Wolverines return 8 letterwinners from state squad

BY PETE MOHS Wadena Pioneer Journal

WADENA — The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines have eight letterwinners returning from a squad that reached the Class 2A state consolation match last season.

“I believe we can be competitive during the regular season,” WDC coach Sue Volkmann said, “Our goal is to make another strong run in the section playoffs.”

WDC is ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll.

Last year, the Wolverines won the Section 8-2A title by defeating East Grand Forks 3-0 in the semifinals and Perham 3-1 in the final. WDC then lost to Southwest Christian 3-1 in the Class 2A state quarterfinals and Annandale 3-2 in the consolation semifinals. Returning letterwinners include seniors Addy Gravelle, Jenna Dykhoff, Montana Carsten, Addi Carr; juniors Jada Dykhoff, Kennedy Ness and Ashley Pavek and sophomore Payton Gravelle. Others who could contribute are junior Tori Mallack, sophomores Alyssa Carr and Mari Koone, and freshmen Avery Lepinski and Celia Rinio

Last fall, the Wolverines finished 7-0 in the Park Region Conference and 22-11 overall.

Volkmann, who will start her 37th year as coach, has compiled a 635-334 career coaching record. Volkman’s assistants are Courtney Turnberg and Heidi VanDyke. WDC was scheduled to open the season by hosting East Grand Forks Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Schedule August

27 - East Grand Forks at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:15 p.m.

29 - Perham at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:15 p.m. September

3 - Wadena-Deer Creek at Dilworth-GlyndonFelton 3:30 p.m.

5 - Wadena-Deer Creek at Pillager 3:15 p.m.

7 - Wadena-Deer Creek at Sauk Rapids-Rice tournament 9 a.m.

12 - Sebeka at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:15 p.m.

17 - Staples-Motley at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:15 p.m.

19 - Menahga at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:15 p.m.

20 - Wadena-Deer Creek at SW Christian tournament TBD

- Wadena-Deer

- Hawley at Wadena-Deer

- Wadena-Deer Creek at

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

PERHAM — Grant Nelson ran a fifth-place 17:29.1 and Amber Collins ran a 12th-place 21:44.6 to pace the Wadena-Deer Creek boys and girls to third-place finishes Saturday, Aug. 24, in the Brave Like Gabe Invite.

Karly Haverkamp added a 13th-place finish in 21:56 followed by Cambrie Geiger in 18th and Noelle Spicer in 19th to help the girls to 83 team points behind first-place St. Cloud Cathedral and runner-up Riverside Christian.

Owen Anderson finished 22nd on the boys’ side followed by Brennan Simmons in 27th and Cooper Damlo in 29th for WDC’s 103 team points. They trailed first-place Hawley and runner-up Thief River Falls.

“The Brave Like Gabe (fifth annual) featured a split into two class divisions for varsity/junior varsity races,” WDC head coach Michael Brunsberg said. “WDC was in the smaller school division race on A9

(Black). This led to the Wolverines finishing nearer to the top of the leaderboard as compared to past meets at Perham. It was a fun day for WDC to celebrate the first two weeks of hard work at practice. One highlight was Ruby Wegscheid winning the JV Girls’ Black Division with a first-place medal in her very first 5K race in her third year competing for WDC. Lane Kaufman’s runner-up in the junior high boys’ race was special because his race included runners from all the schools both large and small divisions.” For the junior varsity girls’, Wegscheid won in 24:45 followed by McKenna Brauch in 8th place with a time of 26:40. Logan Seelhammer placed 10th in the jv boys’ race in 26:16. Rhyis Udy placed 17th in 28:37 and Joseph Ray was 18th in 28:53. Kaufman crossed in second place for the junior high boys in 11:38.