Winter Sports 1 - NRHEG Star Eagle

PANTHERS
NEW RICHLAND • HARTLAND • ELLENDALE • GENEVA
PANTHER ATHLETICS
WINTER
SPORTS
PREVIEW
NRHEG WINTER 2015-16
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015
2
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Lady Panthers hope to
return to section title level
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Even though Carlie Wagner has graduated and
taken her talents to the University of Minnesota,
the goal remains the same for the NRHEG girls’
basketball team.
Coach Onika Peterson would like to see the
Panthers return to the section championship
game.
The Panthers finished 14-12 overall last season, Peterson’s first as head coach, and she
hopes to improve on that this year.
One thing is clear. NRHEG fans were definitely spoiled in the Carlie Wagner era, with the
Panthers qualifying for three consecutive state
tournaments while winning two straight state
titles. NRHEG also won six straight Gopher
Conference championships, a feat that’s not
likely to be repeated soon.
Four seniors graduated from last year’s squad:
Ryann Hagen, Kelli Harrington, Jade Peterson
and Anna Stork.
All eight players on the season-opening roster
earned letters last year, including Carlie’s twin
sisters Maddie and Marnie, now juniors after
playing varsity since seventh grade. Also lettering last year were seniors Hailey Schuller,
Sophia Fischer and Emily Eder and juniors
Gretchen Ramaker, Rachel Collins and Kayley
Camerer.
Maddie Wagner led last year’s Panthers with
“We need to be tough
inside since we don’t
have much height.”
— Coach Onika Peterson
17.8 points per game. Marnie
averaged 12.3 points and a
team-best 8.5 rebounds. Both
Wagners averaged about three
assists.
Maddie Wagner, Ramaker
and Camerer were selected allconference last season and
Collins received honorable
Peterson
mention.
While the Panthers are lacking in height, they
hope to make up for it with overall team speed.
“With our height, we need to play fast and run
the floor as much as possible,” said Coach
Peterson. “Offensively, we need to attack the
basket and move well without the ball.
Defensively, we need to be tough inside since
we don’t have the height. We need to focus on
rebounding and not give other teams second or
third-chance shots.”
Peterson picks WEM as the Gopher
Conference favorite and WEM and NorwoodYoung America in Section 2AA.
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
2015-16 NRHEG Girls’ Basketball
Date
Opponent
Time
Dec. 1
Tri-City United
7:30
Dec. 5
Fairmont
5 p.m.
Dec. 8
at Waseca
7:30
Dec. 11
Maple River
7:15
Dec. 18
Medford
7:15
Dec. 21
at St. Peter
7:15
Dec. 22
at Blooming Prairie
7:15
Dec. 28
Mayer Lutheran at St. Olaf
1:30
Dec. 29 Providence Acad. at St. Olaf
1:30
Dec. 30
Tartan at St. Olaf 11:45 a.m.
Jan. 2
Hayfield
6:00
Jan. 5
Kenyon-Wanamingo
7:15
Jan. 8
WEM
7:15
Jan. 9
Stewartville at Hayfield
4 p.m.
Jan. 16
at USC
7:15
Jan. 19
at Blue Earth Area
7:15
Jan. 22
Bethlehem Academy
7:15
Jan. 25
at JWP
7:30
Jan. 29
at Medford
7:15
Feb. 4
at WEM
7:15
Feb. 5
at Mankato Loyola
7:30
Feb. 8
Triton
7:15
Feb. 12
USC
7:15
Feb. 19
at Bethlehem Academy
7:15
Feb. 22, 25, 27
Section
TBA
March 3, 7, 11
Section
TBA
March 15-19
State
TBA
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Thursday, December 3, 2015
3
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU – Panther girls’ basketball returning letterwinners are, from left: Rachel Collins, Gretchen Ramaker, Marnie Wagner, Kayley
Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens
Camerer, Maddie Wagner, Hailey Schuller, Emily Eder and Sophia Fischer.
NRHEG Girls’ Basketball
Conference: Gopher
Section: Section 2AA, South Sub-Section
Coaches: Head coach Onika Peterson, 2nd year. Assistant
coaches Drew Paukert, Sharon Ramaker
Last year: 14-12 overall
Key losses: Ryann Hagen, Kelli Harrington, Jade Peterson,
Anna Stork
Key returnees: Letterwinners Kayley Camerer, Rachel Collins,
Emily Eder, Sophia Fischer, Gretchen Ramaker, Hailey
Schuller, Maddie Wagner, Marnie Wagner
Key dates: Dec. 29 vs. Providence Academy at St. Olaf; Jan.
8 vs. WEM; Feb. 4 at WEM
Coach’s comment: “We need to play fast and run the floor as
much as possible.”
4
Thursday, December 3, 2015
NRHEG boys ready
to battle in tough
conference, section
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
In many ways, last year could be considered a dream season for the NRHEG boys’
basketball team, which won 23 games and
twice defeated Waseca while playing in
front of frenzied crowds.
In one important aspect, it was less than
a dream season. Despite all the impressive
victories, the Panthers did not win a championship, losing twice to Maple River in
the regular season and again in the subsection title game.
Coach Pat Churchill and four tall, talented returning letterwinners are back hoping
to change things this year. They know it
won’t be easy in the Gopher Conference or
Section 2AA, but they are prepared. A total
of nine players competed in some sort of
organized basketball in the offseason.
They’re looking to replace four threeyear starters: Kevin Kalis, Macoy
Schwierjohann, Spencer Tollefson and
Trevor Tracy. Tollefson, who averaged a
team-high 18 points last year, is playing at
Rochester Community College.
Among the returning letterwinners is
Oakley Baker, a 6-foot-5 junior with 880
career points who averaged 15 points and five
rebounds last season.
Also back are John
Cole, a 6-6 senior
guard/forward;
Tyler
Raimann, a 6-7 junior
center;
and
Chad
Agrimgon, a 6-0 junior
Churchill
guard.
Also expected to contribute this year are seniors Luke
Overgaard (5-11 guard), Tyler Schlaak (63 forward), Dempsey Tucker (6-0 forward)
and Cole Ignaszewski (6-0 forward), juniors Jason Jongbloedt (5-11 guard) and
Jack Schultz (6-0 forward), and sophomore Benji Lundberg (5-9 guard).
“We expect to be competitive in a very
tough conference,” said Churchill, who’s
assisted by Chad Buendorf, Isaiah
Lundberg and Cory Camerer. “We lost
four three-year starters and realize we
don’t have a lot of experience, but we feel
we have a lot of potential and feel we will
be in the thick of things at the end of the
year.”
The key to success for the Panthers,
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
NRHEG Boys’ Basketball
Conference: Gopher
Section: Section 2AA, South Sub-Section
Coaches: Head coach Pat Churchill, 6th year, 70-62 career
record. Assistant coaches Chad Buendorf, Isaiah Lundberg,
Cory Camerer
Last year: 9-3 conference, 23-5 overall
Key losses: Kevin Kalis, Macoy Schwierjohann, Spencer
Tollefson, Trevor Tracy
Key returnees: Four letterwinners: Oakley Baker (2-time allconference, 890 career points), John Cole, Chad Agrimson,
Tyler Raimann
Next home game: Bethlehem Academy Dec. 4
Key dates: Dec. 11 at Maple River; Jan. 7 at WEM; Jan. 16 vs.
USC; Jan. 26 vs. Maple River; Feb. 4 vs. WEM; Feb. 12 at USC
Coach’s comment: “We expect to be competitive in a very
tough conference.”
“We feel we have a lot of potential and feel
we will be in the thick of things at the end of the
year.”
— Coach Pat Churchill
according to Churchill, is to avoid injuries
and develop their backcourt players.
Look for them to run a motion offense
with constant movement and screening.
Churchill likes man-to-man defense but is
not opposed to an occasional zone.
WEM, Maple River and USC are
expected to be strong in the Gopher
Conference, according to Churchill, who
likes WEM, Maple River and GlencoeSilver Lake in Section 2AA.
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Thursday, December 3, 2015
5
2015-16 NRHEG
Boys’ Basketball
Date
STANDING TALL – Returning NRHEG boys’ basketball letterwinners are, from left: Chad Agrimson, Oakley
Baker, Tyler Raimann and John Cole.
Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens
Opp. Time
at RW Valley 6:00
Nov. 21
Dec. 1
at LeSueur-H 7:30
Dec. 4
Bethlehem Acad. 7:15
at Kenyon-W 7:15
Dec. 7
Dec. 8
St. Clair 7:15
Dec. 11
at Maple River 7:15
Dec. 15
Tri-City United 7:15
Dec. 18
at Medford 7:15
Dec. 22
Blooming Pr. 7:15
Jan. 2
Hayfield 7:30
Jan. 7
at WEM 7:15
Jan. 12
at Blooming Pr. 7:15
Jan. 16
USC 7:15
Jan. 18
JWP 7:15
Jan. 19
Blue Earth Area 7:30
Jan. 22
at Beth. Acad. 7:15
Jan. 26
Maple River 7:15
Jan. 28
at Triton 7:15
Jan. 29
Medford 7:15
Feb. 4
WEM 7:15
Feb. 9
Waseca 7:15
Feb. 12
at USC 7:30
Feb. 15, 18, 23, 26, 29 Section
March 4
Section
March 9-12
State
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Thursday, December 3, 2015
Wrestlers remain in
good hands with Larson
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
There may have been some who
feared for the future of the NRHEG
wrestling program when longtime head
coach Paul Cyr retired a few years ago.
But they shouldn’t have worried.
Cyr’s hand-picked successor, Shawn
Larson, has done well at the helm for the
Panthers, who last year won the Gopher
Conference championship at 5-0 and finished 16-9 overall after running into
perennial powerhouse Jackson County
Central in the Section 2A finals.
Despite graduating some talented individuals, as usual, the Panthers are looking for another successful season led by
a slew of returning letterwinners.
The graduates included state entrants
Dillon Kubiatowicz and Todd Erickson
along with varsity veteran Nick
Bartness. Also graduating: Keith Maxon,
Jet Wayne, Alex Merritt, Cole Lenort,
Matt Jensen.
The returnees include seniors Cordell
Peterson, a multi-state tournament qualifier, and senior Wyatt Fitterer, who’s
hoping for a return to state for the first
time since 2013. Also back are senior
section finalist Trey Hoppe and all-conference honorable mention wrestler Cole
Staloch, a sophomore.
Seniors Palmer Peterson and Zeke
Erickson are the captains.
Also on the varsity roster are seniors
Lucas Herrmann, Jon Weller, Trai Wicks
and Karter Sletten, sophomores Brett
Kubiatowicz, Chad Erickson and Bryce
Okland, freshmen Ross Lenort, Tyler
Jacobson and Alex Buckmeier, eighthgrader Andrew Bailey, along with
Andrew Reich and Miguel Martinez.
The returners include six of the 14
wrestlers who competed at the Section
2A individual tournament.
“We hope to have a solid showing this
season,” said Coach Larson.
In order for that to happen, the coach
is looking for big things
from a number of
varsity
unproven
wrestlers.
“This year, more than
others in our recent
past, we will be counting on the young athletes to contribute more
Larson
than many expect them
to,” said Larson. “We graduated eight
seniors, each of whom competed in the
section team and individual tournaments. The young Panthers will be following the lead of some of the senior
wrestlers that have had success and are
expecting to keep up with what they
have been able to do recently.”
As usual, the Panthers will spend
much of the early season searching for
their most effective lineup. They aim to
be at the top of their game in February
and be a factor in a newly-aligned
Section 2A, where Larson lists KenyonWanamingo and Lake Crystal-Wellcome
Memorial as the favorites.
“Both of those teams had great seasons last year, though the edge in my
opinion goes to Kenyon-Wanamingo,
because of the team they are returning
from last season,” said Larson.
And the Gopher Conference?
“It appears that Maple River and
JWP/WEM are favored,” said Larson.
“We hope to be a factor, though it most
likely could be either one of those
teams.”
After opening the season Nov. 28 at
Rochester John Marshall, the Panthers
host Blooming Prairie Thursday, Dec. 3
and embark to some new destinations
this season, including Lake Mills, Iowa
and a return to the Swalla Duals in
Kasson. Also included is a trip to the
two-day Redwood Riot in December, a
tournament that includes more than 25
teams. NRHEG also expects to see several top teams at St. James.
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
NRHEG Wrestling
Conference: Gopher
Section: 2A
Coaches: Head coach Shawn Larson, 3rd year as head
coach; assistants Nathan Jensen & Tim Bartness
Last year: 1st in Gopher Conference (5-0), 16-9 overall, lost
in section finals
Key losses: Nick Bartness, Todd Erickson, Dillon
Kubiatowicz
Key returnees: Cordell Peterson (state entrant), Wyatt
Fitterer (2013 state entrant), Trey Hoppe (section finalist),
Cole Staloch (all-conference honorable mention)
First home date: Dec. 3 vs. Blooming Prairie
Key dates: Dec. 18-19 at Redwood Riot; Jan. 7 vs.
WEM/JWP
Coach’s comment: “This year, more than others in our
recent past, we will be counting on the young athletes to
contribute more than we expect them to.”
SIGHTS ON STATE — Cordell Peterson, top, is one of two NRHEG
wrestlers seeking a return to the state tournament.
Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
Thursday, December 3, 2015
7
VETERAN MATMEN – Returning letterwinners for NRHEG wrestling include, front from left: Tyler Jacobson, Ross Lenort, Brett Kubiatowicz, Trey
Hoppe, Cordell Peterson and Bryce Okland. Back: Jon Weller, Chad Erickson, Cole Staloch, Palmer Peterson, Zeke Erickson, Lucas Herrmann, Wyatt
Fitterer and Karter Sletten.
Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens
2015-16 NRHEG Wrestling
Date
Opponent
Nov. 28
at Rochester JM
Dec. 3
Blooming Prairie
Dec. 5
at St. James Classic
Dec. 10
at Pine Island
Dec. 17
at United South Central
Dec. 18
at Redwood Riot
Dec. 19
at Redwood Riot
Jan. 7
WEM/JWP
Jan. 9
at St. Clair Invitational
Jan. 14
at Blue Earth Area
Jan. 14
Waseca at Blue Earth
Jan. 16
at Lake Mills Invitational
Jan. 21
Zumbrota-Mazeppa at Hayfield
Jan. 21
at Hayfield
Jan. 23
at Kasson-Mantorville Inv.
Jan. 29
at Maple River
Jan. 30
at Lakeville North Invitational
Feb. 5
Medford
Feb. 11
Section team at high seed
Feb. 13
Section team at USC
Feb. 19
Sect. individual at Blue Earth
Feb. 20
Sect. individual at Blue Earth
Feb. 25-27
State
Time
9 a.m.
7 p.m.
10 a.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
4 p.m.
9 a.m.
7 p.m.
10 a.m.
TBD
TBD
10 a.m.
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
9 a.m.
7 p.m.
9 a.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 noon
4 p.m.
11 a.m.
TBA
8
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Star Eagle WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
WINTER CHEERLEADERS
NRHEG sideline cheerleaders for the 2015-16 winter season are, front from left: Abby Christopherson, Laura Worrell, Torrie Stencel, Nicole Edon,
Taytum Ihrke, Hailey Westrum, Taylar Tieskotter, Lizzy Hagen. Back: Corrie Powell, Brianna Podratz-Waters, Bayli Possin, Abby Wacholz, Jessica Nafe,
Submitted photo
Tali Wayne, Grace Lewison.