Faribault Area Fall Sports Preview 2019

AUGUST 2019

Faribault Daily News FARI AULT IG S OOL WATERVILLE EL SIA

ORRISTOW

ET LE E A A E I

ESOTA STATE A A E FOR T E EAF

2019 Fall Sports Preview FOOT ALL• VOLLE ALL • ROSS OU TR • GIRLS TE IS • GIRLS SWI A IVE • O S A GIRLS SO ER

Good Luck To All LocalYouth Athletes!

Your Tailgating Supply Headquarters!

430 NW 2nd Ave, Faribault, MN 55021 Grocery (507) 334-1661 • Meat Dept. (507) 334-1662

PAGE 2

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Table of contents MSAD volleyball.................................................................................................2 MSAD football.....................................................................................................2 WEM football.......................................................................................................3 WEM/JWP cross country..................................................................................3 WEM volleyball....................................................................................................4 FHS volleyball......................................................................................................4 FHS girls tennis...................................................................................................5 FHS girls swim and dive..................................................................................5 Team schedules..............................................................................................6-7 FHS girls and boys soccer................................................................................8 FHS cross country...............................................................................................9 BA volleyball......................................................................................................10 BA football.........................................................................................................10 FHS football.......................................................................................................11 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 2019 A special project of the Faribault Daily News 514 Central Avenue, Faribault, MN 55021 • www.faribault.com Publisher Chad Hjellming Regional Editor Suzy Rook Sports Editor Mike Randleman Fall Sports Preview is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Faribault Daily News at no additional charge. All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers.

All rights reserved. © 2019

We Salute Our Student Athletes

GOOD LUCK, AND MAY THE BEST TEAMS WIN!

As the fall season begins we’d like to take this opportunity to wish our dedicated school athletes a great season.

We know it isn’t always easy to balance your team and academic responsibilities, and we recognize your hard work.

430 4th St. NW, Faribault • 507-334-2201 • 1stunited.com

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

MSAD VOLLEYBALL MSAD volleyball aims to build with key returners The Trojans went with a youth movement last fall in the first year post-graduation of do-it-all hitter Kayla Mitchell.

There were some growing pains in 2018, but the night-andday improvements from August to October were what stood out to then first-year coach Tabitha Anderson.

“I am really proud of the girls!

They improved so much from beginning of the season and to now. I am more looking forward for next year! Anderson said in October.

“Some girls already talked about our plan for next year. We will miss Makayla Moeller, Precious Puente and Lariba Aputuligo as they will not (be) returning next fall.”

Moeller and Puente graduated while Aputuligo was an exchange student.

The Trojans finished 6-16 overall and 3-7 in the Twin Cities Athletic Conference. They recovered well from an 0-9 start.

Freshman outside hitter Dalina Schwartz led MSAD in digs and was second on the team in kills,

aces, assists and precedes a weekend tournament blocks in 2018, featuring crosstown rival Shattuckher second varSt. Mary’s and two other opposity season. nents on the 14th.

Right side Another three matches are on hitter Aubrey Sept. 21 for homecoming.

Gillespie is the The Trojans have had some lone returning selong road trips for their nior. She brings enannual trips to the Great ergy and experience to Plains Schools for the the table.

Deaf tournament. This Sophomore setyear’s is a more managable ter Shayann Williams five-hour trek to Delavan, and freshman outside Wisconsin, near the Illinois hitter Brooklyn Rogborder. gow will also be big In the new Minnesota State factors.

High School League section Rising eighth placements, MSAD remains grader Javanna in Section 1A. The Trojans Johnson will also haven’t opted for MSHSL postmake an imseason play since 2013. pact. She and The Twin SHAYANN Schwartz atCities Athletic ConferWILLIAMS tended a sumence has disbanded. mer volleyball Several of its teams camp for deaf athletes in Mary- joined the Eastern Minnesota Athland. letic Conference. MSAD opted to Highlights on the 2019 sched- be independent. ule include the season opener Sept.

11 vs. Chesterton Academy, which

MSAD FOOTBALL MSAD football looks to carry over momentum

The Trojans return much of their production from last year’s team that played its best late in the season.

Counting a win via forfeit at Michigan (which will try to field a team again in 2019), MSAD finished with a 3-4 record with wins in its final two games against border rivals Wisconsin and Iowa.

The Trojans’ key losses are Marc Nolasco and Adam Schneider.

Nolasco was second in rushing yards and near the top in receiving statistics and tackles on defense.

Schneider was the top receiver and over 100 yards receiv-

ing against Wisconsin. He was also one of the team’s better athletes and had 15 tackles against Illinois.

MSAD will feature returning quarterback sophomore Beny Dow. He threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns while running for 31 yards and a touchdown in a big 50-8 win at Iowa.

Dow became more comfortable as the season wore on.

It helped he had Jonathan Mejia to get the ball to. The sophomore running back/defensive lineman was a “Swiss army knife” per head coach Jason Branden.

He led with 57 tackles, 266 rushing yards (5.8 average) and 154 receiving yards.

JONATHAN MEJIA

Yahir Sanchez, Dalton Starr, Dylan Cardenas and Erubiel Garcia-Enciso The Trojans are scheduled for seven games against state deaf schools around the Midwest.

The season opener is at home at Potter Field Sept. 14 against Kansas. The Jackrabbits will be a good test in a battle of two teams who were middle of the pack in the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf league.

Homecoming is Sept. 21 vs. Iowa and the battle for the Ax against Wisconsin is on the road Oct. 16. MSAD has won the last seven meetings with Wisconsin.

The season finale is against GPSD co-champion Oklahoma.

Oklahoma won last year by 30 early in the season, so this will be a good litmus test of improvement for MSAD over the 14 months in between meetings with a league heavyweight.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

PAGE 3

WEM FOOTBALL

Bucs could be big fish in small pond in 2019 The Buccaneers are in for a brand new schedule in 2019.

They move from the South Central Blue district to Mid Southeast Red. WEM drops down from Class AA to A for the playoffs and, subsequently, is playing a Class A-heavy schedule.

The Bucs will also take on a different look after graduating eight seniors from a 9-2 section finalist squad in 2018.

Key losses are felt most on the offensive and defensive lines with the loss of Levi Wolter, Tyler Hermel and Colby Fess e l . Tan n e r Ranslow was a leader at cornerback/ wide receiver (779

yards) and linebacker/ running back Wyatt Storch (57 tackles/667 yards) was an impactful two-way player as well.

Wolter piled up 80.5 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

Hermel was a versatile athlete, moving from guard to the backfield late in the season when injuries plagued the Bucs.

If the new-look lines can jell, WEM has some talent at the skill

positions.

Senior quarterback Grant McBroom enters his third year as starter. The 2018 FDN all-area honorable mention

Plenty of experience returns to the course

Oh so close.

Mike Richards.

The Waterville-Elysian-MorBy most accounts, 2018 was a successful season. The ristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemonly regular season blem- berton girls cross country was ish was a four-point loss to one spot away from qualifying as

WEM MOVES DOWN TO CLASS A FOR POSTSEASON PLAY IN 2019, 2020 improved from 1,242 passing yards with eight touchdowns and seven itnerceptions in 2017 to 1,587, 11 and six in 2018.

The Bucs piled up 37.1 points per game, up from 24.8 in 2018.

A key part of that leap was all-FDN running back Brant Melchert. He comes into his senior season off a 1,000plus yard season.

He’s a bruising back who had six 100-plus yard games and 19 touchdowns.

At linebacker, he posted 63.5 tackles and 6.5 for a loss.

Senior Jaden Taylor could also see signficant carries.

The defense allowed 14 points per game and had a propensity to turn teams over at a high rate.

Senior tight end/linebacker Dylan Androli returns 53 tackles from a year ago and classmate and fellow linebacker Matthew VanHoudt is right behind with 46.

WEM enters its second season under head coach

WEM/JWP CROSS COUNTRY

eventual state tournament entrant Redwood Valley in week 1. No other opponent hung closer than 14 points in WEM’s nine dominating victories.

It beat New RichlandHartland-Ellendale-Geneva 48-6 in the regular season, only for the script to flip with a 46-6 loss to NRHEG in the section finals. Injuries and suspensions soured a promising opportunity to make it to state for the first time since 2011.

The opportunity is there again as WEM will look to navigate a wide open Section 2A. Bethlehem Academy has earned the state bid out of this section often in recent years, but will have to show improvement from a 3-7 2018. United South Central is the defending champ, but the Rebels lose a big senior class that turned around the program.

Wabasso has also emerged from this section recently, but has since moved to Section 3.

Every other section team had four or more losses.

The Bucs could be the big fish in a smaller pond in 2019.

GRANT MCBROOM

a team to the 2018 Class A state cross country meet.

WEM/JWP was equally close to sending an individual. Freshman Addison Peed returns off a 13th place finish at sections (20:04.55) to miss out at state by one spot. She was followed by sophomore Lauren Dimler who was 14th at 20:06.69.

“That’s just kind of the way it shook out,” WEM/JWP coach Troy Stehr said after the meet. “A lot of different teams had one really good runner that got ahead of the teens. Lauren and Addison advance most years, but you don’t have any control over that.”

WEM/JWP returns its entire lineup, but Stehr cautioned that doesn’t guarantee the girls will get over the hump. They still have to climb past section champ, Belle Plaine, and runner up GlencoeSilver Lake. Both those teams also get every starter back.

Even Fairmont in fourth place loses just one senior.

The girls will defend their Gopher Conference title after dominating the four-team race with 23 points. United South Central was next with 65. Peed was the individual champ followed by Dimler.

On the boys side, WEM/JWP loses two senior starters but retains three of its top four times from sections. The squad has more

GRIZZLY GIRLS RETURN ENTIRE STARTING LINEUP ground to make up than its female counterparts after taking 14th out of 18 in the section and second out of five in the conference.

The boys have time to grow as senior leader

Tu c k e r Rients is the only one to graduate in 2020. He was 71st at sections with a time of 19:01.17. He’ll look to shave to under 19 m i nute s and will help guide eighth-graders

Joshua Bengston (19:25.98) and Landon Dimler (19:35.07). The middle school duo finished second and fourth for the team at sections. Sophomore Brennan Hoehn had the fifth qualifying time at 19:40.09.

ADDISON PEED

Patrick Andreas, CSD Insurance and Financial Services Agent

New Location 400 4th St NW Ste C Faribault, MN 55021 Tel 507.331.9500 Tel 507.334.5162 Fax 507.331.1955 pandreas@farmersagent.com Registered Representative, Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC 30801 Agoura Road, Bldg. 1, Agoura Hills, CA 91301-2054 Tel 818.584.0200 Member FINRA & SIPC

PAGE 4

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

WEM VOLLEYBALL

Buccaneer volleyball eyes another conference title

Short of the 2015 state championship season, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown had one of the programs best runs in 2018.

The Buccaneers halted Bethlehem Academy’s Gopher Conference championship streak dating back to 1999, going 7-0 in conference. That included a win over eventual state runner up Medford.

WEM finished 31-3 overall, was the Subsection 2A South champion and Section 2A runner up.

The Buccaneers lost to defending section champ, Mayer Lutheran.

Those are the two teams at the top seeking to get to state again. WEM is ranked No. 5 in the state in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class A top 10 and ML is No. 3.

Head coach Crystal Lamont is 26 wins away from 300 on her career. To get to that milestone in 2019 means replacing a lot of production.

One of the school’s all-time senior classes between all sports included nine in volleyball.

Outside hitter Alexis Morsching and right side/setter MaeLea Harmon were both allstate selections. Morsching set the program’s career digs record (1,317) and Harmon the same for service aces in a

season (119).

Setter Morgan Nusbaum was all-Gopher Conference like Morsching and Harmon. Starting libero Shelby Hermel and outside hitter Paige Pittmann also depart.

Key returners include allconference outside hitter junior Toryn Richards who at 5-foot-10 can also leap high above the net.

Senior middle hitters include Delaney Donahue and Trista Hering, measuring 5-10 and 6-0, respectively.

Lamont envisions her team making life

TORYN RICHARDS difficult for opposing offenses.

“The strength of our team will be our defense and our overall athleticism,” Lamont said. “Most of our starters are

multi-sport athletes who excel in two or three sports. They work hard on defense and are a competitive group. They will work hard to make it very difficult for the other team to score points. Our offense should be better this season. We will have some strong hitters. If they can play smart and learn to play faster we should have a successful season.”

Junior outside hitter Kylie Pittmann played well at the JV level along with junior setter Ellie Ready and sophomore right side hitter Alex Heuss.

The Bucs like to schedule tough, and 2019 is no different.

Along with tough conference games against BA, Medford, et. al, WEM goes out of conference to host Class A No. 1 Kenyon-Wanamingo, at Class AAA Faribault, at AA No. 4 Belle Plaine and vs. AA No. 3 Concordia Academy. The Bucs also go to the Class A Showcase in Burnsville, which features an elite field.

The Bucs will host another home tournament and will look to continue as champions. Cleveland, Grand Meadow, Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Nova Classical Academy, St. Clair and Tri-City United are scheduled to attend Sept. 7. St. Clair will be a contender to reach the championship as it has met Mayer Lutheran often in recent years in the subsection championship.

We wish you the best this season!

Water & Fire Damage • Restoration Mold Remediation • Radon Mitigation 933 Hulett Avenue, Faribault 507-333-9838 • 1-877-Dry Up Now

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FHS VOLLEYBALL

Falcons hope they’re set up for success The Falcons couldn’t quite get into a groove in 2018.

The season had some promising moments, but injuries, absences and youth led to an 8-18 finish and a 4-7 mark in the Big 9 Conference where Faribault finished in eighth.

Head coach JoAnna Lane was forced to try various lineup combinations and formations. A lot of new starters cut their teeth last year but will be back to build continuity.

The team’s positional strength is at setter. Junior Payton Evenstad has already committed to the University of San Diego. The 6-foot tall FDN all-area selection will make life difficult for opponents trying to key in on where she’ll spread the ball or if she’ll find her own offense.

She had a team high 159 kills and 30 service aces to go with 204 assists.

Junior middle/setter Bennett Wolff was all-Big 9 honorable mention after leading with 209 aces.

She chipped in 24 aces, 44 kills and 132 digs despite missing the beginning of the season with injury.

The biggest absence will be Ellie Knutson. The middle/right side hitter was all-Big 9 honorable mention as a senior.

McKayla Armbruster also departs after providing steady production at outside hitter. Brooke Flicek started as a senior at middle hitter.

There will be no seniors on this roster. Helping to make up for the lack of experience is chemistry.

The program competed in a summer league for the first time this season. Skill and team camps in the summer, as well as open gyms and captains practices, gave the Falcons plenty of time to come together before the season opener against section rival Farmington.

Wolff hopes the Falcons will be a “young, competitive, scrappy team that’s not afraid of anyone.”

Junior libero Hanna Cunniff had some strong performances in

her first year as a starter, including a 35-dig effort against Winona in the playoffs.

Sophomore middle hitter Meghan Swanson can get up and block the ball. Classmate outside hitter Olivia Bauer expects to factor more into the offense with the absence of kills leaders Knutson and Armbruster.

Lane expects some positional battles to play out in the fall. She’s pleased with t h e programs numbers a n d has impressed on her players that they’ll have to go out and earn their spot on the court.

“I think this is the most girls we’ve had in the gym for a while. I’m really excited, without any seniors, it forces girls to step up into new roles,” Lane said this summer.

“They’re seeing each other battle, which is great. The chemistry and competition is there where as before girls thought they had a certain spot and right now ‘Oh, this girl can take my spot’ and they’re battling for that. A good program needs options out there.”

Faribault has just one win playoff win in the last three years. It remains

PAYTON EVENSTAD

in Section 1AAA, which features state No. 2 Lakeville South and No. 8 Lakeville North. Northfield is receiving votes.

Northfield is the defending Big 9 champ and the team to beat after an 11-0 mark. No Big 9 teams are state-ranked.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

FHS GIRLS TENNIS

PAGE 5

FHS GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE

Falcons to pin improvement Speedy swimmers to lead the way on senior leadership

The Falcons project to be on the upswing in 2019.

Their entire lineup returns from a three-win season in 2018.

There were a lot of growing pains, but the team already picked up two wins in its season-opening triangular.

Early losses have also been more competitive as Faribault earned at least one point in its first six matches and had two 4-3 defeats.

Top singles player senior Chau Truong will lead the way.

While her record is not as lofty as some of her teammates, she accepts the challenge of taking on opponents’ best with class. Her cunning and quickness, along with experience, make her one of the team’s leaders.

That helps take some pressure

off the rest of the lineup, including junior Kylie Petricka. Petricka was an all-Big 9 honorable mention selection at No. 2 singles. Her eighth-grade sister, Stacie, is also an up and coming player in her first year on varsity.

Senior Serena David and senior Rachel Bostwick have fared

well at singles to round out the lineup. Bostwick began the year 4-0.

New head coach and Faribault boys head coach, Jeff Anderson, has mixed up his lineups regularly in the early going. He replaces Darren Iverson.

His players are all trying their hand at singles and doubles.

The lineup has been adjusted at least slightly in each of the team’s matches in the first two weeks.

Faribault has had one of the area’s top doubles duos in seniors Abby Goodwin and Erica Johnsrud, though the two have split up regularly in the early fall.

The Falcons are

ley Peterson.

Rochester Mayo will be the favorite again in the Big 9. The Spartans won their 17th conference title and have made the state tournament six years in a row.

Rochester Century will also contend as the Panthers’ lone Big 9 loss was to crosstown rival Mayo.

Mayo doubles as the favorite to win Faribault’s Section 1AA.

CHAU TRUONG bolstered by six seniors, but have gotten plenty of youthful contributions. Eighthgrader Hailey Reuvers has played both singles and doubles as has junior Bai-

Good Luck To All Our Local Athletes!

To evaluate the success of the Faribault girls swim and dive team is to evaluate what its goals are.

The Falcons admittedly lack the depth to contend for a high finish in the Big 9 Conference dual meet and conference championship standings.

Low roster numbers also don’t portend well for the section True Team meet.

where she took 15th. Cracking the minute mark will be the goal after trimming down to 1:00.13 in the state preliminaries.

She’s the team’s most versatile swimmer as she was fifth at sections in butterfly

The road to state is now easier with the departure of Northfield, which now competes in Class AA. The Raiders’ 460 points at the section meet blew away runner-up Mankato West at 290.

Northfield will still be the favorite to

ABBY LARSON

However, as head coach Charlie Fuller will point out, his team has some talent at the top as the Falcons look to younger swimmers to help round out the starting lineup.

Junior Abby Larson is the Section 1A swimmer of the year two years running. She is the defending champion in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.95) and 500 freestyle (5:20.5) and finished ninth and sixth, respectively, at state.

Larson is also the anchor for the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and was Faribault’s top point earner.

Classmate Verity WrayRaabolle is also looking to get back to state in the 100 backstroke

and was a member of the 400 freestyle relay.

Diver/breaststroke swimmer Mara Bauer will be Faribault’s only senior. She was top 20 in breaststroke and was one spot away from reaching the diving section finals.

Returning varsity contributors include freshman Ava Nelson (freestyle), junior Grace Rechtzigel (freestyle, backstroke) and junior McKenzie Gehrke (freestyle).

The team graduated five seniors: Morgan Albers, Emma Louis, Makkia McCusker, Mikayla Savig and Hannah Sullivan. Sullivan was the team’s top diver who reached the section finals. Savig and Albers each contributed primarily in freestyle.

win the regular season dual meet schedule in the Big 9. Rochester Century is the defending Big 9 meet champion.

The Falcons do not have too many curveballs on the schedule.

They will make their annual trip to an all-relays event in Lakeville as well as return to an invitational at Austin. The only non-conference dual is the Aug. 27 season opener against section foe St. Peter.

This will be Faribault’s second year with Fuller as the head coach. He was a longtime assistant under the now retired Ken Hubert.

Fuller is also the school’s boys head coach.

Creating

Beautiful and Healthy Smiles Good Luck Area Athletes!

Care You Trust From People You Know.

FARIBAULT • 1575 20TH ST. NW #101 • 507.332.9900 • RICHIEEYECLINIC.COM NORTHFIELD • 710 DIVISION ST. S. • 507.645.2261

Faribault • 507.334.6433 • southernheightsdental.com

PAGE 6

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

REGULAR SEAS All schedules are subject to change and are current through August 23

Monday, Oct. 14 vs. Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 vs. Northfield, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 at St. Olaf High School Showcase, 10 a.m.

FHS BOYS SOCCER Friday, Sept. 6 at Faribault invitational, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Rochester Mayo invitaFriday, Aug. 30 vs. Austin, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24 vs. New Prague, noon tional, 4 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6 at Winona, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21 at Winona invitational, Tuesday, Aug. 27 vs. Waseca, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Byron, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Rochester John Marshall, 9:30 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 20 at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Ken7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 27 vs. Owatonna, 7 p.m. yon-Wanamingo invitational, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Mankato East, 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 at Waseca invitational, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 vs. Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11 at Rochester John Marshall, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Mankato East invitational, Saturday, Sept. 7 at New Ulm, 11:45 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Kasson-Mantorville, 3:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Red Wing, 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Big 9 Conference meet at Thursday, Sept. 12 vs. Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Rochester Century, 7 p.m. Owatonna, 3:25 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 24 at Section 1AA meet at OwaThursday, Sept. 19 vs. Austin, 7 p.m. tonna, 2:55 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Winona, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Owatonna, 7 p.m.

FHS VOLLEYBALL Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. Worthington, 1 p.m.

FHS GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE Monday, Sept. 30 vs. St. Peter, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Farmington, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Mankato West, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Waterville-Elysian-MorTuesday, Aug. 27 vs. St. Peter, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Northfield, 7 p.m. ristown, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Winona, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 vs. Rochester John Marshall, Thursday, Sept. 5 vs. Mankato East, 6 p.m.

7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7 at Lakeville relays, 1 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6 — Saturday, Sept. 7 at Apple ValFHS GIRLS SOCCER Thursday, Sept. 12 at Rochester Mayo, 6 p.m. ley tournament Thursday, Sept. 19 at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9 at Mankato West, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 22 at Cannon Falls, 3 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Rochester Century, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Mankato East, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28 at Austin invitational, TBD Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Waseca, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14 at Farmington tournament Thursday, Aug. 29 at Rochester John Marshall, Thursday, Oct. 3 at Mankato West, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 vs. Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 10 at Northfield, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 19 at Red Wing, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3 vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 vs. Owatonna, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 vs. Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 25 at Big 9 Conference meet (diving) Thursday, Sept. 5 at Albert Lea, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 at Rochester Century, 7 p.m. at Northfield, 5:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. New Ulm, noon Saturday, Sept. 28 at Blaine tournament Saturday, Oct. 26 at Big 9 Conference meet Tuesday, Sept. 10 vs. Red Wing, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 vs. Austin, 7 p.m. (swimming) at Rochester, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 at Winona, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 vs. Rochester Century, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 vs. Owatonna, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 19 at Austin, 7 p.m.

FHS GIRLS TENNIS Saturday, Sept. 21 vs.

Glencoe-Silver Lake, Saturday, Aug. 17 at Tri-City United triangular noon with Bloomington Kennedy, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 vs.

Monday, Aug. 19 at New Prague, 4 p.m. employee owned Winona, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Owatonna, 9 a.m.

Rice County’s only true Full Service Super Market Thursday, Sept. 26 at Thursday, Aug. 22 at Mankato East triangular Owatonna, 7 p.m. with Winona, 9 a.m.

Stop in before or after games for Saturday, Sept. 28 at Monday, Aug. 26 vs. Waseca, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 at Austin, 4:30 p.m.

Happy Hour and Late Night Specials! Worthington, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 vs.

Thursday, Sept. 5 at Rochester Mayo, 4:30 p.m.

Mankato West, 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9 vs. Farmington, 4:30 p.m.

Grille Daily Happy Hour Specials Thursday, Oct. 3 at Tuesday, Sept. 10 vs. Red Wing, 4:30 p.m.

HAPPY HOUR 4-6PM DAILY Northfield, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Albert Lea, 4:30 p.m. ½ Price Draft Beers Monday, Sept. 16 vs. Rochester John Marshall, ½ Price Apps.

4:30 p.m. $1 off Bottled Beer $4.00 Mixed Drinks Thursday, Sept. 19 at Rochester Centur y, $5.00 Glasses of Wine FHS CROSS 4:30 p.m.

COUNTRY Saturday, Sept. 21 at Cannon Falls quadrangular 1920 Grant Street Hwy 60 West Faribault 507-334-2337

F FHS FOOTBALL

supports Faribault area atheletes!

•

•

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Fall Sports Preview

SON SCHEDULES

PAGE 7

with Le Sueur-Henderson and Minneapolis South, Friday, Oct. 4 at Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity, 7 p.m.

9 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Janesville-Waldorf-PemberTuesday, Sept. 24 vs. Mankato West, 4:30 p.m.

MSAD FOOTBALL ton, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. St. Peter, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28 at Big 9 Conference meet at Wednesday, Oct. 16 at United South Central, Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Kansas School for the Deaf, Rochester, 9 a.m.

7 p.m .

2 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Iowa School for the Deaf, 2 p.m.

WEM VOLLEYBALL Saturday, Sept. 28 at Missouri School for the BA FOOTBALL Deaf, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 27 vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, Saturday, Oct. 5 at New Mexico School for the Friday, Aug. 30 at Mayer Lutheran, 7 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

Deaf, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Rushford-Peterson, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 at Faribault, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Michigan School for the Friday, Sept. 13 at Fillmore Central, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Belle Plaine, 7 p.m.

Deaf, 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20 vs. Medford, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Wisconsin School for the Saturday, Sept. 7 at WEM tournament, 8:15 a.m. Deaf, 3 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 27 at Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Tri-City United, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4 at Goodhue, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26 at Oklahoma School for the Thursday, Sept. 12 at New Richland-Hartland- Deaf, TBD Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Blooming Prairie, 7 p.m.

Ellendale-Geneva, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 18 vs. Randolph, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 19 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20 — Saturday, Sept. 21 at Class A MSAD VOLLEYBALL BA VOLLEYBALL Showcase in Burnsville Tuesday, Sept. 24 vs. Jordan, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Liberty Classical Academy, Tuesday, Aug. 27 vs. Eden Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 vs. Le Sueur-Henderson, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 at Marshall, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 at LILA Academy, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Stewartville, 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 11 vs. Chesterton Academy, Saturday, Oct. 5 at Cannon Falls tournament, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7 at Shakopee tournament, 8 a.m. 8 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14 MSAD tournament vs. SSM Thursday, Sept. 12 vs. United South Central, Monday, Oct. 7 vs. Concordia Academy, 7:15 p.m. at 8 a.m., Glenville-Emmons at 11 a.m. and Kansas 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. United South Central, School for the Deaf at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 16 at Immanuel Lutheran, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 at B ethlehem Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 19 at New Richland-Hartland- 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21 MSAD tournament vs. Metro Ellendale-Geneva, 7:15 p.m.

Deaf School at 8 a.m., Rochester Home School at Friday, Sept. 20 — Saturday, Sept. 21 at Class A 11 a.m. and Iowa School for the Deaf at 1 p.m.

Showcase in Burnsville Monday, Sept. 23 vs. AFSA, 7 p.m.

WEM/JWP CROSS COUNTRY Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 vs. Prairie Seeds Academy, Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Mayer Lutheran, 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 23 at Fairmont invitational, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28 at Missouri School for the Tuesday, Oct. 8 vs. New Life Academy, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 at Mankato Loyola invita- Deaf, TBD Thursday, Oct. 10 at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m. tional, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 vs. LILA Academy, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5 at Hayfield invitational, Monday, Oct. 14 at Owatonna, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3 at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 vs. Waterville-Elysian-Morris- 4:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Immanuel Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Maple River invitational, town, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11 — Saturday, Oct. 12 at GPSD Saturday, Oct. 19 at Chaska tournament, 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. tournament in Wisconsin, TBD Tuesday, Sept. 17 at New Richland-HartlandTuesday, Oct. 15 at Wisconsin School for the Ellendale-Geneva invitational, 4:30 p.m.

Deaf, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 at WEM/JWP invitational in Monday, Oct. 21 at Hiawatha Academy, 7 p.m.

Janesville, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26 at Oklahoma School for the Thursday, Oct. 3 at Waseca invitational, 4 p.m. Deaf, TBD WEM FOOTBALL Tuesday, Oct. 8 at United South Central invitational, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 30 vs. Lewiston-Altura, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Gopher Conference meet in Friday, Sept. 6 at Alden-Conger, 7 p.m.

Hayfield, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 24 at Section 2A meet at Blue Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Mayer Lutheran, 7 p.m.

Earth, 4 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20 at St. Clair, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 27 vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.

PAGE 8

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER

Faribault to lean on Faribault girls soccer hopes to all-Big 9 talent turn another corner

The Falcons were the top seed in Section 2A playoffs a year ago. They’re still hungry for more.

An ill-timed red card in the second half of their playoff opener allowed Northfield to play spoiler in round one of the playoffs.

That still didn’t take away Faribault winning its first ever road game at perennial power Rochester

Mayo.

Nor did it take away a revenge win against Mankato East, which had vanquished Faribault in the playoffs in 2016 and 2017.

With seven seniors on the roster in 2019, another veteran Faribault team hopes to make a deep postseason run this time around.

Senior midfielder Abdi Abdullahi is an athletic mismatch for most teams and was one of the Falcons’ leading scorers en route to earning all-Big 9 Conference honors.

The defense will be led by senior Abdi Ali, an all-Big 9 honorable mention choice.

Fellow seniors are midfielders Ahmed Ali, Khadar Farah and Harun Abdi as well as defenders Yahya Abdi

and Abdinur Omar.

The team will refresh at goalie with sophomore Thoeun Samai and eighth-grader Cristian Trujillo listed on the roster.

The Falcons project to be an athletic bunch. If they can keep penalties to a minimum and match with the muscle of the Big 9, they could be in for their fifth winning season in a row.

Key departures include all-Big 9 honorees midfielder Luis Vidal, defender Abdulwadud Said and forward Siyat Sagar.

Head coach Brendan Cox is confident about the long-term future of the program. He and son, Cullen, were part of the Faribault under-11 team that won a Minnesota Youth Soccer Association state title this summer. That was one of a record five Faribault teams to qualify for state and one of two state champs along with U14.

Austin is the team to beat in the conference after losing just one match. The Packers finished third at state.

Worthington represented Section 2A at state where it advanced to the quarterfinals.

Four of five of Faribault’s nonconference games are against section foes: vs. Waseca, at New Ulm, vs. Worthington and vs. St. Peter.

It’s the Falcons’ turn to get six of 11 Big 9 games at home. That includes Austin and Big 9 runner up, Rochester Mayo, coming to Bahl Field.

The Faribault girls soccer team turned a corner in 2018.

A 2-0 win at Albert Lea was the Falcons’ first section playoff win in over a decade. In the regular season, a 4-2 win over Austin was the program’s first Big 9 Conference victory since 2014.

Building on that success requires replacing one of the program’s best this century in Samantha Holmberg.

The all-conference attacker was the heart of the offense and a leader on the field. She’s now playing collegiately at

Concordia-Moorhead.

Holmberg was among six seniors, which includes all-Big 9 honorable mention midfielder Marta Schonebaum.

Sophomore Mercedes Huerta combined with Holmberg often and will be a candidate to lead the team in goals. Huerta tallied three in a season opening win at Cannon Falls.

Huerta will team with classmate and midfielder Paige Ross. Ross had a goal and an assist in t he CF win.

“We have a lot of skill at midfield and forward,” head coach Maddie Justin said. “Once these girls figure out how to play together we should be in good shape.”

Sophomores Emma Thibodeau and Sarah Engbrecht will make the leap up to varsity at midfielder. Junior Lexi Bottke and freshman Sydne Bauer have established themselves at the position already.

The team has three seniors, all of who have played significant roles.

Goalie Olivia Williamson enters her fourth year as a starter.

Forward Mikayla Bohner and defender Grace Remillard are also key contributors.

Remi-

llard is one of just two upperclassmen on defense along with junior Sydney Beaupre.

Mankato West is the team to beat both in the Big 9 and Section 2A. The Scarlets were 11-0 in the Big 9 and reached the state quarterfinals out of the section.

Faribault’s five non-conference games are all against section mates: Cannon Falls, Waseca, New Ulm, Glencoe-Silver Lake and Worthington.

ABDI ABDULLAHI

MERCEDES HUERTA

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

FHS GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

Falcon girls to vie for Big 9 supremacy

MADELYN SKJEVELAND the Big 9 meet.

S kj e v e l an d joins Philomena Foxhoven, Naomi Pientka and Emily Wilder as seniors on the team.

Departures to graduation are Taylor Prieve and MacKenzie Klett.

Head coach Willie Clapp has liked what he’s seen out of the team’s leaders.

Chemistry is strong

with the team after a summer weekend together as well as a preseason 24-hour run-a-thon.

The boys and girls team regularly met for running club over the summer to keep sharp.

If the Falcons send a runner, or runners, to state, they will have been used to the host course at St. Olaf College. Faribault begins its season at the St. Olaf High School Showcase.

Aside from adding the St. Olaf meet, the Falcons’ schedule is similar to 2018 with familiar stops primarily at Big 9 cities and courses.

Century is the defending Big 9 champion but will replace two of its top three runners. Austin, which beat Faribault by two points for second place, loses two seniors toward the bottom of the lineup.

Fourth-place Owatonna has everyone back and runs on home course for Big 9 and sections.

In the section, Farmington is the defending champion far and away and is ranked nationally.

opinion e

2018, finishing in third place thanks to individual champion Madelyn Skjeveland.

The senior Skjeveland and 2018 state entrant junior Ruby Gernandt are two of six returning starters. Skjeveland clocked a 19:15.4 at Big 9 to win by over five seconds while Gernandt was fifth at 19:39.3.

Junior Gabrielle Yetzer hopes to inch closer to the 20-minute mark after clocking 20:20.5 to take 37th at sections. Gernandt was fifth at sections to make her second state appearance.

Skjeveland missed out on a return trip due to illness during the section meet.

Up-andcomers to watch are the Foxhovens of Felicity and Mariana.

Sophomore Felicity ran a 20:27.4 to place 42nd at sections and eighth-grader Mariana had the team’s fifth and final qualifying score, taking 63rd at 20:47.5. She was the second fastest in her grade at

piny n/ e

The Faribault girls cross country team is setting its sights on contending for a Big 9 Conference championship.

The Falcons were on the cusp in

NOUN • 1 A view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge

PAGE 9

FHS BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY Falcon boys ready to rise up the standings There’s room to grow for the Falcon boys runners.

It starts with 2018 Faribault Daily News area boys cross country runner of the year, Mitchell Hanson. Hanson, now a senior, finished 18th at Big 9 (17:21.2) and was eighth among juniors or younger.

He was 20th at sections (16:47.4) and will look to qualify for his first state meet. Top eight from the section outside of those on the first- and second-place teams advance.

In 2018, Hanson was six spots away but with several runners ahead of him now out of the mix.

“Last year really impressed me. He had a bigger leadership role. Early on he was sort of work hard, play hard and that’s how he kind of led,” said head coach Mark Bongers. “Now he’s leading by example, getting the group revved up. The change in leadership has really helped the team. He’s keeping spirits up, keeping everybody

energized. More so now he’s talking to younger kids, helping them be there mentally.”

What the Falcons lack in elite talent at the top they make up for in depth.

Junior Tanner Longshore, senior Ethan Krueger and senior Davis Miller each bested 18 minutes and all project for top-40 or 50 finishes at the conference meet.

Red Wing is the defending Big 9 champion but will have to rebuild after losing five seniors from its state meet squad. Winona was close behind in second as these two teams separated from the competition.

The Winhawks also lost three of their top five starters, so

there could be a shakeup at the top.

In the section, Red Wing was the winner followed by Farmington in second. Farmington returns its top three as well as four starters total.

Winona could replace Red Wing in the state entrants as well as the likes of Lakeville North and Lakeville South.

The Falcons get an early glimpse at the state meet course in Northfield at the season-opening St. Olaf Showcase.

Aside from adding this meet, Faribault is sticking to a fairly regular meet schedule. Its second meet is its annual home invitational with predominantly Big 9 schools hosting for the rest of the schedule.

MITCHELL HANSON

Your Hometown Sports Voice for over 50 years

Listen live, stream it, or go on-line kdhlradio.com or power96radio.com Download the apps for KDHL and Power 96 Listen to KDHL AM: • Local Sports Scoreboard Show – Everyday at 7:40am • Friday Night Blitz Show – 9:30pm • Coaches Show – Saturdays at 8:10am • Visit our website for the area high school scores on our Conference SCOREBOARD

Faribault Daily News 601 Central Ave N, Faribault, MN

PAGE 10

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

BA VOLLEYBALL

Cardinals ready for a resurgence The Cardinals are looking to build on glimmers of success in 2018.

A 10-19 record can be deceiving considering BA’s perennially tough strength of schedule, but BA showed improvement during the season with an interim coach at the helm.

Highlights included a 3-1 win over defending state champion, Mayer Lutheran, and two straight sweeps in the subsection playoffs before running into a team of destiny in Medford.

The biggest shoes to fill will be at libero. Olivia Nass in her senior season had nearly half the team’s digs (399) and also led with a .942 serving percentage and 62 aces. She was a Class A all-state honorable mention and a leader on what was a young team.

Defensive specialist Chloe Kohl graduated after making the Gopher Conference second team

defending champion, and Jacie Jasinski graduates after Waterville-Elysiancontributing at right side hitter.

Morristown, ranked Rebuilding the defense will be priority number one followed No. 5 in state. Medford could chalby serving. Bothun said the team’s lenge for its first conference title.

The Tigers, ranked looking to be more aggressive from No. 2, return a lot the service line. from a 2018 team The team kills leader is back that finished secin senior outside hitter Haley Lang ond in the Go(190) and sophomore setter Abby pher and made Jandro showed versatility by finda run to the ing her own offense at the net state finals. while leading in assists (296).

Junior middle hitter Medford Kennedy Tutak returns as the knocked off team blocks leader (115). The BA in the Cardinals do not have anyone subsection fiwith elite height, but have several nals. players measuring around 5-feetMaple River 10. has some reBA is coming off a third-place tooling to finish in the Gopher Conference, do, but the ending a historic run of conference Eagles titles beginning in 2000. were a The top of the conference solid projects to be as tough as ever with fourth place finisher last year and

Good Luck to ALL area teams this season! #TogetherWeFly

• Academic excellence

• Values-based education • Proven results Serving students in grades 6-12

Set up a tour and find out more!

507.334.3948 • www.bacards.org

HALEY LANG

could p l a y spoiler.

The 2019 schedule has six opponents ranked in the preseason top 10 for Class A or AA. The Cardinals will likely see more ranked foes between tough tournaments in Shakopee, at the Class A Showcase in Burnsville and in Chaska.

Chris Bothun takes over as head coach. She has a long history with the program and BA community.

“She was a player in her time at BA and as an assistant coach. She has her own kids at Divine Mercy, so that perspective as a player, assistant and as a parent, she sees all three points of views,” BA activities director Ed Friesen said. “Her goal and her desire is for the kids to continue and compete at the highest level possible.”

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

BA FOOTBALL

Cardinals look to get back to winning ways The Cardinals are ready to turn the page to 2019.

BA suffered its first sub-.500 season since 2011 while dealing with injuries and a coaching change among the mitigating factors.

Interim coach and former offensive coordinator Jim Beckmann takes over as head coach. He’ll have a returner at starting quarterback, which is invaluable in the high school ranks.

Senior Jack Jandro will be asked to throw more often after completing 21 passes for 485 yards in 2018.

He was named the team’s Most Improved player award. Nearly half those yards went to Josh Oathoudt (205) out of the backfield.

Oathoudt will take on a bigger role toting the rock for an offense that will still be run-oriented like usual. He waited his turn behind Faribault Daily News allarea performer and team MVP Jack Clark (1,111 yards) and FDN honorable mention Luke Wobschall (877). Wobschall was the team’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Oathoudt carved out 150 yards on 36 carries while also recording 38.5 tackles.

Sophomore Brady Strodtman received 11 carries last year but was valued for his lead blocking ability.

On defense, he recorded a team high 62.5 tackles to earn the team’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year award.

Senior Spencer Ell could get more looks at receiver. He also held his own on defense to earn district honorable mention honors after recording 34.5 tackles. Ell also has experience punting.

The offensive and defensive lines will be senior-laden. Ben Cohen is a returning starter. Jack Ernste has experience at center while Riley Kangas and Hunter Tutak also earned plenty of snaps in 2018.

Kangas was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year after recording 47.5 tackles.

Key losses to graduation from this group in-

clude Zach Van Thomme, Kyle Kohl and Teddy Allen. Van Thomme was first team all-district and Kohl and Allen were h o n orable mention.

BA was the No. 5 seed out of six in Section 2A, though the Cardinals felt as if they were one of the top teams considering strength of schedule.

United South Central is the defending section champion.

The Rebels are moving on from

a very impactful senior class.

Water ville-Elysian-Morristown is the likely pick to go to state as it was a section finalist at the Class AA level last year and has had a winning tradition for years.

BA loses USC from its schedule but will be challenged by powerhouses Blooming Prairie and Goodhue within district play.

The Cardinals averaged 19.9 points per game and allowed 27.9 in 2018.

JOSH OATHOUDT

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

PAGE 11

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Young Falcons not short of size, dedication

Fresh, focused and ready to compete is the Faribault High School football team in 2019.

There are position battles aplenty as fall camp opened Monday with plenty of underclassmen expected to contribute this season, particularly on the lines.

“There’s a lot of depth at a lot of positions,” said senior tight end/linebacker Dylan Lippert.

“There are a lot of kids who played last year who might not this year because we have a lot of good young kids.”

Head coach Ned Louis is pleased by the maturity he’s seen thus far.

“We had a great summer with strength and conditioning, our camp and 7-on-7,” Louis said.

“What I’ve noticed early here is it’s a fun group. They work hard, they have great attitudes and they’re fun to be around.

It is a group I’m really looking forward to coaching this year.

Not huge numbers, a small senior class, so we’ll lean heavily on the underclassmen to fill in key roles. We have some nice size up front and some athleticism to go with it. Definitely a young team, but the seniors we do have are good leaders and we’re going to ask a lot of them.”

The Falcons are modernizing their offense as they move further from their more traditional Wing T concepts to a more balanced attack with offensive coordinator Shane Gunderson at the helm.

Faribault plans to keep its identity of a running team built around its young, but sizable, line while mixing in some shotgun looks.

“It’s kind of a wrinkle for our centers,” Lippert said. “They’re not very good at long snaps yet, but they’re coming around on it.”

Faribault averaged 16 points per game in 2018 but against nonstate ranked teams scored over 23 and had games of 48 and 49.

“The game’s changing so we’ve got to change with it,” Louis said.

“It puts the defense in some conflicts that are really working for programs so we better get on board. We’ve got some athletes and when you go to some zone stuff up front with our size we can use that size to our advantage and hopefully move people.

I f

not this year, they will next year.”

Junior Bryce Nolen enters his first year starting at quarterback and replaces Joe Palmer.

“It’s going great,” Nolen said of beginning to work with the offense. “This is the first year we’ve actually had a big line. We average about 260 (pounds), which is great.”

Lippert and senior wide receiver Cole Flom expect to be his top targets in replacing allBig Southeast district honorbale mention Trey Krannich. Junior running back Alex Gardner is the leading returning rusher in replacement of FDN area player of the year Mitch Nelson.

Lippert is the only returner from FHS’ six all-district selections in 2018.

On the line, Jordan Cook was all-district and Cal Schultz w a s honor abl e mention.

Quarterback J o e Pa lmer also graduated Faribault opens the season Aug. 30 against Austin.

DYLAN LIPPERT

News You Can Use Current Local News In-depth Reporting Area Sports Updates Community Calendar

Start Your

Bachelor’s at

SCC

Complete your Associate Degree at SCC and then transfer your credits directly to a Minnesota State university as a Junior.

CHOOSE FROM: • Associate of Arts and Associate of Fine Arts • Transfer Pathways in Biology, Business, Communication Studies, Economics, and Pre-Social Work

Learn more

sfer Options at: about SCC’s Tran

entral.edu/transferoptions www.southc An affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator.

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities, consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

PAGE 12

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Athletic

Performance HEADQUARTERS

SPORTS MEDICINE • Orthopedic Physical Therapy • Athletic Training • Prevention & Treatment • Treating Muscle Strains & Ligament Sprains

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

• Individual Programs Developed • Helps Athletes Address Weakness or Loss of Flexibility

WIEBER PHYSICAL THERAPY 1961 Cardinal Lane, Suite A, Faribault P: 507.333.2986 | F: 507.333.2918

www.wieberphysicaltherapy.com

Wednesday, August 28, 2019