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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Any time you start a wrestling dual meet trailing 36-0 after six matches, it's awfully tough to win.
That was the situation for the NRHEG Panthers last Thursday as they hosted Westfield.
While the Panthers wrestled well in the middle weights, a miraculous comeback was not in the cards as the visitors prevailed 48-30 in New Richland.
"The timing of this dual was tough for both teams," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson. "I do not believe that either team was at full strength, and that could make things definitely different. They have a good team and they came over with a lot of intensity, and deserved the win."
The Razorbacks pinned Charlie Tufte at 107 pounds and Dakota Schlaak at 114. The Panthers forfeited at 121 and 127 and, after a loss by fall for Parker Bunn at 133, NRHEG forfeited again at 139.
That's when the Panthers made it interesting - for a while anyway.
Deven Parpart scored a 42-second fall at 145, Reese Routh got a first-period fall at 152, Harbor Cromwell got a forfeit at 160, and Ryan Schlaak and George Roesler took first-period pins at 172 and 189, respectively, pulling the Panthers within 36-30.
The Razorbacks responded by pinning Cole Hutchens at 215 and Jace Ihrke at 285.
"We wrestled a decent match, although it will be better for us if we can get everyone competing at the same time," said Larson. "It is hard to win when there are so many forfeits."
The Panthers are home again Thursday, Feb. 1 with a triangular against WEM/JWP and St. Clair/Mankato Loyola. Wrestling starts at 5 p.m.
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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Coach Onika Peterson wasn't kidding when she said the NRHEG High School girls' basketball team was in for a tough stretch of games.
It finally ended last Friday when the Panthers defeated Bethlehem Academy on Senior Night in New Richland.
The rest of the week didn't go as well.
The previous Monday, the Panthers fell 65-55 at home to Tri-City United. They trailed 37-27 at halftime, and at one juncture rallied within one point.
"We put ourselves in a hole that we had to crawl out of," said Peterson. "We cut their lead to one, but never could get over the hump. I’m proud of this team’s second-half fight. We're looking to bounce back against a Gopher Conference foe tomorrow. It’ll be nice to have two days of practice after that. Having three games in a row vs. a couple really tough teams gets long."
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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
If you watched the pregame warmups in last Thursday's girls' basketball game between highly-touted Hayfield and NRHEG, you got the feeling it could be a long night for the Panthers. The Vikings didn't miss many shots.
It was the same way once the game started as Hayfield bolted to a 43-20 halftime advantage en route to a 75-59 decision in New Richland.
Hayfield, 15-2 overall and 4-0 in the Gopher Conference East, led by as many as 29 points in the first half.
"We put ourselves in a big hole in the first half being down by 23," said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson.
But it wasn't all the Panthers' fault.
"Hayfield could not have had a better first half," said Peterson. "They shot the ball extremely well with (Natalie) Beaver having 20 points in the first half alone. We got in a little bit of foul trouble and struggled offensively."
Despit that, Peterson was pleased with the Panthers' attitude in the second half.
"I am extremely proud of the team and their grit and guts that they showed in the second half," she said. "These are the games that they are going to remember. It is not fun to lose, but the effort and heart they put in the second half says a lot about this team and what we will accomplish this season."
Faith Nielsen led the Panthers in scoring with 23 points, adding 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Quinn VanMaldeghem contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
Also: Izley Boerner 3P, 1R, 2A; Hallie Schultz 2P, 5R; Camryn VanMaldeghem 7P, 2R, 4A, 1S, 2 blocked shots; Addy Stadheim 2P, 3R, 2A; Paige Nielsen 5P, 1R 1A; Kylie Olson 2P, 1R.
Coach Peterson said it was a good learning experience for the Panthers, who fell to 12-2 overall.
"I told the girls we are going to learn more from this loss than we would by beating someone by 40," said Peterson. "We have a couple of tough weeks ahead."
The Panthers, 3-0 in the Gopher Conference West, hosted JWP Tuesday. They play Friday at Blooming Prairie, Monday at home against TCU and Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Maple River.