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

Brenlee Knudson stands on second base during the Panthers loss to LCWM Thursday, May 26, 2022. Knudson recorded one of only two Panther hits.

Ava Kyllo collects herself after a minor collision with a LCWM runner.

 

By: Eli Lutgens

Publisher/Editor

It was all smiles after the opening round of the section 2AA playoffs for the NRHEG softball program after its 12-0 five inning win over St. Clair/Loyola Monday, May 23, 2022.

The Panthers scored early, and often with the first inning beginning and ending with senior Ava Kyllo batting, as the team batted around. 

The first five hitters for the Panthers all singled, (Ava Kyllo, Sidney Schultz, Faith Nielsen, Sophie Stork) with RBIs going to Faith Nielsen, and Brenlee Knudson, and later in the first to Preslie Nielsen. Brenna Sommer also singled and scored in the inning which had the Panthers leading 6-0 going into the second.

Stork was solid again from the hill, striking out five, walking one, and only allowing two hits in the five inning shutout. 

The Panthers put an exclamation point on this game after Stork hit the team’s second home run of the season, a 2-run shot over the left centerfield wall in the bottom of the second. 


FINAL TIME - Seniors Alex Dobberstein and Walker Thompson embrace during their final home game. 

            Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak

By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor

On a cold and rainy Wednesday night, the NRHEG Panther football team ended its regular season with an exclamation point, defeating Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 42-0 to earn the fifth seed in section playoff rankings and a  rematch with St. Clair Tuesday, Oct. 26, to open the playoffs. The winner plays Saturday at 7 p.m.

Wednesday’s game paired two rival schools which had not shared a field together since 2018. Fans may remember the walloping the Panthers gave the Buccaneers in the playoffs that year, 46-6, to earn a state playoff appearance. But what they might not know is that Wednesday’s win was the first regular season win against the rival school since 2016. 

The scoring started early for the Panthers when, in the first quarter, Sawyer Prigge got behind the WEM defense to catch a Tryone Wilson pass for a 44-yard score. It was the first of only two passes completed in the entire game as rain played a big part in the game. 

Both two teams combined for six fumbles, with four happening in the first quarter alone.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Buccaneers fumbled the Ben Schoenrock kick, which was scooped up by Andrew Phillips and returned 20-yards the other way for a Panther touchdown. 

INTRO - Senior Sophie Stork high fives teammates as she is introduced. 

Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak

The Panther spikers concluded its regular season Tuesday night, Oct. 19, defeating Maple River three games to one. 

Game one saw the Panthers start off on the wrong foot, falling 25-21. Following the first game setback, the Panthers rebounded to win the following three games by scores of: 25-16, 25-11, and 25-23. 

“We gave away too many points from our errors,” NRHEG head coach Onika Peterson said. “The girls started off slow, but finished strong.”