A couple of weeks back I was having coffee with some friends and one of them asked if I remembered the “free shows” that a lot of small towns around the area put on many years ago. I told him I did indeed remember those times. The thought of those days gone by brought back many memories of my youth and when we attended those free shows. My Aunt Violet and Uncle Oliver lived in Twin Lakes and when the free show was held in Twin Lakes they would be held right in their front yard. I can remember anxiously looking forward to those warm summer nights and the fun of watching a movie on an outdoors screen. There would usually be a popcorn vendor who accompanied those shows, and a nickel would buy you a bag of that popcorn. It just wouldn’t be a movie without popcorn.

If I remember correctly, those shows were usually held on a Saturday night. Emmons would also host a free show, but not at the same time as the one in Twin Lakes. I think they alternated from town to town so everyone had a chance to host it. The one in Emmons was on the northwest corner if you turned north going toward the school.

When the movie in Twin Lakes was shown on my uncle’s front yard, it was right next door to the local beer joint (it’s what they were called in the day), so some of the adults would frequent that establishment while the kids and others watched the movie. What a great way for a kid to spend a summer evening! I can remember going to Bath for a movie, which I believe was on a Sunday night, but I don’t think we stayed for the whole thing because my dad had to get up for work the next morning.

In those days we didn’t have a lot of money for extras, but my dad always had horses and he also liked westerns with John Wayne being his favorite actor. One Saturday night my dad said we were going to the Starlight Drive-in movie theater, which I don’t believe had been open all that long. I can remember looking forward to my first drive-in movie and how excited I got when my mother popped up a big bag of popcorn to eat while we watched the show. As my dad drove our old ‘48 Buick, I stood up behind the back seat anticipating the big event. As we neared the drive-in, he turned down a gravel road behind the Starlight and parked on the crest of a hill. He sounded pleased with himself as he proclaimed we could see the screen perfectly, and it actually wasn’t a bad view; but where was the sound?

I have occasionally thought about that night, but I’ve never really tried to overanalyze it. I do wonder, though, if we were really that poor or if my dad was just trying to see how enjoyable watching a movie from atop a nearby hill would be? I can’t really remember if the movie was a John Wayne, Hopalong Cassidy or Cisco Kid movie, but I do remember the hero wore black clothes and the usual white hat; I’m sure my dad could have told you about every horse in the movie. Although my mom and dad grew up with silent movies, it just wasn’t the same to a kid when there was no sound.

I haven’t heard much about the fishing on our area lakes, but I do know the crappie bite has been pretty good on Hall Lake in the Fairmont area. From what I’ve been hearing, the area by the beach on Fountain has been giving up a few sunfish, perch and crappie, but not much size. With the approach of warmer weather, I don’t know what the next few weeks will have in store. If a person wants a little open water fishing, a drive east to Lanesboro could be productive if you want to do a little trout fishing. The stream trout season in the southeastern part of the state is catch-and-release only and runs until April 15.

Tax time provides opportunity to help wildlife

Line 21 of the Minnesota income tax form – marked by a loon – provides people with an opportunity to help more than 800 species of nongame wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. When taxpayers designate an amount they would like to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Program, their tax-deductible donations are matched 1:1 by state conservation license plate funds.

“The Nongame Wildlife checkoff offers a rare opportunity to direct funding to something we all care about,” said DNR Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor Carrol Henderson. “It’s an investment in a future where kids can still chase a frog or a snake through the grass, hear a loon at night or see a bald eagle – in person or on a webcam.”

For more information on the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, its success stories and ways to volunteer and donate, visit the nongame page.

Until next time, enjoy the outdoor rinks, sledding and fishing our area lakes, but always be careful when you decide to venture out because no ice is ever 100 percent safe.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, not only during the holiday season, but for the rest of the year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Water is something to think about. We need a lot of it – but not just any water. Am I the only one who finds that “city water” leaves a bad taste in their mouth? What is in that water?

Bottled water seems to be an answer, but what does that plastic container contribute to our welfare?

My sister, Kaye, has a friend who told her a true story about her mother. Her mother had suffered terribly with varicose veins, had a heart condition, took pills by the quantity and had been told by her doctor there was nothing he could do to help her. She could only wish that she could die to relieve her suffering.

Then her sister from Oklahoma came for a visit and after she heard about her doctor’s comment and said, “Your blood vessels are clogged and hard, and, yes, you are going to die.”

She advised her to get a machine and start distilling the water she was drinking and using in food preparations.

My sister’s friend decided to do as suggested. What did she have to lose? She went to the store and bought a distiller.

To make a long story short, during a visit my sister had at her friend’s house, she was able to meet her mother. She showed Kaye she no longer had varicose veins. She also told her she did not have to take all the pills that she had been taking, nor did she have a heart condition.

She went on to inform Kaye that the added benefit of drinking and using distilled water was unbelievable!

She found that coffee made with distilled water tasted better. She had always canned her own foods in glass, but now that she was using distilled water, the result was unbelievable. When she entered her canned foods in contests, they tasted and looked so good; they won many awards.

No wonder her daughter got a distiller and started using only distilled water. Her health and life were worth it.

While I was at the Steele County Fair this past year, I stopped to look at a booth demonstrating distillers. A man came up and said to the lady working the stand, “That is why my wife is alive today,” and went on to share a story so similar to what my sister’s friend had told her.

He said, “If you don’t believe me, go down and talk to her. Don’t tell her you talked me, just listen. Your health and well-being are worth any positive action you can take.”

My mother has also found the benefits of using vinegar in her life.

She first learned about the benefit of vinegar when my grandmother used vinegar to help her when she had “croup.”

She also learned vinegar was also a good thing to wash fruit and vegetables. It helps minimize the dangers of chemicals. Granted, food grown in tainted soil can’t be cleaned away by washing it.

Vinegar can also be used as a disinfectant. It can also be used when  doing the laundry, cleaning, or whatever. Ordinary vinegar works for most things we have in our lives.

We also have to be aware that though room airsprays smell good, they may have chemicals that aren’t so good. Maybe is it time we start spraying the air in our homes with vinegar. The smell won’t linger, but it is cheaper and better than store bought items and it really does refreshes the air.

I am so happy with my beautiful, wonderful grandchildren. But it hurts me to think about the world we are putting them into. Hopefully, they will find the way out of the mess we have made of the “good life.”

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do!

— — —

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about those important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like to include, or news to share, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035; or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, February 25th: Berniece Farr Mattson, Coltan Hagen, Brad Hagen, LuAnn Miller, Sherri Larson Fritz, Steve & Vicky Dobberstein

• Friday, February 26th: Sharon Menefee, Shawn Jensen, Becky Lassahn, Ray Coxworth, Ginger Cornelius, Mary Lou Spurr, Chris Sauke, Mike Glynn, Jeff & Robin Christensen, Joel & Peg Radjenovich

• Saturday, February 27th: Steve Pence, Jean Anderson, Garry Nordhorn, Doris Rasmussen, Journey Churchill-Malcolm, Erik Cooper, John Olson, Jayden Dakota Tonkins, Nancy Ingvaldson, Daryl Van Ravenhorst

• Sunday, February 28th: Troy Utpadel, Neil Pence, Jackie Miller, Steve Engel, Dan Nesdahl, Bennett Dobberstein, Atom Oquist, Sharese Lehmberg, John Marlin, Gerry Flim, Michelle Nelson, Michael Nelson, Tyler Titus, Tiffany Mischke, Michael Coy, Jim & Diane Butler

• Tuesday, March 1st:  Dan Nelson, Arlen Brekke, Chet Alan Hansen, Jordon Cook, Rick Loberg, Sara Ihrke, Duane Reichl, Nicole Farr, Emily Ayers, Paula & Richard Conroy  

• Wednesday, March 2nd: Willard Christenson, Wilfred Christenson, Laurie Jensen, Angie Hagen Rasmussen, Joanne Kaiser, Roger Langlie, Casey Lyman, Abner Smith, Alexis Elizabeth Klocek, Ronnie & Marcia Hutchins, Paul & Kathy Underland

• Thursday, March 3rd: Jeff Lageson, John Crabtree, Valerie Tobiason Quiring, Maurine Larson, Frank Thompson, Bill Draayer, Terri Jensen, Darlene Christensen, Charlie Hanson, Jessica Tufte, Terri Miles, David Underland, Darren & Christine Hanson, Angie & Jeff Rasmussen, Nicole & Nathan Milender

May all the good wishes that you receive on your special day bloom in your heart and bring you joy!

Five years ago we attended a wedding in Algona, Iowa where all the male participants wore flip-flops. The reception was held at the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg, Iowa. While there, I filled out a form and the casino gave me a deck of cards.

Just before my birthday, I got a nice letter from the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg stating they missed me, as I hadn’t been there since my first time there five years ago.

The letter went on to say if I would come back on a certain date, they will provide a free buffet meal to me and a guest of mine.

All of my fellow Norwegians (plus most of the rest of you) know a true Norwegian will travel miles for a reduced price meal. If the meal is free we will really travel miles – like about 110 miles to Emmetsburg. Genie and I did just that and enjoyed a very good meal – even coconut cream pie with a marshmallow sundae on the side.

As we entered the restaurant we were told that because they expected 105 birthday invitees plus guests, they would like us to sit with people we didn’t know. Genie and I said O.K.

We were escorted to a table of six. After sitting down, we introduced ourselves to the other two couples. Both couples said they were from Iowa. Genie replied that she was originally from Clear Lake, Iowa. One man said he was originally from Clear Lake also.

The conversation was very interesting between them. He lived on a farm, Genie lived in town, as they both attended and graduated from Clear Lake High School (Genie was three classes ahead of him). They both left Clear Lake for further schooling. Both of them came back to Clear Lake to get married at the same Lutheran church by the same pastor. Both left Clear Lake because of their jobs.

I learned two things from all this:

1. Small World!

2. There is no free buffet, as I counted how much money I had as we left the casino versus how much I had when we entered.

Time for 10 short shorts:

1. What appears on the lower left hand corner of the Star Eagle newspaper front page?

2. When the politicians left Iowa, the temperature dropped 18 degrees. (The politicians took all their hot air with them.)

3. Presidential caucus summary in Iowa: “You think the only good candidate is the one you voted for, but you’re not certain.”

4. “Charter” is now “Spectrum” for most area cable TV customers.

5. When was the last time you saw a jackrabbit in Southern Minnesota?

6. A little more than 9,000 people entered the ice fishing contest on Gull Lake outside of Brainerd, Minnesota in February.

7. A flock of (about 20) robins is hanging around Good Samaritan Center just north of Albert Lea.

8. A flock of (about 30) mourning doves is hanging around Betty and Bob’s (as you drive into the Albert Lea Dump – the place on your left).

9. Duane Aitchson has been seen hanging around Beaver Lake a lot since February 2, 2016. (He believes the groundhog).

10. If you don't know the name Carlie Wagner, you don’t know NRHEG land.

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.

Echoes From the Loafers’ Club Meeting

The cherry pie is so good, I hid a slice.

You work here. Aren’t you being a little selfish?

No, I’m being a piece-keeper.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: Everything is never hunky-dory. There are few things that last longer than a temporary measure instituted by a government. I’d see more of the world if it were closer to home.

The cafe chronicles

The table of infinite knowledge gathered its members.

One of the group had lost a considerable amount of weight. His pants had become so big for him, it took him 10 minutes to sit down. The weather had been tougher than the steak special.

Even though he looked good in gravy, he ordered a cut of pork and drumsticks. Bacon and legs.

Sax-Zim Bog pasties

I spoke at the Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Festival in Meadowlands, Minnesota. It was a frigid, feathered, February frolic. Meadowlands, population 134, is located in St. Louis County, about 45 minutes from both Duluth and Virginia. Sax-Zim Bog is a birding hotspot and a well known wintering area for owls.

I stayed with wonderful friends, David and Helen Abramson, who are as good as people get. My car’s thermometer read —27 degrees as I headed out to go birding. A friend told me that his cellphone’s weather app showed —31.

Apparently, that wasn’t cold enough for me, as I birded the shore of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world and a giant ice cube maker. Superior is the coldest, deepest and highest in elevation of any of the Great Lakes. It doesn’t often freeze over completely — the last time was 1996. Lake Superior could hold more water than found in all the other Great Lakes combined. Lake Superior is the size of South Carolina. A drop of water entering Lake Superior stays, on average, 191 years before leaving.

I devoured a pasty (PASS-tee) in Meadowlands. I have a fondness for the Cornish pasty that originated as a portable meal for Cornwall's miners who worked in dark, damp, underground mines. The traditional pasty had a filling of meat and potatoes at one end and apples and spices at the other. It was a main course and dessert in one. The crimp along the edge wasn’t meant to be eaten. It was a convenient handle that was useful when there was little clean water to wash hands before eating. It was grasped for eating and then thrown away. One end of the pasty was marked so that the miner wouldn't eat the dessert first. The miners reheated the pasties on shovels held over the candles that were worn on their hats. A pasty differs greatly from the sandwiches I typically make for myself. When I was a boy, I made a cheese (Velveeta) and/or sausage sandwich and stuffed it into my pocket. That added vitamin-enriched pocket lint to my diet. I cut the sandwich in half. I never cut one diagonally. That made too many sharp points. I could put an eye out. There are enough sharp points in the world without adding more.

Enjoying the day

Cold can devour patience with a ruthless carelessness. Dressing for it takes time. I put them on to go outside. Then I took them off when I came back into the house. I needed to put them on again to go back outside. I rebooted.

The wind was so strong that a friend, Greg Recknor, said that he needed to park his vehicle in a certain direction in order to open its door.

As Yoda said, "Do or do not, there is no try."

I enjoy the weather without even trying. It’s my day.

Nature notes

"How do birds keep their feet from freezing?" Even insulated footwear doesn’t always keep our feet warm, but avian feet are primarily made up of tendons, ligaments and bone. There isn’t much muscle, nerves and blood. Feet covered with scales are less susceptible to freezing. The proximity of veins and arteries creates a heat exchange in their legs. Birds are able to constrict the muscles in their legs to pump warmer arterial blood into their feet. A bird can stand on one foot, heating the other foot in the warm downy feathers of its body. Birds don't need to keep their feet as warm as we do ours. Above freezing will suffice.

Meeting adjourned

Be happy you are grateful. Be grateful you are happy. Be kind.

I’m tired. Very, very tired. We’ve reached the end of our junior high basketball season, a grueling road that started back in November and has finished off 22 games and numerous practices later.

I knew I wanted to coach when I logged all those hours on the bench back in my varsity sports days. I learned so much by watching the games from that vantage point and listening to my coaches discuss strategy. Interacting with various coaches while in college only added to my budding knowledge base.

By the time I hung up my whistle this year, I had coached basketball for a total of 20 seasons. I had three different teams in college, spent 11 years coaching junior high at NRHEG before stepping back for a couple years, worked with my daughter’s grade for four years of elementary basketball, and have now finished off two more years in junior high as Jayna and her teammates get ready to move on to high school basketball.

And I’m done. I still love the coaching experience, but it’s becoming more and more exhausting the older I get. Every coach I know puts all of himself or herself into the job, and I’m no exception. My sleeping habits during the season probably mimic other coaches as well; they’re not very consistent, depending on how the game went that night or what’s coming up the next day.

Even though I had figured this would be it before the season began, my decision was confirmed by seeing the excellent job Kate Quam did in her first year of coaching with me. It’s rare to see someone with such a natural gift to relate to kids in conjunction with the knowledge and skills to push those kids to a new level in that sport. I know that the girls I coached this season will be in good hands next year, as well as other girls moving their way up through the program.

The program is the key. We’ve built a basketball program here at NRHEG that is envied around the area. I actually had a rival coach ask me how much pressure we have as coaches to win. I was a little shocked by the question because the answer is none. The only pressure with wins and losses comes from me and my players, who are motivated to succeed.

I like to look at the program in three-year chunks. For example, when I look at my daughter’s group, I also look at the team ahead and the team behind them and try to envision who will remain on varsity and how that combined group will look. That’s a little difficult at times because you’re never quite sure who will still be there, but there are some kids that you feel you can count on all the way through.

And that future is bright. I see the talent in these three-year groupings that, if they continue to work on their games, will be very competitive for years to come, going all the way down to our youngest levels. Success begets success, and when younger kids see the teams ahead of them having fun and winning ballgames, they are motivated to do the same.

I’ve poured my heart and soul into our girls’ basketball program over all these years. I used to think I would want to coach varsity at some point, but that idea left my head long ago. Working with the younger levels has been so rewarding without all the outside pressure that goes with a high school job. Whatever my legacy is remains unimportant to me. Over these 20 seasons, I’ve coached around 200 unique individuals. I hope that most of those kids have found those seasons to be a good experience; you never get 100% satisfaction, but hope for a high number.

Those coach/player relationships can be special. It’s so different from the teacher/student relationship because you have kids going into battle for you. When you get players to really buy into what you’re asking of them, it’s a great feeling. I’ve had so many seasons where my players will pop in most mornings just to talk hoops… and then they keep stopping by when the season is over.

It’s very cool that two of my former players are coaching in the system: Kate and our varsity coach, Onika Peterson. Every season I have given awards for defense and hustle players; it’s no coincidence that those two ladies are both former hustle award winners. Those are the kids who buy in and really get it. They give their all every moment of every practice and every game. They’re not always the most talented players, but they provide the intangibles that are associated with winning teams.

And I’ve been able to finish off with a team that has shown me those intangibles. Every game was difficult to pick out hustle winners because all my girls gave their all. If there’s a happy ending to coaching, it’s having a team like that. And I’m a pretty happy guy right now.

Word of the Week: This week’s word is Addisonian, which means having clarity and elegance, as in, “The coach was quite Addisonian during the game; the players understood everything he said and admired his confident stride along the sideline.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs may have been premature in their pronouncement that winter was on the ropes. Will the Weather Eye return to its former glory or will the scurs be making another parts run? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 30’s and lows in the low 20’s. Thursday, mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 20’s and lows in the upper teens. Partly sunny Friday with highs in the mid-30’s and lows in the upper 20’s. Saturday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 40’s and lows in the mid-20’s. Mostly sunny Sunday with a modest chance of snow. Highs in the upper 20’s with lows in the mid-teens. Monday, partly cloudy and warmer with highs in the mid-20’s and lows in the low single digits. Mostly sunny skies for Tuesday with highs in the low 20’s and lows in the upper teens. We will go over 11 hours of daylight on the 26th, with the sun rising before 7 a.m. on the 25th, and setting after 6 p.m. on the 29th. The normal high for March 1st is 33 and the normal low is 16. These temperatures compare to what we typically see around the end of November. The scurs are confident that March will most likely come in like a slightly chilled lamb.

A drastic change in the weather quickly melted much of our snow from about midweek until the present. While windy and cloudy conditions didn’t allow it to feel as warm as forecast, the snow cover has receded. Most  snow now resides in road ditches, windbreaks, and around building sites Presently by all calculations there is less than an inch of snow depth on average. Geese were seen overhead on the 18th and a mass exodus of fish houses from St. Olaf Lake was noted on the 19th. A robin was heard at the ranch on the 20th. Frost depth has begun to change as measured at the SROC. Last week it measured 13” and on Monday the 22nd, it had decreased to 11”. Grass under the snow still has a lot of green color to it in both the lawn and pasture at the ranch. It didn’t take long Monday morning and a few ewes decided it was green enough to be eating. That doesn’t take long, especially if it’s on the other side of the fence.

Shearing happened last Tuesday and came off without a hitch, although the older I get the longer it seems like it takes to get ready and clean up afterwards. Seems to be a pattern developing here. We had a great catcher and the shearer did his usual phenomenal job while we just tried to keep up with shots and pour on insecticide. Between the treatments and the cool weather this time of year, we haven’t seen anything resembling parasites and the animals generally have nice full fleeces. It’s probably been 45 years since I’ve seen a sheep tick. This was another year when the fleeces were lighter in weight than what we’d maybe like, but they were also extremely clean. There was very little in the way of foreign material in them and they were very white. All except the black/natural colored fleeces, of course. 

Lambing season started in earnest on the 22nd with two sets of twin buck lambs. It was gratifying after having a single buck lamb born dead the week before. One always worries with a start like that and it didn’t make matters any better to see a ewe starting Monday morning then quit. When she wasn’t doing anything at noon, my fears rose that it would be time to fish some dead lambs out of her during evening chores. Not to worry. Sometimes it’s best not to mess with Mother Nature and let things take their course. Fortunately this turned out to be one of those times.

Letting the dogs out and checking for lambs at night then doing chores in the early morning makes for some good yet quick stargazing. In the dark early morning, Venus remains very prominent low in the eastern sky. As one ventures out at 10-ish in the evening, Jupiter has reappeared in the eastern sky and is very bright. The Big Dipper too is apparent in the northeastern sky and the handle end is down. It’s heading towards its spring position though, where it is fabled that once it tips upside down, it empties its water upon the springtime landscape.

The warmer temperatures seem to meet with everyone’s approval. As if on cue after last week’s mention of the Full Raccoon Moon, raccoons and skunks have begun to stir. Warm temps have awoken them and they’re no doubt scrounging for food and perhaps places to raise a new brood. Driving past St. Olaf Lake Monday morning, there was already one raccoon fatality. A few miles up the road, a skunk was running down the middle of the Lake Road and took the first left past the golf course. He must’ve seen the road posting signs. 

Fudgie and Ruby of course have liked the warmer temps too, excelling at getting muddy from head to toe in a matter of minutes. Now that the ice patches have disappeared between the house and barn, it is a fast track for a Border Colllie. Fortunately it’s been freezing up overnight so the mud isn’t always a factor. Scraping the yard down as I did before shearing really helped keep things from getting too far out of hand in the ice department. After all, a little mud we can deal with; the ice we’d rather not. 

See you next week…real good then.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

NRHEG girls’ basketball fans were downright spoiled during Carlie Wagner’s tenure as a player.

But the post-Carlie era has not been bad.

The Lady Panthers finished regular season with wins over Bethlehem Academy and Triton, taking a record of 20-6 and a three-game victory streak into the sub-section tournament, where they’re seeded No. 2 behind Gopher Conference champion WEM. NRHEG finished 9-3 in conference play.

The Panthers open sub-section play Saturday, hosting No. 7 seed St. James (6-17) at 7 p.m. in New Richland. The winner plays Thursday, March 3 at 7:45 p.m. at Mankato East High School against No. 3 seed Blue Earth Area (14-9) or No. 6 seed Maple River (6-18). The winner there plays Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m. at Minnesota State-Mankato for the sub-section title. The section championship and state tournament berth will be determined Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. at MSU-Mankato.

The NRHEG boys’ basketball team defeated Blue Earth Area 58-38 Tuesday, Feb. 23 in opening-round sub-section tournament play in New Richland.

The third-seeded Panthers (17-9) play Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:45 p.m. at Mankato East High School against No. 2 seed WEM (22-3). The winner there plays for the sub-section title Monday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. at Minnesota State-Mankato. The section championship game is Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. at MSU.

Maple River (22-2) is the No. 1 seed in the south sub-section of Section 2AA. Belle Plaine (16-7) is the top seed in the north, followed by St. Peter (18-6), Norwood-Young America (17-7) and Jordan (15-8).

Peterson, Fitterer advance to state wrestling tournament

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

When the NRHEG wrestling squad was bounced from the Section 2A team tournament a week earlier, it was a little disheartening for coach Shawn Larson and the Panthers.

They made sure it didn’t happen a second consecutive weekend.

The Panthers wrestled tough in the Section 2A individual tournament at Blue Earth Friday and Saturday, advancing two individuals to state while coming home with 10 placewinners.

“Overall, this was our best performance of the year,” said Larson.

Advancing to state were seniors Cordell Peterson and Wyatt Fitterer.

MINNEAPOLIS — NRHEG’s Carlie Wagner hit the game-winning shot with .08 seonds left in overtime to lift the Gopher women’s basketball team to a 90-88 victory over No. 5 Ohio State on Wednesday night. It was the Gophers' first top-five victory in 11 years.

Rachel Banham put on another show in her final game at Williams Arena, scoring 35 points.

Wagner scored 26 , the last on a pullup from the baseline after Banham fouled out, and the Golden Gophers (19-9, 11-6 Big Ten) picked up a much-needed signature win to strengthen their case for an NCAA tournament bid.

''It was stressful,'' Banham told The Associated Press. ''It's hard watching from the bench when you want to be in. I felt like we had control in the overtime and I knew Carlie could make that shot. It was a different view sitting there and having to watch it. But I'm glad that we got it.''