JumpStart • 2017-2018 Sports Yearbook

Lyle-Pacelli girls claimed the program’s first-ever state title in 2018, just one of the many highlights throughout the year

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018

Table of Contents

An Austin Daily Herald publication Compiled by Rocky Hulne, Photos and layout by Eric Johnson

Teams

Austin Packers ............................................ Pages 3-9 Southland Rebels ................................. Pages 10-11 LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals .....................Pages 12-13 Grand Meadow Superlarks .....................Pages 14-15 Lyle-Pacelli Athletics ................................ Pages 16-17 Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms ..... Pages 18-19 Hayfield Vikings ....................................... Pages 20-22 Photo Rewind-The Fans................................ Page 23 Austin Bruins Year in Pictures ....................... Page 24

Lyle-Pacelli’s Brooke Walter, from left, Kendal Truckenmiller and Abby Bollingberg embrace after the Athletics claimed the Section 1A title with a 75-63 win over Hayfield. Herald file photo

The Packers celebrate their match win over Mankato East last fall, the first Big Nine win since 2011. Herald file photo

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

Austin Austin’s Lonyjera Okal, Kevin Ortiz, right, and Mooday Wah, left celebrate Wah’s goal in the first half in the Minnesota Class A Boys Soccer Tournament semifinals at US Bank Stadium. Herald file photo

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Austin’s Mooday Wah boots the ball past St. Thomas keeper Jack Killian in the first half in the Minnesota Class A Boys Soccer Tournament semifinals at US Bank Stadium. Herald file photos

AUSTIN FOOTBALL

The Packer football team played against tough competition in 2017 as they finished 5-5 overall, with all five of their losses coming to state ranked-teams. Austin lost twice to the eventual Minnesota Class AAAAA state champion Owatonna football team, including a 62-41 loss in the Section 1AAAAA semifinals.

That contest saw Austin within 41-34 late in the third quarter and it was Owatonna’s closest game of the entire season.

The Packers were led by the play of senior quarterback Tate Hebrink, who threw for 1,816 yards, 17 TDs and 13 interceptions and junior Joe Seeman, who ran for 911 yards and seven TDs as a running back. As a linebacker, Seeman was in on 84 tackles.

Austin’s Sam Johnson disrupts a Rochester Mayo play early in the first quarter that resulted in a Elijah Marks fumble recovery and touchdown at Art Hass Stadium.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

AUSTIN VOLLEYBALL

The Austin volleyball team went 4-22 overall as its season came to an end in a three-game sweep to Rochester Mayo in a Section 1AAA tournament opener.

Austin’s highlight of the season came when it won its first Big Nine match since 2011 in a four-game win over Albert Lea. The Packers were led by senior Teddi Eisenberg, who had 74 kills on the season, and sophomore Jordyn McCormack, who had 105 kills and 76 blocks.

Cindy Owen resigned as head coach for the Packers after the season.

AUSTIN BOYS SOCCER

The Packers had their best season in school history as they finished tied for third place in their second ever appearance in the Minnesota Class A State Tournament.

The Packers lost to Saint Thomas Academy 4-3 in overtime in the state semifinals and they tied 0-0 with Orono in the third place game. Austin finished the season with a record of 18-13 overall as it won its first Big Nine title in school history.

The Packers were led by the play of seniors Lonyjera Okal, Sam Bailey, Ojulu Cham and Josh Brehmer. Juniors Mooday Wah and Kevin Ortiz also stepped up.

AUSTIN GIRLS SOCCER

The Packers went 6-9-1 overall on the season and they nearly pulled off a big upset at the end of the season when they were knocked off by top seeded Rochester Lourdes 2-1 in the Section 1A quarterfinals. The Packers were led by senior keeper Myia Hoium and senior Isabel Leuer.

AUSTIN GIRLS TENNIS

The Packers finished with a record of 2-13 overall as they were knocked off by Rochester Century 7-0 in a Section 1A Tournament. Austin was led by senior Emily Sayles.

AUSTIN CROSS COUNTRY

The Packers had a pair of runners qualify for the Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Meet in 2017 as junior Abby Lewis ran in her fourth career state meet and junior Henry Hinchcliffe ran in his first ever state meet.

Hinchcliffe took 64th place with a time of 16:31 and Lewis took 82nd with a time of 19:43.9.

Austin’s Abby Lewis nears the finish of the girls varsity race of the Austin Invite. Lewis, along with Henry Hinchcliffe competed in the state meet later in the season. Herald file photo AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

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Austin’s Nyagoa Obany battles inside against Sauk Rapids-Rice in the second half in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota Class AAA Boys State Basketball Tournament in March in Williams Arena.

Herald file photos

AUSTIN GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING

[Tom and Joe] Aase’s, [Zach] Wessels and Gach Gach and these guys have just added to our tradition. To get to state two years in a row, to play in some big games and to play in high school games that you sell out, these guys are leaving a really strong legacy behind them The Packers were led by the senior trio of Duoth Gach, who averaged 16.2 points per game, Moses Issa, who averaged 12.3 points per game, and Tate Hebrink, who averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 assists per game.

Austin has now played in five of the last seven state tournaments and it has finished second in three of those trips.

The Austin girls swimming and diving team didn’t advance any athletes to Minnesota Class A State Meet.

The Packers were led by senior Abby Schammel, who took fifth in the 100-yard butterfly at the Section 1A meet.

AUSTIN BOYS BASKETBALL

The Packers played in their second straight Minnesota Class AAA State Boys Basketball Tournament as they finished in fourth place. Austin lost 82-61 to DeLaSalle in the third place game at state. They were knocked out of title contention earlier in the tournament when they lost 80-68 to Delano in the semifinals.

The Packers, who finished with a record of 27-4 overall, tied for a Big Nine title with Rochester John Marshall.

“These guys have helped our culture and we’ve got a good thing going in Austin,” Austin head coach Fadness said after the loss to Delano. “The foundation was probably laid with

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AUSTIN GIRLS BASKETBALL Austin’s Emily Hegna reaches past Northfield’s Annalee Olson-Sola during the first half of a Section 1AAA semifinal game in Rochester.

The Packers finished with a record of 14-14 overall and their season came to an end in an 80-44 loss to eventual Minnesota Class AAA runner-up Northfield in the Section 1AAA semifinals.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

Austin had a young roster and it will bring back the bulk of it’s team next season.

“We’re just planting the seed with some of these kids, but at the same time it’s hard to say goodbye to two good leaders in our seniors,” Austin head coach Eric Zoske said.

Senior Emily Hegna averaged 7.7 points per game for Austin and junior Abby Lewis averaged 13.4 points per game.

AUSTIN DANCE

The Packers finished in fifth place in the high kick division at the Minnesota Class AA state dance meet.

It was the 16th straight year the Packer Dance competed in the state meet.

Austin’s Abby Miller and Nikki Summerfield were selected to the Class AA All-Tournament team.

AUSTIN GYMNASTICS

Austin senior Jen Boyle finished her high school gymnastics career with her best performance with the Packers as she took third in all-around, first in bars and fourth in vault at the Minnesota Class A State Individual Gymnastics Meet.

Boyle scored a 37.6 on the all-around, a 9.7 on the bars and a 9.7 on the vault.

“I was nervous because I wanted to make my last meet my best one and I think I did that. This was my best state meet,” Boyle said after the meet. “I’m really proud how much of improved through the years and how much my hard work has paid off. I never really thought I would get on the podium for all-around so this was definitely a surprise.”

Jordan DeLaMater and Sam Sheldon also competed at the state meet for the Packers, who took second in Section 1A meet and missed out on the team state competition.

The Austin Packer Dance Team, performing here during their annual show, continued their consecutive trend of state meet appearances. Herald file photo

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AUSTIN BOYS HOCKEY

Austin finished with a record of 8-18-1 overall as its season came to an end on a 2-0 loss to Mankato East in a Section 1A quarterfinals.

The Packers were led by senior forwards Jake Halsey and Dylan Svoboda.

AUSTIN GIRLS HOCKEY

The Packers finished with a record of 9-16 overall as their season came to an end on a 10-0 loss to Red Wing in a Section 1A semifinal.

The Packers were led by senior forward Myia Hoium.

AUSTIN WRESTLING

Austin junior Issac Arjes finished in sixth place at 220 pounds in the Minnesota Class AAA wrestling meet.

It was the first time Arjes ever competed in a state meet.

AUSTIN BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING

The Packers were well-represented at the Minnesota Class A State Swimming and Diving Meet as six athletes competed in a total of 10 events on the big stage.

Logan Kelly took fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke and eighth in the 200-yard individual medley.

Isaac Christopherson took 14th in the 200-yard freestyle, Rafe Dolan-Peterson took 15th in the 200-yard individual medley, Mitchell Mayer took 13th in the 50-yard freestyle and 12th in the 100-yard butterfly, Riley Norton took 12th diving and Ethan Thompson took 10th in the Austin’s Nick Dunlap braces as he heads into the boards 500-yard freestyle. during the second period against Mankato West at The 200-yard freestyle relay Riverside Arena. team of Mayer, Dolan Peterson, Kelly and Christopherson took 11th and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Dolan Peterson, Mayer, Kelly and Christopherson took ninth.

AUSTIN BASEBALL

The Packers came up one win short of their first state tournament berth in at least two decades when they were edged out by Red Wing by a score of 6-5 in the Section 1AAA title game.

Austin finished with a record of 15-7 overall and it was led by eight seniors, including pitchers Jack Dankert and Josi Both. ““I’m just really proud of our seniors,” Austin head coach Joe said after the season.

“They’re unbelievable players and with what Jack Dankert did this year, I think he’s an AllState player. They’re great players and even better young men. What they’ve done this year has been unbelievable. Unfortunately we just fell a little short.”

AUSTIN SOFTBALL

The Packers had their best season in at least a decade as they went 13-10 overall. The Packers had their season come to an end when they lost 9-1 to Northfield in a Section 1AAA elimination game.

The Packers were led by senior shortstop Halie Retterath and sophomore catcher Jordyn McCormack.

Austin’s Jen Boyle dismounts from the bars at the Minnesota Class A State gGymnatics Meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Herald file photos

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AUSTIN BOYS GOLF

The Packers did not have any state qualifiers in 2018.

The team was led by senior Noah Bawek.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

Austin’s Aiden Wilson clears the bar during the pole vault at this year’s Minnesota Class AA State Track and Field Meet earlier this month. Herald file photos

AUSTIN GIRLS GOLF

The Packers did not have any state qualifiers in 2018.

The team was led by seniors Madison Hasley and Kristina Thorson.

AUSTIN BOYS TENNIS

The Packers had big senior leadership as they finished with a record of 6-8 overall.

Austin’s season came to an end when it lost to Rochester Century 7-0 in the Section AA quarterfinals.

AUSTIN TRACK AND FIELD

Austin’s Jens Ourada returns a ball at No. 1 singles against Northfield at Paulson Courts in April.

Senior Aiden Wilson was Austin’s lone state qualifier.

Wilson competed in the pole vault at the Minnesota Class AA State Track and Field Meet and he finished in 11th place with a height of 13 feet, six-inches.

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Southland Southland quarterback Carl Mueller finds a seam against Kingsland this past season in Adams. Herald file photo

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SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL

The Rebels finished the 2017 season with a record of 2-7 overall.

Southland had its season end in a 54-22 loss to Blooming Prairie in the Section 1A Tournament quarterfinals.

The Rebels were led by seniors Bret Matthews, who had 27 tackles and four sacks, and Jared Landherr, who had 629 yards receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

SOUTHLAND VOLLEYBALL

Southland finished with a record of 6-16 overall as it was knocked by Randolph in four games in a Section 1A West Tournament opener.

Senior Brianna Johnson led the Rebels with 169 kills.

GMLOS CROSS COUNTRY

GMLOS failed to qualify any runners for the state meet in 2017.

The GMLOS boys were led by Kolton Arndorfer and the GMLOS girls were led by Sydney Alstat.

SOUTHLAND BOYS BASKETBALL

The Rebels finished with a record of 6-17 overall as their season came to an end in a 56-44 loss to Faribault Bethlehem Academy in a Section 1A Tournament opening round game.

Senior Jared Landherr led the Rebels as he averaged 19 points per game. He finished as Southland’s all-time leading scorer with 1,413 career points.

SOUTHLAND GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Rebels finished with a record of 6-17 overall and their season came to an end in a 64-37 loss to Grand Meadow in the Section 1A quarterfinals.

Senior McKendry Kennedy led the Rebels as she averaged 17.1 points and 2.3 steals per game.

SOUTHLAND BASEBALL

The Rebels finished with a record of 8-10 overall after their season came to an end in a 6-5 loss to Wabasha-Kellogg in a Section 1A East elimination game.

Senior Jared Landherr stepped up as a leader for the Rebels.

SOUTHLAND SOFTBALL

The Rebels finished with a record of 4-12 overall after their season came to an end in an 8-7 loss to Mabel-Canton in a Section 1A East Tournament opening game.

The Rebels were led by senior pitcher Taylor Bhend.

SOUTHLAND GOLF

The Rebels did not have any state qualifiers in 2018.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

Southland’s Brianna Johnson runs the floor during the first half against Lewiston-Altura in Adams. Herald file photo

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LeRoy-Ostrander

LeRoy-Ostrander’s Riley Olson takes a contested shot against Blooming Prairie in the first half of a Section 1A playoff game in LeRoy this past seaseon.

Herald file photo

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LeRoy-Ostrander’s Jackson Hockens breaks up a pass intended for Lanesboro’s Connor Ruen this season. Herald file photo

LEROY-OSTRANDER FOOTBALL

The Cardinals had their best season in years as they finished 4-5 overall. They were knocked off in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Nine Man Football Playoffs in a 55-30 loss to Cleveland.

LO’s four wins were the most wins it had in a season since 2007.

The Cardinals were led by junior quarterback Trey Hungerholt, who threw for 1,131 yards and 11 TDs and ran for 873 yards and 10 TDs.

LEROY-OSTRANDER VOLLEYBALL

The Cardinals finished with an overall record of 11-19 with their seasoncoming to an end in a three-game sweep to Goodhue in a Section 1A West opener.

LO was led by junior Kate Helgeson, who had 166 set assists, 43 kills and 59 digs.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

LEROY-OSTRANDER BOYS BASKETBALL

The Cardinals had their best season in at least as a decade as they went 19-8 overall. But their season came to an end when they lost to 63-48 in a Section 1A Tournament opener.

LO was led by Trey Hungerholt, who averaged 18.3 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3.2 steals and senior Seth Royston, who averaged 16.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

LEROY-OSTRANDER GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Cardinals had a limited roster of mostly underclassmen as they went 1-26 overall and their season ended on a 98-23 loss to Fillmore Central in a Section 1A Tournament opener.

Junior Haley Hungerholt averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 steals per game for LO.

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The GMLOKS foursome of Riley Queensland, Lauren Buchholtz, Emily Hovden and Anika Reiland were state champs this year in the 4x200 meter relay. Herald file photo

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Grand Meadow

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

GRAND MEADOW FOOTBALL

The Superlarks had their string of four straight Class Nine man championships come to an end, finishing with a record of 7-3 overall. GM had its season come to an end in a 40-17 loss to eventual state champ Spring Grove in the Section 1 Nine Man semifinals.

GM had its 51-game winning streak ended earlier in the regular season when it lost to Houston.

GM was led by senior Zach Myhre, who ran for 2,162 yards and 28 TDs. On defense, he racked up 122 tackles. Myhre has committed to play football at Winona State University.

GRAND MEADOW VOLLEYBALL

GM finished with a record of 22-11 overall as its season came to an end in a four-game loss to Hayfield in the Section 1A West semifinals.

The Superlarks were led by junior Jordyn Glynn, who had 236 kills and 322 digs.

GRAND MEADOW BOYS BASKETBALL

The Superlarks went 12-13 overall as its season came to an end in a 54-53 loss in its Section 1A Tournament opener.

Freshman Colt Landers led GM as he averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and junior Austin Funk averaged 12.5 points per game.

GRAND MEADOW GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Superlarks finished with a record of 23-6 overall, losing 64-47 to eventual Minnesota Class A state champion Lyle-Pacelli 60-37 in the Section 1A semifinals.

GM will return much of its lineup next season as it was led by junior Jordyn Glynn, who averaged 16.9 points, eight rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game and sophomore Riley Queensland averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game.

GM head coach Ryan Queensland is hoping the Superlarks can take the next step on the court next season.

“It was fun to watch us through the year being a little bit mentally and physically stronger,” Queensland said. “I think now with them being so close, yet so far away they’re a little more hungry.”

Grand Meadow’s Zach Myhre cuts back on a run against Lyle-Pacelli in Grand Meadow this past season. Herald file photos GMLOKS senior Drew Lewison took second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 38.48 seconds and he took sixth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.66 seconds.

The 4 x 100-meter relay team of Isabelle Olson, Hovden, Kassidy Kirtz and Reiland was disqualified at state on a mishandling of a baton after the team had taken third in the preliminaries.

GMLOKS’ Riley Queensland leads the field as she heads to the finish to complete the 4x200-meter team’s state title at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet this spring.

GMLOS WRESTLING

Jackson Hale, a junior, finished in fourth place at 120 pounds in the Minnesota Class A State Wrestling Meet.

It was the second appearance at state for Hale, who was pinned by Jace Gerving of Deer River in the third place match.

GMLOK BASEBALL

The Bulldogs went 7-10 overall and their season came to an end in a 12-11 loss to Byron in a Section 1AA opener.

GMLOK SOFTBALL

The Bulldogs went 3-14 overall and their season came to an end in a 12-2 loss to Zumbrota-Mazeppa in a Section 1AA opener.

GMLOKS TRACK AND FIELD

GMLOKS had a big showing at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet as it won the program’s first state title in a decade and it placed five athletes on the podium.

The 4 x 200-meter relay team of Lauren Buchholtz, Emily Hovden, Riley Queensland and Anika Reiland took first place with a time of 1:45.23.

“It was surreal. We’re best in the state. That’s something you only dream about,” Buchholtz said after the race.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

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The Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team celebrates after claiming the Class A state title with a win over Sleepy Eye in March at the Minnesota Class A Girls State Basketball Tournament in Target Center. Herald file photo

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Lyle-Pacelli

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

LYLE-PACELLI FOOTBALL

The Athletics finished 0-9 overall as their season came to an end in a 64-20 loss to the eventual state champion Spring Grove in the Section 1 Nine Man quarterfinals.

The Athletics were led by junior Patrick Murphy.

LYLE-PACELLI VOLLEYBALL

The Athletics finished 10-16 overall and their season ended on a three-game loss to Hayfield in the Section 1A West quarterfinals.

LYLE-PACELLI

Pacelli junior Kayla Christopherson finished All-State for the fourth straight year in her fifth Minnesota Class A State Cross Country Meet.

Christopherson finished in ninth place with a time of 19:07.4 “I put it all out onto the course,” Christopherson said after the race. “In that last mile I had to keep telling myself ‘you’re strong, you’re strong,’ because I was dying.”

LYLE-PACELLI BOYS BASKETBALL

The No. 11 seeded Athletics pulled off a couple of big upsets, but their playoff run came to an end when they were knocked off by Spring Grove 68-60 in the Section 1A semifinals.

LP finished the season with a record of 16-11 overall.

Senior foreign exchange student Frederico Pulgarin led the Athletics as he averaged 14.3 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals per game.

The Athletics also have reason for optimism in the future as freshmen Zach Bollingberg, Cole Walter and Jed Nelson all played big roles.

LYLE-PACELLI GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Athletics captured the program’s first ever Minnesota Class A state championship when it beat Sleepy Eye 57-33 in the title game. The Athletics finished the season with a record of 32-1 overall, and it’s only loss of the season came to an eventual state champ in Iowa.

LP head coach Justin Morris was able to win his last game with the Athletics, before he resigned after the season to move to Omaha, Neb. ““We have been through so much heartbreak as a program. We’ve been so close,” Morris said after the state championship. “We always joked that if you beat us you’re going to win state. This year we decided we weren’t going to let that happen and we were going to believe in us no matter what happened.”

LP senior Brooke Walter had played with the LP varsity team since she was a seventh grader and she was elated to finally reach the top of the mountain.

“We’ve always been a close family, but this team is so unselfish and we care so much about each other,” Walter said after the season. “This team is so mentally strong. We’ve had a couple of heartbreaks in Rochester, but we got it done now. It kind of makes up for it.”

Walter averaged 7 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals per game and senior Kristi Fett, a Minnesota State University commit, averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks per game.

loss to Blooming Prairie in a Section 1A West Tournament opener.

LP was led by the play of junior shortstop Abby Bollinbgerg.

LYLE-PACELLI BASEBALL

LYLE-PACELLI TRACK AND FIELD

The Athletics finished two wins short of the state tournament as they had their season come to an end in a 7-6 loss to Rushford-Peterson in the Section 1A finals.

LP finished with a record of 12-9 overall.

The Athletics leaned on the play of senior ace Taylor Arett, and the team also had a young core that stepped up.

LYLE-PACELLI SOFTBALL

The Athletics finished with a record of 9-6 overall as their season came to an end on a 8-2

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

Lyle-Pacelli’s Joseph Maas gets the lay-up around Wabasha-Kellogg’s Jaxon Mickow during the first half in the Section 1A quarterfinals in Rochester in March. Herald file photo

Lyle-Pacelli junior Kayla Christopherson was able to get on the podium at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet for the third time in her career.

Christopherson took eighth place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:34.27.

“Not a lot of girls get a chance to get to state, let alone get on the podium. To do it again, is a blessing,” Christopherson said after the race.

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Blooming Prairie Blooming Prairie’s Brad Staska tackles Goodhue quarterback Jack Gadient in the Section 1A title game last November. Herald file photo

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BLOOMING PRAIRIE FOOTBALL

BP finished with a record of 16-9 overall. The Blossoms had a relatively young roster, and they were led by the play of seniors McKenna Hein, who had 11.2 points per game, and Sam Wurst, who averaged 13.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Freshman Megan Oswald, who averaged 12.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, also made big strides.

The Awesome Blossoms finished 8-3 overall as it was edged out by Goodhue 19-14 in the Section 1A title game.

“I’m super proud of these kids,” BP head coach Chad Gimbel said. “The way they rose the challenge at the end of the season was great. I’m so proud of our kids and how they handled adversity at the end of the season.”

BP was led by junior quarterback Seth Peterson as he threw for 2,278 yards and 25 TDs and ran for 409 yards and two TDs.

WESTFIELD WRESTLING

The Westfield Razorbacks had five wrestlers at the Minnesota Class A State Meet.

Colton Krell, a junior, took second place at 160-pounds after he was beaten 9-2 by Zach Schneider of Caledonia in the title match, Ethan Arett, a senior, took fourth at 106 pounds, Morgen Moreno, a senior, took fifth place at 195-pounds and Mitchell Oswald, a senior, took fourth at 285 pounds.

Dylan Nirk, a sophomore, also wrestled at state at 220-pounds, but he failed to place.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE VOLLEYBALL

The Awesome Blossoms finished the season with a record of 14-11 overall after they lost to Grand Meadow in three games in the Section 1A West quarterfinals.

Senior McKenna Hein had 134 kills and 197 digs for BP.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE CROSS COUNTRY

Blooming Prairie’s McKenna Hein is defended by Hayfield’s Carrie Rutledge, BLOOMING PRAIRIE BASEBALL Alec Ille capped his high school country career left, and Emma Holst, right, in the Section 1A quarterfinals Mayo Civic Center in The Awesome Blossoms had their best season in by taking 41st place in the Minnesota Class A State Rochester Monday. Herald file photo a decade as they won more games this season than Cross Country Meet. they had in the past three years combined.

Ille, who was running in his third state meet, finBP finished with a record of 12-7 overall and its season came to an end in a 1-0 loss to Waished with a time of 16:59.6. basha-Kellogg in a Section 1A semifinal.

“I felt like I did the best I could,” Ille said after the race. “It wasn’t as high as I wanted to finish, but I feel good about it. I feel decent. I didn’t think about it being my last race.”

BLOOMING PRAIRIE SOFTBALL

BLOOMING PRAIRIE BOYS BASKETBALL

The Awesome Blossoms finished with a record of 13-12 overall as their season came to an end in a 56-33 loss to Rushford-Peterson in a Section 1A quarterfinal game.

BP was led by senior center Jake Ressler, who averaged 7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game and sophomores Game Hagen, who averaged 11.5 points and 7 rebounds per game, Karson Vigeland, who averaged 10.7 points per game and Kaden Thomas, who averaged 11.2 points per game.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Awesome Blossoms nearly pulled off a giant upset, but their season came to an end when they lost to Hayfield 67-63 in double overtime in the Section 1A quarterfinals.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

BP finished with an overall record of 9-10 as its season came to an end in a 3-1 loss to Faribault Bethlehem Academy in a Section 1A West elimination game.

The Awesome Blossoms were led by seniors Linnea Sunde and McKenna Hein.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE TRACK AND FIELD

BP did not have any state qualifiers in 2018.

BP’s girls were led by Sam Wurst and the boys team was led by Alec Ille.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE GOLF

Senior Jake Ressler closed out his golf career at his third Minnesota Class A State Golf Meet appearance.

Ressler shot a two-day score of 181 and he finished 56th overall at the state meet.

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Hayfield Hayfield pitcher Caitlyn Hendrickson is lifted up by catcher Jenna Jacobsen after getting the last out against Wabasha-Kellogg in the Section 1A championship earlier in June at Todd Park.

Herald file photo

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HAYFIELD FOOTBALL

The Vikings finished with a record of 0-9 overall as their season came to an end in a 60-7 loss to Goodhue in the Section 1A quarterfinals.

Hayfield was led by senior lineman Zach Nelson.

HAYFIELD VOLLEYBALL

The Vikings finished with a record of 24-6 overall as its season came to an end in a fivegame loss to Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West finals.

The Vikings had a senior-heavy team as Maggie Streightiff broke the career set assists record (2,242) for Hayfield and Carrie Rutledge broke the school’s career digs record (1,485).

HAYFIELD CROSS COUNTRY

Hayfield did not have a state qualifier in 2017.

The Viking boys were led by Jackson Struck and Megan Johnson and Caitlyn Severson led the girls team.

HAYFIELD BOYS BASKETBALL

The Vikings finished with a record of 5-23 overall as their season came to an end on a 69-29 loss to Spring Grove in a Section 1A opener.

Hayfield was led by sophomore Luke Dudycha, who averaged 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and junior Mason Tapp, who averaged 12.7 points per game.

HAYFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hayfield went 25-5 overall as its season came to an end in a 75-63 loss to eventual Minnesota Class A state champion Lyle-Pacelli in the Section 1A title game.

The Vikings were led by seniors Carrie Rutledge, who averaged 14.5 points per game, Maggie Streightiff, who averaged 13.8 points per game and Olivia Matti, who averaged 14 points per game.

While Hayfield wasn’t able to make it to its first state tournament since 2008, Streightiff and her teammates appreciated the success they had together.

“It’s been a really, really fun year. We’ve gotten along so well,” Streightiff said after the loss to LP. “Our group of seniors is really close and it’s hard to end.”

Hayfield’s Alexis Dudycha sets off the jump against Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West championship in Rochester. Herald file photo AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

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Easton Fritcher pitches for the Hayfield baseball in May. Herald file photo

HAYFIELD BASEBALL

Hayfield went 14-8 overall, but it was knocked out of the Section 1A West Tournament when it lost to Blooming Prairie 5-3 in a Section 1A West elimination game.

The Vikings were led by senior pitcher Zach Nelson.

HAYFIELD SOFTBALL

The Vikings competed in their fourth straight Minnesota Class A State Softball Tournament, but their chances at a title came to an end when they were edged out 6-5 by eventual state champ New York Mills.

Hayfield was led by a big senior class, which included Kyal Heydt, Kate Kruger, Carrie Rutledge and Maggie Streightiff.

Hayfield, which finished with a record of 14-9 overall, lost a consolation game 2-1 to Carlton.

HAYFIELD TRACK AND FIELD

Hayfield senior Kalli Jo Klocke broke a Hayfield High School pole vault record as she competed in the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet for the first time in her career.

Klocke finished in third place at the state meet as she vaulted a school record height of 10-feet, nine inches.

HAYFIELD GOLF

Hayfield eighth grader Keegan Bronson made his first ever appearance at the Minnesota Class A State Golf Meet in 2018.

Bronson had a two-day score of 183 to take 59th place overall.

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Hayfield’s Kelly Johnson comes home after her three-run homer against Wabasha-Kellogg in the Section 1A championship. Herald file photo AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

The Blooming Prairie fans lined the bleachers during the Awesome Blossoms’ Section 1A Football Tournament contest against Goodhue in November. Herald file photos

Photo ReWind!

The Fans

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK

FAR LEFT: Lyle-Pacelli fan Cole Walter joins the rest of the LP fanbase as the Athletics neared completion of their Minnesota Class A State Basketball state title in March. LEFT: LeRoy-Ostrander fans keep their eyes on the action during a Section 1A West boys basketball game in LeRoy.

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2017-18

Austin Bruins The puck clangs off the post behind Bruins’ goalie Alex Schilling against Bismarck. Herald file photos

Austin’s Dante Sheriff gets an open look against Minot.

Austin’s Travis Kothenbeutel retrieves the puck behind the Brookings’ goal at Riverside Arena.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPORTS YEARBOOK