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
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NRHEG High School's fall sports awards were announced at the season-ending ceremony Sunday, Nov. 18 in the high school gymnasium.

They were, by sport:

 

Football

MVP - Sawyer VanMaldeghem

MV Offensive Back - Blake Ihrke

MV Defensive Back - Tyler Jacobson

MV Offensive Line - Alex Buckmeier

MV Defensive Line - Quinten Arndt

Scout Player of the Year - Brandon Howieson

Count on Me Award - Buckmeier

Captains - Buckmeier, Jacob Schuller, Jacobson

 

Volleyball

MVP Offense - Olivia Christopherson

MVP Defense - Sydney Schlinger

Most Improved - Jayna Finseth

Panther Award - Lexie Ignaszewski

Captains - Christopherson, Alexis Anderson

NRHEG football team humbled by icy field, No. 1-ranked Caledonia


TOUGH YARDS — Sawyer VanMaldeghem (26) runs the football as Tyler Jacobson (4) blocks Jacob Staggemeyer (6) during state football quarterfinal action at Burnsville Friday, Nov. 9. In the background is Blake Ihrke (14). The Panthers saw their season end with a 41-0 loss to undefeated three-time defending state champion Caledonia.  (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

 

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

All good things must come to an end. But what a ride it was.

Under different field conditions, with some different bounces, things may have been different. But it wasn't meant to be. Not on this night, anyway.

The NRHEG High School football team, the Cinderella story out of nowhere, finally saw its season end with a 41-0 setback to three-time defending state champion and No. 1 ranked Caledonia on a chilly, snow-covered field at Burnsville Friday, Nov. 9. Caledonia, which has won eight state championships since 2007 and appears well on its way to a ninth, advanced to the state semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium against Paynesville Area. It was the 52nd consecutive victory for Caledonia, which last lost in the 2014 state championship game.

The Panthers end their season 9-3, with losses to the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 9 rated teams in the final Class AA state rankings. The Panthers, making their first state tournament appearance in football, were ranked 10th.

Panthers fall in state quarterfinals

 

Head coach Marc Kruger leads his NRHEG football team onto a snow-covered field in 20-degree temperatures Friday, Nov. 9 at Burnsville High School. The Panthers, making their first state tournament appearance ever in football, lost 41-0 to No. 1 ranked, undefeated three-time defending state champion Caledonia. The Panthers finished 9-3 and were ranked 10th in the final Class AA state poll. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)