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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

Table of contents Faribault Emeralds........................................................................................2 WEM boys basketball...................................................................................3 FHS boys basketball......................................................................................4 BA boys basketball........................................................................................4 FHS wrestling..................................................................................................5 WEM/JWP wrestling.....................................................................................5 Team schedules..........................................................................................6-7 FHS girls basketball......................................................................................8 BA girls basketball.........................................................................................8 WEM girls basketball....................................................................................9 FHS gymnastics..............................................................................................9 FHS boys swimming...................................................................................10 MSAD basketball.........................................................................................10 FHS boys hockey.........................................................................................11 FHS girls hockey...........................................................................................11 WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW • DECEMBER 2015

A special project of the Faribault Daily News 514 Central Avenue, Faribault, MN 55021 • www.faribault.com Publisher Sam Gett • Managing Editor Jerry Smith Sports Editor Adam Holt • Sports Reporter Matt Bigelow Winter 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. © 2015

FARIBAULT EMERALDS Emeralds use past as motivation, but focus is on future May this be the last anyone has to hear about the 2015 Class AAA state dance championships. The Faribault Emeralds certainly want to make people forget about it in the best possible way.

After winning the High Kick Championship, the night took a turn, and the protest of the awards ceremony by other teams turned into a spectacle and eventually led to disciplinary actions for the other teams involved. This year, the Emeralds are in Class AA after section realignment, and they’re eager to return to state and earn another title.

“I think that’s what is giving us motivation this year, is to prove people wrong, that we are still just as good, even though we moved to AA,” senior Bailey Grossman said.

“That it was not just our dance, but it was actually our skill that made it,” senior Sidney Enget added.

The Emeralds were accused of plagiarizing their routine, but were cleared before the state championships by the Minnesota State High School League. And despite what other teams thought about it, the Emeralds’ performance was deemed the best by

the judges. The key there isn’t the dance itself, but the people who performed it.

“You can have the dance, but you have to have the team to be able to perform the dance,” senior Taviah Johnson said.

The Emeralds started the season with a first-place high kick performance at the Eagan Invitational, where they also were second in jazz.

So while some of the girls might be using the past as motivation, the focus is squarely on what’s ahead.

And even with a sizable number of newer girls on the squad this season, a 20th straight trip to s t at e is certainly within reason.

“I always say if you look back, you can’t go forward,” coach Lois Krinke said. “We’re definitely looking forward and I think the girls are too. We don’t even talk about what happened anymore last year. We just have our sights set on what we want to do and accomplish this year, and all of our goals.”

The Emeralds won the Class AAA hick-kick title last season, and moved to Class AA this year after section realignment.

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Winter 2015

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

WEM BOYS BASKETBALL

Buccaneers aim to be in Gopher title race It should be another rough-and-tumble year in the Gopher Conference for the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown boys basketball team.

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Maple River will be near the top of the conference again, somewhere the Buccaneers hope to be as well.

“We think we’ve got a chance to be part of the conference race, we think we’ve got a chance to be part of the section race,” coach Jeff Wagner said. “If things work out perfectly, we should be a part of this. If they don’t, I think we’ve got a pretty good group of kids; they’re fun and they work hard.”

For that to happen, continued improvement from some returning players will be needed. Junior Zac Olson averaged 19 points and almost 11 rebounds per game and looks to expand

his outside shooting. Senior Kallen Dorenkemper needs to be more consistent as well after a strong junior year.

“We’d sure like to see Kallen Dorenkemper take that next step up,” Wagner said. “He had some really, really big games last year and he had some games that were not maybe up to his standard. But I thought as the year went on, he kept getting better and better and more aggressive. Then he had a really good year in football as the quarterback, and was more aggressive. I just expect him to be a better player all around this year and a better rebounder and a better scorer.”

So far this year, Olson and Dorenkemper haven’t disappointed, and point guard Tyler Tegmeier has improved on his counting stats as well. It will take a group effort to replace graduated 1,000 point scorer Cole Pope.

THE LOWDOWN

ZAC OLSON

LAST YEAR’S INFO

WHO’S GONE

Record: 19-9 (8-4 Gopher) Tied for third in Gopher Conference Sections: Lost Section 2AASouth semis, 60-51 to Maple River

Cole Pope (16.4 ppg, 82-223 3-pt goals)

Olson looks to expand his game — and his range — this year as a junior. He averaged a double-double last year, and wants to be more comfortable with his mid-range jumper and even shoot some more 3-pointers.

WHO’S BACK Jr. F Zac Olson (19 ppg, 10.8 rpg), Sr. G Kallen Dorenkemper (12.4 ppg, 4.54 rpg)

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SCHEDULE Tuesday, Dec. 8 vs.

Waseca, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 at USC, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Norwood Young America, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 vs.

Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 21 vs.

TCU, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs.

TBA at Harry Brown Holiday Classic, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBA at Harry Brown Holiday Classic, TBA Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 vs.

NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at JWP, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 at

Triton, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs.

USC, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 at Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 1 vs.

Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 vs.

Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11 vs.

Blue Earth Area, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 vs.

Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 at St. Peter, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 18 vs.

Mankato Loyola, 7:30 p.m.

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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY BOYS BASKETBALL

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

FHS boys hope strong summer leads to success Cards look for strides in 2nd year under Wagner Don Meyer, one of the all-time great college basketball coaches said, “There comes a time when winter asks you what you have done all summer,” when referring to how much basketball players LAST YEAR’S INFO improved in the offseason.

Record: 11-16 (7-15 Big 9) For the Faribault High School boys basketball Ninth in Big 9 team, summer was a busy season that saw a lot of improvement on several fronts.

Sections: Lost Section 1AAA first round, Juniors Kade Hart and TJ Hunt and senior 59-44 to Winona Brady Combs spent the summer playing AAU ball.

Hart and Hunt played with the Minnesota Magic WHO’S GONE program and Combs spent time with the traveling Kal Hart, Devin Jandro all over the country playing against elite competition, Hart opened a lot of eyes and emerged as a WHO’S BACK legitimate college basketball prospect.

The Falcons as a team also spent time playing Jr. F Kade Hart, Sr. F Win Hunter, Sr. G in various summer leagues and tournaments that Brady Combs, Jr. G TJ Hunt head coach Lance Walsten thinks will benefit the team as it moves forward during the winter season.

“We had a really good summer,” said Walsten.

KEY STAT “We had some good experiences going to CreighThe Falcons averaged 52.6 points per ton University; that was great experience for us game last year, which was ninth-best in the — some great team bonding and it just helped conference. The top six teams all averaged more us come together as a unit. We were able to play than 60 points and the team directly above FHS some games against some higher level competiin scoring averaged five more points per game. tion and learn how to compete. That’s a step in the FHS plays a defense-first style game that lends right direction for us. We haven’t itself to lower scoring affairs, but the Falcons will had that in the past and I think need to find ways to produce more points if that is going to be an important they are going to take a step up in the Big 9 part for us in moving up in the this year. conference.”

The Big 9 figures to be very tough again, as Rochester John Marshall, CHASE ERNSTE Red Wing, Northfield and Mankato Ernste is one of the only players with East all figure to be strong, but FHS has a lot of size on the roster and should a lot of returning talent in its own right. be cleared for contact sometime in “We have a lot of goals that we want December. If he is able to make a solid to go through on and a lot of things we recovery and return to the lineup, his want to achieve this year,” said Combs. presence would allow Hart to do more “We could be a very good team if we things on the perimeter where he is buy in to the scheme that we have. I think we could be a very good team. So better and serve as a secondary post we’ve got to put the work in.” defender.

THE LOWDOWN

It takes time for young and inexperienced players in any sport to get accustomed to playing against new competition.

The same thing can be applied for first-year coaches. Before they can truly implement their systems and morph their team to fit their style, they must know what they’ve got.

Bethlehem Academy boys basketball coach Jeremy Wagner got that out of the way last year, in his first season as the head coach at BA. Wagner oversaw a team that played mostly underclassmen and was without its best player for an early portion of the season.

So going into this year, there should be a lot more continuity at the start.

“You can feel the progress,” said Wagner. “They know what they are expecting in practice, they know the drills even if we’re putting new things in they know the expectations and we transition from things really quickly.”

“Last year, it was just kind of getting to know him, see how he runs a program,” said senior forward Kyle Ell. “This year we kind of just jumped right back into what we were doing. We have a lot more experience so guys know what to expect, that helps a lot with practices.”

BA will be young again this year, with two freshman starters and several other underclassmen figuring to see heavy minutes in the rotation, but there is a good amount of collective game experience and the players know exactly what the coaching staff is asking of them now.

BA will have its work cut out, as the Gopher Conference figures to be very strong at the top with Maple River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva all as potential 20-win teams.

The Cards have a young core, so finding consistency may be a challenge initially, but with more experience on the court and on the sidelines, BA should see improvement as the year goes along.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 9-18 (2-10 Gopher) Sixth in the Gopher Conference Sections: Lost Section 1A-West first round, 57-54 to Lyle/Austin Pacelli

WHO’S GONE Pete Clark (12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Charles Kryzer

WHO’S BACK Jr. G Brendan Trump, So. F Avery Hunt, Fr. G Jack Clark, Fr. F Damon Trump, Sr. F Kyle Ell

SCHEDULE ANALYSIS The Cards will have to be road warriors in December, as the team plays just one game at home the entire month — on Dec. 1. Their next home game is Jan. 5 against Blooming Prairie.

BA plays eight straight road games in December. Eight of BA’s final 10 games will be at home though.

JACK CLARK One of two freshmen in BA’s starting five, Clark is leading the team in scoring through the early round of games and should only get better as he gains experience.

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Winter 2015

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

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WEM/JWP WRESTLING FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING Young Grizzlies looking for progress this season

Falcons wrestling happy to move up to Class AAA THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 15-9 (7-4 Big 9) Fourth in Big 9 Sections: Lost Section 1AA to Caledonia, 43-24

WHO’S BACK Ryan Mullennex (160), Felipe Ramirez (195), Edwin Santiago (285), Ike VanThomme (170), Tony Avila (132)

FINDING ROOM FOR...

Austin Rendler and Josh Heyda. Two other talented wrestlers that FHS will have to fit into its lineup. Rendler may have to cut weight and wrestle at 152 because Mullennex is the guy at 160, but he was very good a year ago and Armbruster said Heyda may wrestle either 170 or 182 at points during the year depending on where Ike VanThomme slots into the lineup.

RYAN MULLENNEX Mullennex entered his senior season ranked ninth in AAA at 152 pounds and is wrestling at 160 now. He’ll hope that a less crowded field at sections will help make for a trip to the state tournament.

Conventional wisdom would indicate that when a school moves up in a class, the competition gets tougher and when a school moves down in class, there is a sense of relief.

For the Faribault High School wrestling team, moving up from Class 2A to 3A doesn’t seem to be as big of a deal as one would think.

“Wrestling is a little different in that triple-A has some great wrestlers, you have great teams, but overall, wrestling is a more double- and single-A dominated sport,” said FHS head coach Jesse Armbruster. “A lot of those smaller schools don’t have athletes playing hockey or basketball, they’ve got kids that are just wrestling. Triple-A, there’s some very strong programs, but we didn’t send a body to state and I think had we been in Triple-A we would’ve sent three or four or had a much better chance at least.”

That suits the Falcons, who head into the winter season with what figures to be a good amount of depth and a lot of in-house competition, which should allow the team to get better as the season goes along.

“This is a group that from day one of the season, has worked extremely hard,” said Armbruster. “They have talent, now it’s just putting it all together and staying away from the injury bug, but we’re in good shape.”

Heading into the year, the Falcons have several guys ranked in the preseason, including senior Ryan Mullennex and junior Felipe Ramirez. Mullennex has wrestled at 160 pounds early in the season and Ramirez has been a force in the 195-pound weight class.

“We’ve set a schedule that will definitely test us,” said Armbruster. “We just feel like the tougher the competition is, we may take a couple lumps along the way but it’ll prepare us for the end of the year.

We’re not in the rankings, I honestly think we’ll have a team that can send a lot of guys to state, and I believe we’ll have a team that is ranked at times during the season. A lot of that will depend on how we do against some of those top teams, you go and make a statement and the rankings take care of themselves.”

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With an extremely young squad, the WatervilleElysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton wrestling team is looking at getting lots of experience for underclassmen, with just two seniors in the lineup.

That might mean the record in dual matches might suffer, but by the end of the year, some of the Grizzlies should have a real chance at placing at sections.

“I would say a goal would be to have at least six guys be section place-winners and we’re looking at continuing our streak of getting kids to the state tournament,” coach Adam Roesler said.

The program has sent at least one wrestler to state every year since 1990, and that streak could continue now that the Grizzlies aren’t in a loaded Section 1AA. This year, the sections were more balanced, and WEM/ JWP is in Section 2AA, which is better than last year’s “brutal” grouping.

“Pretty much every weight class was 13 kids, it was kind of suffocating at times being a coach in that section,” Roesler said.

Reid Ayers is one of the top returning wrestlers for the Grizzlies, and was all-conference at 138 last year. Adam Rients had a nice year as a freshman and comes back at 120 pounds, and Roesler is looking at Will and Wyatt Storch to help lead the team, as well as Brayden Johnson.

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THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 14-9 (4-1 Gopher) Fourth at the Gopher Valley Tournament

SCHEDULE Thursday, Dec. 10 at Medford, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 at Byron, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Dec. 17 home triangular, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 19 at Northfield invite, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 Mankato West triangular, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 at NRHEG, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9 at

Gopher Valley tournament, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 at Faribault triangular, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 at St. Peter, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 at USC, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 28 home triangular, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 home invite, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 home triangular, 5 p.m.

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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

REGULAR SEASON

All schedules subject Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Rochester Tuesday, Jan. 12 vs. Saturday, Feb. 6 at Section Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBD Thursday, Dec. 17 vs.

Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

1AA meet in Albert Lea at Roseau Tournament Mankato West, 5:30 p.m. to change and current John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 at Saturday, Jan. 16 at Albert Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Red Wing, Saturday, Dec. 19 vs. through Dec. 7

FHS BOYS BASKETBALL

Thursday, Dec. 10 at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 vs.

Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 vs.

Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 vs. Winona, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. TBD, Harry Brown Holiday Classic Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBD, Harry Brown Holiday Classic Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 vs.

Northfield, 5:45 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 vs. Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 vs. New Ulm, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 vs.

Rochester Century, 6 p.m.

Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Winona, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 vs. Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 vs.

Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19 at Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

FHS GIRLS BASKETBALL

Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 vs.

Cambridge-Isanti, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 at Winona, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. TBD, Harry Brown Holiday Classic Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBD, Harry Brown Holiday Classic Tuesday, Jan. 5 vs. Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9 vs. Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Ja. 19 vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 at Austin, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 at New Ulm, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs. Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 at Rochester Century, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 vs. Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 vs.

Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 vs. Winona, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 at Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19 at Northfield, 5:45 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 at Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 at Rochester quadrangular, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 vs. Northfield, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Winona, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9 home invite, 11 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 vs. Owatonna, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 vs. Red Wing, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 at KassonMantorville, 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 vs. Mankato West, East, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 at Big 9 Meet in Owatonna, 3 p.m.

FHS BOYS HOCKEY

7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 vs.

Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Waseca, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 vs. Austin, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Owatonna, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 at Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs. Dodge County, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 28 vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 at Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 at Winona, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Mankato West, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Le SueurHenderson, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11 vs.

Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 13 at Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 10 vs.

Owatonna, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 vs. Winona, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 vs.

Rochester John Marshall, Saturday, Dec. 12 at Fridley 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 at Big Monday, Dec. 28 vs. Roseau 9 Championships in at Roseau Tournament Thursday, Dec. 10 at Northfield, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. TBD at Owatonna, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 at New Roseau Tournament Saturday, Dec. 12 at Winona, Prague 1 p.m.

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FHS GIRLS HOCKEY

Rochester Mayo, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Rochester John Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Burnsville tournament Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Burnsville tournament Thursday, Jan. 7 at Northfield, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 vs.

Rochester Century, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 at Austin, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 vs.

Mankato East, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 28 at Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 vs.

Owatonna, 7 p.m.

FHS BOYS SWIM AND DIVE

Thursday, Dec. 10 at Red Wing, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Albert Lea, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 17 vs.

Rochester Century, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 19 at Albert Lea Invite

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Winter 2015

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

PAGE C7

GAME SCHEDULES Thursday, Jan. 7 vs. Mankato East, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9 at South St. Paul invite, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Winona, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 at Mankato West, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 at Section True Team, TBD Thursday, Jan. 28 vs.

Owatonna, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 vs.

Northfield, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 13 at Big 9 diving championships, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Big 9 swimming championships, 5 p.m.

FHS WRESTLING

Thursday, Dec. 10 at Austin, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 at Champlin Park quadrangular, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 17 at Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 19 at Northfield invite, TBD Monday, Dec. 28 at Rumble on the Red, Fargo, TBD Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Rumble on the Red, Fargo, TBD Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Rumble on the Red, Fargo, TBD Thursday, Jan. 7 at Northfield triangular, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 home triangular, 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 at Henry Sibley quadrangular, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 home triangular, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 at Maple River triangular, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 at Lake City invite, 10 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 at Rochester Century, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 at Armstrong invite, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4 at Farmington, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 vs. Owatonna, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11 vs.

TBD, Section 1AAA team tournament Saturday, Feb. 13 vs.

TBD, Section 1AAA team tournament Friday, Feb. 19 at Section 1AAA individual tournament Saturday, Feb. 20 at Section 1AA individual finals

BA BOYS BASKETBALL

Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 10 at Glenville-Emmons, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 at WabashaKellogg, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 at WatervilleElysian-Morristown, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. Lyle Pacelli at Hayfield Invite, 7:45 .m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBA at Hayfield Invite, TBA Tuesday, Jan. 5 vs. Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 vs.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 at United South Central, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, jan. 12 vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 at Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 vs. Belle Plaine, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs. JWP, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 vs. WEM, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 vs. USC, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Pine Island, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 11 vs.

Stewartville, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

BA GIRLS BASKETBALL

Thursday, Dec. 10 at TCU, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 vs. WabashaKellogg, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 vs. WEM, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 21 vs. LeroyOstrander, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 vs. Trinity School, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2 at Southwest Christian, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 at Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 vs. USC, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Triton, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 25 vs.

Cleveland, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 at JWP, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 at WEM, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 vs. Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 at USC, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 at Maple River, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 14 vs. Cannon Falls, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Randolph, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19 vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

MSAD BOYS BASKETBALL

Saturday, Jan. 9 vs. Mounds View, 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 11 vs. Prairie Seeds, 7:30 p .m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Calvin Christian, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 at Clerc Classic, TBD Friday, Jan. 15 at Clerc Classic, TBD Saturday, Jan. 16 at Clerc Classic, TBD Tuesday, Jan. 19 vs. SSM, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21 vs. AFSA, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs. Hope Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 vs. North Lakes Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 1 at Liberty Classical, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Twin Cities Academy, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 at GPSD tournament, TBD Saturday, Feb. 13 at GPSD tournament, TBD Friday, Feb. 19 at EMAC Showcase, TBD Saturday, Feb. 20 at EMAC Showcase, TBD

Wednesday, Dec. 9 vs.

Hmong Academy, 6:15 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Nova, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Community of Peace, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 at North Woods, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Christian Life, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 vs.

International School, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 vs. Liberty Classical Academy, 5:30 p.m.

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Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Charter Stars, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 vs. Hmong Academy Friday, Jan. 22 vs. Christian Life Academy Tuesday, Jan. 26 vs. North Lakes Academy Friday, Jan. 29 vs. Nova Classical Academy Wednesday, Feb. 3 vs.

Community of Peace Academy Friday, Feb. 5 vs. Hope Academy

See WEM schedules on pages with team prviews.

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PAGE C8

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL

FHS won’t let youth be an excuse this winter Experience, Strodtman’s return has BA optimistic Youth is an easy and many times valid excuse for why a team doesn’t win. It’s hard to win when the competition is bigger, stronger and more physically mature. So many times, young teams allow themselves to believe that collective youth means it can’t win.

The Faribault High School girls basketball team was incredibly young last season, and is young again this season — but that won’t be a crutch for the Falcons.

“We can no longer have the excuse that we’re young and we can stay close,” said head coach Bill Bardal.

“We’ve got to get over that and think we can go in every single night and win.”

For all its youth — and there’s a lot as FHS has more sophomores in the rotation than upperclassmen — FHS does have a lot of experience. The Falcons return everybody from a team that went 3-24 a year ago. The hope is that an extra year of experience, coupled with a quality summer of growth can allow the Falcons to make significant strides this year.

They key for the Falcons may not be the collective talent, but the team’s ability to focus and grind mentally after knowing nothing but losing. After a while, it just becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, where a team is satisfied with staying close for a while.

“It’s really hard, this is probably our biggest obstacle,” said Bardal. “You have to believe you can win, if you walk in not thinking you’re going to win you don’t have a chance. We’ve developed a lot of confidence, we played league ball over the summer and did very well. The Big 9 is a tough conference teams but we should be a team that competes a lot of times. As long as we come ready to play.”

The Big 9 will be tough as always this season with Rochester Mayo, Winona and Rochester John Marshall as teams vying for the top spot, but FHS has the talent and experience — even with the collective youth — to make big strides this upcoming season.

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO

LAST YEAR’S INFO

Record: 3-24 (1-21 in Big 9) 12th in Big 9 Sections: Lost Section 1AAA first round to Waseca, 54-45.

Record: 7-21 (2-10 Gopher) Sixth in Gopher Conference Sections: Lost Section 1A-West first round to Lyle/Austin Pacelli, 63-41.

WHO’S BACK

WHO’S GONE

Ellery Akeman (all-Big 9), Jenna Wetzel, Elana Palmer, Grace Amacher (all-Big 9 honorable mention), Bre Bresnahan, Megan Gehrke, Rachel Hanson, Lauren Isaacson

KEY NUMBER Twelve. The number of games the Falcons were held below 40 points last season. FHS averaged 40 points per game last year and was 0-12 in games it produced less than 40. The Falcons will have to find ways to put up more points if they are going to take another step this season.

ELLERY AKEMANN Akeman was an All-Big 9 selection as a junior and led the team in scoring. She’s one of two seniors on the team and may be counted on to rally the troops as the Falcons look to make a jump in wins this year.

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THE LOWDOWN

LY LOCAL & OWNED D! E OPERAT

Shelby Meyer and Keely Skluzacek.

The two junior guards both had games last year where they’d lead the team in scoring, but follow it with games in which they were uninvolved statistically. Both players are capable of putting up a lot of points but consistency will be the key. BA averaged 48 points per game last year and if their guards are consistent, that number could go up significantly.

MADI STRODTMAN After missing almost the entire season with a shoulder injury as a junior, Strodtman is back for her senior year. Her presence inside should help BA both offensively and defensively as she is active on the glass, disruptive defensively and capable of scoring inside.

The 2014-15 season was an interesting one for the Bethlehem Academy girls basketball team. The Cardinals enjoyed some positives, including increasing their win total from two the year before to seven.

It may have been more had the Cards stayed healthy, but injuries to key players, including Madi Strodtman, made things a little more difficult. On top of that, the Cards spent the entire season without a designated head coach.

Going into this season, there is more stability and a lot of optimism. The Cardinals return multi-year starters in Shelby Meyer, Keely Skluzacek and Hannah Robb. Skluzacek led the team in scoring last year, averaging 10.4 points per game, Meyer was second and averaged 10.2, and Robb was a do-it-all threat, scoring 8.1 points, grabbing 4.3 rebounds, dishing out 2.4 assists while also averaging three steals per game.

Another reason for optimism is that Strodtman, a senior forward, is back and healthy after playing in just six games last year because of a shoulder injury.

On a team with a lot of similar players, Strodtman stands out and gives the Cardinals some much-needed height and length.

“We didn’t have her very much at all last year, it’s nice to have that length,” said head coach Jill Strodtman. “She can do a lot of things just deflecting the ball and that opens up opportunities and when you can feed those high hands, that makes it a lot easier; and if teams collapse on her, she’s tall enough to kick it to our guards and open things up.”

The Cardinals also return Amber Merritt, who is the team’s leading returning rebounder, Kylie Hanson who is one of the team’s better outside shooters off the bench, Katy Ashley and Kallie Donahue. Mya Johnson and Emily Crone saw playing time last year as well and give the team two athletic and energetic players on both ends of the floor.

The Cards play in what figures to be a very competitive Gopher Conference this season so in order to BA to keep pace, consistency will be important. The returning experience, plus the presence of Strodtman add up to a team that should be improved from recent years.

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Winter 2015

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

WEM GIRLS BASKETBALL

PAGE C9

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS

Bucs girls basketball aiming high this season Falcons gymnasts focusing on individual growth The Buccaneers aren’t afraid to say expectations are high this season.

After falling in the sub-section title game last year, the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown girls basketball team returns six of its main rotation players. So the goals are on the lofty side this winter.

“Our girls basketball program’s never won an outright Gopher Conference championship,” coach Gabe Hauer said. “I think this group has that in their mindset. I have probably 80 percent of my scoring and rebounding back, which is unusual for most teams. We’re in a good situation.

I think the No. 1 goal is to win the conference, because we know if we do that, the other things will fall.”

“Senior year — last time around — so we can hopefully really get all the stuff we need to do in practice and become the best players that we can be,” senior Tierney Winter said. “Hopefully we can make it to state, that’s the goal — for me personally, anyways.”

Winter was the Daily News All-Area Player of the Year as a junior and averaged almost a double-double.

She’s got help in the post Erika Olson, who had the ability to dominate games down low. And in seniors RaeAhna Harmon, Kamryn Kendall and Haley Domonoske, there’s length, defensive prowess and experience.

It doesn’t hurt that a lot of that core just won the state volleyball title and has a tournament run fresh in its mind.

“Oh yeah, for sure,” Olson said. “I think we can definitely go far if we work hard. It’s so doable to go to the state tournament for us. So, pretty exciting.”

It’s not often a coach says the focus for the team will be on individual improvements, but that’s THE LOWDOWN where the Falcons are at this year.

The Faribault High School gymnastics team is in LAST YEAR’S INFO a rebuilding year, according to coach Cora Packard, LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 19-9 (8-4 Gopher Conference) but that doesn’t mean there can’t still be successes.

Conference meet: Seventh at Big 9 Third in Gopher Conference And at the top of that list of goals is seeing if senior Championships Sections: Lost Section 2AA-South Maria McDonough can return to state.

Section meet: Sixth at Section 1AA final, 50-43 to St. Peter McDonough won the Class AA balance beam Championships title back in February and also competed at state State qualifiers: Maria McDonough WHO’S GONE on vault. But she isn’t just assuming she’ll make it (beam, vault) back comfortably.

Brooke Galler (3.6 ppg, “My mindset is what happened last year has 2.0 apg), Eryn Meskan, WHO’S GONE nothing to do with what’s happening this year,” she Jacqueline Kaplan said. “Honestly, I never think about it; I pretend like Kayla Mullenberg, Kaylee Rohloff, it never happened.

As weird as that sounds, I can’t Mary McCoshen (Jr.), Jade Bokman WHO’S BACK go into this year thinking — it’s not a guarantee that (So.) Sr. G Tierney Winter, I’m even going to make it. I just have to feel the same Sr. F Erika Olson, Sr. G way that I felt last year, because anything could hapWHO’S BACK RaeAhna Harmon, Sr. pen. There’s good girls on every single team in our Sr. Maria McDonough (Class AA F Kamryn Kendall, Sr. F section. It just comes down to who hits at sections. beam champion), Jr. Haley Sullivan, Haley Domonoske, Jr. G People don’t understand that about gymnastics.”

So. Anna Nietz Kate Masberg Packard said McDonough could not only return to defend her title, but maybe compete at state in all four events.

TIERNEY WINTER “I think she’s got a good chance to show up as SCHEDULE ANALYSIS The reigning All-Area Player an all-arounder for sure,” Packard said. “Hopefully The Big 9 Championships are Feb. 6, and of the Year returns for her senior we’ll see her back on vault and back on beam. But the Section 1AA meet is Feb. 12. But a big I think her floor is coming along as well, and even season as a do-everything guard. date for the Falcons is Jan. 9, which is when her bars. All four events are really looking Faribault hosts its home invite. good for her this year.”

SCHEDULE Overall, it’s about finding out Friday, Jan. 29 vs. Bethlehem p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Jordan, 6 p.m. where everyone else can comAcademy, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11 vs. USC, 7:15 p.m. pete, and seeing improvements MARIA MCDONOUGH Monday, Feb. 1 at Maple River, 7:15 Saturday, Jan. 9 vs. TBD at Hayfield Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Mankato Loyola, throughout the season. p.m.

Invite, TBD 7:30 p.m.

“I think we’re going to be Thursday, Feb. 4 vs. NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 vs. Blue Earth Area, Friday, Dec. 18 at Bethlehem McDonough’s 9.675 on the balance happy looking more at inTuesday, Feb. 9 at Kenyon7:30 p.m.

Academy, 7:15 p.m. beam earned her the Class AA title in the dividuals this year and Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 at JWP, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 22 vs. Le Sueurevent, a victory that surprised her and Friday, Feb. 12 at Medford, 7:15 p.m. individual progress,” Friday, Jan. 15 vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m.

Henderson, 7:30 p.m. her coach. She also finished 15th on vault Tuesday, Feb. 16 vs. St. Peter, 7:30 Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Waseca, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. Rockford at Packard said. “The with a 9.5, and she’s treating this season Thursday, Jan. 21 vs. Triton, 7:30 p.m. p.m.

Harry Brown Holiday Classic, 6 p.m. team score isn’t going to probably Friday, Feb. 19 at Blooming Prairie, Friday, Jan. 22 vs. Blooming Prairie, Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. TBD at Harry like last year never happened, staying mean as much to us this year.”

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

Brown Holiday Classic, TBD hungry for a trip to state.

THE LOWDOWN

Tuesday, Jan. 5 vs. Maple River, 7:15

Tuesday, Jan. 26 at USC, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25 at TCU, 7:30 p.m.

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PAGE C10

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

MSAD BASKETBALL

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SWIM AND DIVE

FHS boys swim and dive looks to continue success Strong returning core has Trojans hoops optimistic The athletes Charlie Fuller has coached in 2015 have done very well. Now the Faribault boys swimming coach hopes that trend continues through this coming March.

The Falcons boys finished a program-best third at the Class A state swim and dive state championships last season, achieving a goal they had set a couple of years ago. While some big losses to graduation this year might mean FHS won’t see another top-three finish at state, the Falcons are still going to be in the mix to be a top-20 or top-10 team.

“Our focus is, are we getting better, are we getting faster?” Fuller said. “If the answer is yes, then we’re doing what we need to do, and if at the end of the year, are we the fastest that we can be, then that tells the story.”

It’s a younger group this year for Faribault, with just one senior. And leading the way are juniors Paul Sadergaski and Sam Steinberg, and sophomore Adam Rechtzigel. Sadergaski was second in the 200 individual medley at state and fifth in the 100 butterfly, while Stein-

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Fourth at Big 9 meet Third at Class A state championships

WHO’S GONE David Sadergaski (seventh at state

berg was fifth in diving in his first trip to state. Rechtzigel should improve after swimming in the 200 and 400 free relays for FHS, which both finished in the top five.

“Paul, I expect him to be challenging for state championships in whatever he swims at state, because he’s that good,” Fuller said.

Steinberg enters the season with plenty of confidence, and Fuller expects the junior to contend for a state title. Three of the four divers who placed ahead of him at state last season are gone. And after just a week of practices, Fuller is very happy with where Steinberg is at.

“It’ll be fun, a real challenge,” Fuller said. “He’s got a great attitude right now, he’s working very hard at making changes. I’m being very picky with what I’m looking for, which is what I did with the girls. I think it pays off.”

The season will feature its share of growing pains.

The Falcons need some butterfly swimmers, and figuring out who will slot in with Sadergaski and Rechtzigel in the relays is yet to be determined.

mention selection returns to give the Trojans a boost in the scoring department.

The Trojans also return Junior Peters, Dawson Moder and Anthony Barger, who saw playing time last year and will be counted on to step up into bigger roles this year.

The Trojans have a lot of talent on the roster, but they also have a challenging schedule this year that includes several tough tournaments.

“I think we have tough schedule this season compared the previous season,” said head coach Lee Jones.

“I’m looking forward to have that challenge because we have solid core of players on our team with Kyrell Cummings, Matthew Sherman, and Joshua Strom. They are the boys that will make huge impact on our team and will be difficult for the opponents to play against us because of their talent.”

THE LOWDOWN

KYRELL CUMMINGS Cummings averaged a double-double a year ago as just a sophomore and was an All-American.

in butterfly), Brady Bresnahan (seventh in 50 free, fifth in 100 free), Austin Ferris (second in state diving)

MSAD GIRLS BASKETBALL

WHO’S BACK Jr. Paul Sadergaski, So. Adam Rechtzigel, Jr. Sam Steinberg

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf basketball team has high expectations for the 2015-16 season. Much of the reason for optimism is because the Trojans return several highly-regarded players.

Kyrell Cummings, who averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game last year and was an NDIAA DII first-team All-American is back for his junior year. Through two games, Cummings is averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Matt Sherman, who was a second-team NDIAA All-American, is back as well after filling up the stat sheet on numerous occasions as a junior.

And Josh Strom, who transferred in for the second half of the season and in his short time was as an all-EMAC honorable

PAUL SADERGASKI Sadergaski medaled in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly at state last year.

Due to numbers, the MSAD girls basketball team is a co-op with Shattuck-St. Mary’s this winter. Corrie Ballentine, Chloe Robinson and Kayla Mitchell will play with the SSM team.

LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 18-8 GPSD Tournament champions Sections: Lost to Southland in Section 1A-West first round, 74-52.

WHO’S GONE Garrett Springer, Logan Waldo

WHO’S BACK Jr. F, Kyrell Cummings, Sr. G Matt Sherman, Sr. F Josh Strom

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Winter 2015

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOCKEY

PAGE C11

FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOCKEY

Finding roles, new style key for FHS boys hockey So far, so good as Falcons start season strong This year’s Falcons squad will be very different from last season’s. And already early in the season, the Faribault boys hockey team is figuring some things out.

A dynamic top line that combined for 76 goals and 87 assists has moved on, and the Falcons won’t be the same kind of high-scoring squad they were in reaching the section semifinals. And with plenty of new faces, that kind of adjustment shouldn’t be a shock to the players.

It’s seeing each Falcon figure out where he fits that might take some time.

“We’ve got to figure out what everybody’s role’s going to be,” coach Dean Weasler said. “We’ve got a hardworking group of kids, we’ve been moving the puck well in practice.”

There have been ups and downs as the Falcons look to win with solid goaltending and defense, along with opportunistic offense. FHS was shut out in its opener, 3-0 to Red Wing, but got a nice 2-1 road win at Austin days later. Consistency might be hard to come by early as players get acclimated to the varsity game.

“A big thing is the young guys,” senior Alex Dunn said. “We have I think five guys returning with varsity

experience, everybody else is new. We graduated 13 or 14 seniors. It’s getting those guys, getting them shifts, give them the experience and get them used to the pace.”

Committing defensively hasn’t been a problem. The Falcons have been eager to block shots in front of all-Big 9 goaltender Adam Johannsen. Having a standout in net usually helps a young team stay in games.

“It’s our job to make sure that our D know to help him clear rebounds and clear bodies, and make sure he can see the puck and do all those things,” Weasler said.

“But he’s definitely a strong goaltender, so that helps us out a lot this year.”

Ryan Teske and Anthony Simons are playing forward this year to get some experience at the position, which is thin after last year’s crop of seniors graduated. But it could be a process as the Falcons figure out which line combinations work.

“I think everybody knowing their role is going to be critical,” senior defenseman Koy Payne said. “It’s just going to be muck and grind; they’re going to have to work hard and block shots. It’s not going to be pretty all the time, but I think everybody knows that.”

THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 19-8-1 (14-5 Big 9) Second in Big 9 Sections: Lost Section 1A semifinals, 8-4 to New Prague.

WHO’S GONE Christian VonRuden (27 goals, 32 assists, 59 points), Tyler Becker (22-3658), Austin Lewis (27-19-46)

WHO’S BACK Sr. D Koy Payne (3-14-17), Sr. D Alex Dunn (0-7-7), Sr. G Adam Johannsen (2.62 GAA, .918 save percentage).

ADAM JOHANNSEN Johannsen was an all-conference selection last year and returns to anchor the Falcons as a senior.

He had a 2.42 regular-season goals-against average and has been kept busy in his starts this season.

The 2014-15 season was the Faribault High School girls hockey team’s best since 2009-10. The Falcons went 13-12 in the regular season and won a section game before losing to Red Wing, which finished third at the state tournament.

The Falcons started last year with four straight losses, and that is something head coach Alli Miller said the team wanted to avoid this year. Starting the year strong was a major goal for the Falcons. Mission accomplished.

FHS started the year with eight wins and two ties in its first 10 games and are ranked in the top 10 in the state QRF rankings in Class A. “It’s good, we’re winning the games we should win,” said Miller. “It’s huge that when it gets to the middle of the season we’ve got a lot of confidence. We haven’t seen the big honchos in the conference yet, but getting chances and scoring goals is helping us so when we do play the better teams we’ll be really confident.”

The Falcons lost arguably their best player from a year ago in winger Lexus Tatge, but return a plethora of talented players who have stepped up in a big way.

Payton Putrah, Alexis Ferris, Olivia Williamson and Allyson McCoshen have put up solid numbers thus far for FHS and showed last year that they could do a lot of damage in the offensive zone.

Defensemen Madison Beaupre and Madeline Drevlow lead a solid defensive core and goalies Lauren Werner and Camryn Salmonsen have both been steady on the back end.

The Falcons have more depth this year with Hayley Lang and Ellie Knutson also chipping on offensively, so there’s a lot of optimism for FHS. The Falcons were a streaky team last year, playing a lot of young players. Thus far, they’ve been very strong and consistent and are playing a style that suits them.

Their schedule is a bit back loaded, as the Falcons won’t face most of the top Big 9 teams until the second half of the year, but if the Falcons continue playing the way they’ve proven capable, they’ll be considered one of those top conference teams.

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THE LOWDOWN LAST YEAR’S INFO Record: 14-13 (8-11 Big 9) Ninth in Big 9 Sections: Lost in Section 1A semis to Red Wing, 5-2

WHO’S GONE Lexus Tatge (17 goals, 11 assists for 28 points)

WHO’S BACK Sr. D Madison Beaupre (8-6-14), So. F Payton (9-15-24), Sr. F Megan Johnstad (13-10-23), Jr. F Alexis Ferris (14-6-20)

SCHEDULE ANALYSIS FHS is 8-0-2, but the true test in games will come between Dec. 22 and Jan. 19 where the Falcons play Rochester John Marshall, Northfield, Rochester Century and Red Wing (four of the top five teams in the Big 9 last year).

OLIVIA WILLIAMSON After cracking the lineup last year as a seventh grader, Williamson is one of the many young Falcon forwards expected to take another jump up this season.

Williamson scored nine goals and added three assists in 27 games last season, and already has 6-5-11 thisyear.

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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Winter 2015

GETTING INJURED ATHLETES BACK IN THE GAME.

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