Volleyball Preview
The 2021 season was a successful one for a host of “Journal 11” volleyball teams. Mabel-Canton (30-5), Caledonia (22-9), and Spring Grove (20-10) each made their respective section Final Four. The Cougars (SEC East) and Warriors (TRC) were league champs. Fillmore Central (16-13), Chatfield (19-9), and Rushford-Peterson (18-12) made it to Rochester and their respective “Final 8.” Grand Meadow (18-11) won the SEC-West and notched a huge win over M-C. Lanesboro (17-11) was the SEC-East contender. The Cougars, Warriors, Lions, Falcons, Trojans, and Burros all return big pieces. Each should be formidable this season. The Gophers and Superlarks will need to shuffled a bit to keep up with last year’s paces. LeRoy-Ostrander, Kingsland, and Houston will look to improve.
The Mabel-Canton Cougars were again a state ranked Section 1A contender a season ago. Lonnie Morken’s group went perfect through their SEC schedule (14-0). They did have a tough 3-2 league contest victory over Spring Grove. The Cougars continued their decades long reign as SEC-East champs. Albeit, they were upended by Grand Meadow 3-2 in the SEC East/West Showcase game. In the post-season, M-C made the 1A semis, falling to Kenyon-Wanamingo 3-2 (25-14, 25-27, 25-15, 23-25, 11-15). The Cougars finished another strong campaign at 30-5. Coach Morken, entering his 29th year, graduated a pair of every-game players, Molly Lee (5’4” OH > 205 kills, 324 digs) and Emily Carolan (5’4” RH > 190 kills, 210 digs, 54 aces). Lee was a two-time All-SEC selection, Carolan a two-time All-SEC Honorable Mention pick. The Cougars return three of their top four hitters and defenders plus their setter. They bring back three All-SEC picks, a cast headed by two-time selection Sophie Morken (5’7” Sr. OH). The SEC’s Player of the Year, she led M-C in kills (300) and digs (438) while adding 57 aces. Fellow All-SEC pick, sister Sahara Morken (5’4” So.), also returns to lead the offense. In her first year of full-time setting, the younger Morken racked up an M-C single season record, 1,039 assists. She added 254 digs and a team-best 62 aces (at 95.7%). It’s year two of the Morken father, daughter, daughter Cougars. Finally, Saijal Slafter (5’9” So. MH) earned All-SEC after amassing 202 kills at a team-best .398 hitting percentage hitting middle. Adding to the continuity are key assets Kinley Soiney (5’10” Fr. MH > 235 kills) and MaKenzie Kelly (5’4” Sr. libero > team second-best 409 digs). Five of seven Cougars to play at least 80 sets, return. M-C again will be a force. Sophie M. and Kelly are M-C’s two seniors. The only would-be returning junior, Katrinda Whalen (5’9” MH), is out with an injury. M-C is young (just two upperclassmen). The Cougars open the season at GM (seeking revenge for the Showcase game loss). Big dates with Spring Grove are September 20 (away) and October 13 (home). Dates with Lanesboro are September 1 (home) and 27 (away). M-C has the Floodwood, Heritage Academy, and Class A Showcase tournaments. The Cougars are ranked #5 in the pre-season. They are one of four Section 1A ranked teams, as Faribault B.A. (#3), Kenyon-Wanamingo (#6), and Spring Grove (#7) also make the top 10.
Progressing to the Section 1AA Final Four last season were the Caledonia Warriors. Scott Koepke’s group went 10-0 in the TRC to win the league title. The Warriors swept their way to the 1AA semis before falling to Zumbrota-Mazeppa by 3-1 tally (19-25, 25-23, 14-25, 19-25). Caledonia finished another strong season with a 22-9 record. Koepke, entering his 28th year as a head coach, graduated a six-person senior class that included All-TRC picks Sadie Treptow (5’11” MH > 127 kills, team-best 85 total blocks) and Grace Myhre (6’0” OH > 140 kills, 52 total blocks). He returns three All-TRC picks including the reigning Journal Sports Volleyball Player of the Year, Logan Koepke (5’10” Jr. OH). The sophomore was maybe the TRC’s best hitter last season, pounding down 311 kills while adding 357 digs and 42 aces. The coache’s daughter led the Warriors in all three categories. Fellow All-TRC players, seniors Paige Klug (5’10” MH) and Jovial King (5’9” setter), are also back. Klug tallied 127 kills, 103 digs, 46 total blocks, and 28 aces. King co-set, leading the Warriors with 438 assists while chipping in 128 digs and 26 aces. Alexis Schroeder (5’5” Sr. libero > 217 digs), Emme Kittleson (5’6” Jr. libero/DS > 233 digs), and Emma Rommes (5’7” junior setter > 274 assists, 35 aces) give the Warriors six full-time returnees. Koepke, Kittleson, and Schroeder were the top three ‘diggers’ on the team (though the latter will miss some time with an injury). Caledonia again should again be potent. Charlese Walk (5’6” DS), Ava Privet (5’11” MH/OH), Emma Stemper (5’7” OH), and Madelyn Frank (5’9” OH) join with King, Klug, and Schroeder to give Caledonia seven seniors. The Warriors open non-conference by hosting Winona. They also host Decorah non-conference while travelling to Byron. Caledonia has tournaments in Apple Valley and Lakeville. Their last TRC game could be a big one, at home with Fillmore Central. They are on the road to face fellow “Journal 11” teams R-P and Chatfield. Ranked #10, the Warriors are one of three 1AA ranked teams with #4 Z-M and #6 Cannon Falls.
Also making its Section Final Four last season were the Spring Grove Lions. Kelsey Morken’s group went 12-2 in the SEC. Both losses (including once by 3-2 verdict) came to division rival and champion Mabel-Canton. SG took second in the East. The Lions downed Kingsland 3-0 and Fillmore Central 3-1 to make the 1A semis before falling 3-0 to section champ Faribault B.A. Spring Grove finished with a 20-10 record (there fourth 20-win season in school history). The Lions graduated six seniors, but no All-SEC picks. Their biggest loss was starting setter Rachel Normann (5’8” > 523 assists, 194 digs, 35 aces). They return a senior class headed by three All-SEC picks and an All-SEC HM selection. Addyson McHugh (5’10” OH) and Kenadee Gerard (5’10” OH) were strong one-two offensive punch for the Lions last season. Gerard led the team with 260 kills while adding 137 digs. McHugh was second on the team with 248 kills while adding a team second-best 232 digs, a team-best 60 aces. Libero Maggie Lile (5’5”) also returns. She was one of the SEC’s top defenders, leading the Lions with 448 digs. McHugh made All-SEC for a third year. Lile repeated. Gerard was a first-time pick. Additionally, Lydia Solum (5’9” RH > 116 kills, 32 total blocks) made All-SEC HM. They are a strong returning senior foursome. Katelyn Kraus (5’10” Jr. MH) is a fifth key returnee, the only junior. Sydney Holland (5’5” So. DS) and Kendal VanMinsel (5’11” So. setter > 109 assists) are key returning sophomores. Peyton Thompson (5’10” Sr. MH), Madilyn Ostern (5’7” DS), and Kylie Reynolds (5’7” RH) round out a seven-girl senior class. The Lions open at Southland. They come out of the gate with six SEC games. SG has tournaments in Waukon, Burnsville (Class A Showcase), and Goodhue. Key SEC dates are versus M-C on September 20 (home) and October 13 (away), and versus Lanesboro on September 8 (away) and October 3 (home). Coach Morken enters her 11th season leading the Lions.
The Fillmore Central Falcons had another solid season last year. Travis Malley’s group went 9-1 in the TRC, taking second place. Their only TRC loss was to Caledonia, 3-1 (16-25, 25-15, 22-25, 18-25). Team FC won a play-off game to make Rochester, but were subdued by Spring Grove 3-1 in the 1A quarters (16-25, 30-28, 20-25, 16-25). They finished at 16-13. The Falcons had three seniors a year ago. All played. The most notable was Lauren Mensink (5’7” setter > 605 assists, 250 digs, 122 kills, 36 aces), a two-time all-league pick who finished with over 1,200 career assists. But FC returns two All-TRC selections and its two All-TRC HM picks. Abby Bothun (5’9” Sr. OH) and Kammry Broadwater (5’10” Jr. OH) head the cast. The Falcons top two hitters a season ago each made All-league. Broadwater led the team with 234 kills while adding 199 digs. Bothun was second on the team with both 216 kills and 285 digs. FC’s two returning All-TRC HM picks are cousins Alyssa Britton (5’11” Jr MH) and Kyla Hellickson (5’7” Fr. Libero). Britton contributed 114 kills, a team-best 65 total blocks, and 38 aces. Hellickson led the team in digs with 380 and aces with 60 (as just an 8th grader). Regan Hanson (5’8” Sr. RH > 120 kills, 89 digs) and Madison Simon (5’10” Sr. MH > 38 kills, 34 total blocks) also return to give Coach Malley (entering his 9th year) a nice cupboard of talent. Emma Illg (5’8” MH) and Grace Kennedy (5’10” OH/MH) join with Bothun, Hanson, and Simon to give the FC five seniors. Youngster Aubrey Daniels (5’5” Fr.) is the projected new setter. FC opens at home non-conference with Hayfield. Lewiston-Altura and La Crescent/Hokah follow in home contests. The Falcons also take on Rochester-Lourdes (away), Z-M (home), and Stewartville (away) in non-league action. FC takes on tournaments at Apple Valley and Eastview. Key TRC dates include hosting R-P on September 22 and heading to Caledonia on October 18 for the TRC season finale (which could be big).
Another “Journal 11” volleyball team to make Rochester last year were the Rushford-Peterson Trojans. Nikki Schultz’s group went 5-5 in the TRC. They upended Grand Meadow 3-2 in the first round of the play-offs before bowing to eventual 1A champion Faribault B.A. in the quarters, 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 15-20, 23-25). It was their first play-off action in Rochester since 2015. R-P finished at 18-12. The Trojans graduated a five-girl senior class headed by All-TRC HM picks Elly Malone (5’7” OH > 129 kills, 329 digs, 28 aces) and Emarie Jacobson (5’9” MH). Head Coach Schultz, entering her 10th season in Rushford, returns four of seven girls who played at least 60 sets a season ago, including two All-TRC picks and an All-TRC HM selection. The biggest returnees are All-TRC seniors Kaylee Ruberg (5’11” OH) and Isabelle Kahoun (5’5” setter). Ruberg, a two-time All-TRC pick and one of the TRC’s biggest hitters, led the Trojans with 384 kills, 351 digs, and 55 aces. She has a chance at 1,000 career kills. Kahoun racked up 599 assists, 300 digs, 42 kills, and 35 aces. She is already over 1,000 assists. Hannah Ronnenberg (5’7” Sr. OH > 108 kills, 304 digs, 64 assists, 47 aces) is R-P’s third All-TRC honoree, as she was HM. Tayler Helgemoe (5’10” Jr. MH > 38 kills, 46 ace blocks) is a fourth key returnee. No other returning Trojan saw action in more than 50 sets. R-P will have an eight-girl senior class; Ruberg, Kahoun, Ronnenberg, Isabella Eide (5’11” RH), Linsey Meyer (5’7” RH), Allie Kingsley (5’4” OH/libero), Makenzie Knutson (5’4” setter), and Emma Olson (5’7” MH). They open with three straight road TRC games, D-E, Chatfield, and St. Charles. R-P takes on Caledonia (home September 20) and FC (away September 22) back-to-back mid-season. The Trojans have tournaments in Lake City, W-K, and Goodhue. They take on Randolph (away), Kingsland (away), Southland (home), and Houston (home) in non-conference action.
The Grand Meadow SuperLarks had a couple crowning achievements last season. GM won the SEC-West for a sixth straight year (12-2). They also beat M-C 3-2 in the East/West Showcase game. They fell won game later to R-P in the 1A Round of 16, 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 16-25, 25-12, 9-15). Sue Wilson’s group ended a good year at 18-11. GM will start the year with a new coach, as Matt Rosaaen takes over. Team Lark had three senior All-SEC selections last year; River Landers (6’2” MH > team best 167 kills, 64 total blocks), Emma Grafe (5’7” setter/RH > 105 kills, 314 assists, 231 digs, 49 aces), and Anna Oehlke (5’7” OH > 143 kills, 287 digs, 30 aces). GM thus enters this season needing to replace its top two hitters (Landers, Oehlke) and top two defenders (Oehlke, Grafe). But said players were the only full-timers to depart. The Larks return Kendyl Queensland (6’0” Sr. OH), Lauren Queensland (5’11” So. OH/setter), Isabelle Fretty (5’6” Sr. setter), Sydney Cotten (5’5” Jr. libero), and Lexy Foster (5’11” Jr. OH/RH). K-Queensland, the team’s top returning hitter, was All-SEC HM last season (111 kills, 218 digs, 29 aces, 32 total blocks). Sister Lauren Queensland (103 kills, 174 digs) also tallied over 100 kills. Fretty (278 assists, 178 digs, 27 aces) co-set with Grafe. Cotten (200 digs) returns at libero. GM has a six-girl senior class; K-Queensland, Fretty, Rebecca Hoffman (5’7” MH), Heidi Weiss (5’7” MH/RS), Sarah Wurst (5’6” DS), and Lexie Westrum (5’4” DS). The Larks will host M-C out of the gate in a rematch of last year’s SEC Showcase game. Other key SEC dates are September 22 (at SG) and October 17 (at Lanesboro). The Larks play tournaments at WEM, Pine Island, and Apple Valley.
*Stats are based off of 27 of 29 matches from last season.
Chatfield put together a strong campaign last season. The Gophers contended in the TRC, finishing 9-2 (third place). Molly Thomas’s group won a 1AA Round of 16 match before falling to Caledonia by 3-0 in the quarters. Chatfield finished the year 19-9. The Gophers had four pure All-TRC selections. Three were seniors: Zayda Priebe (6’2” MH > 336 kills, 85 total blocks), Peyton Berg (5’8” OH > 199 kills, 300 digs, 48 aces), and Sydney Allen (5’5” setter > 366 assists, 123 digs, 36 aces). Priebe was team leader in kills. She made Class AA All-State. Berg led the team in digs and aces. Allen led the team in assists. Both Gopher setters actually graduated, as Devann Clemens (5’6” > 334 assists, 151 digs) also departed. All told, Chatfield graduated 10 seniors and seven played in at least 50 sets. The Gophers will have to regroup a bit this season. Jaelyn LaPlante (5’8” So. OH) is the main holdover. She made All-TRC as a frosh after compiling a team third-best 173 kills. From there, Kara Goetzinger (5’8” Sr. MH > 70 kills, 43 total blocks), Alexis Hinckley (5’6” Jr. DS > 82 digs), and Harper Goldsmith (5’4” Fr. Setter/DS > 26 aces, 52 digs) are key returnees. Tatum Allen (5’4” OH) joins Goetzinger, as Chatfield’s only two seniors. The Gophers open at Rochester-Lourdes. They also have a home non-conference match with Pine Island as well as tournaments at Rochester-Century, Lake City, and PI. Chatfield’s three “Journal 11” TRC match-ups are all at home, R-P (September 6), FC (September 13), and Caledonia (October 6). Coach Thomas enters her third year leading the Gophers.
Lanesboro also had a good year a season ago. The Burros joined the above seven teams in amassing at least 16 victories. Julie Schreiber’s squad went 9-5 in the SEC. In the playoffs, the Burros fell at Hayfield 3-1 (17-25, 20-25, 25-18, 21-25) in the 1A Round of 16. They finished the season at 17-11. Lanesboro will have a new coach this year, Frankie Kohn. She inherits a group which lost two, three-time All-SEC picks, setter Ella Cambern (5’5” > 626 assists, 240 digs, 30 aces) and libero Malia Tessum (5’4” > 497 digs, 39 aces). Cambern finished her career with 1,968 assists. Tessum finished with 1,192 digs. But they were the only two Burros to graduate who contributed heavily last season. And Lanesboro returns maybe the SEC’s preeminent “big” duo, two-time All-SEC picks Kaci Ruen (6’0” Sr. MH) and Jessie Schreiber (5’11” Sr. OH/MH). Ruen led the Burros with 356 kills while adding 196 digs and 56 aces. She was one of only a handful of “Journal 11” volleyball players to rack up over 300 kills. Schreiber had a team second-best 248 kills with 219 digs, a team-best 53 aces, and 35 total blocks. Ellie Anderson (5’9” Jr. RH > 83 kills, 57 digs) also returns after making All-SEC HM. From there, Jensyn Storhoff (5’7” Fr. OH > 94 digs), Lynsey Ruen (5’7” Jr. OH > 136 digs), Skyler Check (5’6” Sr. DS > 130 digs), and Sarah Eversole (5’6” Sr. DS) are other key returnees. Emma Busker (5’6” OH) joins with K-Ruen, Schreiber, Check, and Eversole to give the Burros five seniors. Lanesboro begins at Kingsland. Key SEC-East dates are September 1 (away) and September 27 (home) versus M-C, September 8 (home) and October 3 (away) versus SG. The Burros host Grand Meadow on October 17. They have tournaments at Cotter, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Pine Island.
For the Kingsland Knights, there will be a large amount of player turnover this season. Team double-K went 6-8 in the SEC a year ago. Overall, they won as many as they lost, finishing 14-14. The Knights season ended at the hands of Spring Grove in the 1A Round of 16 via a 3-0 sweep. Kingsland had nine seniors and seven were full-time regulars. Included was their only pure All-SEC selection, two-time pick Alyssa Link (5’7” setter). The Knights’ multi-year setter completed her career with 1,479 assists. Also graduating were team kill, block, dig, and ace leaders Shelby Beck (202 kills, 34 blocks) and Audrey Webster (344 digs, 49 aces). Thus, fourth-year Knight Coach Amanda Siskow lost her statistical leader in every category. The Knights only full-time holdover is Anika Reiland (5’6” Sr. OH). She made All-SEC HM last season (339 digs, 127 kills, 46 aces). She was arguably the Knights’ most rounded player. From there, it will be a lot of new faces. Joining Reiland to compose a four-girl senior class are Reilly Lawson (5’7” setter), Sophia Klein (5’2” DS), and Jenna Stearns (5’6” OH/MH). Ashlyn Harwood (5’6” Jr. OH), Macie Rasmussen (5’7” So. Setter), Kadense Aarsvold (5’5” Jr. libero), Kaylin Mensink (5’6” Jr. DS/RH), Chantle Reiland (5’5” So. MH), and Morgan Phillips (5’6” Jr. MH/RH) are six gals with some varsity experience. Kingsland opens by hosting Lanesboro. Six of their first eight SEC games are on the road. Dates with GM are September 1 (away) and September 27 (home). Dates with L-O are September 13 (away) and October 11 (home). The Knights have tournaments in Decorah and Riceville. They have a pure non-conference match, versus R-P.
The LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals joined Kingsland in putting together a competitive 2021 campaign. Lindsay Milk’s group went 9-5 in the SEC, taking second to GM in the West. The Cards fell to Alden-Conger by 3-0 sweep in a 1A Round of 16 match-up. They finished the year 12-12. L-O was senior loaded. Nine girls played in at least 60 sets and six were seniors. Notably included were Gracie O’Byrne (5’6” libero > 418 digs), Sam Volkart (5’7” OH/MH > 112 kills, 143 digs), Sidney Lewison (5’8” OH/MH > 110 kills, 50 aces, 53 total blocks), and Anna Welsh (5’4” setter > 264 assists, 110 digs). O’Byrne made All-SEC. Volkart was All-SEC HM. Jordan Runde (5’8” Sr. OH) is the Cardinals top returning player. She joined O’Byrne in making All-SEC last season, leading the Cardinals with 159 kills while adding 175 digs and 41 aces. She is L-O’s only senior. Benita Nolt (5’10” So. MH > 71 kills) and Jenna Olson (5’6” Jr. setter > 174 assists, 113 digs) are the other two key returnees. L-O has just five total juniors and seniors, as Maddi Huntley (libero), Alli Meyer (setter), and Laney Huff (RH) join Olson in the junior class. The Cardinals start the season hosting Schaeffer Academy. Their first four SEC-West games are all at home. Matches with GM are September 8 (home) and October 3 (away). have tournaments at Hayfield, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Goodhue. Coach Milks enters her fourth season leading the Cardinals.
It was a tough 2021 campaign for Houston Hurricane volleyball. Team double-H went 4-10 in the SEC.
The Hurricanes beat Southland in a 1A play-in contest but were swept by Faribault B.A. 3-0 in the 1A Round of 16. Houston finished the year 5-16. The Hurricanes didn’t have an All-SEC pick. Their only post-season honoree was All-SEC HM selection Sydney Torgerson (5’10” Sr. MH). The ‘Canes top returnee, she led the squad with 143 kills and 47 total blocks while contributing 172 digs. But Houston was young last season, with only two seniors (both of whom contributed). Other key returnees for Coach Vanessa Lee are starting setter Lilly Carr (5’7” Sr. > 297 assists, 136 digs, 26 aces), Jaden Woodard (5’9” So. OH > 96 kills, 137 digs, 23 aces), Emily Botcher (5’10” So. Setter/MH > 70 kills, 179 digs, 27 aces), and Priya Kingsley (5’7” Sr. OH > 175 digs). From there, Ella Carrier (5’6” So. DS) and Kayleen Kulas (5’11” Sr. MH) each played in at least 16 matches, adding to the experience. Lizzy Weichert (DS) and Hannah Weichert join Torgerson, Carr, Kingsley, and Kulas to form a six-girl senior class. The ’Canes start the year by hosting Glenville-Emmons. Their schedule is exclusively SEC opponents save a road game at neighbor R-P and tourneys in Wabasha and Goodhue. Coach Lee is in her second season as Houston’s varsity volleyball head.
*Note, the above stats cover 19 of Houston’s 21 games last season.
Cross Country Preview
Last year’s cross-country season saw one “Journal 11” conglomerate (LARPH’s boys) make state, while another squad (Chatfield’s girls) flirted with the idea. Individually, five kids qualified for the big run in Northfield, Kingsland’s Garrison Hubka and Cole Kruegel, Chatfield’s Logan Thompson and Lexi Kivimagi, and LFC’s Lillyan Kiehne. LARP lost its top two runners, which will increase the degree of difficulty in they want to four-peat for state. The Gophers girls should again be strong. Of the above individual qualifiers, only Thompson graduated. Their will again be a good number of strong runners competing for LARPH, Chatfield, LFC, GMLOS, and Kingsland.
Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston was headlined by its boys teams’ exploits last year. LARPH (66) won section 1A over Lourdes (70) and Lake City (111). It was the program’s first section crown. Team Tro-Card-Cane took 13th of 16 total teams at the state meet. It was their third straight state qualification. But LARPH graduated its top two runners, Tyler Rislov and Andrew Hoiness. Rislov finished sixth and Hoiness 32nd on the state stage. The duo took second and third at sections, first and second at the TRC Meet (leading LARPH to the TRC title). They’ll be a tough twosome to replace. But Coach Matt Kingsbury returns his next four best runners; Ryan (junior), Tyler Betthauser (junior), Sam Adamczyk (junior), and Matt Sprague (sophomore). en (15th), Betthauser (18th), and Adamczyk (28th) finished top 30 at last year’s 1A Meet. All four, Prinsen 10th, Betthauser 13th, Sprague 18th, and Adamczyk 20th, finished top 21 at the TRC Meet, making All-TRC. Team LARPH again has some pieces in the cupboard. On the girls side, LARPH took 5th at the TRC Meet and 8th (of 17 complete) at the 1A Meet. They return just three runners from the 2021 sections. But the three returnees are the top three, all of whom finished top 50. Lauren Honken (junior) paced the team at sections (22nd place) and the TRC Meet (13th place). She made All-TRC. Serenity Ernst (47th) and Ellie Ekern (49th) finished top 50 at sections. LARPH’s schedule includes meets at W-K, La Crescent, D-E, Winona, St. Charles, and PEM. They host two meets, one at Ferndale Golf Course (September 20), the other at Lewiston Golf Course (October 6). LARPH has zero seniors on either squad.
Chatfield cross country almost got a team to state last year. Jayna Harstad’s gals group were TRC runner-up and took third place (97) at the 1A Meet behind Lake City (88) and Cotter (90). All seven Gopher gals to run finished top 40. Two of those runners, Tessa McMahon and Katelyn Dornack, graduated. McMahon was a state qualifier in 2020. The Gophers return five strong runners including their top two for new coach Niki DeBuhr. Eighth grader Lexi Kivimagi leads the cast, as she burst onto the scene a season ago. Kivimagi took third at the TRC meet and sixth at the 1A Meet, qualifying for state. As just a seventh grader, she finished 65th in Northfield.
Senior teammate Aletta Strande also returns, as she is former state qualifier (2019). She took ninth at the TRC Meet last season and 16th at sections. After those two, Charlotte Oeltjen (sophomore), Belle Carr (senior), and Ella Bakken (sophomore) give the Gophers five good runners. Oeltjen (29th) joined Kivimagi and Strande as having finished top 30 at the 1A Meet. Carr (36th) and Bakken (37th place) weren’t far behind. All five girls finished top 21 at the TRC Meet, earning All-conference. Peyton Ellis, Sydney Ellis, Alissa Frank, Anna Kivimagi, Josie Koenigs, and Savannah Thompson give the Gophers eight senior gals. On the guys side, Chatfield took fifth at the TRC Meet and eighth (of 19) at the 1A Meet. State qualifier Logan Thompson was their top runner (7th TRC Meet, 8th 1A Meet), but he graduated. Chatfield returns five of seven section meet competitors. Senior Treyten Lanning is the top guy. He took 17th at the TRC meet (making All-conference) and 30th at the 1A Meet. Gabe Erding (senior), Maddex Lanning (freshman), Ivar Stavlund (freshman), and Nick Long (junior) are also back. None finished inside the top 50 at sections. Colton Guenther joins with Lanning and Erding to give Chatfield three seniors. The Gopher’s meets are at Stewartville, Luther College, Rochester-Mayo, LARP (at Ferndale GC), St. Charles, and PEM. They host their annual run October 4. Chatfield also hosts the TRC Meet on October 18.
Kingsland enters the year with probably the best returning boys tandem of the “Journal 11” schools. Erin Milz’s guys took third at the TRC Meet and 10th (of 19) at the 1A Meet. They were led by a pair of state qualifying juniors, Garrison Hubka and Cole Kruegel. Hubka has become a household name in distance running circles in the area. Last year he took fourth at the TRC Meet and fifth at the 1A Meet. He qualified for state for a second time, taking an impressive 13th place. It was the third highest finish at state of any “county” runner since 2010. Classmate Cole Kruegel broke out a season ago. He took ninth place at both the TRC and 1A Meets. Kruegel too qualified for state (where he took 74th). Both Hubka and Kruegel made All-TRC. After that, there was a drop-off for Kingsland. No other runner finished top 60 at the 1A Meet. Andrew Imm (senior) and Josh Meskill (senior) were the next two highest finishers. Kingsland brings back four seniors. They have just five guys out. On the girls side, the Knights took 9th (of 10) and 15th (of 17) at the TRC and 1A meets respectively. Their top runner, Susan Mettler (TRC 30th place, 1A 52nd place) graduated. The Knights do return five of the six 1A Meet runners in the forms of Kylie Meyer (sophomore), Kaylie Betts (freshman), Macy Runck (freshman), Hailee Warren (freshman), and Lily Freet (senior). All five finished outside the 1A Meet top 50. Freet is the lone senior. The Knights have meets at W-K, Stewartville, Hayfield, Luther College, Rochester-Mayo, Winona, Chatfield, and PEM.
The Lanesboro/Fillmore Central conglomerate saw each of their teams finish middle of the pack at last year’s 1A Meet. The girls neared the top, taking 6th (of 17). The boys took 9th (of 19). LFC’s girls took 4th at the TRC Meet. The boys took 6th. Ellen Cullen’s gals team had a state qualifier. Lillyan Kiehne (freshman) is Burros’ top returnee, as she took fifth at the 1A Meet and earned a trip to state. She finished 56th on the big stage. Kiehne was TRC Meet runner-up, easily making All-conference. Overall, LFC’s girls return four of their seven runners from last season. Notable graduations are Brielle Ruen (23rd place) and Morgan Pickett (31st place), who each finished top 35 at sections. Ruen was All-TRC. Joining Kiehne as key returnees are Lauren Brogle (junior), Addie Miner (senior), and Audra Otto (sophomore). Each finished outside the top 50 at sections. Olivia Sethre and Miner are the team’s two seniors. On the guys side, LFC graduated its top runner, Carson Ruen. He made All-TRC, finished 17th at last year’s 1A Meet, and was a 2020 state meet qualifier. LFC also graduated All-TRC honoree Riley Serfling. Isaac Snyder (junior) is the team’s top returnee. He took 14th at the TRC Meet (earned All-Conference) and finished 19th at the 1A Meet. LFC’s other key returnees are Nicholas Weist (junior), Landon Sethre (sophomore), and Jaxon Huntington (freshman). All finished outside the 1A Meet top 50. Nate Storlie and Andrew Peterson are the teams’ two seniors. The Burros take on the Stewartville, D-E, Pine Island, St. Charles, LARP, and PEM Meets. They also host a home meet in Harmony on September 20.
Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland cross country returns the most of all the “Journal 11” running conglomerates. The Lark-Card-Rebs ran 13 kids at the 1A Meet and not one was a senior (albeit not all are back out for C-C this year). The boys took 12th (of 19) at sections, the girls 12th (of 17). The guys squad’s top returnee is youngster Tate Georgen (8th grader). He took 29th at the 1A Meet and 15th at the TRC Meet, earning All-conference. GMLOS’s other 1A Meet returnees are Teague Alden (sophomore), Erik Shaw (junior), Cohen Wiste (senior), and Hunter Dimick (senior). Wiste notably finished 24th at the TRC Meet (but finished down at sections). Carter Glynn (freshman) is another notable runner. He finished 34th at the TRC Meet (but didn’t run at sections). On the girls side, McKenna Hendrickson is the top runner. She finished 4th at the TRC Meet and 12th at the 1A Meet. She was the first finisher to not make state individually. Hendrickson was All-TRC. Naomi Warmka (freshman) also returns after taking 41st place. After that, Katy Ottman (senior), Aubrie Schneider (senior), Karina Lee (freshman), and Delaney Alden (junior) round out the key returnees. Katie Thome joins Hendrickson, Ottman, and Schneider to give the squad four seniors. GMLOS has the Stewartville, Hayfield, D-E, Pine Island, St. Charles, and LARP Meets. Lisa Glynn coaches the western Mower County conglomerate.
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