BOYS BASKETBALL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 | E3
Young Wildcats aim for a good season
NLS returns Christensen, Coahran and has talent around them BY TOM ELLIOTT
2 blocks per game last season, earning West NEW LONDON — Two Central Tribune All-Area starters are back and both second-team honors. He’s also a standout football of them are very good. Two sophomores figure to player. “He’s a very versatile start and both have some player,” Wright said. upside. There’s a strong Coahran, a 5-11 senior supporting cast as well. guard, is a four-sport The New London-Spicer athlete who also excels in Wildcats hope it all adds football, golf and track. up to a successful 2021-22 “He’ll be one of our leadboys basketball season. ers,” Wright said. “We’re going to have The sophomore starters some growing pains,” NLS are Grant Paffrath and head coach Skip Wright Mason Delzer. Paffrath is said. “But I think if we can a 6-3 forward. Delzer is a be strong on the defensive 6-0 sophomore who was side of the ball and come a standout running back together as a team, we’re on NLS’ football team that very hopeful of competing made it to the section very well.” final. Returning starters from Also starting is Aedan a 9-11 squad that went 4-9 Andresen, a 6-0 junior in the Wright County Con- who saw plenty of key ference’s West Division minutes last season. are Brycen Christensen Brady Gerhardson, a 6-1 and Peyton Coahran. Both senior, scored 14 points are multi-sport stars. off the bench in the WildChristensen, a 6-foot-4 cats’ season-opening 67-56 junior, averaged 13 points, loss to Montevideo. He’ll be a key contributor. 7 rebounds, 2 assists and West Central Tribune
Kelb Smith, a 6-1 senior forward, and Paul Meier, a 6-6 junior center, also are being counted on. Gabe Rohman, a 6-1 junior forward, Konnor Rohloff, a 6-1 junior guard, and Nixon Harrier, a 6-0 junior guard, also factor in for varsity playing time. Harrier runs cross-country and golfs. “It’s a good group of kids,” said Wright, who is in third season as head coach and in his 18th in the program. Wright sees Annandale as a potential top-10 team Photos by Joe Brown / West Central Tribune in the state and likely the best team in the Wright New London-Spicer's Aedan Andresen (11) goes up for a layup attempt during the County West Division. first half of Wright County Conference game against Glencoe-Silver Lake on Feb. He’s also high on Rock26, 2021 at NLS High School in New London. ford, which beat Burnsville, a Class AAAA school, 91-50. “Watertown’s got a good junior class and they’re coming off a good football season,” Wright said. “I expect them to be tough.” The goal is to make NLS be tough, too.
Best of luck to all the area 2021 Winter Sports Teams!! NLS sophomore Mason Delzer (middle) pokes the ball away from Montevideo’s Mason Jerve for a steal during the first half of a non-conference game Friday, Dec. 4 at New London
1300 5th St. SE. Willmar, MN (320) 235-2485
