Competitiveness does not interfere with spirit
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here is nothing I hate more than losing. I have always been extremely competitive, sometimes to the point where sports were no longer fun anymore. I would cry over losing simple games, even when losing didn’t affect me at all. After playing basketball for seven years, it was hard for me to transition into a sport that revolves around spirit and selfrefereeing. When I joined Ultimate Frisbee two years ago, I was taken aback by the “spirit of the game” rule. After each point, win or lose, high What’s the you five the opPOINT? ponent. I am not one to Winning high five my is not competition, everything especially if I lose. When I first started playing, I wasn’t sure if the sport was for me. I didn’t understand how everyone was smiling and high fiving the other team after we lost. When the game is over, both teams do something to recognize the other team, like a high-five, handshake or cheer. As I continued playing ultimate, I realized the spirit of the game did not stop me from being competitive, but helped me recognize my competition and be able to congratulate the opposing team on a good play. I have come to love the sport of ultimate and I have made friends with people on other teams because of that. Even though it is sometimes frustrating, the spirit makes ultimate different from any other sport. Playing ultimate taught me that I can be competitive while also being a gracious loser. I still have the drive to win, but I am able to accept losing. When I play ultimate, I play with a smile on my face. Win or lose, ultimate has always been a sport that I feel happy playing and I have made many friends playing. Even on opposing teams, I have friends I look forward to seeing again. I never thought I would look forward to seeing my competition, but ultimate taught me competition does not have to be unfriendly. Losing is never fun, and it never will be. My competitive nature will always be a part of me and will always affect the way I play sports, but I learned through ultimate that winning isn’t always everything and good spirit makes the sport so rewarding and amazing.
Photo Josh Halper
Baseball team plays at U.S. Bank Stadium Team defeats Richfield in professional stadium
Jane Anderson & Anna duSaire janeanderson@slpecho.com & annadusaire@slpecho.com
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enior captain Connor Cornell said playing at U.S. Bank Stadium was an experience he will remember in the future. “It was a once in a lifetime kind of thing. It was super nice and it was really fun, something I’ll remember always,” Cornell said. Varsity head coach Brian Kelly said immediately after receiving an email offering a chance to play at the stadium, he got approval and found an opponent to ensure the spot. “An email went out toward the end of 2016 from the guy that does all the communication to the head coaches,” Kelly
said. “As soon as I got the email I was like ‘oh man this is something I would love to have our boys have the opportunity to do’ because, at the end of the day it’s all about getting the kids opportunities.” The Orioles beat the Richfield Spartans 9-2 April 18, which was their first win of the season. Kelly said the team prepared by practicing like any other game and lessening outside distractions. “It sounds kind of cliché, but we tried to make it just like any other game,” Kelly said. “We struggled early in the season with distractions and the boys not really playing up to potential because of a bunch of external distractions.” According to senior Abby Bremner, going to the game was the first time she was at the stadium and she thinks the crowd and stadium brought energy to the team.
“I thought Stats at the Stadium it was fun and 0 earned runs allowed 0 errors it was cool to 9 hits be in the stadium because Infographic Emma Dietz I have never Source mnbaseballhub.com been,” Bremner said. “I’m sure it was a lot more fun for them and there was a big audience, so I’m sure that pumped them up.” Cornell said one of the challenges while playing in the stadium was adjusting to the depth perception because of the size of the field. “The stadium is a lot larger and the depth perception was a little bit weird because of how huge it was and it was super echoey so it kind of gets in your head,” Cornell said. The next game is 7 p.m. April 29 against Bloomington Jefferson at Dakota Park.
Boys’ track excels against elite competition Invitationals prepare athletes for championship meets William Phelan & Jacob Stillman williamphelan@slpecho.com jacobstillman@slpecho.com
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fter taking third place at a home invitational, head coach Richard Keith said the boys’ track team benefitted from a higher level of competition. “By competing against teams such as Edina and Wayzata, the boys got a taste of what it will be like to run at Sections and State,” Richard Keith said. Richard Keith said Park had success at the meet despite many injuries. “Some kids had small tweaks or injuries and it was kind of cold so I erred on the side of caution and had them sit out,” Richard Keith said. “There were two events in which we did not even have people in, so the fact that we finished third was good.” According to senior captain Ryan Keith, competing against tougher opposition elevates the performance of the track team. “It is definitely more intimidating going up against Edina than teams in our conference,” Ryan Keith said. “I think it is good
Photo Josh Halper
Clear it: Senior captain Owen Geier contorts his body to clear the high jump at the invitational meet April 18. Geier finished first in the high jump and 110-meter hurdles. though because it pushes us to do better, since they are so good.” Richard Keith said invitationals like Tuesday’s help runners get used to the routine of participating in a large meet. “(Officials) run these invitationals as professionally as they can, which mimic Section and State competitions, so kids get a feel for what the end of the season meets will be like,” Richard Keith said. “Learning when to check in or when to start their warm up are important for kids to learn, so when they get to the most important meets they are familiar with the process.” According to Ryan Keith, wind and rain impacted the performance of the runners.
“The weather was not the best, so that definitely played a factor,” Ryan Keith said. “On the straightaway there was a strong wind in our face, so that definitely slowed us down.” Despite the weather, Richard Keith said the team performed well at the meet showed promise for the rest of the season. “This meet was a good indicator of where we are at as a team. I saw a few promising things with the sprints as well as distance, and there were some outstanding performances by throwers,” Richard Keith said. “Overall, it was a successful meet.” The next meet is 4 p.m. April 28 at Park against Chaska.
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I think that people should continue to play sports in college because it is fun. (It) gives them opportunities they did not have before. Hamza Hassan, junior
SPORTS
Echo Friday, April 28, 2017
Meet the ATHLETE
Girls’ basketball head coach named Expectations set following Massie’s resignation
Who Ilsa Olsen
Grade Sophomore
Atticus Raasch atticusraasch@slpecho.com
Sport Golf
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fter an 11-15 season, junior basketball player Grace Wolgemuth said she was surprised to find head basketball coach Brian Massie had resigned. “(The team was) a little shocked,” Wolgemuth said. “This year we did better than we had in past years by winning like 11 games.” According to Wolgemuth, the team was notified of the resignation through an email sent to the entire team. “All that happened is we got an email notifying the families of each player saying coach Massie has resigned,” Wolgemuth said. “(The email) also said they had a good pool of possible candidates for next years head coach position.” New head coach Arsenio Richardson said he was inspired to apply for the position after working with other Park varsity coaches. “Working under David Breitenbucher and Ben Wolfe for basketball and football and just seeing if you have a (coach) the kids believe in, it can really go well for a program,” Richardson said. “Learning under them I felt it was my time to step out and try to run my own program.”
Photo Jane Anderson
Stepping down: Former girls’ basketball coach Brian Massie announced his resignation April 20. He compiled a 23-55 record in three years, according to MN Basketball Hub. Athletic director Andy Ewald said the hiring process for a new head coach began soon after the resignation of Massie. “We posted the position on the district website a couple of weeks ago. It was up for about two weeks, and we had a handful of candidates that applied,” Ewald said. Sophomore Lindsey Olson said various qualities ensure a good new coach. “(Coaches) should be disciplined, be able to communicate well and they should know their stuff,” Olson said. “We want to be a good team, so I think we really need that.” Richardson said several of his qualities enable him to have success at the head coach position. “Building relationships is a good quality I have, also honesty and communication, those are key in all aspects of life,” Richardson said. “My basketball knowledge of the game and understanding situations
Arsenio Richardson’s sports background •
Played football, basketball and track at Park
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Played football at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
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Boys sophomore and JV basketball coach
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Football running backs coach Infographic Sophie Yarosh Source gopark.org
and management of the game (are assets I have).” With a new head coach, Wolgemuth said she would like to see team improvement for the next season. “I’d for sure like to make it further in our Sections tournament,” Wolgemuth said. “Hopefully our next coach will push us a bit harder to excel in our next season.”
Student athletes navigate recruitment process (or) guardian need to decide if participating after high school is something they want to do,” Ewald said. “Then typically it’s trying to find out realistically Raphy Gendler what level they can play at.” raphygendler@slpecho.com Ewald said factors to consider in colleges or universities enior Natalie Lorentz, who include region, whether the committed to play Divischool is public or private and sion I tennis at the University academic programs. of Nebraska-Omaha next year, “Even putting aside the said the commitment process athletic things, trying to put was long and challenging. together a profile of schools “I started my sophomore they’re interested in going to, year and I started kind of just and then I looking at think from where in the You can have there it’s, country I kind aspirations, but OK, how do of wanted to athletics fit play and then I there should be started emailsome realism about into that,” ing coaches,” ‘OK, I might not be Ewald said. Lorentz Lorentz said. going to play for said coach“Then toward the University of ing was my junior year coaches started Minnesota or Notre important for her when emailing me Dame.’ deciding on a and from that Andy Ewald, athletic director school. (came) phone “My deciding factor for conversations and visits.” Omaha was I really liked the Athletic Director Andy coach, and I really liked the Ewald said the first step for team,” Lorentz said. “Since I’m student athletes with plans to going to be with them for four compete in college is consideryears that’s a pretty big aspect.” ing what level they should play. Ewald said student athletes “I think the biggest thing need to be realistic when conis the athlete and their parent
Why did you want to join golf? I wanted to join because I really wanted to play a spring sport and also because one of my friends really wanted me to join golf because she does it. What are you looking forward to with the season? I’m looking forward to playing and also learning everything about golf and improving my swings. How do you like it so far? It’s really fun. We just started this week going outside and that’s really different. I really enjoy it, the coaches are nice and all the people in it. How is it different from other sports you’ve played? Well I play tennis in the fall, so they are both (sports where) you hit balls with different equipment and ways. You also have to take a lot of time to practice and just doing the same motions over and over again, and you are not playing it with someone else it’s just you and only you are doing it. Do you have any experience with this sport? I have played it before, I played it with my grandparents in the summer and one to two times a year, so I have played it but I am not very good.
Keys include realistic viewpoint, communication
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Photo Makayla Jones-Klausing
Serve it: Senior Natalie Lorentz serves a ball during practice Oct. 11. Lorentz announced her committment to play tennis at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Nov. 8. sidering colleges. “You can have aspirations, but there should be some realism about ‘OK, I might not be going to play for the University of Minnesota or Notre Dame,’” Ewald said. Ewald said the process varies based on division. He also said student athletes can be proactive in being noticed by college athletic programs by sending videos, contacting coaches and attending summer camps. “If you’re good and a recruitable college athlete whether it’s at a Division III level all the way up to Division I they’re going to find you regardless of where you’re at,” Ewald said. Ewald said maintaining a realistic viewpoint and beginning
the process early is crucial. “Even maybe as a sophomore if it’s something you’re thinking of, or for sure in your junior year, (start) to develop that profile of where would (athletes would) like to go, and then it’s working with their parents, working with their high school coaches and really trying to be realistic about it and setting up a plan,” Ewald said. Lorentz said student athletes should take initiative to begin the process. “Start the process early and definitely don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Lorentz said. “Coaches really like to hear from you first and see that you’re being independent and taking that initiative to show interest.”
What are your goals and expectations for the season? I really hope to improve and probably try and play in a match. What is your favorite part of the game? I really like being able to hit the balls and then asking the coaches for help and then seeing how quickly you can improve just by one little fix. Who is someone you look up to in the sport? My grandparents because they both really enjoy golf and have been playing it for awhile. And they really encouraged me to join. Could you see yourself playing this in college or later in life? I could definitely see myself playing it throughout my whole life, just because it is a sport you can play at any level. Maddie Lund maddielund@slpecho.com