Ferber’s coaching career concludes

By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

Too often, an athlete's lackluster performance at the state level takes away from an already stellar season.

"It is a great accomplishment to be able to compete at the highest level in high school sports," said NRHEG track and field coach Duey Ferber.

He would know.

For 34 seasons, he's been the head track coach in New Richland, and is the school's longest-tenured employee.

That coaching career came to an end last week as the Panthers' three entrants came home from St. Michael-Albertville without a medal.

But, it's not lost on Ferber that simply getting to state is a fantastic feat, and he praised the Panthers' effort.

"The girls tried their best against amazing competition!" said Ferber.

Evelyn Nydegger, a recent NRHEG graduate, finished 18th in the Class A 300-meter intermediate hurdles prelimary, and caused some

genuine concern when she had trou- ble with the final hurdle and col- lapsed at the finish line.

Ferber said that Nydegger, who suffers from Tourette Syndrome, sustained an attack late in the race, dashing any hopes of making the finals.

Quinn VanMaldeghem, who just completed her sophomore year, was the next Panther to see her season end as she finished 15th in the 400 preliminaries with a time of 1:00.11.

The Panthers' final performer - and Ferber's final track and field athlete, was recent graduate Malonna Wilson, who a week earli- er was the Section 2A champion in the shot put. She took 15th at state with a toss of 35 feet, 6 inches.

A week earlier, the Panther girls had an exceptional showing in the section meet, finishing third as a team.

"To send three girls to state is quite a feat," said Ferber. "This is a tough section!"

For Ferber, it's been a long and distinguished coaching career.