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An eye-opening event: More than 1,000 flock to Waseca’s Clear Lake
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SIGHT TO BEHOLD — A dozen or more large-scale kites, some measuring up to 140 feet long, flew over Clear Lake in Waseca Sunday as part of the city's annual Sleigh and Cutter Event. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
For nearly everyone involved, Sunday’s kite festival over Clear Lake in Waseca was an “eye-opening” event.
Most significantly, there were over 1,000 spectators, most of whom were experiencing giant kites for the first time. Somewhere around 15 gigantic kites, the largest of which measured about 140 feet long, were rotated in and out of the skies during the five-hour show. Shaped like whales, tigers, dogs, horses, octopuses and more, the kites created a colorful spectacle visible from all around the lake.
“It was amazing,” says Waseca Sleigh and Cutter planning committee member Molly Kopischke, who coordinated the show. “The kites were so beautiful and so fun. It was great to see the expressions on people’s faces as they watched everything going on.
“We had such a positive response, we’re already making plans for next year.”
For Sean Beaver, owner/operator of Great American Kites and Events out of Kansas City, the Clear Lake showing was a new experience on many levels. “Two weeks ago, I hadn’t even heard of Waseca,” he says. “Now I know it’s a warm community with real heart and filled with a lot of people dedicated to making good things happen.”
Lady Panthers defeat WEM 52-51 in the second round, earning trip to MSU Mankato Monday night
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CELEBRATION - The NRHEG Girls Basketball team celebrates after defeating WEM 52-51 during the second round of the 2022 Sub-Section 2 playoffs.
DOMINANT - The Panthers Sidney Schultz scores a basket against WEM Thursday night, March 3 at Mankato East high school. She finished as the second leading scorer with 21 points.
LAST GAME? - Senior Sophie Stork played like it might be her last game, leading the Panthers in scoring with 23 points in the one point victory over WEM.
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
For the first time in a long time, the NRHEG Girls Basketball team is returning to play at MSU Mankato Monday night at 7:45 p.m. against Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial after an incredible 52-51 victory over Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Thursday night at Mankato East high school.
It’s always tough when the girls play WEM. Thursday night's game was no different.
With five seconds to go, down by two points, the Buccaneers appeared to have a wide open layup attempt when Senior Sophie Stork came from behind to stop the attempt, fouling out in the process.
After sinking the first free throw, the Buccaneers, as they did all night, recovered the offensive rebound and forcing a jump ball, with the possession arrow allowing them to retain possession.
With four seconds left, and the entire crowd on its feet, Faith Nielsen made the game clinching “tip”, sending the ball down the court as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
How did the Panthers get here?
It’s hard to beat anybody twice. The Buccaneers defeated the shorthanded Panthers the first time they played, but lost handily to them in a division clinching game a week ago Friday.
At no point in the first half did it appear like any team was going to run away with it.
The Panthers led by as much as seven points, but were answered by nine Buccaneer points midway through the first half, making the score 18-16 in favor of WEM.
Playing as if it might be her last game, Stork ended the Buccaneer run, driving the length of court to tie the game.
The Bucs scored five points on their next three possessions which included six offensive rebounds.
Stork answered again, cutting the lead to three after another tough drive to the basket.
A three pointer from Preslie Nielsen with 55 seconds left sent the game to halftime tied 23-23.
Lady Panthers defeat Medford 67-50 in first round action
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Don't let the final score of 67-50 fool you, the NRHEG girls basketball team did not simply walk through Medford Tuesday night in the opening round of the Subsection 2 playoffs.
A sloppy game, with more than 30 fouls between the two teams, saw momentum swing to the Panthers early after they opened up an early 12-0 lead.
On one particular sequence, Faith Nielsen was fouled on three consecutive possessions resulting in free throws each time.
The Panthers led 30-19 after a controversial foul call resulted in 3 free throws attempts from the Tiger’s with 0:00s showing on the clock.
In the second half, the Tigers clawed their way back to within five points.
However, a Sophie Stork three-pointer ended the Tiger run four minutes into the second half. The rest of the way the Panthers outscored the Tigers by a margin of roughly 3-2.
“Tonight was a great game,” NRHEG head coach Onika Peterson said. “We had an awesome home court advantage with such a fun student section. Medford is a good team with a couple of heavy hitters.”
As for the performance of her players, Peterson said she was happy with the overall communication and defense. “We’re still looking to work the ball on offense and have a little more patience.”
In her final home game of her career, Senior Sophie Stork led the Panthers in scoring with 19 points, followed by Faith Nielsen and Erin Jacobson each with 14.
Also scoring for the Panthers were: Preslie Nielsen, 9; Sidney Schultz 8, Hallie Schultz 2, and Quinn VanMaldeghem 1.
The Panthers play Waterville Thursday night at Mankato East Highschool at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Echoes from the 22nd Annual Ag Summit
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By AL BATT
Contributing writer
How do you get a farmer to a meeting?
The same way you get nonfarmers to a meeting. Attendees seek wisdom, useful information, good company, food and door prizes.
The 22nd Annual Ag Summit, presented by Americana Insurance Group and Commerce Bank, held at Wedgewood Cove in Albert Lea (because all roads don’t lead to Rome) on February 1, provided all those necessary things. Sponsors were AgriSompo North America, Nationwide and Farmers Mutual Insurance Company (in suburban Manchester).
Farming isn’t rocket science. It’s more complicated than that. Every enthusiastic speaker deserved my attention and got it.
Tom Sorenson, Agency Director of Americana Insurance Group, gave a compilation of 2021 statistics, trends and averages for Americana Insurance Group because without numbers, things don’t add up.
The presenters were kind enough to draft their thoughts and takeaways to make my job easier.
Stork leads on and off the field: NRHEG Senior captures numerous awards: All State, MVP, Captain, and two POY awards
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SECTIONS - NRHEG Senior Sophie Stork is pictured above delivering a pitch during the Panthers 7-1 win over Maple River during the Section 2AA section playoffs. Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
When you win, you win, when you lose, you learn. This is senior Sophie Stork's motto. Stork has been playing volleyball, basketball, and softball for NRHEG her entire life.
In her words, she grew up in a sports loving home, surrounded by incredible friends, many of whom she now shares a field with. Stork recently led the NRHEG Softball team, as the starting pitcher, to their best finish in school history. She has earned a host of awards along the way, including: Owatonna People's Press Player of the Year, Waseca County News Player of the year, Gopher Conference Player of the year, Section 2AA All Tournament Team and Class 2AA All State Team, Most Valuable Player, and was named team captain.
Stork’s sports career began on the T-Ball field at the age of four. When she was eight years old, she began playing competitive sports. Ever since, she has excelled in softball, volleyball, basketball, and for a brief time, football.
“In elementary school, when we really didn’t have a volleyball program, Sophie played youth football,” Dan Stork, her father, shared. “Watching her grow, it’s been so much fun to watch her hard work payoff.”