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TOUGH - Ethan Thompson blocking for Nash Howe.
Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
After back to back heartbreaking losses, the NRHEG football team straightened things out this week, in dominant fashion, defeating Medford 39-6.
“This game was critical to get back on track,” NRHEG head coach Marc Kruger said. “Medford is a tough team and I am very happy with the way we played.”
The Panthers struck first on an Andrew Phillips 16-yard run. Coming off a career day last week, Phillips again provided valuable carries, averaging more than 11-yards per run.
“I think our first drive on offense in general was huge,” Coach Kruger explained. “It set the tone of the game. Andrew Phillips' 60 plus yard run was huge.”
With a little more than one minute left in the first quarter Phillips struck again, this time from nine-yards out. The point after kick by Ben Schoenrock put the Panthers ahead 13-0.
Midway through the second quarter, the Panthers padded their lead on a 50-yard pass play. Coming off his first varsity start at quarterback, junior Charlie Nissen connected with senior Bo Budach for his first career touchdown pass. With the score the Panthers went into halftime with a 19-0 lead.
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READY - Panther runners competing in Waseca pictured above: Lexi McGannon, Annabelle Petsinger, and Torri Vaale.
Photos by Chris Schlaak
In their second to last regular season meet in Waseca on Oct. 7, the NRHEG Cross country teams were unable to compete at full strength. The boys finished last and the girls, without their top runner, were unable to field a full team.
Jordan won the meet with 41 points, followed by: Faribault, 59; WEM/JWP, 69; TCU, 90, Waseca, 105; NRHEG, 145.
The boys were led by 8th grader Devon Nelton, who ran his personal best time. After missing several weeks due to illness, Jacob Karl returned to form, finishing second among Panther runners.
“The boys team also had a good night, led by 8th grader Devon Nelton,” NRHEG coach Miles Otstot remarked. “It was nice to have Jacob back running at full strength.”
Individually for the Panther boys: Devon Nelton; 19:24, 20th place; Jacob Karl; 19:31, 22nd place; Conner Nelson; 20:24, 32nd place; Sam Christensen; 20:37. 34th place; Gavin Sletten; 20:53, 37th place; Eric Arvis; 21:08, 38th place.
Otstot had additional praise for the resilience among panther runners. “Conner Nelson came in third on the team following an outstanding final kick. Sam Christensen battled through a sore ankle and ran his second fastest time ever, finishing only a couple of seconds off his best time. Gavin Sletten was our final scorer of the night and also had a strong sprint to finish.”
For the lady Panthers, it was an unfortunate night.
“Our girls were missing a few runners and were unable to field a full team, but had strong performances from those who ran,” Coach Otstot said. “Torri Vaale ran her fastest race ever and just missed a medal finishing in 11th place.”
Petsinger also ran her fastest race of the year. Lexi McGannon was the only other Panther runner competing on the day.
Individually for the Panther girls: Torri Vaale; 21:50, 11th place; Annabelle Petsinger; 25:28, 24th place; Lexi McGannon; 29:23; 43rd place.
The NRHEG cross country team wrapped up their regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 12 in Freeborn. Up next the Panthers compete in a conference meet in New Richland, Oct. 19. The section tournament is in Blue Earth, Oct. 28.
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NRHEG clay target shooters, front row from left: Cade Meyer, Alexis Olson, Justin Beauvais, Wyatt Larson. Back row: Gage Heusinkveld, Aidan Schlaak, Ryan Schlaak. Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak
By DAN SORUM
Head coach
In the first week of competition shooting for the trapshooters of NRHEG the team found themselves in 3rd place amongst a tight pack of 5 squads. But, in Week 2 the team found a groove and moved up to first in what is still a tight conference. Only 600 points separate the Panthers from the team in 5th and with team scores that range in the upper 3000 to lower 4000 points per week this is still a race. Last week the team was led by junior Eva Wayne who led all shooters in the conference with a round of 49 out of 50 possible targets hit. In the second week it would be seniors Alex Dobberstein and Clay Stenzel to turn in nearly perfect rounds with a 49 joined by junior Sean Beauvais with a 48 out of 50 that would power the team up in the standings. But, it is important to remember that clay target uses a True Team style scoring system in which the top 34 scores from the team of 48 athletes are used. So, while the team leaders create the ability to vault the team up, it is the base created by the mid-range and lower ranger shooters who saw a nice improvement as well that allowed for that vault to occur. The team currently has nine shooters in the Top 25 Male Averages in the conference and five shooters in the Top 25 Female Averages. For the guys the conference is led by Alex Dobberstein and Clay Stenzel. They are joined by Sean Beauvais, Walker Krampitz, Alden Dobberstein, Trevor Lenort, Leo Harguth, Cale Flatness, and Brody Mudgett. The women are led by Eva Wayne at the top of the conference. She is joined by Kiera Lenort, Miranda LaCanne, Neela Wencl, and Aspyn Stenzel. The team has three weeks of competition left. They shoot twice a week at the Owatonna Gun Club south of Hope.