NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

By DEB BENTLY

Staff Writer

Annabelle Petsinger remembers the moment vividly: “We were at the team sections,” she recalls. “And this guy yelled out, ‘Girls can’t wrestle.’ But there I was, shoving my opponent’s face into the mat.”

Petsinger, who won this year’s girls’ state wrestling championship in the 120-pound weight class, finished the 2022-23 regular wrestling season with an overall record of 22-13; her record against girls only was 14-1.

Just like this past season, her 13-year career has consisted mostly of wrestling males. However, things seem to be changing. The number of girls wrestling in the state has more than doubled in the past year, from about 250 to 540. Last year, 2022, saw the first-ever girls’ state wrestling tournament. This year saw expanded girls’ section competitions and, of course, the second state tournament.

NRHEG Wrestlers Annabelle Petsinger, Makota Misgen and Reese Routh competed in the 2023 MSHSL State tournament in St. Paul last weekend. Petsinger won in the 120 lb girls division. Misgen claimed third place in the Class A 285 lb bracket. Routh was simply excited to have been a varsity wrestler this season and surprised everyone, including himself, with his success. Star Eagle photos by Eli Lutgens

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

Subsection runners up, from left: student managers Syuzi Ghulinyan, Emmy Stadheim, Izley Boerner, coach John Schultz, Camryn VanMaldeghem, Gabrielle Schlaak, Quinn VanMaldeghem, Adalyn Stadheim, Sidney Schultz, Hallie Schultz, Faith Nielsen, Chloe Stork, Erin Jacobson, manager Tatum Smith Vulcan, Preslie Nielsen, coach Onika Peterson and Trinity Smith Vulcan.

Father daughter era concludes; Panthers graduate three seniors

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

The NRHEG girls' basketball underdog story came to an end Monday night in Mankato’s Taylor Center.

Top-seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial was just too tough.

LCWM, rated No. 3 in the state and riding a 20-game winning streak, ended the Panthers' season 68-33.

“LCWM has so many weapons in their arsenal, we had a tough time matching up against them,” NRHEG coach Onika Peterson said. “It seems like they couldn’t miss a basket and we struggled. We put ourselves in a hole and we couldn’t climb out of it. I wish the LCWM team the best of luck on Friday. I hope they can punch their ticket to the state tournament. They are a great team.”