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Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines
BOYS BASKETBALL
W-DC boys’ basketball team will be young
BY PETE MOHS
Wadena Pioneer Journal
Wadena-Deer Creek
boys’ basketball team will be young this season, with just three letterwinners back from a squad that finished 19-9 overall last year.
“We are going to be a young team this year,” said head coach Kevin Tumberg, whose team is scheduled to open the season hosting Sebeka on Thursday, Dec. 5. “The major point of emphasis for us is that we are going to look to get better every day, and hopefully make big strides throughout this season.”
Tumberg added that all players will need to step
up this winter.
“Guys are going to be forced into big roles this year, and we are going to need different players to step up big for us to ultimately become successful,” said Tumberg, who is starting his 10th season.
“Defensive stops and rebounding are going to be extremely important for us as our younger players get accustomed to playing at the pace of a varsity game. We plan to be competitive in all of our games and hopefully be playing our best basketball come March.”
The returning letterwinners are senior guards Kobe Snyder and
Connor Dutke and sophomore guard Sam Church. Last season, Snyder averaged 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
Others who could contribute are Mason Wiirre, Tyler Phipps, Blake Haverkamp, Ben Kreklau, Noah Drange, Leo Petrowski and Raleigh Parker.
The Wolverines were 11-3 in Park Region Conference action last season. W-DC lost to Park Rapids in the second round of last year’s Section 8-2A playoffs.
Assistant coaches are Alex Brockpahler, Ryan Elfering and Aaron Rothermund.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek boys’ basketball team include, front row from left: Cooper Damlo, Raleigh Parker, Tyler Phipps, Matthew Kopp, Ben Kreklau and Leo Petrowski. Back row: William Osberg, Kobe Snyer, Connor Dutke, Mason Wiirre, Sam Church, Caden Nemeth and Noah Drange. Not pictured: Blake Haverkamp.
W-DC girls’ basketball team returns top scorers
BY PETE MOHS Wadena Pioneer Journal
The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines girls’ basketball team returns 10 letterwinners, including three of its top scorers coming off a 15-12 season.
Those players include: senior Addyson Gravelle, who averaged 11.6 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists; senior Montana Carsten, 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists; and sophomore Payton Gravelle, 10.3 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Other letterwinners are seniors Jenna Dykhoff and Leah Osberg; and juniors Jada
Dykhoff, Ashley Pavek, Lily Parker, Tori Mallak and Kennedy Ness.
“We return a lot of experience from last year,” said W-DC head coach Jordan Cresap, who is starting his seventh season as head coach. “We have a good group of upperclass leaders, and we have a team with a variety of different skill sets that we need to utilize.
“It’s an unselfish group who enjoys playing together as a team. We hope to improve every day, and let everything else take care of itself.”
W-DC lost to Park Rapids in the first round of last year’s Section 8-2A
playoffs. The Wolverines also finished 11-3 in the Park Region Conference last season. W-DC assistant coaches are Wendy Gravelle and Jordan Anderson.
BY PETE MOHS
Wadena Pioneer Journal
A group of young skaters will help fill open spots on this year’s Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines boys’ hockey
team, according to coach Robby Grendahl.
“We have seven freshmen and one eighth grader, all with Bantam eligibility, who will step up to fill a thin roster,” said Grendahl, whose
team was scheduled to open the season Thursday, Nov. 22. “Thankfully, we have tremendous leadership from our six seniors.” Returning letterwinners are senior forward/
defensemen Milo Rinio and Peyton Muthun; and senior forwards Copper Ness, Aden Krell, Carson Davis and Sawyer Ferdon; and sophomore forward/defenseman Austin Lucht.
W-DC does return four of its top six scorers, including the top two scorers — Davis with 22 goals and 36 points and Ness with 16 goals and 33 points. Rinio added seven goals and 16 points and
Muthun had seven goals and 12 points.
Non-letterwinners include: freshmen Addison Fink, Grady Schmid, Hudson Hathaway, HOCKEY on H3
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek girls’ basketball team include, front row from left: Martina Cortes, Avery Flath, Montana Carsten, Chloe Philippy and Braelyn Becker. Middle row: Jenna Dykhoff, Leah Osberg, Nelly Andrenko, Jada Dykhoff, Ashley Pavek and Addyson Gravelle. Back row: Payton Gravelle, Lily Parker, Celia Rinio, Kennedy Ness, Tori Mallak and Eva Pulver. Not pictured: Ava Hall, Abigail Worden and Emma Urban.
Rhythmettes team has 11 new dancers
BY PETE MOHS Wadena Pioneer Journal
The Wadena-Deer Creek Rhythmettes Dance Team has 11 new team members, who could all make an impact this season, according to head coach Maddi Horn.
“They could make a significant impact,” Horn said. “We partnered with Parkers Prairie this year, and are thrilled about the talent those four athletes are bringing to our team. We have one new varsity high kick member (Cody Seelhammer). We can’t wait to see what she brings to the team.”
Returning Letterwinners are Macy Wynn, Braelyn Wegscheid, Danica Pederson, Ava White, Abigail Wendt, Taya Larson, Haylee Wegscheid, Bristol Wynn and Jenna Halvorson.
The Rhythmettes will compete in Section 4A. Horn, who is starting her fourth season as coach, is assisted by Michaela Nelson, Trynity Horner and Allison Novak.
This season the Rhythmettes have dance DANCE on H4
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek
Brayden Lenk, Owen Weiher, Andrew Keddy and Jack Bucholz; and eighth-grade goaltender Grayson Meyer.
W-DC will compete in the West Central Conference. Last season, the Wolverines were 3-5 in conference games and
7-16 overall. W-DC lost to the Northern Lakes Lightning 9-1 in the first round of the Section 6A playoffs.
Grendahl, who is start ing his second season as head coach, is assisted by Cory Sarrgo. The section tourna ment is scheduled to start Tuesday, Feb. 18, played at the highest seeds.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek Rhythmettes dance team include, front row from left: Ava White, Macy Wynn, Braelyn Wegscheid and Danica Pederson. Middle row: Taya Arvidson, Stephanie Kovar, Brynn Rach, Bristol Wynn, Haylee Wegscheid, Addison Wegscheid, Cody Seelhammer and Katie Pexsa. Back row: Mckinnely Bosl, Riley Guck, Brooklyn Leeseberg, Robyn Mayer, Taya Larson, Abigail Wendt, Jenna Halvorson, Adaline Biederman, Kavanna Sartori, Hattie Truax and Teagan Bernstetter. Not pictured: Laila Kruse.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
boys’ hockey team include, front row from left: Grady Schmid, Hudson Hathaway, Greyson Meyer, Austin Lucht and
Fink. Back Row: Andrew Keddy, Carson Davis, Milo Rinio, Brayden Lenk, Aden Krell, Cooper Ness and Jack Bucholz. Not Pictured: Sawyer Ferdon, Peyton Mithun and
Weiher.
Confidence is key for W-DC wrestling team
BY PETE MOHS Wadena Pioneer Journal
Finding confidence will be the key for success for this season’s Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines boys and girls wrestling teams, according to head coach Brad Wollum.
“This crew is ready to improve on their performance last season,” said Wollum, who is starting his fifth season as head coach. “With a growing number of boys and girls participating, these athletes need to find the confidence in themselves to go from an average team to a good team.”
Last year, the Wolverines finished 9-13 overall and were defeated by West Central Area (Ashby-Brandon-Evansville) in the first round of Section 6A competition.
Returning letterwinners who placed at last year’s section individual meet include: Mason
Brauch and Kaylee Endres, third; Matthew Wegscheid, Charli Snyder and Ella Wegsheid, fourth; James Seelhammer and Giddeon Pinnella, fifth; Hudson Schultz and Logan Seelhammer, sixth; and Kylan Benning, seventh.
Other wrestlers are Ettore Pinnella, Jayden Kenndy, Tashon Anderson, Chloe Hammes, Ben Boen, Dinico Polan, Dayton Putnam, Noah Stroeing, Jayden Nelson, Mitchell Schmitz, Dalton Butler and Hayven Schultz.
Assistant coaches for W-DC are Ben Henle, Brian Brauch, Logan Caron and Tony Wegscheid.
The Park Region Conference meet is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1.
The section team competition will be Feb. 14 at Pelican Rapids while the section individual meet starts at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at W-DC.
BY PETE MOHS Wadena Pioneer Journal
The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines’ Nordic nordic skiing team has five combined letterwinners returning on its boys and girls teams. Those experienced skiers include: Owen Anderson, Grant Nelson, Tayton Lehmann, Julia Lunde and Kaylee
Lehmann. Nelson had the best finish at last year’s section meet when he placed 38th. In relay competition, Anderson teamed with Charles Peterson to finish 10th at sections while in the girls relay events Lunde and Lehmann finished 11th at sections
Others who could contribute this winter are
Lane Kaufman, Levi Nelson, Matthew Collins and Jack Buckholz.
Terry Olson is the long-time head coach for the W-DC Nordic team.
The Wolverines, who were scheduled to open the season Tuesday, Dec. 3 in Detroit Lakes, will compete at the Section 8A boys’ and girls’ meet Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Detroit Lakes.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek Nordic skiing team include, front row from left: Owen Anderson, Grant Nelson, Lane Kaufman, Levi Nelson and Matthew Collins.
Not pictured: Tayton Lehmann, Jack Buckholz, Julia Lunde and Kaylee Lehmann.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek boys’ wrestling team include, front row from left: Dayton Putnam, Blake Butler, Bryce Penner, Wyatt Eggert, Braxton Moore, Alex Putnam, Elias Nelson, Aaron Januszewski and Kamdyn Bauck. Middle row: Gideon Pinnella, Noah Stroeing, Gunnar Goeden, Kylan Benning, Hudson Schultz, Logan Seelhammer, Hayven Schultz, Rylan Wegscheid and Connor Reyes. Back row: Charles Peterson, Jaydyn Kenney, Ettore Pinnella, Ben Boen, James Seelhammer, Mason Brauch, Matthew Wegscheid, Jayden Nelson and Jacobo Osuna. Not Pictured: Mitchell Schmitz, Deken Gray, Dinico Polan, Brady Worden and Dalton Butler.
Not pictured: Tashaun Anderson.
Pete Mohs / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Members of the Wadena-Deer Creek girls’ wrestling team include, front row from left: Kaylee Endres, Charli Snyder, Maria Januszewski, Addison Hillukka, Cameron Reyes. Back row: Gracie Arm, McKenna Brauch, Chloe Hammes, Ella Wegscheid and Jennifer Varela.