Grapplers send three to state, nine medal at sections
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
NRHEG wrestling coach Shawn Larson offered thanks and praise for the 2023-24 Panther squad at the annual winter banquet.
“Before I get into our season and our team, I want to congratulate and thank a lot of people here,” Larson began.
Larson thanked the other winter sports competitors, assistant coaches Nate Jensen and Dillion Kubiatowicz, videographer Daniel Petsinger, staff members Karla Christopherson, Teri Kormann, and Sue Kulseth, as well as Activities Director Dan Stork; NRHEG cheerleaders; the Wrestling Booster Club; and all others who help make NRHEG wrestling successful. Larson also thanked Erik Olson for “his willingness to do any job or work with any athlete” as well as Krey Cory and Lance Perkins for their work in the elementary program. Student helpers Winter Pederson, Aspyn Stenzel, Ciara Stenzel, and Zoe Wilson were also thanked.
“And last but not least by any means, I want to thank all of the parents and families who are involved with these kids,” Larson concluded. “Because you have to give up holidays… And kids will recall their weight when it's Christmas time, or Thanksgiving and things like that. You know, pretty much every Saturday from November to March, you're doing something. I really appreciate all the time and effort, and I mostly appreciate that you let me have time with your athletes. Thank you.”
Season recap
The Panthers finished their regular season with a poor team record due to injuries and had a bad matchup against Medford in the team section meet, losing in the first round.
“Our wrestlers had continued growth over the season and had some good things happen,” Larson said.
Most of those good things were significant individual accomplishments, including nine placewinners at the section tournament, one section champion, George Roesler, and two runners up, Annabelle Petsinger and Ryan Schlaak.
Last year’s state champion Petsinger ultimately suffered an injury at the state tournament and forfeited two matches. Larson stated she battled injuries all year long and showed tremendous character. Next year she will be wrestling at the college level for Iowa Central Community College.
Ryan Schllak had a fantastic run at the section tournament, but had two rough draws and lost both of his state tournament matches.
Roesler won two matches by fall in the state tournament, but lost in the “blood round” just barely missing out on a medal.
“The three wrestlers who competed at the state tournament should know they made the Panther Nation proud,” Larson concluded. “We are proud of you for representing NRHEG well.”
Farm and City Luncheon
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
Good food, conversations, and stories were shared during the annual Farm and City Luncheon March 21, hosted by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce at the Mill in Waseca.
Following a lunch catered by the Pheasant Cafe and served by local FFA Chapters from Waseca, NRHEG, and Waseca, the following families, all from rural Waseca, were honored with awards: Farm Family of the year (FFOY); Sommers Brothers Custom Baling, LLC, Brian & Kirsten Sommers and Matt & Nicole Sommers.
The FFOY award goes to a Waseca County food producer involved in the community. This family has made significant short-term progress and/or innovative contributions with their agricultural endeavors and has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting the fields of agriculture and production. The Sommers will be honored and recognized among farmers across the state at Farmfest this summer.
‘I’m glad I was able to do it’
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“I think I taught them all the things they needed to know as beginners,” comments NRHEG senior Jaylin Raab, who unexpectedly found himself as coach of the district’s seventh-grade boys’ basketball team, which consisted of 12 players.
It was not how he expected to see his senior year with the sport develop.
“I wanted to play with my team,” Raab remembers. “I expected to play…until I got the bad news.”
Active on a number of NRHEG teams since middle school, Raab remembers the spring day at a 2023 track meet when he took a run for the long jump. “I landed wrong,” he describes. “I heard a weird sound, and I felt a lot of pain.
“I crawled to the other side of the area and I went to the emergency room at the Albert Lea hospital right away.” Though Raab used crutches and wore a “boot” for a while, it was eventually determined he had experienced damage to the peroneal nerve in his right leg. As fall and then winter began, the injury caused him pain and led to “foot drop.”
“I had surgery on December fourth,” he said. “That pretty much ended my chances of getting any playing time during the [basketball] season. My leg was getting a little better, but I expected to spend my senior year on the bench.”
NRHEG winter sport athletes celebrated
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
NRHEG Activities Director Dan Stork extended many statements of gratitude as he opened the 2023-24 Winter Sports Banquet ceremony Tuesday night, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym in New Richland.
All NRHEG winter sports were recognized: Coaches from boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading all spoke. Individual stories recapping their seasons and thank-yous can be found on pages 4 and 5 in this week’s Star Eagle.
Stork recognized co-op sports, including gymnastics and hockey with Waseca, in which Carter Martens had a terrific campaign playing goalie, earning a letter for a second straight year. Nora Flatness was the one gymnast participating with Waseca. She had an excellent year, Stork said, participating with the Junior Varsity.
In total, 18 senior athletes were recognized: Faith Nielsen, Hope Nielsen, Preslie Nielsen, Hallie Schultz, Payton Bunn, Julia Churchill, Brenna Sommer, Isabel Stadheim, Malonna Wilson, Parker Bunn, George Roesler, Annabelle Petsinger, Reese Routh, Daxter Lee, Jackson Chrz, William Tuttle, Sam Olson and Levin Kitzer. Many well-deserved awards were handed out during the evening. A sense of gratitude encompassed the room as speakers, coaches and players reflected on their memorable seasons, and for some, entire careers.
As the program wound to a close, Stork paused to recognize Mark Domeier for earning a “Distinguished Service Award” to be awarded during this week’s MNI Triple A Conference. The award will be presented in St. Cloud during a banquet attended by activity directors from across the state.
“Each year we have the opportunity as AD’s to nominate someone,” Stork said. “Mark began here in 1996 and has done just about everything here.
“Known as the voice of the Panthers, Mark has officiated just about every sport you can imagine, has run the scoreboard and does whatever it takes for these kids to compete… Thank you for your years of support.”
The banquet concluded with photos and good conversation among the hundreds of students, parents, family members and coaches in attendance.
ProStart takes part in state competition
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Two teams, each consisting of five NRHEG “ProStart” students, were among 18 teams which took part in state-level competition at St. Paul RiverCentre on March 14.
Both teams received positive feedback from the panels of judges evaluating the appearance, flavor, cooking skills and menu design of their work. Among the 90 students participating, NRHEG junior Peyton Curtis was one of four recognized in the “knife skills” category. Each of the winners received a set of five culinary knives. Curtis explained that judges watch for smooth, even cuts made in compliance with expected safety techniques and which lead to consistent, equal-sized finished pieces. His words were “precision, consistency, and form.”
When asked why “knife skills” was important enough to be its own category, Curtis said, “I think it’s because you can’t be a really good cook unless you have good knife skills. It’s one of the first steps to preparing good food.” Curtis mentioned that he frequently cooks at home, and perhaps that practice was helpful to him in catching the judges’ attention.