Fdn spring sports 2017

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

Table of contents

MSAD TRACK AND FIELD

MSAD track and field.......................................................................................................................2 FHS boys track and field................................................................................................................3 FHS girls track and field..................................................................................................................3 WEM track and field........................................................................................................................4 BA track and field.............................................................................................................................4 FHS boys tennis................................................................................................................................5 BA golf.................................................................................................................................................5 Team schedules............................................................................................................................6-7 FHS baseball.......................................................................................................................................8 BA baseball.........................................................................................................................................8 WEM baseball....................................................................................................................................9 FHS boys golf....................................................................................................................................9 FHS softball......................................................................................................................................10 BA softball........................................................................................................................................10 WEM softball....................................................................................................................................11 FHS girls golf...................................................................................................................................11

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WHO’S GONE Junior Peters, Anthony Barger, Matt

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WHO’S BACK Kyrell Cummings, Dawson Moder, Kayla Mitchell, Adam Rohde, Corrie Ballentine, Sam Bonhus, WIll Bondhus, Juan Salgado, Mohamed Mogow, Javis Johnson

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jumps as well. Adam Rohde and Sam Gillespie put up good numbers in the throws for the Trojans as well.

On the girls side, Kayla Mitchell did a bit of everything, but her throws were her strong suit. Corrie Ballentine ran everything from sprints to distance and put up good distances in the jumps as well.

The boys have better numbers to pull from, and should have some nice distance runners in Sam and Will Bondhus, as well as Mohamed Mogow, Juan Salgado and Javis Johnson.

MSAD’s boys will get the chance to defend their Berg/Seeger title, and host the GPSD meet at Ted Nelson Track April 29. The EMAC is gone, but the Trojans will fight for the inaugural TCAC championship instead.

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Last year was a banner season for the Trojans.

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf boys track and field team had perhaps its best season ever, winning the titles at the Berg/Seeger invite, the GPSD championships and the EMAC meet. Combine that with Junior Peters running at the Hamline Elite Meet and the performances up and down the squad, and MSAD won the mythical national championship in deaf track and field.

This year, the expectations might not be that high. But the Trojans have plenty of returning talent, especially in the field events.

Kyrell Cummings made it to the section meet in the long and triple jumps last year, and Dawson Moder enjoyed plenty of success in the horizontal

LAST YEAR’S INFO

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THE LOWDOWN

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW • APRIL 2017 A special project of the Faribault Daily News 514 Central Avenue, Faribault, MN 55021 • www.faribault.com Publisher Sam Gett Regional Editor Brad Phenow Sports Editor Adam Holt Sports Reporter Matt Bigelow

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FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

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FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Falcons returning talent in key spots in lineup Distance crew, throwers lead Falcons girls THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Eighth at Big 9 meet Ninth at Section 1AA meet State entrants: Adam Tuma, Tate Olson

WHO’S GONE Anthony Simons, Nate Gramse, Travis Wegner, Ryan Mullennex

WHO’S BACK Adam Tuma, Dallas Stapleton, Felipe Ramirez, Cade McAdam, Mason McDonough, Demetrus Wood, Ryan Teske

FELIPE RAMIREZ Ramirez had a breakout junior year throwing both shot and discus, and Where you can should be in contention for a state meet have it all... berth as a senior. in one location

The Falcons sent two competitors to the state track and field meet last year. A few more this year doesn’t seem unrealistic.

The Faribault High School boys track and field team heads into the spring season with a lot of optimism thanks to the return of state participant Adam Tuma, as well as the retuning talent in the throwing, sprinting and distance crews “Distance will be strong,” said head coach Dave Wieber. “That group has really grown and blossomed under coach [Mark] Bongers in cross country. We will rely on them to score points.”

Tuma had a terrific cross country season in the fall before a uncharacteristic section race cost him a chance to go to state. He got to state in the 1,600 last spring and set a personal best last year at the state meet.

Jacob Webster, Mitchell Hanson and Tanner Longshore finished the cross country season well for FHS in the fall.

The Falcons also figure to have a strong group of throwers headlined by senior Felipe Ramirez. Ramirez earned all-conference honors last year and was less than four feet from a spot in the state meet. Cade McAdam also saw success last year as a freshman.

“That was a big strength of ours,” Wieber of the throwers. “I think both Megan [Gehrke] and Felipe, they should be thinking state meet. Their goals should be built around ‘What is it going to take for me to get to the state meet?’”

The Falcons even have a good group of returning sprinters as top performers like Dallas Stapleton, Ryan Teske and Demetrus Wood. Stapleton made huge strides last year, while Wood was one of the team’s best sprinters as just a freshman.

“We’re going to see big things out of that young man,” Wieber said of Wood. “He’s definitely a talent.”

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The two consistent sources of points for the Faribault High School girls track and field team last year came from the distance runners and the throwers. Both groups figure to be strong again this year.

Megan Gehrke seemingly set new school records in shot put or discus on a weekly basis and was inches away from qualifying for the state meet last year as a sophomore. She also earned a spot at the prestigious Hamline Elite Meet.

Now she has a great shot to advance to state this upcoming spring.

She’s not the only talented returning trackster.

Madie Skjeveland set the school record in the 1,600 meter run last year, earning All-Big 9 honors as just an eighth-grader. She and Ruby Gernandt were consistently among the top finishers in the 1,600 and 3,200 last season and both are coming off strong fall seasons in which they got the state cross country meet. Those two lead a distance crew that returns several key contributors and if last fall’s cross country season is any

indication, the distance runs should be a source of points for FHS again this spring.

“I think our strength will be the throws and distance again,” said head coach Julie Meier.

“That was the theme last year. Our distance crew scored us a lot of points. Madie and Ruby in the distance events is a good start and our throwers have some high goals.”

Anna Hoisington, Gabrielle Yetzer and Philomena Foxhoven help give depth to the distance crew as well.

Lauren Isaacson made some big strides throwing last year as a sophomore, and the Falcons should have a number of jumpers to count on.

Meghan Knutson and Rachel Hanson are two of the team’s top returning sprinters and helped two relay teams end last year with seasonbest times. Haley Sullivan is also back after a strong year in the jumps and will b e the top returning hurdler for the Falcons.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Ninth at Big 9 meet 12th at Section 1AA meet State entrants: none

WHO’S GONE Lauren Moll, Jeri Simons, Miranda Reichert, Sam Pierce

WHO’S BACK Megan Gehrke, Madie Skjeveland, Ruby Gernandt, Haley Sullivan, Lauren Isaacson, Meghan Knutson, Rachel Hanson

MEGAN GEHRKE Making the Hamline Elite Meet last year was as impressive as anything else Gehrke did as a sophomore.

Gehrke is the top returning discus performer in the section, and should fight to qualify in shot as well.

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

WEM TRACK AND FIELD

Bucs’ Harmon, Petry eyeing returns to state meet The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown track and field team lost a few very valuable contributors when LAST YEAR’S INFO Tierney Winter and Lily Anderson graduated. The Buccaneers didn’t Boys seventh, girls won lose all their state-quality athletes Gopher Conference meet though.

Boys 23rd at Section 2A; Senior pole vaulter Sammie Petry girls third and sophomore sprinter MaeLea State entrants: Tierney Harmon both return after getting to Winter, Lily Anderson, state a year ago and head into the MaeLea Harmon, Sammie spring season with high expectaPetry tions.

Petry took first at state on pole vault as a sophomore before getting WHO’S GONE there and finishing sixth a year ago.

Tierney Winter, Lily Harmon got to state as just a freshAnderson, Justin Hill man and took third in the 100-meter dash.

WHO’S BACK Petry’s a three-time state qualifier in pole vault and also made state Sammie Petry, MaeLea Harmon, Ben Beedle, Alexis gymnastics this winter on the vault.

“I was disappointed after last year Morsching, Jaden Taylor, and I want to do better,” said Petry.

Christopher Byrne, Lynnea “I’m hoping I can peak at the right Asp, Adriana Molitor, Toryn time this year. I feel healthy this year Richards, Taylor Glende so I’m excited for things to get going.”

THE LOWDOWN

“She had a great gymnastics season,” head coach Mike Richards said of Petry. “Last year she dealt with some injuries after gymnastics and she’s healthier this year. We’re excited to see what she can do.”

Both Petry and Harmon own the school records in their main events, and both have great shots to get back to state again this season. The 100 field in Class A is loaded, as just two of last year’s nine finalists were seniors.

The Bucs are hoping to send a few more participants with them.

With a strong group back on the girls side thanks to the likes of Alexis Morsching, Lynnea Asp, Toryn Richards and Adriana Molitor among others, the girls team figures to be strong as always.

What separates this year’s team from others is that this could be the best boys team WEM’s had in a long time with Christopher Byrne, Ben Beedle and Marco Geyer among others.

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BETHLEHEM ACADEMY TRACK AND FIELD

Cardinals eyeing more progress with new coach The Bethlehem Academy track and field team saw a lot of improvement a year ago from top to bottom and sent two kids to the state meet.

There will be a new head coach running things as David Cheeks takes over for Brent Zabel, but the hope will be to see continued improvement.

An area where the team should be strong this year is in the field events, where Avery Hunt is back after qualifying for the state meet in the triple jump while also routinely finishing near the top of competitions in the long jump.

Maggie Beckmann was one of the throwers in the area last season and advanced through subsections while showing improvement almost weekly.

Another source of strength for BA should be in the distance crew where Zack Moreau, Noah Battles and Griffin Malecha are all back on the boys side, while Maggie Viland is back on the girls side. Moreau was finished fourth in the 800 last year in sections, while he and Battles finished 10th and 11th, respectively, in the 1,600. Moreau had a lead for most of that 800 run in sections a year ago before fading at the end. He’s got a shot to join Hunt at state with a strong season. Viland consistently finished near the top of the standings in meets last year in the 1,600.

Several other Cards will look to show improvement after strong finishes to last year — Brianna Radatz, Kennedy Tutak, Lizzy Sauer and Tori Pavel return for the girls. Cole Caron and Joe Palan improved their times in the 400 as the season went along and Alex Bongers returns to bolster the distance and mid-distance crew.

BA graduated a lot of valuable seniors on both the boys and girls side namely Kyle Ell who went to state on the high jump, hurdler Ana Stepaniak, jumper Lauren Hake and sprinter Mya Schneider.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Boys third, girls sixth at Gopher Conference meet Boys 10th in Section 1A meet State entrants: Avery Hunt, Kyle Ell

WHO’S GONE Kyle Ell, Lauren Hake, Mya Schneider, Sophie Kohl, Ana Stepaniak

WHO’S BACK Zack Moreau, Maggie Beckmann, Avery Hunt, Maggie Viland, Noah Battles, Alex Bongers

AVERY HUNT Hunt consistently improved his jump numbers last year, qualifying for state in the triple jump before coming up just short in the long jump.

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FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS

PAGE 5

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY GOLF

Falcons tennis looks for improvement at all levels Petersen enters spring with high expectations Improvement’s the key again for the Falcons.

The numbers for the Faribault High School boys tennis team are good this year, and the hope is with the players making progress, they’ll stick around — and maybe get some more guys out for tennis in years to come.

There are plenty of fresh faces, but also some veterans like senior Ren Ross, who likely slots in again as the Falcons’ No. 1 singles player, a role he held as a sophomore as well.

As one of the most experienced Falcons, he’s trying to make sure it’s an environment that makes kids want to stick around.

“I definitely want to try to help them so they stay out with the sport,” Ross aid. “I know how a few years ago, we were even lucky to have a team because we were running so low on people. So it’d be really nice to help them out, get them to like the sport, get their friends to join, and keep it going on even after I’m gone.”

More so than a lot of sports, tennis is an activity that can stay a lifelong hobby. Coach Jeff Anderson’s hoping some of the attitude lessons stick with the guys as well.

“The other expectation we have is full effort, positive attitude, good sportsmanship that we have

within the team, and personally improving,” Anderson said. “And by individually improving, yeah, I think if we get some team goals out of that as far as a win here, a win there, that’s great. But it’s the individual — I want to see these guys in five years, 10 years, 20 years still playing, like you see a lot of the alumni.”

Competing in a tough Big 9 — in terms of wins and losses — won’t be a focus for a while. But the more players the Falcons have on the court and the more focused they are on continuing to play better, the more the program advances.

“Faribault, we’re still working at growing the program and moving our way into the Big 9 a little more as a force,” Anderson said. “It’s certainly going to take time. Everyone here right now has an opportunity to compete. Anywhere from a Ren right down to, some of these new guys, they’ve got a lot of determination and they’re going after the balls.

That’s the big thing I want to see, is the effort. With that good things will come.

“We’ll just have to see how the whole year shapes up. At the end of the year, that’s what I want to know; is that every player has improved. Even if slightly, but still, an improvement and they enjoyed the season and had fun.”

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 1-12 (0-8 Big 9) 12 in Big 9 tournament Postseason: Lost 7-0 to Northfield in Section 1AA team State entrants: none

WHO’S GONE Nick Anderson, Aia Lopez

WHO’S BACK

Ren Ross, Carl Ziegler, Alex Chou, Alex Bice, Zak Krueger

Khrystjan Petersen capped off a terrific freshman season with a trip to the state tournament. He’s hoping to get back there again this year.

Petersen advanced through the Section 1A tournament and finished 28th at the Class A state tournament last season, earning all-conference honors along the way.

Now as just a sophomore, Petersen is the old soul on the Bethlehem Academy golf team heading into the 2017 spring season.

“I think he got a lot better throughout the winter,” said head coach Jake Piller. “He wants to do better than he did last year even though state was a great end result.

Keep doing what he’s doing and the most you can ask of him is to stay consistent.”

Tanner Jandro is one of the other top performers for BA which has a lot of fresh faces out for golf this season after graduating a large senior class last spring. He and Petersen will be asked to take on leadership roles for the team while also providing steady and quality golf outings.

“Him and Khrystjan go back and forth with competing and that’s a good thing,” said Piller. “Everybody looks up to Khrystjan and Tanner, so we’re hoping for a strong year from him as well.”

Molly Healy and Ashley Rost are back out on the girls’

side and should continue to improve after last season.

Beyond that, there’s not a lot of experience on the BA golf team this season. So a big key for the team will be improving as the season goes on. So far, Piller likes what he’s seen.

“If we can just get better from today forward that’s the biggest win in my book,” said Piller. “Just get better every day and at the end of the year hopefully we can look back and say we accomplished that.”

THE LOWDOWN

LAST YEAR’S INFO Boys fourth at Gopher Conference meet State entrants: Khrystjan Petersen

WHO’S GONE Pat Markman, Payton Putrah, Connor Lipinski

WHO’S BACK Khrystjan Petersen, Ashley Rost, Molly Healy, Tanner Jandro

GOOD LUCK TEAMS

CARL ZIEGLER Ziegler’s a senior captain who’s slotted in at doubles most of his career as a Falcon.

He’s one of the most experienced players on the team.

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

APRIL 2017

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Tuesday, April 4 vs. Waseca, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 6 vs. Winona, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 7 at Jordan, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 at Austin, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 at Northfield, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at Mankato East, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Owatonna, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 at New Ulm at U.S. Bank Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 vs. Albert Lea, 4 p.m. (DH) Thursday, April 27 vs. Century, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 at Red Wing, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 vs. John Marshall, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 vs. Northfield, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 vs. Mankato East, 5 p.m.

Friday, May 12 at Mayo, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 vs. Owatonna at Siebert Field, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 at Mankato West, 4 p.m. (DH)

Tuesday, April 11 at Red Wing, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 at BA tourney, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at Prior Lake tourney, 12 p.m.

Friday, April 21 at SSM Harry O’Connor invite, 9:30 a.m.

Monday, April 24 at Austin with West, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26 at Mayo invite, 1 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at Waseca, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, May 1 at Winona tri with Albert Lea, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8 vs.

Owatonna, 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 at Red Wing invite, 12:30 p.m.

Monday, May 15 at Century quad with Northfield, JM, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, May 19 vs. East, Mayo, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 23 at Big 9 tourney in Rochester, 10 a.m.

FHS GIRLS GOLF

Tuesday, April 11 vs. Red Wing, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 at BA tourney, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Owatonna, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, April 10 vs. New Friday, April 21 home invite, 10 Prague, Rosemount, 3 p.m. a.m.

FHS BOYS GOLF

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Tuesday, April 25 vs. Austin, West 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 vs. Waseca, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, May 1 at Albert Lea tri with Winona, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 at Red Wing tourney, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 home quad with Northfield, Century, JM, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 23 at Big 9 tourney in Red Wing, 10 a.m.

FHS SOFTBALL

Thursday, April 6 at Winona, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 vs. Austin, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 vs.

Northfield, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at East, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 vs.

Owatonna, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 at Albert Lea, 4 p.m. (DH) Thursday, April 27 at Century, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 vs. Red Wing, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 at John Marshall, 5 p.m.

Friday, May 5 at Lakeville tourney Saturday, May 6 at Lakeville tourney

Tuesday, May 9 at Northfield, 5 p.m.

Friday, May 12 at Mankato tourney Monday, May 15 vs. Mayo, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 at Owatonna, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 vs. West, 5 p.m.

FHS BOYS TENNIS

Tuesday, April 4 at Austin, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 6 vs. New Ulm, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 8 at Winona with East, 9 a.m.

Monday, April 10 vs. St. James Area, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 at New Prague, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 vs. Albert Lea, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 at Farmington, 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Owatonna, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 vs. Century, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 vs.

Mankato West, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 29 at Mayo with Red Wing, 9 a.m.

Thursday, May 4 at Northfield, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8 vs. Waseca, 4 p.m.

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Tuesday, May 9 vs. John Marshall, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 at Big 9 tourney in Rochester, 9 a.m.

FHS BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Tuesday, April 4 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at Mankato East with Mankato West, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 home tri with Northfield, Mayo, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at Lakeville South invite, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 28 Hamline Elite Meet Tuesday, May 2 at Mayo tri with Century, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 at Cougar Relays, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 at Section 1AA True Team at Winona Tuesday, May 16 home tri with Owatonna, Red Wing, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 25 at Big 9 meet at Mankato West, 10:30 a.m.

FHS GIRLS TRACK

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APRIL 2017

FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 7

GAME SCHEDULES

AND FIELD

Tuesday, April 4 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at Mankato West tri with Mankato East, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 at Mayo tri with Northfield, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 28 Hamline Elite Meet Tuesday, May 2 home tri with Century, Mayo, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 at Cougar Relays, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 at Section 1AA True Team at Winona Tuesday, May 16 at Red Wing tri with Owatonna Thursday, May 25 at Big 9 meet at Mankato West, 10:30 a.m.

BA BASEBALL

Thursday, April 6 at Medford, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 7 vs. Hayfield, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 at K-W, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 vs. WEM, 5 p.m.

Monday, April 17 vs. USC, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 vs. Maple River, 10 a.m. (DH)

Monday, April 24 vs. Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 1 vs. Medford, 5 p.m.

Friday, May 5 at JWP, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8 at WEM, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 at USC, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 at Loyola tourney, 9 a.m.

Thursday, May 18 at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 22 vs. Randolph, 6 p.m.

BA BOYS GOLF

Tuesday, April 11 at NRHEG invite, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 home invite, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 at USC invite, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21 at Southland invite, 2:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 at Blooming Prairie invite, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 1 at Triton, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 at Maple River invite, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 5 at JWP, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 at Gopher Monday, April 24 at Blooming meet in Waseca, 10 a.m.

Prairie, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 vs. NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 at USC Saturday, April 29 at Fillmore Central tourney, 11 a.m. invite, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 home Monday, May 1 at Medford, 5 p.m. invite, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Maple Thursday, May 4 at Maple River, 5 p.m.

River invite, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21 at Southland Friday, May 5 at JWP, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8 vs. WEM, 5 p.m. invite, 2:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at NRHEG Thursday, May 11 vs. USC, 5 p.m. invite, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 1 at Triton, 1 Tuesday, May 16 vs. Randolph, 5 p.m. p.m.

Thursday, May 18 vs. Blooming Thursday, May 4 at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Prairie invite, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 home invite, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 at Gopher meet in Waseca, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 4 at Faribault invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11 at Hayfield Tuesday, April 5 at Hayfield, invite, 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 at St. Peter Thursday, April 6 vs. Medford, invite, 4 p.m.

5 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Triton Monday, April 10 vs. Maple invite, 4:30 p.m.

River, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at Hayfield Tuesday, April 11 vs. Triton, invite, 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 at Blooming Thursday, April 13 at WEM, Prairie invite 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 home invite, Monday, April 17 at USC, 5 p.m. 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 vs. K-W, 4:30 Thursday, May 11 at Medford p.m. invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 at Gopher meet, Medford, 4:30 p.m.

BA GIRLS GOLF

BA TRACK AND FIELD

BA SOFTBALL

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WEM BASEBALL

Thursday, April 6 at JWP, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 7 vs. St. Clair, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 10 at NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 at BA, 5 p.m.

Monday, April 17 vs. Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18 vs. Maple River, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 vs. Medford, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 21 at LCWM, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 vs. USC, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 at Maple River, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 28 vs. Waseca, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 at K-W, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 vs. NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 8 vs. BA, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 vs. Le SueurHenderson, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 at Blue Earth Area, 11 a.m.

Monday, May 15 at Medford, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 at USC, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 22 vs. TCU, 5 p.m.

WEM SOFTBALL

Thursday, April 6 vs. Waseca, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 7 vs. St. Clair, 5 p.m.

Monday, April 10 vs. NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 13 vs. BA, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, April 17 at Blooming Prairie, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Medford, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 at Nicollet tourney, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 25 at USC, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 vs. Maple River, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 28 at JWP, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 vs. Randolph, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 at NRHEG, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 8 at BA, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 at K-W, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 vs. Blooming Prairie, 4 p.m.

Monday, May 15 vs. Medford, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 18 vs. USC, 5 p.m.

WEM TRACK AND FIELD

Tueday, April 11 invite at MSU, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 20 at Triton invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25 at Medford invite, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 28 at Sibley East invite, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2 at Blooming Prairie invite, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 5 at Fairmont invite, 4:15 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9 at Section 2A True Team, USC, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 at Gopher Conference meet, Medford, 4:30 p.m.

MSAD TRACK AND FIELD

Tuesday, April 4 at FHS invite, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 8 at Berg Seeger meet, Austin, Texas Tuesday, April 18 Leo Bond invite, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 29, hosting GPSD meet Thursday, May 4 at BA invite, 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 11 at Medford invite, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 at TCAC meet, at International School, 3 p.m.

All schedules subject to change and current through April 3.

PAGE 8

FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

APRIL 2017

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY BASEBALL

Internal growth crucial for Falcons on diamond Young Cardinals to rely on versatility in the field The good news for the Falcons is that they bring back almost every important player from last season. The bad news is that the team won just two games that season.

If there’s a key for the Faribault High School baseball team this upcoming spring, it’s that whatever success the team has hinges on internal growth.

“Returning all nine starters is huge for us,” said head coach Charlie Lechtenberg. “We had games last year where we played seven sophomores, and jumping from freshman baseball to varsity baseball — that’s a very big jump to make.”

The Falcons went young last year, starting sophomores and juniors almost exclusively throughout the year. And it showed at times, as the team took its lumps.

But with talented players like Dylan O’Neil, Austin Rendler, Payton Miller and Jake Lauwagie back, there’s some optimism that the team will see improvement this year. Add in Chase Ernste who is back out for baseball after missing last season with an injury, and the Falcons have a lineup that could potentially put up some runs.

The Falcons will have to find some consistent pitching and they’ll have to avoid the lopsided innings, but if they can, they’ve got a chance to be a lot more competitive.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 2-20 (1-13 Big 9) 12th in Big 9 Postseason: Lost 3-1 to Worthington, Lost 14-4 to Waseca (0-2 in playoffs)

This group is more experienced now. That was a big part of why the team struggled so much last year. When things went south, they took a nosedive. Lechtenberg said he’s hoping to see more consistency this time around, which should keep them in more games.

“Baseball is a game of repetition,” said Lechtenberg. “The more reps and at-bats they get, the more calm they are going to be. I think that goes with being young. They want to make that play so bad then it is ‘oh man I don’t want to make another mistake’ and they get in their head. Errors happen in baseball.

It’s how you respond to it.

We were in a lot of games last year a n d if we can stay away from that big inning, we can have a lot more success.”

DYLAN VARGO The Falcons have plenty of arms they can throw on the mound, but the defense will need to back them up. Guys like Vargo who played last year need to show they’ve improved.

WHO’S GONE Brennan Haugh, Nick Knapper, Adam Vroman

WHO’S BACK P Payton Miller, P/3B Colton Helgeson, P Blake Borwege, SS Omar Escobar, IF Dylan Vargo, C Dylan O’Neil, OF Austin Rendler, OF Jake Lauwagie, P Graham Gulsvig, P Adam Vos

There are going to be a lot of new faces scattered all over the field at Bethlehem Academy baseball games this spring. And those faces might all be in different spots depending on the game.

BA heads into the 2017 spring season with just two regular starters back after graduating a senior class that included multi-year starters at catcher, first base, third base and in the outfield.

So the Cardinals will be young and inexperienced.

If there’s a positive in there, it’s that a lot of the guys on the team are multi-sport athletes and capable of playing multiple positions — even if those positions haven’t yet been determined.

“I think these first few games we’ll just kind of roll with it and see where guys end up,” said coach Kevin Harman. “Having a low-numbered team, the good part is all of these guys are baseball players. They’ve played multiple positions in the past. Many of them are really good athletes. It’ll be an experiment to start and we’ll go from there.”

Brendan Trump is the most tenured Cardinal as he’s started or gotten significant playing time each of the last two seasons. Trump’s been one of the team’s best hitters the last two seasons and consistently hits for a high average.

Hunter Dienst is back as well after spending time at shortstop and on the pitching mound a year ago. Dienst is a good defender in the field as he’s got a strong arm and the athleticism to make a lot of plays on hard-hit balls.

Luke Donkers is the only other returner who saw much time pitching, and he’ll likely have to head the pitching rotation that figures to be deep but without typical high-end talent on paper.

Because of the collective youth and inexperience, setting concrete expectations is a challenging game for this BA club. There will be a lot of mixing and matching for Harman, who is in his first season as the head coach at BA. “I feel at ease moving kids who have played some of the key positions around,” said Harman. “A lot of kids have played catcher, shortstop and center so we’ve got good athletes. We’re looking forward to seeing how things go.”

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 11-12 (8-4 Gopher) Second in Gopher Conference Postseason: Lost 14-3 to Hayfield in Section 1A elimination game (1-2 in playoffs)

WHO’S GONE Kollin Hanson, Peyton Glenzinski, Anthony VanThomme, Ike VanThomme, Alex Dunn, Parker Wagner

WHO’S BACK OF Brendan Trump, IF Hunter Dienst, P Zach VanThomme, 1B Garrett Johnson, P Luke Donkers

BRENDAN TRUMP One of a small number of multi-year starters for the Cards, he’ll have to set the tone as the most tenured hitter in the lineup.

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

PAGE 9

FHS BOYS GOLF WEM BASEBALL Falcons mix youth, experience heading into season

Bucs have good core, need others to step up in ‘17

The Buccaneers are the reigning Gopher Conference baseball champions two years running.

In order to contend for a third straight, it’s going to take a lot of players stepping up.

So far, the work ethic’s there for Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Three key pieces return for WEM in senior captains Brody Boran, Thomas Hiller and Dallas McBroom. Taylor Glende will be back eventually, but is out for now with a hand injury. Coach Sam Stier said he’s excited to get a full season out of Will Storch behind the plate. The base is there.

Filling in around is what will be the key.

Zac Olson is out as a senior now that he doesn’t have AAU basketball obligations in the spring, and he’ll try to bolster a pitching staff that isn’t quite sure what it has behind McBroom.

“Me, Hiller and Brody, as captains, we’re working extremely hard,” McBroom said. “We’re trying to work harder than everyone else. Zac’s working extremely hard, which is awesome.

That motivates me because he’s basically a freshman, and he’s one of the hardest at trying, so, can’t

let him try harder than me, so it pushes me to a whole other level.”

“I love watching the leadership that Thomas Hiller has developed and Brody has developed,” Stier said. “We’ve got a couple sophomores that are working really hard, too. Zac Olson came out, he’s got a hell of a work ethic.”

The work ethic’s a good start.

The on-field improvements from the likes of Storch, Michael Ungs, Jayson Schneider and Bladyn Bartelt, for example, could go a long way toward determining what kind of season the Bucs have in terms of record.

The standard has been set for WEM; expectations both internally and from the outside have the Bucs on the list of contenders for the Gopher Conference.

That’s something WEM’s seniors are ready to handle, but it’s also not a source of stress.

“I feel like us just being from Waterville, we always have a target on our backs,” Hiller said. “I feel like that’s for sure. But we’re just going to go out there and just play. If it unfolds, it unfolds. But I think it’s gonna be good, I think we’re gonna contend for the conference title for sure.”

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 16-8 (10-2 Gopher) Won Gopher Conference Postseason: Lost 4-3 to GFW in Section 2AA elimination game (2-2 in playoffs)

WHO’S GONE

Dalton Grose, Thomas Rients, Mitch Wolter, Tyler Tegmeier

WHO’S BACK

The Faribault High School boys golf team was extremely young and inexperienced last season. And at times it showed with occasional lopsided scores. The Falcons have a little more experience this time around.

The Falcons graduated one of its top golfers in Kyle Gare and lost another as Gui Pereepong — perhaps their best individual golfer last season — was a foreign-exchange student.

But they’ve got several key contributors back too.

Peter Bostwick advanced to the section final, ending his season on a high note. He’ll be the team’s top returning golfer and goes into his third year as a varsity regular.

Davin Underdahl and Derek Bokelmann both saw limited action two years ago, competing between the varsity and junior varsity levels before filling main varsity slots last season. Both guys have shown promise mixed with some inconsis-

FARIBAULT AREA P Dallas McBroom, IF Brody Boran, IF Thomas Hiller, C Will Storch, P/OF Taylor Glende

A senior captain, Hiller will look to lock down the middle infield for the Bucs, who will break in new starters at a number of positions.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Ninth at Big 9 meet State entrants: none

WHO’S GONE Gui Pereepong, Kyle Gare

ATH WHO’S BACK

Peter Bostwick, Derek Bokelmann, Davin Underdahl

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tent play too.

Head coach Al Gora said a big step for the entire team will be to establish a level of consistency throughout the year.

“It’s about building confidence early,” said Gora. “I’m hoping that their experiences last year showed them where they can improve in terms of managing the course. That’s the biggest thing for the boys, managing the course and playing well off the tee. We’ll look for progress early on and I’m going to do my best to encourage the boys to have fun.”

Beyond that, the Falcons are simply hoping to make this season an enjoyable one. The golf season can get stressful with the frequent postponements due to weather or just golfing in horrible weather all while trying to compete in a sport that is incredibly difficult without years on years of repetition. With that in mind, Gora said his goal is to keep things as loose and as light as he can.

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PAGE 10

FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

APRIL 2017

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY SOFTBALL

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Falcons aim for more offense to buoy strong pitching Cardinals eyeing runs in bunches with potent lineup THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 16-9 (7-6 Big 9) Seventh in Big 9 Postseason: Lost 7-6 (8) to Mankato East in Section 2AAA elimination game (3-2 in playoffs)

WHO’S GONE Raena Quinnell, Hannah Dozark

WHO’S BACK P Claire Drentlaw, P McKayla Armbruster, SS Bre Bresnahan, 1B Cassie Swanson, OF Lauren O’Neil, C Abby Van Ryn, 3B Ellie Knutson, OF Allison Schak, OF Brooke Flicek, OF Camryn Salmonsen, OF Kayli Burkhartzmeyer

BRE BRESNAHAN Perhaps the team’s most consistent hitter the last two seasons, Bresnahan will get plenty of chances to notch big hits for the Falcons as a junior and lead FHS from the middle of the lineup.

If the 2015 season was a step in the right direction, the Faribault High School softball team took a massive leap forward in 2016.

The Falcons won 16 games, including three in the postseason before losing in what amounted to a section semifinal game to Mankato East.

The big key in their success a year ago was the excellence of their two starting pitchers, McKayla Armbruster and Claire Drentlaw.

Both pitchers are back and should be strong again. The area the Falcons want to improve is at the plate.

“If we can put pressure on teams and take early leads we feel like we can be hard to beat,” said head coach Chris Silber. “The confidence we have now, it’s far enough along now that these girls will lead our history when it comes to number of at-bats.”

The Falcons averaged 6.1 runs per game a year ago, good for fourth in the Big 9 and fifth in Section 2AAA. It was inconsistencies at the plate that seemed to hurt them in their losses though, as they averaged just 2.55 runs per game in defeats.

With almost all of their top hitters back, the Falcons want to see an increase in offensive production.

“Last year we’d get kids on base but we couldn’t hit them in,” said junior shortstop Bre Bresnahan.

“That’s a big goal for us this year. We have to focus on that. Get them on, get them over, get them in.”

Bresnahan is a catalyst for that lineup, slotting into the No. 3 or 4 hole in most games. The thensophomore hit .442 with seven extra-base hits and 19 RBI. Cassie Swanson is back as well after leading the team with three home runs and 22 RBI. Armbruster and Drentlaw were both excellent to help their own causes, combining to drive in 39 runs. Throw in Abby Van Ryn, Ellie Knutson, Kayli Burkhartzmeyer and Alli Schak, and the Falcons certainly have the hitters capable of putting up crooked numbers on teams.

“Every at-bat matters,” said Bresnahan. “We have to realize we can start and inning and string together hits and score with two outs. You need experience with the faster pitchers and we’ve got that now.”

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The Bethlehem Academy softball team won 15 games a year ago, which included two postseason wins. Some of that had to do with improved pitching and defense. A big part of it was the team’s productive offense.

“I expect our lineup to be very, very good,” said head coach Maren Viland. “We have some younger players that have a lot of power. Throughout the team, I think we’ve got kids that make good contact.

Even if we sub someone in, we have depth to put someone in there and know they’ll make contact.”

The Cardinals averaged 7.2 runs per game and scored at least eight runs eight times. The offense could be even better this spring as the Cardinals return seven of nine regulars, including their top five hitters in the order.

Grace Viland and Shelby Meyer are both back after posting huge offensive numbers last season.

Viland hit .488 with 27 RBI while Meyer hit .388 with three home runs and 25 RBI. Tess Glenzinski established herself as a terrific leadoff hitter, getting on base at a .554 clip while stealing 29 bases. Meagan Donahue, Jess Oathoudt, Breanna DeGrood and Delaney Donahue are back as well.

BA will have some new faces mixing in at different spots throughout

the year but there’s an ideal mix of speed and power trickled throughout the lineup. And a point of emphasis for coach Viland will be aggressiveness, which means the Cardinals could be in position to put up more crooked numbers.

“We’ve been focused more on the aggressiveness on the bases,” said coach Viland. “I want them to feel empowered to make a decision to steal bases or advance bases. I want us to be aggressive baserunners. We have a ton of speed and smart kids, so that can be a weapon for us.”

Pitching will be a big key in ultimately getting the Cardinals wherever they want to go, but with the production they should get at the plate, there’s a big margin for error.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 15-8 (7-2 Gopher) Second in Gopher Conference Postseason: Lost 15-7 to Blooming Prairie in Section 1A elimination game (2-2 in playoffs)

WHO’S GONE Kylie Hanson

WHO’S BACK P/IF Shelby Meyer, P/OF Tess Glenzinski, P/SS Delaney Donahue, C Grace Viland, 1B Meagan Donahue, 3B Jess Oathoudt, OF Breanna DeGrood

GRACE VILAND Viland mashed for the Cards last year to a .488 batting average, driving in 27 runs. She’s also got an important role in handling the Cards’ three pitchers, and the veteran catcher is one of BA’s most important pieces.

Good Luck To All Faribault Athletes This Spring!

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

WEM SOFTBALL

PAGE 11

FHS GIRLS GOLF

Aided by offense, pitcher Hering key to Bucs’ season New coach Ahlers sees potential for big improvement The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown softball team got hot late last season and won the Gopher Conference along with two section games. A big reason for the lateseason surge was the development of then eighth-grade pitcher Trista Hering.

The Buccaneers have high expectations heading into this season and the main cause for their optimism is Hering, now a freshman.

“Trista’s been working hard this offseason so we expect her to take another step and then it’s our job to get the hitters and defense ready to back her up,” said head coach Crystal Lamont.

Hering had an up-and-down debut season but finished with a 3.66 earned run average and 124 strikeouts.

She gave up 192 hits and walked 94 batters in 149 innings.

Perhaps the most promising facet of Hering’s game was her ability to handle high-pressure situations. When

the moment got big, Hering rose the occasion and oftentimes delivered.

The exciting thing is that she just scratched the surface of what she can become.

“She’s phenomenal,” said junior catcher Maddy Meskan. “She’s pitching so fast and she’s gotten so accurate.

It’s more and more exciting to think how this year can be with her at this level.”

The offense figures to be strong again this season for the Bucs with top hitters like Meskan, Hailie Tegmeier and Megan Adank back plus the addition of Kate Masberg — the team’s best player two years ago as a sophomore — who is back out after taking up track and field as a junior.

For a middle-schooler getting her first taste of varsity softball, things went better than even the biggest Hering fans could’ve expected. Now the key will be to take steps forward.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 16-7 (7-2 Gopher) Won Gopher Conference Postseason: Lost 8-0 to Jordan in Section 2AA elimination game (2-2 in playoffs)

WHO’S GONE RaeAhna Harmon, Valerie Adank

WHO’S BACK

P Trista Hering, 3B Megan Adank, C Maddy Meskan, OF Hailie Tegmeier, OF Kate Masberg, IF McKenzie Kuball

Opportunities to get out and get to work have been slim for the Falcons so far this spring. But it’s not for lack of trying.

Despite cold weather Thursday, members of the Faribault High School girls golf team wanted to get out and get some work done, so coach JC Ahlers obliged.

“They’re gonna be fine,” Ahlers said.

“I think they’re buying into the fact that they really can get better. They even wanted to go out and practice a bit today, even though it was cold and windy and dreary.”

Numbers won’t be a strong suit for FHS, but Ahlers is getting the girls to believe in their potential to improve. Juniors Ally McCoshen and Jordan Houge are the veterans now, after the Falcons lost longtime scorers Hannah Bokelmann and Casey Gillen to graduation.

After the two juniors, there’s youth.

Practice so far has largely been limited to chipping and putting, with some work on the driving range. Ahlers has a

great golf resume, but he’s not looking at tearing down anyone’s mechanics and starting over.

Rather, there will be spots to tinker with swings or grips here and there.

Ahlers won’t force anyone to change too much, but results often have a way of encouraging an open mind.

“I think that when one sees another get better because of something they changed and it worked for them, they might be more apt to say I’ll give it a little more of an effort on that change,” he said.

The new FHS coach said his expectations are whatever the girls’ expectations of themselves are.

For now, with the right amount of work, Ahlers believes the Falcons will make plenty of strides by the end of this year.

“It’s exciting. I’m pretty excited about this,” he said. “I think the girls are really going to surprise themselves. Shouldn’t have any problem by the end of the year being 40 strokes better by the Big 9 championship.”

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO 12th in Big 9 State entrants: none

WHO’S GONE Hannah Bokelmann, Cora Showers, Casey Gillen

WHO’S BACK Allyson McCoshen, Jordan Houge, Rachel Bostwick

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR LOCAL TEAMS & ATHLETES!

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Wishing all our local athletes a great season!

Choices • Over 50 Technical Career and Professional programs available to suit your goals • Liberal Arts and Sciences programs that enable you to earn your 2-year Associate degree and transfer your credits toward a Bachelor’s degree at a 4-year college

Value • Tuition and fees averaging just $2,685 per semester before financial aid and scholarships (based on 15 credits per semester) • Exceptional instructors with smaller class sizes and individualized attention means more value for your education dollar

Opportunities • High job placement in some of today’s hottest fields • Relationships with businesses throughout the region that result in opportunities for student internships, apprenticeships and permanent employment

an do for you!

Come Explore South Central College to see what SCC c

re www.southcentral.edu/explo

1500 20th Street Northwest, Faribault, MN 55021 Phone: 507.334.2888 | www.grandstayfaribault.com

A member of the Minnesota State system. South Central College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator and has ADA accessible facilities.

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FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS SPRING SPORTS

APRIL 2017