DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE January 15, 2015
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Sports Irish gymnasts have a lot of work ahead Rosemount’s section might be state’s toughest by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rosemount’s gymnastics team is steadily improving, coach Jason Passeri said. But, he added, so is the Irish’s competition. Rosemount qualified for the 2014 state Class AA team competition after an absence of more than 20 years. But if last week’s state coaches association rankings are an indication, the Irish are in for a battle in their effort to return. Although the Irish are ranked fifth in Class AA, two other teams from Section 3AA are above them, including No. 2 East Ridge and No. 4 Eagan. The only other section that’s close to being as front-loaded is 4AA, which has three teams in the top 11 of the state rankings. What that means, Passeri said, is the Irish still have a lot of work to do before defending their Section 3AA championship next month. Rosemount lost Kidron Stromwall – one of two seniors on the roster – to an injury early in the season. Another of the Irish’s top gymnasts will be unavailable for the next week or so as she is traveling with her family. The Irish still have the depth to piece together a strong roster. They won invitationals at Simley High School and in Faribault, and they were 3-1 in their first four dual meets. The loss was
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We have a lot of multi-sport athletes who don’t train in gymnastics yearround. In the other three events you can overcome that, but bars is so specialized.
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– Jason Passeri ROSEMOUNT GYMNASTICS HEAD COACH
one of Josie’s best all-around scores,” Passeri said. “She’s been in the 37s consistently.” Schlie was runner-up on vault (9.55) and fourth on balance beam. Meghan Creese finished fifth on vault with 9.4. Abby Nelson, a junior, scored 9.0 or higher in three events at a Jan. 6 meet against Eastview where the Irish hit 143.55, their second-best team score of the season. Two of the Irish’s younger gymnasts, seventh-grader Sami Olson and eighth-grader Jaden Laundrie, also contributed scores on varsity in the Eastview meet. Olivia Ratgen, a junior, was second all-around to Schlie at the Eastview meet. “Obviously, if we were to lose Josie, that would be a couple of points off our team score,” Passeri said. “But one of our strengths is that we’re really deep as far as having a number of good kids who can help us in events like bars.” Rosemount will go to the Park Invite at Park of Cottage Grove High School on Saturday, where its competition will include defending state Class AA team champion Roseville. The Raiders also are ranked first in Class AA this season. The Irish return to South Suburban Conference competition Tuesday, Jan. 20, at home against 13th-ranked Farmington.
to Eagan by less than half a point. Rosemount’s performances on uneven bars might determine whether the team gets back to state. The Irish finished fourth at last year’s state meet despite beating only one of the seven other teams on bars. “We have a lot of multisport athletes who don’t train in gymnastics year-round,” Passeri said. “In the other three events you can overcome that, but bars is so specialized.” Rosemount ninth-grader Josey Schlie was second in the all-around competition at the Minnesota Girls Gymnastics Officials Association meet Jan. 3 in Faribault. The only girl to finish ahead of her was Northfield’s Bailey DuPay, the defending Class AA all-around champion. Email Mike Shaughnessy at Schlie scored 36.85 in the mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. all-around at that meet, and com. “the thing is, it wasn’t even
Keeping control
Community Education
Rosemount’s Austin Valenzuela keeps Taylor Moynihan of Apple Valley near the mat in a match at 160 pounds during a South Suburban Conference wrestling dual meet last Friday. Valenzuela won 9-0 but Apple Valley, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, defeated the Irish 48-22. (Photo by Mike Shaughnessy)
Wildcats looking to top themselves by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
meet, and he did really well,” said Morgan. “Eli is one of our cornerstones. He’s been on our team for six years.” Broman and Lemke won two individual events each in the Lakeville South meet Jan. 6. Also winning two events was junior Zach Dawson. Jasper Appleton and Sam Zenner won one event each, and Alex Crow was the diving winner. Eagan also took first in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Zenner was the leading rusher in South Suburban Conference football last fall and will pursue football in college at South Dakota State. Although most of his swimming training is confined to the high school season, he is one of the state’s top 50yard freestyle sprinters. “We know he’s a one-man wrecking machine on the football field,” Morgan said. “But he’s a captain on our team because he’s earned the respect of guys who swim year-round.” Eagan still has to get past teams such as eighth-ranked Prior Lake, Lakeville North and Rosemount if it is to win another South Suburban title. The Wildcats took on Prior Lake at home Tuesday. Saturday, Eagan will go to a True Team section meet at Olson Middle School in Bloomington. The Wildcats are favored in a section in which they are the only team ranked in the state’s top 10.
The 2013-14 season was one of the best in Eagan boys swimming and diving history, if not the best. But, after a season in which the Wildcats won the South Suburban Conference and finished in the top 10 at the state meet, can they do better? Coach Chris Morgan said he believes so. “We were young last year,” he said. “We have a strong group of swimmers, and diving’s probably our best event. We have three divers who could finish in the top 10 at state.” The Wildcats, ranked fourth in Class AA, took seventh place in the top division at the Maroon and Gold Invitational (several of the teams that finished ahead of Eagan were from other states). Last week they improved to 3-0 in the South Suburban Conference by defeating ninth-ranked Lakeville South 12163. Eagan swimmers and divers won 11 of the 12 events. They also had the fastest time in the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, in which they competed unscored. The Wildcats’ top swimmers include junior Parker Lemke and senior captain Eli Broman, both of whom placed in the top 10 in two events each in a loaded division at the Maroon and Gold meet. “We can’t get a lot of races for Parker, but we were able to give him a good Email Mike Shaughnessy challenge at the Maroon and Gold mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com.
Rosemount’s Abby Nelson concentrates during his balance beam routine during the state meet last year. Nelson is among the returning gymnasts who are hoping to repeat and improve upon last year’s accomplishments. It won’t be easy for the team to earn a return trip to state. (File photo)
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District 196 Community Education will offer the following classes. To register, or for more information, call 651-423-7920 or visit www.district196. org/ce. Tai Chi, Sun Style Practice, 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, Rosemount Middle School, $25. Aquatic Exercise, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Jan. 19 to Feb. 25, Augustana Health Care Center of Apple Valley, $69. Fencing (grades two to five), 6:15-7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 to March 18 (skip Feb. 11), Shannon Park Elementary School, $109. Adults welcome.
Archery Adventure Camp (ages 9-17), 6:308:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 to Feb. 23 (skip Feb. 16), Pinewood Community School, $85. Unicycle (ages 6 and older), 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 to March 18 (skip Feb. 11), Pinewood Community School, $25. Gentle Yoga with Ronda, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 to Feb. 19, Northview Elementary School, $35. Family Fitness (families with children ages 5 and older), 5:30-6:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 to Feb. 8, Highland Elementary School, $35. Preschool Gymnastics (ages 3-5), 12:15-1
p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 to Feb. 28, Rosemount High School, $69. Gymnastics: Beginner to Advanced (boys and girls ages 5-13), 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 to March 9, Rosemount High School, $79. More sessions available online. CPR/AED for the Lay Rescuer – Adult, Child and Infant, 6-9:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Falcon Ridge Middle School, $80. Butts and Guts, free sample class, 6:30-7:20 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Westview Elementary. Butts and Guts, 6:307:20 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 to March 18 (skip Feb. 11), Northview Elementary, $49.
College News Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn., fall dean’s list, from Farmington – Lauren Brooke, Olivia Taylor. Christy Emanuelson, of Rosemount, is a member of the 2014-15 Nordic Choir music ensemble at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Mo., fall dean’s list, Alex Aubrecht, of Farmington. Kennedy Erdmann, of Rosemount, will play for the women’s swimming and diving team at the University of Minnesota, Morris for the 2014-15 season. University of Wisconsin-Stout, December graduates, from Farmington – Richard Canada, B.S., applied math and computer science, and B.S., game design and development; Casey Cornell, B.S., graphic communications management; Katrina Peterson, B.S., early childhood education; Abrianna Thao, B.S., apparel design and development; from Rosemount – Melanie Flink, B.S., human development and family studies; Megan Gruenke, B.S., human development and family studies; Katelyn Norgaarden, B.S., vocational rehabilitation. Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., fall dean’s list, from Rosemount – Katelyn Derby, Katelyn Retterath. Minnesota State University, Mankato, summer and fall graduates, from Farmington – Bobbie Aaberg, A.A., liberal studies; Brian Bubendorf, M.S., engineering; Amanda Buttedal, B.S., corrections; Jennifer Dreyer, B.S., nursing; Melinda Gerold, B.S., nursing; Trevor Johnson, B.S., law enforcement, magna
cum laude; Nicole Jones-Williams, B.S., sociology; Andrea Kiecker, B.S., management; Sarah Kindem, B.S., psychology, magna cum laude; Brett Levin, B.S., law enforcement; Russell Litzner, B.S., computer engineering technology, and B.S., electronic engineering technology, cum laude; Betsy Mowers, B.S., speech communication; Casey Myers, B.S., mass communications; Matthew Nelson, B.S., exercise science; Beth Newberger, B.S., communication disorders; Shane Seemann, B.S., marketing; Garrett Shields, B.A., psychology, and B.S., ethnic studies, magna cum laude; Richard Simmonds, B.S., accounting; Katie Spaude, B.S., recreation, parks & leisure services; Ashly Spitzer, B.S., nursing; Daniel Stroberger, B.S., psychology, cum laude; from Rosemount – Heidi Henke, B.S., dental hygiene; Kristin Johnson, SPEC, educational leadership; Eric McCabe, M.S., spec education: emotional behavior disorders; Scott McPherson, B.S., automotive engineering technology; Nikolaus Novotny, B.S., anthropology; Carl Plucker, SPEC, educational leadership; Kyle Quandt, B.S., political science, cum laude; Alecsander Trantanella, B.S., economics, and B.S., management; Owusua Yamoah, M.A., urban and regional studies. Mary Lenertz, of Rosemount, has been awarded a Benedictine Scholarship from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Lenertz plans to enroll at CSS in fall 2015. Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wis., fall honors list, Erika Kuznia, of Rosemount.