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Fitterer enjoys post-high school success at Northwestern
TEDDY BEAR — Wyatt Fitterer, a defensive lineman at Northwestern in Roseville, Minn., hugs his fiancee’ Anna Dale after a game last fall. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
His friends call him “Grizz.”
Whether it means he’s more like a grizzly bear or a teddy bear depends on whether or not you’re lined up against him on a football field.
There’s no denying Wyatt Fitterer has been a grizzly on the gridiron. The 2016 NRHEG graduate earned all-conference honors at Itasca Community College, where he was named Defensive Lineman of the Year for the 2018 season, and last fall at Northwestern of Roseville where he was one of 18 to receive academic all-conference recognition while carrying a GPA of 3.5 or better.
Through it all, his nickname has remained.
“It started sometime in my sophomore year of high school and honestly it stuck right away,” said Fitterer.
The name was tossed around school and it wasn’t long before everyone, coaches included, was calling him Grizz.
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GAME OF KEEPAWAY — The Panthers’ Sophie Stork, left, drives to the basket while being defended by Medford’s Emma Kniefel Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Medford. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
The NRHEG Lady Panther basketball team was one and done in the playoffs this year, losing to the number one seed Medford Tigers on the road Feb. 26. Medford dominated from the start, racing to a 21-3 lead before the visitors knew what hit them. Medford's defense kept the Panthers discombobulated all night long.
NRHEG made a run partway through the first half when Hannah Budach ignited the offense with four 3-pointers, but the Medford lead was 43-27 at the break. The Tigers continued their great defense and cleaned the boards all night, out-rebounding the Panthers by a large margin. The Panthers made another run in the second half, cutting the lead to 10 in part because of two and-ones by Alexis Anderson, but crisp passing on offense helped Medford continue their undefeated season with a 78-58 final.
Budach and Anderson each had 12 points on the night; Budach added 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal while Anderson had 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Sidney Schultz added 8 points, dished out 11 assists, and had a rebound and a steal with 2 blocks. Kendall Johnson contributed 7 points, a rebound, and an assist. Caitlin Goette, Sophie Stork, and Darian Pearson each had 4 points on the night. Goette grabbed 3 rebounds, Stork had 4 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals, and Pearson snared a board. Lexie Ignaszewski had 3 points and a rebound while Sarah Johns had 3 points and a block. Jayna Finseth finished things off with a point, a rebound, and an assist.
After the game, coach Onika Peterson commented, "Hard to believe the season is already over. Thank you to the girls for everything." NRHEG finished the season 9-18 overall. Medford moved on to play St. Peter in the second round of the playoffs.
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By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
The NRHEG wrestling team was led in the 2018-19 season by a pair of seniors, Tyler Jacobson and Quinten Arndt.
Fittingly, they went above and beyond the call of duty.
Both wrestlers extended their season by advancing to the state tournament, where their seasons ended last Friday without a medal at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
“I am extremely proud of these two athletes,” said NRHEG head coach Shawn Larson. “They both have worked very hard for many years and even though they did not make the podium, they were able to make the state tournament, which is something many athletes never get to do.”
Jacobson, wrestling at 170 pounds, had one match at state, a 5-0 loss to junior Jace Paplow of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove. Paplow, who did not place, lost his second match, so Jacobson did not make the wrestlebacks. Jacobson finished the season with a record of 25-13.
Arndt, 285, was decisioned by junior Tanner Berguis of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, then fell 3-0 to sophomore Cian Bueller of Ottertail Central. Arndt finished 29-11.
“Both of these wrestlers are going to be missed as we move on without them, as they are the example of what we at NRHEG want all of our athletes to be like,” said Larson. “Again I could not be prouder of these boys!”