Last year’s winter sports season ended like no one could’ve seen coming. The coronavirus caused the girls basketball state tournament and the boys basketball season (after sections) to be shut-down. This year, teams will try to complete January to early March schedules. Section and state tournaments have yet to be delineated. Teams are mostly playing conference games. Divisions in the SEC for boys basketball are a bit different; the east (Houston, M-C, SG, Lanesboro, Randolph, Schaefer) and West (Kingsland, L-O, GM, L/P, G-E, Southland). Last year, BP (1-seed) won Section 1A over Hayfield (2-seed), 59-51. GM (5-seed) and Randolph (3-seed) were semifinalists. Caledonia (1-seed) beat Stewartville (3-seed) for the 1AA crown, 71-53. D-E (13-seed) and Pine Island (10-seeed) were semifinalists. GM, L-O, and SG have joined the Journal coverage umbrella.
The team that posted the best season of the “Journal 10’”squads in 2019-2020 was Grand Meadow. The Super Larks went 11-4 in the SEC, tying with L/P (11-4, 19-8) in the West behind Randolph (13-2, 22-7). GM won a pair of post-season games, including beating Schaeffer Academy 40-38 in the 1A quarters. They were nipped by future section champ BP 52-49 in the semis. The Larks finished 21-8. Head Coach Dakotah Rostad lost a 2nd Team All-SEC pick in Ethan Lane (and two other every-game players). He returns All-SEC first team pick Colt Landers. The 6’4” forward has been all-league three years running (twice 1st team, once 2nd team). He sits at 1,666 career points (the GM boy’s record) and has a shot at 2,000. Landers averaged 20.3 points and 6.1 rebounds last year, hitting 90-plus threes at a 43% clip. GM also returns Ben Kraft (6’0” Sr. F > 7.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG), who was All-SEC HM. A third key returnee is Evan Oehlke (6’1” Sr. G > 6.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.7 APG) while Blake Ludemann (6’0” Sr. G) played in a majority of GM’s games. Guards Zac Hoffman, Rafe Pooler, and Mason Geier round out a returning seven-man senior class. GM has averaged 20 wins the past two seasons. The Larks open at home against SG and then Hayfield (sole non-con game). They play L/P back-to-back February 16 and 18, Randolph on March 2.
The only team the Journal covered last year to make it out of the play-off Round of 16 was Rushford-Peterson. The Trojans then fell to Hayfield 60-48 in the section quarters. Chris Drinkall’s bunch finished 5-11 in the TRC, 13-14 overall. The Trojans enter 2021 returning all their key pieces, plus adding an experienced player. All-league picks Justin Ruberg (6’3” F) and Luke O’Hare (6’2” F) head the cast. Ruberg (15.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 47.6% FGs) led the Trojans in scoring, rebounding, and assists last season. Twice All-TRC selected O’Hare (14.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG) enters his fourth year on varsity. Malachi Bunke (5’10” Jr. G) gives the Trojans a third solid returning scorer (10.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 40.6% threes). He was All-TRC HM in 2020. Every-game guys Ben Wieser (6’6” Sr. C > 5.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG), Grady Hengel (5’9” So. G > 4.9 PPG), and Andrew Hoiness (5’8” Jr. G) add to the continuity. Trey Olson (5’10” Sr. G > 3.7 PPG), a starter in 2018-2019, returns to the team. Jonah Sievers (6’1” G) rounds out a four-man senior class. R-P will open at Triton, D-E, and W-K. They then have home game versus SC, Caledonia, and FC. For the first time since the 2014-2015, they play neighbor Lanesboro.
Spring Grove returns five of last year’s 12 letter winners, but brings back less than half of the scoring and only a fourth of the rebounding. The lone full-time starter returning was the most celebrated, Lions MVP and two-time All-SEC Caden Grinde. Illness provided opportunity for Hunter Holland, who started nine games as a freshman. After nine consecutive conference championships, last year’s most inexperienced Lions in program history finished 9-5 in the SEC East (second-place tie). At 13-13 overall, a string of 21 winning records ended with a playoff loss at Southland. Grinde (6’4” Sr. G) led the entire conference in steals, led the Lions in scoring (16.7 PPG), assists (3.8 APG) and free throw percentage (61%). In addition to Holland (5’8” So. G), the other three letter winners are Carson Gerard (6’4”Jr. F), Elijah Solum (6’1” Fr. G) and Tysen Grinde (6’1” So. G). On a young 15-player roster, Caden Grinde is the only senior veteran. Gerard is the lone junior who played in more than one varsity game. Statistically, last year’s Lions outperformed the opponents in assists, steals, charges taken, rebounding, and scoring. Percentage-wise, they were outshot both from the field and the foul line. Superior ball-handling and many more steals allowed them to attempt considerably more shots from the field and the charity line. SG averaged 53 and gave up 47. Wade Grinde teams are always well-schooled in defense, and ball-handling could again be a strength as Grinde, Grinde, Solum and Holland each had more assists than turnovers. The Lions open at GM. On the varsity bench, Wade Grinde, Al Lochner and Tom Vix have 92 seasons of coaching experience.
In the Chosen Valley, Chatfield will look to make use of a stand-outs final season. Jeff DeBuhr’s group went 7-9 in the TRC, 9-17 overall last year. They fell to Stewartville 75-61 in the 1AA Round of 16. The Gophers graduated three key seniors. Fourth-year player Reid Johnson (6’2” G) returns as Chatfield’s only All-TRC pick. He put up very strong averages last season (19.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.5 SPG, 41.8% threes), moving his career total to over 1,200 points. The Gophers also return third-year starter David Castleberg (6’4” Sr. F > 8.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG). Sophomore Cole Johnson (6’3” G), Reid’s brother, is also back after a very solid freshman year (6.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.3 APG). Austin Koenigs (6’3” Sr. F), Henry Gathje (6‘0“ Sr. G), Ben Fretland (6’1” Sr. G), Sam Backer (6’0” So. F), Drew Schindler (5’9” So. G), and Maysn Remme (5‘11” Sr. G) are additional key returnees. Braden Thompson (5’11” G) and Broden Hobbs (5’6” G) give the Gophers seven seniors. Chatfield opens with Caledonia and then Pine Island, both at home. Lake City and Z-M are two other non-con games in addition to a TRC schedule.
Hoping for a good season are the boys by the dam in Lanesboro. Matt Asleson returns for year number two heading the Burros. The orange and black went 4-10 in the SEC last year, 12-15 overall. The season ended at the hands of Schaeffer Academy 63-38 in a Section 1A Round of 16 game. The Burros had no seniors. Their big junior class (which was instrumental in winning a 9-Man football section title) is back for the senior year of b-ball. A sophomore is the one who leads the way. John Prestemon (6’0” G) made All-SEC 2nd Team a year ago as a freshman (team-second best 12.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.3 SPG). Their top scorer, shooter Sawyer Johnson (6’0” Sr. G), also returns (13.2 PPG, 84 made threes). He was All-SEC HM. Senior Ryan Holmen (6’2” C > 7.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG) and junior J.T. Rein (5’11” F/G > 6.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG) give the Burros four returning 6-plus-PPG guys. Seniors Bodie Mayer (6’3” F/C > 1.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG), Ben Eversole (5‘7” Sr. G > 3.3 PPG), Ben Snyder (6‘1” F > 2.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG), Carter Clarke (6’1” F) and Jake Gathje (5’11” G), were every-game guys while Hayden Lawstuen (6‘1” So. G) was close. Wilson Storhoff (5’6” G) rounds out a seven-man senior class. Lanesboro opens at Kingsland, then hosts FC. Their sole non-con game is renewing the series with neighbor R-P.
The LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals begin the year with a new coach. Ryan Evans takes over for Justin Stevens. L-O went 6-9 in the SEC, 10-17 overall last year. They finished fourth in the West and fell to GM 74-51 in the 1A Round of 16. The Cardinals lost a good one, graduated 1,700-point career scorer Riley Olson, a two-time All-SEC pick (1st Team in 2019-2020). He averaged an SEC-best 25.2 points and 9.1 rebounds. L-O’s top returning scorer is All-SEC HM pick Tanner Olson (6’3” Jr. F > 10.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG), who was close to averaging a double-double. From there, Levi Royston (6’4” Jr. G/F > 7.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG), Chase Johnson (5’6” Jr. G > 6.8 PPG, 3.4 APG), Isaac Collier (5’11” Sr. F), and Andrew Lohuis (5’8” Sr. G) are returning full-timers. Collier and Lohuis are the lone seniors. The Cardinals open at home with Schaeffer. They host GM on January 21. They play just SEC games.
The Kingsland Knights will be transitioning this season. Coach John Fenske used five seniors liberally last year. Kingsland went 4-11 in the SEC, 8-20 overall. They won a 1A play-in play-off game, but fell 69-42 to Randolph in the Round of 16. The Knights only had one player on the SEC team (graduated All-SEC HM pick Lucas Howard). Kingsland also lost its leading scorer, 6’7” center Brady Musel (12.8 PPG). They return their second leading scorer, junior Walker Erdman (6’2” G > 11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG). He’s already played a year and a half on varsity. Kaden Rath (5’8” Jr. G), William Jahn (6’0” Sr. G/F) and Nick Eickhoff (5’10” Jr. G) also are back after having played a lot last year. Devin Carr (5’8” G) joins Jahn as the only returning seniors. Four of Kingsland’s first five games are at home, starting with Lanesboro. They have a four-game “road trip” in February. They are only playing SEC games.
In Preston, it is year two for Fillmore Central under the direction of Brady O’Connor. Last year, the Falcons went 2-14 in the TRC, 5-23 overall. FC won a play-off play-in game, but fell to Hayfield 89-57 in the 1A Round of 16. FC graduated its top player in top scorer/rebounder Haidyn Gunderson (17.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG), an All-TRC HM pick. They return his best side-kick, senior Zach Haugerud (6’1” G > 14.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG). He’ll be one of four returnees who played in at least 25 games. Seniors Grant Kennedy (6’1” F > 3.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG), Jecob Wood (6’2” Sr. F), and Trevor Hershberger (5‘10” G) are the other three. Bryce Corson (5’6” So. G) played a lot late last year a frosh. Jeremy O’Connor (5’7” G) rounds out a five-man senior group. Would-be key returnee, guard Carson Kiehne (7.4 PPG) is not out. FC opens at rival Lanesboro, one of three roads games to start the year. They then have three home games. SG (road) and M-C (home) are the other non-con games.
Mabel-Canton enters the year coming off a rough 2019-2020 campaign. The Cougars went 1-13 in the SEC, 3-24 overall. They fell to FC in a Section 1A play-in game. M-C graduated four every-game seniors (but none were All-TRC). Russell Larson’s top returnee is senior Gavin Johnson (6’1” F > 8.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG). He made All-SEC HM last year. Freshman Cayden Tollefsrud (5’8” G > 7.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.2 APG) should take step two in a long good varsity basketball process. The duo were the Cougars top scorers a season ago. Namesakes Reid Crawford (6’1” Sr. F > 5.5 PPG) and Rien Crawford (6’1” Sr.), Jack Arneson (5’8” Sr. G) and Alex Arneson (5’11” Jr. F), give M-C further experience. Randy Gerard (5’10” F) rounds out a returning five-man senior class. The Cougars open at L/P. They then play all ten of their games against SEC-East squads. They have non-con tilts at FC and hosting R-P. In Houston, team double-H will start fresh this season.
The Hurricanes went 9-5 in the SEC last year (tied for second in the East), 14-13 overall. They fell to L/P 63-56 in a 1A Round of 16 contest. The ‘Canes graduated six of seven regulars. That list included two 1,000-point scorers in 1st team All-SEC pick Alex Van Gundy (1,565) and 2nd team All-SEC pick Mikkel Schutte (1,172). Each averaged just over 20 PPG. Houston also changed coaches, from Trent Vix to Jake Merchlewitz. He inherits a club with just one returning starter, slash, key player in Noah Kingsley (5’10” Sr. G > 5.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG). Landon Carrier (5’10” F) is a second returning senior. Tanner Kubitz (6’1” F) and Kenny Grupe (5’10” G) are Houston’s two returning juniors. The Hurricanes begin at Southland, Randolph, and M-C. They then have SG, Lanesboro, M-C at home. BP and R-P are non-con tilts.
Wrestling Preview
The 2021 wrestling season begins facing alterations due to COVID. Teams will not be wrestling weekend tournaments or weekend large dual meets. Teams have scheduled a litany of triangulars, sometimes two a week, to fill their schedules. The Journal Sports welcomes back GMLOS wrestling to its coverage (after having been exempt from reporting for a few years, per Kingsland’s withdrawal from the share).
Last season was a great year for GMLOS wrestling. The Bulldogs made the state team tournament for the first time since 2005. Randy Smith’s group beat W-K 75-3, Chatfield 36-35, and D-E 43-30 to win Section 1A. At state, the Bulldogs lost twice narrowly, to Blue Earth Area 34-32 (quarters), and Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 39-36 (consolation bracket). GMLOS finished the year 23-5. The Bulldogs were well represented at the individual state tourney. Eight guys made it. Ten of 11 to wrestle at the Section 1A individual meet took first, second, or third. All ten return. Seven are seniors. Heading the cast are returning section champions and state placers, seniors Anthony Romero (106), Noah Sayles (170/182), and Daniel Smith (160). Romero was the top Bulldog state placer, winning Section 1A at 106 and advancing all the way to the state title match. He was state runner-up, finishing 44-4. Sayles and Smith each made the state semis. Sayles (43-6) took fifth at 170, Smith (20-8) sixth at 160. Sophomores Cohen Wiste (113 > 39-6) and James Jacobsen (120 > 22-23), seniors Lucas Winfield (132 > 29-18), Rece Voigt (145 > 41-11), and Cameron Sneed (195 > 33-12) each were Section 1A runner-up and made state. None won more than one match in St. Paul. Additionally, Donavan Felten (Jr. 138 > 39-9) and Christian Jacobsen (Sr. 152 > 40-7) each took third at sections. Romero, Sayles, Smith, Wiste, Sneed, Voigt, C-Jacobson, and Felten each were All-TRC. Winfield was All-TRC HM. Returnees Corbin Ludemann (Sr. 138), Colten Gardner (285), and Cael Gilbert (120) add experience, having taken the mat amidst the team section and state tourneys. The Bulldogs open at the NRHEG/Maple River triangular. Key TRC three-ways include at Caledonia (with PEM) on January 22, at Chatfield (with St. Charles) on February 20, and a home meet in Adams (LARP/FCLMC) on February 27.
Narrowly getting edged out by GMLOS in the 2020 team tourney were the Chatfield Gophers. Chatty beat the Bulldogs in the regular season 39-36, but fell 36-35 in the 1A semis. The Gophers finished 14-4. Chatfield welcomes a new coach, former assistant Matt Mauseth. A trio of guys made state last season, Seth Goetzinger (145), Cael Bartels (113), and A.J. Karver (220). Only Bartels graduated. Overall, ten of 12 Section 1A individual meet wrestlers return. Goetzinger heads the cast. Entering his senior year, Seth already has three state qualifications (three section titles), including a third place in 2018 and last year’s state runner-up at 145 (38-4). Karver (28-11) returns after having won last year’s 220-pound 1A title and making state. Also back are juniors Campbell Berge (160 > 22-15) and Grady Schott (170 > 32-11), who each took third at sections. Rounding out Chatfield’s eight returning section placers are fourth place guys Kail Schott (Fr. 126 > 25-14) and Cody Guenther (Sr. 132 > 24-15), fifth place guys Carson Rowland (8th 106 > 18-15) and Tate Karver (Sr. 138 > 28-11). Goetzinger, Berge, G-Schott, and the Karvers were All-TRC last season. Guenther and K-Schott were All-TRC HM. Lukas Carrier (So. 120) wrestled at sections last year, while other sophs Ryan House (106), Sulley Fergurson (120), Jackson Schild (132), and Thad Evans (138) have varsity experience. The Gophers open at the Goodhue Tri (with K-W). They have six home meets including Caledonia/D-E on January 30, GMLOS/SC February 20, and D-E/PEM on March 6.
LARP wrestling enters the year having gone 9-10 last season. The Screamin’ Eagles, wrestling in Class AA, lost to PEM 46-28 in the section quarters. Coaches Tim Tekautz and Darrin Hegland graduated the squad’s sole state qualifier, two-time entrant Ross Herber. Two former state qualifiers head their cast of returnees. Senior Gable Speltz (32-10), who made state in 2019, took third at sections a year ago at 138. He is LARP’s sole returning All-TRC pick. Carter Jonsgaard (31-10), who made state in 2018, took fourth last year at 120. From there, juniors Tyler Kreidemacher (113, 30-14) and Jacob Meyer (182 > 19-19) were section placers, taking fifth. Brennan Corcoran (So. 152) placed, taking sixth. Quintin Betthauser (8th 106), Garret Miesch (Sr. 160), Colin Klug (Jr. 170), and Alex Perez (Jr. 285) also return after wrestling at last year’s section meet. Jordan Zibrowski (Fr. 120), Caleb Mueller (Jr. 138), and D.J. Plank (So. 182) grappled in the yearly line-up. Jonsgaard, Kreidemacher, and Zibrowski were All-TRC HM. LARP hosts three “tris” – the opener on January 16 (St. Charles/Z-M), January 23 (D-E/PEM), and February 12 (Caledonia/Chatfield). They are at GMLOS (with FCLMC) on February 27.
FCLMC wrestling took a big step last year. The Wolves finally put out a full roster, allowing the guys to win double digits meets for the first time in a long time. FCLMC won a wrestle-in play-off dual (another first in a while), before falling to Z-M 56-12 in the 1A quarters. They finished at 13-11. Blaise Sass (who’d been helping the program) steps in as the new coach. The Wolves didn’t have a state qualifier or an All-TRC pick. The top returnees are senior twins Cale Anderson (126, 20-13) and Caden Anderson (145, 29-17). Each took third at sections. Caden was a state qualifier in 2018. FCLMC has two other returning section placers, sixth-place guys Connor Wingert (Fr. 113) and Caleb Kunz (Sr. 160, 15-14). Kyle Daniels (Fr. 106), Ryan Kelly (Sr. 132), Carter Hovland (So. 138), and Devin Troendle (Sr. 170, 14-14) return after wrestling at the Section 1A meet. Orion Sass (So. 152), Boston Wright (138), Oliver Hoeltzle (152), Bodey Wright (Jr. 170), Carson Berg (Jr. 182), and Cooper Ferrie (So. 220) are other varsity returnees. Cale Anderson and Sass were All-TRC HM. The Wolves have 11 triangulars and two straight duals. They have home ‘Tri’s’ on February 4 (PEM/John Marshall), February 6 (St. Charles/W-K), and February 19 (Caledonia/D-E). They notably are at the GMLOS triangular on February 27 (with LARP).