"Just go out and wrestle"
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Annabelle Petsinger remembers the moment vividly: “We were at the team sections,” she recalls. “And this guy yelled out, ‘Girls can’t wrestle.’ But there I was, shoving my opponent’s face into the mat.”
Petsinger, who won this year’s girls’ state wrestling championship in the 120-pound weight class, finished the 2022-23 regular wrestling season with an overall record of 22-13; her record against girls only was 14-1.
Just like this past season, her 13-year career has consisted mostly of wrestling males. However, things seem to be changing. The number of girls wrestling in the state has more than doubled in the past year, from about 250 to 540. Last year, 2022, saw the first-ever girls’ state wrestling tournament. This year saw expanded girls’ section competitions and, of course, the second state tournament.
State Champion!!
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
Schlaak to play at Saint Scolastica
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
In front of a large audience of about 50 friends, family, and coaches, NRHEG High School senior Brady Schlaak signed his official Letter of Intent to play Division III football and continue his education at the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
“I’m excited and scared at the same time,” Schlaak said of the decision. “It’s gonna be a huge change. I’m not going up against high school seniors and freshmen. Now it’s college seniors, as a freshman… But, I feel like I can definitely make a huge impact.”
The recruitment process started after Schlaak, 6’ 10’’ 300 lbs, posted a highlight reel on the social media site Twitter.
Underdog story comes to an end
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Father daughter era concludes; Panthers graduate three seniors
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The NRHEG girls' basketball underdog story came to an end Monday night in Mankato’s Taylor Center.
Top-seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial was just too tough.
LCWM, rated No. 3 in the state and riding a 20-game winning streak, ended the Panthers' season 68-33.
“LCWM has so many weapons in their arsenal, we had a tough time matching up against them,” NRHEG coach Onika Peterson said. “It seems like they couldn’t miss a basket and we struggled. We put ourselves in a hole and we couldn’t climb out of it. I wish the LCWM team the best of luck on Friday. I hope they can punch their ticket to the state tournament. They are a great team.”
Delacruz Pro-Start teacher of the year
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Kelly Delacruz admits she didn’t see it coming.
During a statewide event on Feb. 28 in the Twin Cities, it was announced that she had been selected as the statewide winner of the program’s “teacher of the year” award. As the details of the winner’s career were being itemized and becoming more and more familiar, she suddenly realized it was her–and struck her neighbor, NRHEG principal David Bunn, in the knee.
“That’s when I realized why he had come,” she admits.