NRHEG Sports (656)
The latest game results and prognostications for NRHEG.{jcomments on}
RUNNING STRONG — NRHEG’s Kyle Bayerkohler, right, battles a New Ulm runner at Waseca Friday. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys' track and field team opened the outdoor season with a pair of meets last week, finishing second in the Panther Invitational at New Richland Tuesday and fifth among seven teams at Waseca Friday.
Coach Duey Ferber was very pleased with the opener.
"We were very happy to get a meet in, considering lane eight still had a foot of snow on it," said Ferber. "The boys looked good. We were very pleased to take second place. We have a bunch of guys that really like to compete."
Albert Lea won the meet with 209 points. NRHEG had 86, Maple River 74, Medford 71, JWP 67, WEM 25 and LeCenter/Cleveland 19.
The Panthers, who had no first-place finishers, scored the bulk of their points with seconds and thirds.
NRHEG placewinners: Evan Ferber, second, triple jump, third, triple jump and third, 300 hurdles; Tyler Holz, second, pole vault; T.J. Schiltz, second, 3200; 4x200 relay, second (Ross Chester, Brian Billing, Geoff Ramaker, Hunter Eustice); 4x100 relay, second (Matt Webster, Ramaker, Ferber, Eustice); 4x800 relay, third (Webster, Kyle Bayerkohler, Karter Sletten, Schiltz); Ramaker, third, 100; Tyler Crabtree, third, discus and fifth, shot put; Bayerkohler, third, 400 and fourth, 800; Eustice, fifth, 100; Ryan Schlaak, sixth, pole vault; Chester, sixth, long jump; 4x400 relay, sixth (Brody Hansen, Sletten, Hans Frank, Raece Johnson).
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
You had to know it was only a matter of time before Jade Schultz would find the strike zone on a consistent basis.
The NRHEG freshman, who had bouts of wildness in her first two seasons pitching for the varsity, was on target as the Panthers opened the softball season with a pair of impressive wins last week. Schultz combined for 25 strikeouts and seven walks as NRHEG blanked Blue Earth Area 2-0 at Legion Field Tuesday and drilled Medford 10-0 at Ellendale Thursday.
Schultz threw a three-hit shutout at BEA. Sophomore Tara Simon had what coach Wendy Schultz called a spectacular game behind the plate, throwing out two baserunners.
Steph Root, a sophomore, had a standout game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three doubles and a run scored. Tori Raimann was 1-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases.
"It was a great team win," said Coach Schultz. "Steph had an excellent day hitting and Jade pitched well. I was very happy with the way the team played."
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It wasn't a strong start for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva baseball team, but it didn't take the Panthers long to right the ship.
After dropping a 6-2 nonconference decision to Blue Earth Area at Legion Field last Tuesday, NRHEG took it out on Medford with a 13-3, five-inning triumph on the Tigers' field Thursday.
Junior Matt Dahle provided the offensive highlights in the opener, going 3-for-3 with a double and one run batted in.
Cody Kraay, a senior, started on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and six walks. Junior Mitch Akemann took the loss, going the last three innings and giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits. Akemann fanned two and walked one.
"Kraay and Akemann threw well for the opener," said Panthers coach Jeff Reese.
NRHEG summer recreation practices and games will be held in the evenings again this year.
Most practices and games start at 6:15 p.m. There will be activities in New Richland, Hartland, Ellendale and Geneva. Practices will be held the first week of each session, with a game schedule to follow.
After the first week, the practice schedule will be determined by each individual coach.
If you have a child who is a preschooler (age 4 by June 1, or was in kindergarten this year, they will be playing T-ball.
First and second-graders will be playing baseball together.
The season for preschoolers, kindergarten, first and second grade will begin on June 13 and they will be playing for at least three weeks. More practices/games will be available depending on the coach and the team members.
HANDOFF — NRHEG’s Hailey Schuller, left, takes a handoff from Emily Habeck during a relay race Saturday at Minnesota State University, Mankato. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
The NRHEG track and field teams opened the season indoors Saturday with a five-team meet at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The girls had the better day for the Panthers, taking fourth with 81 points. Fairmont won with 194, USC/AC had 113, Albert Lea 93 and GFW 2.
Freshman Carlie Wagner picked up where she left off on the basketball court, taking first in four events including a school-record leap of 5 feet, 5 inches in the high jump. She also won the 55-meter hurdles (7.61 seconds), the 200 (28.22) and the 400 (61.6).
“Carlie had a “Wow!” meet,” said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber.
Danielle Krueger was second in the 800 in 2:37.
NRHEG High School winter sports award winners were announced at the annual ceremony. Boys’ basketball award winners are, front from left: Matt Nafe, Captains Award, MSHSL Gold Academic Award; Kyle Bayerkohler, Panther Award, MSHSL Gold Academic Award; and Brian Billing, Practice Player Award, MSHSL Silver Academic Award. Back: Hunter Eustice, Captains Award, Defensive Player of the Year, all-conference honorable mention, MSHSL Silver Academic Award; Matt Carlson, all-conference; and Evan Ferber, Most Improved, all-conference, MSHSL Silver Academic Award. (Star Eagle photos by Carol Jolly)
NRHEG High School winter sports award winners were announced at the annual ceremony. Girls’ basketball award winners are, from left: Kristina Cole, Most Valuable Player, Captain Award, all-conference, MSHSL Gold Academic Award; Carlie Wagner, Panther Award, all-conference, Gopher Conference scoring leader, MSHSL Gold Academic Award; Jade Schultz, all-conference; coach John Schultz, Anna Schlaak, Rebound Award, Captain Award, all-conference, MSHSL Silver Academic Award; Danielle Krueger, Practice Player Award; and Tori Raimann, Most Improved Player, MSHSL Silver Academic Award.
FIRST PLACE — Members of The Ghetto Cowboys prepare to start a game of dodgeball at NRHEG High School Saturday, March 12. The team won the Senior High/Adult Division title. From left: Matt Carlson, Chad Schlaak, Hunter Eustice, Jared Reyant, Cody Root and Tyler Sorenson. (Star Eagle photos by Jody Wynnemer)
WONDER BOYS — Pictured above are The White Wonders on the Junior High Division. Front from left: Jet Wayne, MaCoy Schwierjohann and Derek Stevens. Back: Spencer Tollefson, Keith Maxon, Todd Erickson and Hudson Mrotz.
BIEBER FEVER —Above is one of several teams to participate in the dodgeball tournament at NRHEG High School Saturday, March 12. From left: Kacie Phillips, Anna Schlaak, Kaylee Maxon, Harlee Vokoun, Tatum Wacholz, Alearah Neumann and Emily Light.
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Dodgeball fever struck the NRHEG High School gymnasium on Saturday, March 12, as a total of nine teams battled for bragging rights in their respective divisions.
The first-ever tournament was a fund raiser for the annual school’s Prom.
Five teams were entered in the Junior High Division with The White Wonders coming out on top. Members of the winning team included Keith Maxon, Spencer Tollefson, Derek Stevens, Hudson Mrotz, Todd Erickson, Jet Wayne and Macoy Schwierjohann.
Only four teams signed up for the Senior High/Adult Division. After the double-elimination brackets were concluded, The Ghetto Cowboys were crowned the champions. Members were Chad Schlaak, Hunter Eustice, Cody Root, Jared Reyant, Matt Carlson, Dustin Burshem and Tyler Sorenson.
There was a fair turnout of spectators to watch the tournament. Tournament chairman Anne Feist plans to have a second annual tourney next year.
“All in all, it was a success this year,” said Feist. “We grossed almost $600.”
6th-grade girls win second straight MYAS state title
Written by Jim Lutgens
BACK-TO-BACK! — The NRHEG sixth-grade girls’ basketball team won a second consecutive MYAS state championship March 5-6 in Bloomington. Front from left: Natalie Aaseth and Grace Johns. Row two:Maddie Wagner, Jennifer McKay, Aubrey Schlinger, Marnie Wagner, Gretchen Ramaker, Maci Surat and Kendra Raimann. Back: Samantha Herman, Macala Sundve, Jillian Jongbloedt, Kayley Camerer, Madison Martin and Mariah Navarez.
The NRHEG sixth-grade girls’ basketball team competed in the MYAS grade school tournament at Bloomington, MN on March 5 and 6th. They didn't know what to expect as they went from class 1A last year, which they won in some very close matches, but was moved up to class 4A this year. It is a pool of 16 teams, all from large schools.
On Saturday, they beat an excellent Winona team by the score of 34-26. They then went on to defeat Hopkins 37-15. Sunday they faced a great shooting team from White Bear Lake and pulled out a victory 40-35. They then met up with a fast team from Prior Lake in the championship game. It was quite a battle, but NRHEG was victorious by the score of 31-26.
NRHEG’s Dustin Esplan takes down Hayden Rouser during Class A 119-pound third-place bout at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Saturday. Esplan won the match 4-2 in overtime. (Star Eagle photo by Donna Bartness)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Five NRHEG individuals took high hopes to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament last weekend.
One brought home the glory.
Dustin Esplan surprised many — including himself — by winning the Class A bronze medal at 119 pounds.
“Dustin Esplan had a fabulous tournament, with the exception of his first-round match,” said Cyr. “He rebounded with four straight wins, three of which were against guys higher than him in the rankings.”
After being edged 9-8 by Justin Doerr of Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson — who went on finish sixth — Esplan went to work in the wrestlebacks, where he defeated Morgan Straton of Benson 12-3, Tanner Mills of Kimball Area 4-2 and Taner Trembley of Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial to reach the third-place bout. There, he upended Hayden Rouser of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 4-2 in overtime. Rouser had pinned Esplan in the Hutchinson tournament finals in January.
Esplan, a junior, finished the season with a 33-8 record.
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The shots weren’t falling for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team.
The Hayfield Vikings were another story.
Hayfield, the No. 3 seed in Sub-Section 2AA South, shot a lights-out 66 percent from the field in the second half and ended the season for No. 6 seed NRHEG 72-58 at Hayfield Tuesday night.
The Panthers, who won 11 of their final 13 regular-season games after starting 2-11, finished 13-13. Hayfield, which improved to 15-10, will face second-seeded Kasson-Mantorville Friday in the sub-section quarterfinals.
On Tuesday, the Panthers fell behind by 10 points early. They battled back to within five, but the Vikings held the ball for a minute and made the final shot to take a 31-24 lead into halftime.
“It seemed early when Hayfield got their 10-point lead, we missed four or five easy bunnies that for whatever reason didn’t go,” said NRHEG head coach Pat Churchill. “It was tough for us to climb out of that hole the rest of the night.”
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NRHEG girls take second in sub-section, finish 23-4
Written by Jim Lutgens
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It was ironic.
Statistics for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team were left at Minnesota State-Mankato after Monday night’s Sub-Section South 2AA Tournament finals.
All coach John Schultz had were what Blue Earth Area coach Al Cue sent him via e-mail. It was more than enough to tell the story.
BEA implemented a near-flawless game plan while the Panthers had their poorest performance of the season and lost, 39-34.
“Our offense went stagnant, but give credit to BEA’s defense and strategy,” said Schultz, whose team finished 23-4 overall. “We were sub-section runner-up and Gopher Conference champs. I am happy with our efforts last night and all season.”
You can talk about rebounding , turnovers, shots that failed to fall or bad bounces, but the most telling statistic Monday was at the free-throw line. The Panthers attempted only one. The Bucs were 14-for-22.
“Obviously, the free-throw line made a difference,” said Schultz.
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