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By ELI LUTGENS
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NRHEG wrestling coach Shawn Larson offered thanks and praise for the 2023-24 Panther squad at the annual winter banquet.
“Before I get into our season and our team, I want to congratulate and thank a lot of people here,” Larson began.
Larson thanked the other winter sports competitors, assistant coaches Nate Jensen and Dillion Kubiatowicz, videographer Daniel Petsinger, staff members Karla Christopherson, Teri Kormann, and Sue Kulseth, as well as Activities Director Dan Stork; NRHEG cheerleaders; the Wrestling Booster Club; and all others who help make NRHEG wrestling successful. Larson also thanked Erik Olson for “his willingness to do any job or work with any athlete” as well as Krey Cory and Lance Perkins for their work in the elementary program. Student helpers Winter Pederson, Aspyn Stenzel, Ciara Stenzel, and Zoe Wilson were also thanked.
“And last but not least by any means, I want to thank all of the parents and families who are involved with these kids,” Larson concluded. “Because you have to give up holidays… And kids will recall their weight when it's Christmas time, or Thanksgiving and things like that. You know, pretty much every Saturday from November to March, you're doing something. I really appreciate all the time and effort, and I mostly appreciate that you let me have time with your athletes. Thank you.”
Season recap
The Panthers finished their regular season with a poor team record due to injuries and had a bad matchup against Medford in the team section meet, losing in the first round.
“Our wrestlers had continued growth over the season and had some good things happen,” Larson said.
Most of those good things were significant individual accomplishments, including nine placewinners at the section tournament, one section champion, George Roesler, and two runners up, Annabelle Petsinger and Ryan Schlaak.
Last year’s state champion Petsinger ultimately suffered an injury at the state tournament and forfeited two matches. Larson stated she battled injuries all year long and showed tremendous character. Next year she will be wrestling at the college level for Iowa Central Community College.
Ryan Schllak had a fantastic run at the section tournament, but had two rough draws and lost both of his state tournament matches.
Roesler won two matches by fall in the state tournament, but lost in the “blood round” just barely missing out on a medal.
“The three wrestlers who competed at the state tournament should know they made the Panther Nation proud,” Larson concluded. “We are proud of you for representing NRHEG well.”
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By ELI LUTGENS
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The NRHEG boys' basketball team celebrated the end of a challenging season last Tuesday evening. Head coach Dan Schmidt started the program by thanking a lot of folks, including all of the coaches and the new “shot clock operators,” a first this year.
Despite the team’s few wins, Schmidt praised his players, highlighting their hard work and dedication.
“We battled injuries,” Schmidt said. “We had 62 missed player games.”
Schmidt recounted the team's three wins, including a win against a new Rochester team which was hosting its first-ever home basketball game.
Schmidt concluded. “I’d like to close by congratulating the girls’ basketball team, wrestling, and cheer squads on great seasons this year. You all represent the Panthers well.”
The following awards were handed out:
All-Conference Award (Second Team AC): Daxter Lee who finished in the top five in NRHEG school history in points, 3-pointers, steals, rebounds and assists. Lee will be playing basketball next year at the University of Dubuque in Iowa.
Most Valuable Player: Will Tuttle
Panther Award: Jared Lee
Most Improved: Greyson Schaefer
Defensive MVP: Tuttle
Sportsmanship Award: Jared Lee.
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By ELI LUTGENS
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Head coach Onika Peterson began the girls' basketball portion of the Winter Sports Banquet Tuesday night by thanking both office staffs, the bus drivers, custodians, Dan Stork, Joni Churchill and the cheerleaders, Mr. Schaefer and the band, student managers Meela Budach, Kyera Eustice, Kayden Warke, Hadley Roeker, Addison Sandry, and Peyton Frye, as well as the team’s bookkeeper, Mrs. Eder and Stork; all of the teams coaches at various levels, Dave Sandry, Jenny Wyrum, Heather Christensen, Cassie Schlaak, Betsy Schoenrock and Kayley Camerer.
“Thank you for all of your time and dedication you’ve given to our program,” Peterson said.
2023-24 Season
Coach Peterson gave a recap of the 2022-23 season:
For the third year in a row, the NRHEG girls' basketball team was defeated in the subsection championship game, this time by eventual section champions Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
The girls finished the year with a record of 20-8 losses, 11-5 in conference play, 7-3 within their division and 13-5 in their section.
“To finish this year 20-8 at MSU in the sub-section championship I think we surprised a couple of teams,” Peterson said. “We had a great season. Every single one of these girls were needed throughout the season whether they were the person who made the extra pass, rebounded, dove after loose balls, or battled in practice; it all added up for our team to be successful.”
The girls started the season with a 9-1 record going into their holiday tournament, which they also won.
Throughout the season the girls continued to improve and went into the playoffs 17-7 as the number two seed.
In the first two rounds of playoff play the girls beat Waseca at home 55-39 and St. Clair, at Mankato East 62-38. They ultimately lost to WEM, a team they beat twice during the regular season, 55-43. They simply fell in a hole that game, and despite getting the score to within six, couldn’t pull off the comeback.
“Throughout the whole season we talked about how tough our top teams were and how during the playoffs it could be anyone’s night,” Peterson said. “WEM ended up pulling off three upsets to get to the state tournament.
“I can’t say enough great things about this team, the effort, grit, and heart that they showcased all season long,” Peterson continued. “Through a broken tooth, sprained ankle, bruised knees they came back every day ready to battle. I am so proud of this group.”
Many players were recognized for their academic achievements, including: Ezra Boerner, Izley Boerner, Clara Buendorf, Savannah Farr, Faith Nielsen, Preslie Nielsen, Hope Nielsen, Kylie Olson, Chloe Riewer, Hallie Schultz, Addy Stadheim, Chloe Stork, Camryn VanMaldeghem, and Quinn VanMaldeghem. Recognized with the Gopher Conference Academic awards were also both Boerners, Buendorf, Preslie Nielsen, Olson, Riewer, Schultz, Stadheim, and Stork. Hallie Schultz was recognized with a MGBCA Academic All State Award for being a senior with a GPA of 3.75 or better.
Finally, the team bid farewell to its four seniors: Schultz, Faith, Preslie, and Hope Nielsen. “Thank you girls for a terrific couple of years,” Schultz said. “You will all be missed. Good luck with all your future plans. I know you are going to succeed at whatever you choose to do.”
Schultz took time to thank the players’ parents for all of the support they show to their own children and to the NRHEG basketball program. “I was blessed to have a great group of kids and that has everything to do with having solid and supportive parents.”