Thursday, June 9, 2011

State Golf Tournament Preview courtesy of MSHSL

Five of six championship teams return to defend their respective titles at this year’s state tournament. The Minnewaska Area girls’ team leads the pack, hoping to win its sixth consecutive crown. The Lakers won in Class A in 2006 and 2007, before moving up to Class AA the last three years. All three boys’ championship teams are back: Ortonville in Class A; Orono in Class AA; and Wayzata in Class AAA. Orono is pursuing its fourth consecutive title and Wayzata is in the hunt for its third. The girls of Providence Academy of Plymouth also return to defend their Class A title.

Three former Class A individual champions return in search of another gold medal. Frazee junior Beau Hanson will defend his 2010 crown, but he’ll face tough competition from Springfield senior Dillon Schultz, who took top honors in 2009. Senior Kelsey Ross of Osakis also returns to defend her title.

The 2011 State Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 14-16. The Class AAA golfers will compete at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids on June 14 and 15. The Class A tournament will be played on June 15 and 16 at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker. The Class AA tournament will also be played on June 15 and 16 at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.

Class A Girls Highlights

Six teams, including the defending champions from Providence Academy (Section 4), return. Four of the Lions’ golfers competed in last year’s tournament. The other returning teams are: Lewiston-Altura (Section 1), runner-up; Osakis (Section 5), third; Fosston (Section 8), fourth; United South Central of Wells (Section 2), seventh; and Mesabi East of Aurora (Section 7), eighth.

Rounding out the 2011 field are Lincoln-HI of Ivanhoe (Section 3) and Barnesville (Section 6). Barnesville is the only team making its debut tournament appearance.

Kelsey Ross, a senior at Osakis, returns to defend her individual title. She will be joined by seven other Top 10 finishers: senior Tiana Runck of Springfield, third; senior Aimee Cichon of Lewiston-Altura, fifth; junior Kaitlyn Hennessy of Lewiston-Altura and senior Amy Mireault of Fosston, who tied for sixth; senior Steph Aanenson of Mounds Park Academy of St. Paul, ninth; and senior Amy Knutson of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and junior Paige Hungerholt of Lanesboro, who tied for 10th.

Class A Boys Highlights

Ortonville (Section 5) returns to defend its 2010 title with three members of last year’s team. Two other teams return from the 2010 field: Springfield (Section 3), third; and Sleepy Eye (Section 2), fourth.

The remaining five teams in the field are: Lanesboro (Section 1); Providence Academy (Section 4); Frazee (Section 6); BEST, a co-op or Babbitt-Embarrass and Tower-Soudan (Section 7); and Stephen-Argyle Central (Section 8). Lanesboro, Frazee, and BEST are making debut appearances.

In the individual competition, junior Beau Hanson of Frazee is back to defend his title. Dillon Schultz, a senior at Springfield, is also in the hunt for his second gold medal. He won top honors in 2009 and tied for runner-up honors last year. In addition to Hanson and Schultz, five other players who finished in the Top 10 are also returning: senior Aaron Forgaard of Bethlehem Academy of Faribault, tied for fourth; ninth-grader Sam Eisenhuth of BEST and junior Andrew Peterson of Legacy Christian Academy of Andover, who tied for sixth; and sophomore Jade Hasslen of Ortonville and senior Zach Hauser of MACCRAY of Clara City, who tied for 10th.

Class AA Girls Highlights

The five-time defending champions from Minnewaska Area of Glenwood (Section 3) return in search of more gold. The Lakers captured the Class A title in 2006 and 2007, and top honors in Class AA in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Four of the six players are returning from their 2010 squad.

Five other teams also return from last year’s field: Red Wing (Section 1), runner-up; Detroit Lakes (Section 8), third; Hermantown (Section 7), fifth; Becker (Section 5), sixth; and Mankato East (Section 2), eighth.

Rounding out the field are St. Croix Lutheran of West St. Paul (Section 4), making its first appearance, and Pequot Lakes (Section 6).

Senior Anna Laorr of Breck School of Golden Valley is the highest returning medal-winner; she placed third in 2010. The other returning medalists are: Byron senior Jordan Price, fourth; Red Wing junior Katie Kesti, fifth; Minnewaska Area senior Sam Falk, sixth; Perham senior Holly Karkela, seventh; Red Wing senior Danielle Brooks and her junior teammate, Marisa Toivonen, who tied for eighth; and Virginia senior Emma Kishel, tied for 10th.

Class AA Boys Highlights
Three of the eight teams in the Class AA boys’ tournament have 2010 tournament experience, including three-time defending champion Orono (Section 5). Orono shared championship honors with Detroit Lakes in 2008 and won it outright in 2009 and 2010. Five of the team’s six golfers played on last year’s team.

The other returning teams are: Academy of Holy Angels of Richfield (Section 4), fourth; and Detroit Lakes (Section 8), fifth.

Rounding out this year’s field are: Byron (Section 1); Shattuck-St. Mary’s of Faribault (Section 2); Marshall (Section 3); Staples-Motley (Section 6); and Hermantown (Section 7). Byron is the only school making its first appearance.

Three of the five returning Top 10 finishers are from Orono: senior Patrick Johnston tied for third place with Staples-Motley senior Zach Israelson who also is back; senior Miles Knutsen, tied for sixth; and senior Brian Urness and International Falls senior Glenn Walls, who also is back and tied for eighth.

Class AAA Girls Highlights

Two teams return from the 2010 field. Third-place finishing Stillwater Area (Section 4) is the highest returning qualifying team. The Ponies have four players with previous tournament experience. Northfield (Section 1), which placed eighth, is the only other returning team.

The remainder of the field is: Eden Prairie (Section 2); Woodbury (Section 3); Mounds View (Section 5); Wayzata (Section 6); the co-op of Elk River/Zimmerman (Section 7); and St. Cloud Apollo (Section 8). St. Cloud Apollo is the only school making its first tournament appearance.

Six returning Top 10 finishers are back, including New Prague ninth-grader McKenzie Neisen, who tied for runner-up honors last year. The others are: Wayzata ninth-grader Sarah Burnham, sixth; Stillwater Area junior Cassie Degg, seventh; Stillwater Area junior Hailey Boner, eighth; and Woodbury senior Mary Sweeney and Edina junior Grace Gilmore, who tied for 9th.

Class AAA Boys Highlights

Two-time defending champion Wayzata (Section 6) returns with five members of its 2010 championship squad. Four other teams from that field are also back: Rogers (Section 5), runner-up; Elk River (Section 7), third; Moorhead (Section 8), fourth; and Lakeville North (Section 1), sixth.

The remaining qualified teams are: Eden Prairie (Section 2); Eastview of Apple Valley (Section 3); and Cretin-Derham Hall of St. Paul (Section 4). All of this year’s qualifying teams have previous tournament experience.

Wayzata senior Tyler Lowenstein is the highest returning 2010 medalist. He tied for runner-up honors last year. Six additional medal-winners also return: Rogers senior McCabe Buege, fourth; Elk River/Zimmerman senior Chase Hahne and Moorhead junior Bryant Buckellew, who tied for sixth; Forest Lake sophomore Max Kelly, tied for 8th; and Roseville Area senior Sam Mathew and Eastview senior Max Tylke, who tied for 10th.

The Schedule
The Class AAA tournament will be played at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. On Tuesday, June 14, the boys tee off at 7:30 a.m. on the No. 1 and No. 10 tees. The girls will begin their first round on the identical layouts at noon. The final rounds on Wednesday, June 15, will follow the same starting schedule, with a tee-time format that will pair players from competing teams with one another and individual qualifiers in comparable foursomes. The first five tee times on the No. 1 and No. 10 tees will include individual qualifiers. The 8:06 a.m. (boys) and the 12:36 p.m. (girls) tee times on the No. 1 and No. 10 tees will feature the best individual qualifiers as determined by their first-day scores. The individuals will be followed at 8:15 a.m. (boys) and 12:45 p.m. (girls) by the teams ranked in places 5-8 according to the first-day scores. The teams in places 1-4, as determined by their play on day one of the tournament, will begin play on the No. 1 and No. 10 tees at 9:00 a.m. (boys) and 12:45 p.m. (girls). The last boys’ foursome out at 9:00 a.m. on the No. 1 tee will feature the team players with the best first-day scores from the lowest-scoring four teams. The same format will be followed for the girls’ tournament with team players with the best first-day scores from the lowest-scoring four teams teeing off at 1:30 p.m.

The Class A tournament will be played at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker on June 15 and 16, and the Class AA tournament will be conducted at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan on June 15 and 16. On the first day of each tournament, the boys will start at 7:30 a.m. on the No. 1 and No. 10 tees at each location. The girls will follow at 11:40 a.m. on the same tees. The final rounds for both classes will follow the same foursome pairings and time schedule as the Class AAA tournament.

First-day tee times are posted on the League’s Web site — www.MSHSL.org.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

State Boys & Girls Track & Field Meet preview courtesy of MSHSL

Champions returning to defend 26 individual titles, nine relay titles

Twenty-six individual event champions and representatives from nine relay teams that won gold medals last year have qualified to defend those titles this Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, when high school athletes gather at Hamline University in St. Paul for the 2011 State Track and Field Meet.

Preliminaries in track events for both classes will be conducted on Friday. All of the 3,200-meter run events will be finals only on Friday, as will be some field events. Friday’s schedule begins at 9:00 a.m. with the Class AA competition. The Class A events are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., but possibly may start later depending on the pace of the Class AA meet. The same schedule will be followed on Saturday.

Class A Girls Highlights

Champions return in seven individual events and one relay.

Analisa Huschle, a senior at Bagley/Fosston, is looking for her third consecutive title in the long jump and the triple jump. She set the Class A record in the triple jump last year and is the top qualifier in both events this year.

Katlyn Sawtelle, a Luverne senior, will defend her 100-meter high hurdle title with a qualifying time of 16.63. Senior Alanna Dietz of New London-Spicer owns the fastest qualifying time of 15.15.

Senior Bree Woelber of Pipestone Area returns in search of more gold in the 300-meter hurdles. She shares the fastest qualifying time of 45.32 with senior Danielle Larson of St. Peter.

In the 1600-meter run, Kasson-Mantorville junior Taylor Mikkalson will race for a second-consecutive title. Her qualifying time is 5:25.32. McKenzie Holt, a ninth-grader at St. Cloud Christian School, has the best time of 5:08.90.

Junior Ashley Thooft of St. Clair will defend her shot put championship. She holds the best qualifying put of 41-09.00.

Sophomore Malayshia George of Breck School of Golden Valley is the final returning champion. She won the 400-meter dash last year and holds this year’s fastest qualifying time of 57.36.

The KoMets of Kasson-Mantorville are looking for their third consecutive crown in the 4x800 relay and they own this year’s best qualifying time of 9:33.11.

Class A Boys Highlights

Three individuals and representatives of two relay teams are returning to defend titles.

Calvin Clark, a senior at St. Paul Humboldt, returns to defend his title in three events: the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 400-meter dash. He also owns the fastest qualifying time in each event: 11.07 in the 100, 21.85 in the 200, and 49.35 in the 400.

Defending champions also return in two of the distance races. Junior Mubarik Musa of Worthington is looking for his second consecutive crown in the 1600-meter run and senior Mason Ferlic of Mounds Park Academy of St. Paul is searching for more gold in the 3200-meter run. Wasbasha-Kellogg senior Cullen Shanrock has the fastest qualifying time of 4:24.20 in the 1600, and Ferlic owns the best time of 9:31.54 in the 3200.

The 4x200 team from Pipestone Area will attempt to win its second title, but must get past Caledonia/Spring Grove which has a qualifying time of 1:31.09, more than one second faster than Pipestone Area’s time of 1:32.94.

Jackson County Central’s 4x800 team returns for more gold. Its qualifying time of 8:30.97 is nearly 13 seconds slower than the top qualifying time of 8:17.54 belonging to Fairmont.

Class AA Girls Highlights

The Class AA girls field is well represented with previous title holders. Defending champions in 10 individual events return and representatives from all four medal-winning relay teams will be competing.

Richfield sophomore Jessica January will defend her title in both the 100-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. She owns the best qualifying time of 14.67 in the 100 hurdles, but Hopkins junior Mariah Witt has the fastest qualifying time of 44.56 in the 300.

Sashanavian Davis, a senior at Park Center of Brooklyn Park, is also defending multiple titles. She won the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dashes in 2010 and returns in every event. She owns the best qualifying time in both the 100 (12.34) and 200 (24.45), but she’ll face tough competition from Duluth Central senior Paige Stratioti in the 400. Stratioti’s qualifying time is 55.83 to Davis’ 56.90.

The 1600- and 3200-meter runs may also be premier events with a battle between Alexandria junior Jamie Piepenberg and Shakopee sophomore Maria Hauger. Piepenberg won the 1600 last year, but Hauger has this year’s best qualifying time of 5:04.36. Conversely, Hauger won the 3200 in 2010, but Piepenberg has the fastest qualifying time of 10:48.81 this year.

Hopkins is looking to repeat in three relays: the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400. The Royals have the best qualifying time of 3:56.35 in the 4x400, but Apple Valley has the fastest qualifying time in the 4x100 (47.53) and Osseo has the best qualifying time in the 4x200 (1:41.81).

Roseville Area is the final returning relay team. The Raiders will try to make it two in a row in the 4x800, but Rochester Century’s best qualifying time of 9:14.97 is nearly 27 seconds faster.

Alexandria senior Rosey Erickson qualified to defend her long jump title and is almost a foot off the best jump of 18-08.00 which belongs to Farmington sophomore Nadia Lorencz.

Eastview of Apple Valley senior Alexandra Beckman will defend her triple jump title. Her qualifying jump of 36-06.50 is more than a foot behind the top qualifying jump belonging to Edina junior Kathryn Biewen.

Maggie Ewen, a sophomore at St. Francis, is the final returning individual. She is looking for her second consecutive discus title and has this year’s best qualifying throw of 165-07. It’s worth noting that Ewen’s qualifying throw surpasses the All-Time State Meet record of 162-04 set by Jessica Cagle of Grand Rapids in 2006.

Class AA Boys Highlights

Many new champions will be crowned, with only two relays and four individuals qualifying to defend 2010 titles.

Junior Rilwan (RJ) Alowonle of Park of Cottage Grove will defend his 300-meter hurdles title. He has the second-fastest qualifying time of 38.95, behind senior Jerome Begin of Buffalo with 38.32.

The 4x200 relay team from White Bear Lake Area is looking for its third consecutive title. Last year’s squad of Ryan Olson, Matt Glasgow, Cody Thibault, and John McCoy set a new All-Time State Meet record of 1:27.63 in the preliminaries. Their qualifying time of 1:28.95 this year ranks third. Hopkins has the best qualifying time of 1:28.50.

Wayzata returns in search of a third consecutive gold medal in the 4x800. The team qualified with the fastest time of 8:01.06.

Senior Trevor Yedoni of Benilde-St. Margaret’s of St. Louis Park, senior Rumeal Harris of Eden Prairie, and senior Michael Sandle of Eden Prairie round out the returning champions. Yedoni is looking for his second title in the high jump and Harris is seeking his second in the long jump. Frank Veldman, a senior at Eastview of Apple Valley, owns the best qualifying jump in both events. He jumped 6-11.00 in the high jump and 23-04.00 in the long jump.

Sandle, who qualified to defend his triple jump crown, also has the best qualifying distance of 50-04.50. That distance is almost a foot farther than he jumped last year when he set a new All-Time State Meet record at 49-5.50.

Friday, June 3, 2011

2011 PTP All-Conference

2011Pine to Prairie Girls Softball

All-Conference Team
Katie Kolness Ada-Borup
Megan Kolness Ada-Borup
Tori Narum Ada-Borup
Sean Benson Bagley
Hannah Neeland Bagley
Katie Skersick Bagley
Tara Evje Fosston
Haley Lano Fosston
Chelsey Raaen LP-A
Jenna Lundon Mahnomen-Waubun
Samantha Ihringer NCE-UH
Dana Koczur NCE-UH
Jane Varty NCE-UH
Katrina Jacobson NCW-Hillsboro
Michelle Olson Red Lake County Central
Erica Handley Win-E-Mac
Courtney Maruska Win-E-Mac
Korbyn Ross Win-E-Mac
Carmen Syverson Win-E-Mac

Honorable Mention
Katy Kappes Ada-Borup
Andrea Hood Bagley
Hannah Quade Bagley
Alison Olson Fertile-Beltrami
Cassey Orre Fertile-Beltrami
Kami Viken Fosston
Maegan Anderson LP-A
Cheyanne Nelson LP-A
Annie Erickson Mahnomen-Waubun
Erin Jasken Mahnomen-Waubun
Paige Johnson NCE-UH
Emily Pederson NCE-UH
Anna Gordon NCW-Hillsboro
Tori Rude NCW-Hillsboro
Mcaulli Berns Red Lake County Central
Calie Maruska Win-E-Mac
Madison McKeever Win-E-Mac

Co - Most Valuable Players
Tara Evje Fosston
Megan Kolness Ada-Borup

Coach of the Year
Bill Solheim Win-E-Mac

Thursday, June 2, 2011

UMC Golf Signee

(Crookston, Minn.)- University of Minnesota, Crookston Head Men’s Golf Coach Jason Tangquist announced today the signing of Seth Heppner from Crookston, Minn. to a National Letter of Intent to golf for the Golden Eagles during the 2011-12 season.

Heppner golfed at Crookston High School in Section 8AA. He was named Rookie of the Year and Minnesota State High School League Team Academic Champs in 2007. In 2008, he participated in the Minnesota/Wisconsin Cup Match. In his career, Heppner has 10 high school tournament victories, three state tournament appearances, four high school team MVP awards and is a four-time All-State golfer. Following his senior regular season, he was recognized as a Section 8 All-Section golfer. Academically, he attended the University of Minnesota, Crookston as a Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) student and was a member of the UMC Dean’s List.

“The signing of Seth into the Golden Eagle Men's Golf program today has added an exclamation point to a recruiting class that I believe will accomplish some great things over the next four years,” says Tangquist. “Seth has competed at a very high level during his high school seasons as well as during the summers at many Minnesota Junior Golf events. Seth has competed all over the state and in the region, winning multiple tournaments as an individual and gaining a wealth of experience on different courses. He has been to the Minnesota State Tournament three times and is playing this week to go a fourth time,” state Tangquist. “In order to play golf well at the NCAA DII level you need to get as much experience as possible and Seth no doubt has that experience, but he also has developed the golf skills as I have seen him at the course since he was very young. We want individuals in our program that work hard to make themselves and their teammates better both in the classroom and on the golf course. My belief is that Seth and the rest of the incoming recruits all fit this mold. When you put this group together with our returners we hope to make some real noise in the NSIC come this fall.”

Heppner plans to major in applied health at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. He is the son of Kari and Brad Heppner.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.