A year ago, was another strong season for area volleyball teams. Chatfield (Section 1AA) and Fillmore Central (Section 1A) each repeated in winning their respective section titles. The Gophers (27-8) and Falcons (27-7) each went to state, bringing home hardware. Elsewhere, TRC champ Caledonia (26-6), SEC-East champ Mabel-Canton (29-4), and SEC-West champ Grand Meadow (22-7) won league titles. Rushford-Peterson (18-6) and Spring Grove (16-13) also finished above five-hundred. Lanesboro (15-15), Houston (10-16), and LeRoy-Ostrander (10-16) each got to 10 wins while Kingsland (4-19) struggled. A number of strong players graduated but teams from Caledonia, FC, M-C, and SG return multiple All-Conference selections, thus have the most optimism.
Last year saw Fillmore Central repeat as Section 1A champs. Coming off an “upset” of Mabel-Canton in 2024, the Falcons stormed to the 2025 title losing just one set in section play. After losing in the first round of state, Travis Malley’s group swept back-to-back consolation bracket matches to win the Fifth-Place Trophy. The Falcons went 9-1 in the TRC, taking second to Caledonia, and finished 27-7 overall. FC had four All-TRC picks in Kyla Hellickson (5’9” OH), Aubrey Daniels (5’5” setter), Madi Zwart (6’0” MH), and Josie Corson (5’4” libero). Five-year starter, four-time All-TRC pick, and 2025 Class A All-State selection Hellickson (501 digs, 285 kills, 65 aces) and four-year player, three-time All-TRC pick, Daniels (533 assists, 162 digs, 45 aces on 96% serving), plus regular Cora Britton (6’0” MB) graduated. Hellickson moved on with over 2,300 career digs, the FC record holder, Daniels over 2,100 career assists. But the Falcons bring back enough to again be a favorite in the TRC and Section 1A. Big hitter Zwart (6’1” Jr. MH) and defender Corson (5’6” Sr. libero) head the cast. Zwart, a Class A All-State selection last year, led the team in kills with 414, hitting .329. She also had a team-best 88 total blocks. She’s is maybe the TRC’s best tall hitter. Corson led the team in digs with 582. Also back from last year’s state team are All-TRC HM pick Lauren Dahly (5’8” Sr. OH/MH > 183 kills, 44 total blocks, 34 aces), highly versatile Hannah Vaalemoen (5’9” Jr. setter/RH > 102 kills, 467 assists, 151 digs, 71 aces), and Norah Nagel (5’9” Jr. OH > 147 kills, 317 digs, 61 aces). Dahly, Corson, and Cameron Wingert (5’9” RH) are the three returning seniors. As is normal, FC has a tough schedule that includes the Apple Valley, Class A Showcase, and Chaska Tourneys. They open the season hosting K-W in rematch of the 2025 Section 1A title game while also hosting Z-M non-conference. Road non-conference games are at Stewartville and Century. Notable TRC games are September 15 versus Caledonia (at home) and September 22 versus Chatfield (on the road).
Looking to improve upon last year’s strong season are the Caledonia Warriors. Dan Reinhart’s group went undefeated in the TRC to win the league (10-0). The Warriors made it to the 1AA finals but fell to Chatfield 3-1. Caledonia finished the year 26-6, as 1AA runner-up. The Warriors had five All-TRC pick with Aubrie Klug (6’0” libero > team-high 537 digs) and Kensey King (6’1” MH > 195 kills, team-high 64 ace blocks) graduating. Klug is a big loss as she made 1st Team Class AA All-State and finished with over 1,500 career digs. But they were the only two seniors on last year’s roster. The Warriors return a good five-girl senior class headed by All-TRC picks Avery Augedahl (5’7” setter) and Elsa Blum (5’9” OH). Augedahl (796 assists, 192 digs) will likely surpass 2,000 career assists as she keys the offense for a third straight year. Blum led the team with 256 kills while adding 217 digs and 39 aces. Experienced players Paizley Lange (5’8” RH > 105 kills, 220 digs, 39 aces), Adrienne Lange (5’10” MH > 131 kills, 32 total blocks), and Lauren Goetzinger (5’6” DS) round out the seniors. A big returning underclassman is All-TRC pick Ashlyn Reinhart (5’7” So. OH > 248 kills, 233 digs, team-best 78 aces). The Warriors return their setter and four of five girls to top 100 kills last year. They are again a TRC and Section 1AA contender. Team Cal has tournaments in Apple Valley and Lakeville. Non-conference, they host Z-M, play at Cannon Falls, Winona High, and Byron while taking on Belle Plaine in New Prague (for the Breakdown Sports Classic). The Warriors have a key three-game TRC span in late September, playing at FC (the 15th), hosting Chatfield (the 24th), then playing at Cotter/Hope Lutheran (the 29th).
Making it all the way to the state Class AA title game last year were the Chatfield Gophers. Kristi Rindels’ group went 8-2 in the TRC but won Section 1AA without going to five sets, then made it all the way to the state finals. They led two sets to zero before Hawley rallied big time, and dominated the rest of the match in a 3-2 win. The Gophers finished the year with the school’s best ever state volleyball finish, Class AA runner-up. They went 27-8 a year after going 29-6. But graduation hit Chatfield pretty hard. The Gophers had four players honored as All-TRC in Harper Goldsmith (5’8” setter), Trindy Barkeim (5’9” OH), Hannah Tweten (5’4” libero), and Cora Bicknese (5’7” OH/RS). Bicknese was the only non-senior. Goldsmith, a Class AA All-State pick (937 assists, 295 digs, 121 kills, 58 aces, 34 total blocks) left Chatfield with over 3,000 career assists, nearly 1,000 career digs, and almost 300 career aces. Barkeim (418 kills, 273 digs) graduated with over 1,100 career kills, Tweten (548 digs, 38 aces) with over 1,100 career digs. All three have at least been twice All-TRC and all three planned to play volleyball of some kind at the next level. All told, seven seniors graduated with each playing regularly. Bicknese (5’7” Sr. OH > team-high 434 kills, 471 digs, 40 aces), a Class AA All-State pick, is the top returnee after making the rare 400/400 club. The rare D-I volleyball signee (Michigan State) will look to surpass 2,000 career digs and 1,000 kills this season. But after her, the Gophers will look very different. Zaylee Boyum (5’4” Sr. DS) and Maizee Priebe (5’4” Sr. DS) are the only other two girls to see considerable varsity action last year, both in the back-line. Bicknese accounts for 434 of the team’s returning 442 kills. Goldsmith and Tweten had 1,002 of Chatfield’s 1,074 assists last year. Savannah Peterson (5’10” MB), Alexis Newman (5’3” setter/DS), Sydnie Kreter (5’8” RH), and Lucy Allen (5’6” DS) join Bicknese, Boyum, and Priebe to give the Gophers seven seniors. Five juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen complete the varsity roster. Chatfield has tourneys in Apple Valley, Burnsville (Class AA Showcase), and Eastview. In non-conference action, they host Cannon Falls and Pine Island, play at Byron, and have Crosby-Ironton in New Prague (for the Breakdown Classic). Key TRC matches are at home with FC on September 22, at Caledonia on September 24 (back-to-back games).
After graduating a big eight-girl senior class in 2025, one that was hugely impactful on two straight state teams, the Mabel-Canton Cougars regrouped nicely last year in the regular season. Lonnie Morken’s group won their 28th SEC title by sweeping through the league in undefeated fashion (14-0). But M-C suffered a hiccup in the 1A quarterfinals, losing to NRHEG 3-1. They finished the year 29-4. The Cougars had just three seniors and four combined upperclassmen a season ago. The biggest loss was four-time All-SEC selection, SEC Player of the Year, three-time All-State honoree, Kinley Soiney (5’11” MH). Soiney’s career saw her amass a Cougar record 2,205 kills, plus 450 total blocks and 765 digs. She led M-C in hitting last year with 470 kills at .409 efficiency while also contributing 53 aces, 84 total blocks, and 255 digs. Not seeing Soiney on the floor for the Cougars will be strange. But M-C returns its three other All-SEC honorees in setter Gwen Rein (5’5” Fr.), outside hitter Braylee Stortz (5’7” Fr. > 226 kills on .341 hitting, 239 digs, 45 aces), and middle hitter Ella Halverson (5’8” Sr. > 191 kills, 41 total blocks). Rein ripped to 904 assists a season ago plus 216 digs and 41 aces. Stortz and Halverson were M-C’s second and third hitters behind Soiney. Also back are All-SEC honorable mention pick Lauren Burke (5’5” Jr. libero > team-high 315 digs, 31 aces), Kaylee Kleppe (5’5” Fr. DS > 140 digs), Livia Garness (5’5” 8th grade OH > 147 digs, 37 aces), and Hailee Eiken (5’6” So. RH). As is sometimes the case, the Cougars are young and small, but not short on volleyball skill or experience. Halverson is the lone senior, Burke the only junior. The varsity has 10 players in eighth, ninth, or tenth grade. The Cougars have Heritage Christian Academy, the Class A Showcase (in Burnsville), and St. Clair tournaments. Rivalry matches with Spring Grove are September 22 (away) and October 13 (home).
Grand Meadow came away with another SEC-West division title a year ago. Under head coach Cathy Paul, the Superlarks went 13-1 in the SEC (only losing to Mabel-Canton). They won an opening round playoff game and made Rochester and the 1A quarterfinals before falling to Alden-Conger 3-0. GM used a strong senior class to achieve said feats (including their 10th straight SEC-West title), finishing with a 22-7 record. They had four All-SEC picks and all were seniors, Hallie Hendrickson (5’8” setter), Gracie Foster (5’7” OH), Kendall Jack (5’7” OH/MH), and Regan Schaalma (5’7” DS > 147 digs, 29 aces). Hendrickson (700 assists, 177 digs, 62 kills, 48 aces, 95% serving) finished her strong career with over nearly 1,800 career assists. Jack (216 kills, 217 digs, 43 aces) and Foster (team-best 232 kills, 148 digs) were the Larks’ top two hitters. Also graduating was Cheyenne Bakken (5’4” libero > team-high 364 digs), who finished with over 1,000 career digs. GM’s sole returning honored player is All-SEC MH pick Holly Weiss (5’8” Sr. RH > 99 kills), who is recovering from a torn ACL. but will play. Also returning with varsity experience are Alyvia Olson (5’10” Sr. MH/OH > 153 kills, 40 total blocks), Rylee Holst (5’4” Jr. DS > 136 digs), Sophia Braun (5’10” Jr. MH/OH > 58 kills), and Claire Munson (5’9” Sr. OH > 42 kills). The Larks are rich in seniors with 10, as Gabby Tangren (MH/DS), Riley Bungum (OH), Aubrianna Buttke (DS), Cloey Breitbarth (setter/RH), Kloe Meyer (MH), Hadley Pooler, and Charlotte Keller join Weiss, Olson and Munson. GM has tourneys at Pine Island and WEM plus at home on September 19. Key cross-divisional SEC matchups are with Spring Grove on September 15 (home) and Mabel-Canton (away) on October 19 to end the regular season.
Middendorf
The Spring Grove Lions, at 16-13, had a winning record for an 11th straight season. At 9-5 in the SEC, Kelsey Morken’s girls were East Division runners-up to Mabel-Canton for a fifth straight year and for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons (third in 2020). The Lions never lost a 3-0 match, including 3-2 and 3-1 competitive losses to M-C. With the 8th-seed among 19 section squads in Class 1A, SG won one playoff match before falling to eventual section champ Fillmore Central. The Lions were the lone team to take a section set versus the Falcons. Graduation claimed nine of 13 letter winners, including kill leader Hailey Norman (215 kills, 23% hit efficiency) and leading blocker Kylie Hammel (50 blocks, 152 kills). But both All-SEC Lions and their honorable mention pick return. Team MVP and All-SEC Izabel Kaufmann (5’4” Sr. libero) had a team-high 422 digs, sparked the attack with a second-most 69 assists and third-most 35 service aces. All-SEC Brinley Middendorf (5’10” Sr. MB) had a team-high 92% serving accuracy and the second-best ace percentage (.14). She had a team-high 16 solo blocks, ranking second with 47 total blocks and 208 kills. All-SEC HM Claire Sherburne (5”5” Fr. S) was the starting setter as an eighth grader, leading the Lions with both 699 set assists and 55 ace serves. The other letterwinner is Jada Strinmoen (5’7” Sr. OH/S, 112 kills, 91% serving), who ranked second with 254 digs. Look for key contributions from Lauren Hammel (5’8” Jr. OH). All non-conference action will be tournaments at Apple Valley, Goodhue and the Class A Showcase in Burnsville. Rivalry clashes versus Mabel-Canton are September 22 (home) and October 13 (away).
The Rushford-Peterson Trojans could not keep up with upper-echelon TRC teams Caledonia, Fillmore Central and Chatfield, but beat everyone else in taking fourth place in the league at 7-3. Under Coach Jenny Lee, R-P fell in the first round of the 1AA playoffs to Dover-Eyota 3-1 and finished a strong season at 18-6. R-P got just one All-TRC performer in Torryn Schneider (5’6” OH), a two-time pick and probably their most all-around player (187 kills, 337 digs, 43 aces). But she graduated (with over 1,300 digs). All-TRC HM selection Ava Helgemoe (5’9” OH > team-high 194 kills, 38 ace blocks) also moved on amidst a seven-girl senior class. Of those, five were key assets. The Trojans sole returning honored player is sophomore libero Addison Drinkall (5’5” > 359 digs, 34 aces), the team leader in digs the last two seasons, and All-TRC honorable mention pick. She can top 1,000 this season. R-P’s other experienced returnees are Ariana Bettinger (5’6” Sr. OH > 62 kills, 53 digs), Brielle Schneider (5’7” Sr. OH > 95 kills, 110 digs), Grace Ekern (5’6” So. Setter > 140 assists, 132 digs), Madison Ingvalson (5’10” Sr. RH), and Alannah Skalet (5’5” Jr. DS). The Trojans will have to retool having lost their top two hitters (T-Schneider, A-Helgemoe) off a team that did not have anyone record 200 kills. Morgan Rye, Kenley Snyder, Sophie Meyer, and Kaia Loney join with B-Schneider, Ingvalson, and Bettinger to give the Trojans seven seniors. In their second year in Class AA, the Trojans have tourneys in Grand Meadow, Byron and Goodhue. They also host Waukon and Rochester-Lourdes non-conference while playing at Red Wing and Lanesboro. Matchups with TRC heavyweights Fillmore Central (away), Caledonia (home), and Chatfield (away) as well at Cotter/Hope Lutheran (home) are all in October (the last four league games).
In their first year under head coach Courtney Graves, Lanesboro went 8-6 in the SEC and 15-15 overall. The Burros fell in the first round of the 1A playoffs to Lewiston-Altura 3-0. Lanesboro had three honored players. Jensyn Storhoff (5’7” OH/setter) and Emma Ruen (5’8” setter) made All-SEC while Sari Rein (5’10” MB) was All-SEC honorable mention. Storhoff and Rein each graduated. Storhoff was a three-time All-SEC pick who battled injury but contributed 108 kills, 99 assists, 156 digs, and 31 aces last year. She finished her career with over 1,200 digs. Rein was the team’s leading hitter with 178 kills. Also graduating was multi-year libero Ellie Howard (5’6” > team-best 392 digs), who also finished with over 1,200 digs. Storhoff, Rein, and Howard were part of a five-girl senior class with four contributing greatly. Ruen (5’8” Jr. setter) is the top returnee, as she amassed a team-high 569 assists plus 254 digs, 55 kills, and 34 aces. Other key returnees are Jentrey Schreiber (5’9” Sr. OH > 155 kills, 116 digs, 29 aces), Cora Mayer (5’10” Jr. MB > 86 kills, 39 total blocks), Kaylee Gilbertson (5’8” Jr. DS > 64 kills, 217 digs), and Irelynn Papenfuss (Sr. DS > 118 digs). The Burros lost their top defender (Howard) and top hitter (Rein) but return experience at every position. Thea Arends (setter) and Jewels Lidke (OH) join Schreiber and Papenfuss as the team’s four returning seniors. Lanesboro has the Waukon Tourney plus they host Rushford-Peterson and La Crescent/Hokah in non-conference matches. They play Spring Grove on September 8 (away) and October 1 (home), Mabel-Canton on September 3 (home) and September 29 (away).
The Houston Hurricanes went 5-9 in the SEC a year ago. The ‘Canes won a Section 1A play-in play-off game over Schaeffer Academy but fell to Mabel-Canton 3-0 in the 1A Round of 16. Houston finished at 10-16 under Coach Robin Soland. The Hurricanes did not have a pure All-SEC selection last season. Jorja Meyer (5’10” Sr. MH > team-bests 128 kills, 63 aces, 26 total blocks) was honorable mention. She was one of six seniors to graduate, with five playing full-time rolls. Also graduating was setter Olivia Yohe (5’5” > 378 assists, 233 digs) and libero Cadence Koehler (5’5” team-best 266 digs). The Hurricanes this year will build and retool around full-time returnees, seniors Emmie Melbo (5’6” OH > 108 kills, 202 digs), Lydia Pedretti (5’6” MH > 80 kills), and Mary Srock (setter/DS > 93 digs). Trinity Lisota (Sr. OH/RH) is a fourth returning senior to get some experience last year. Reece Norlien, Kyleigh Seekamp, and Chloe McQuinn round out a seven-girl senior class. Three juniors and four sophomores fill out the varsity roster. Houston has tourneys in Winona and Wabasha plus a non-conference match at La Crescent/Hokah. The Hurricanes host Spring Grove on September 17 at play at the Lions October 12. Their first five non-tourney matches are on the road, but then they have five straight non-tourney matches at home.
A couple years removed from sharing the SEC-West title, the LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals went an even 7-7 in the SEC last year and 10-16 overall. They fell to Alden-Conger 3-0 in the Section 1A Round of 16. The Cardinals had just one All-SEC pick in setter Meah Stevens (5’5” > 523 assists, 184 digs, 27 aces), who tallied over 1,000 career assists in her career. She was one of three full-time seniors to graduate. L-O’s would-be returning All-SEC honorable mention pick Keira Lewison (5’5” Sr. OH > 120 kills, 158 digs) is not out. Seniors Maria Almaraz-Nolt (5’8” OH > 119 kills, 241 digs) and Miranda Nagel (5’9” MB > 183 kills, 38 total blocks) are the top two returnees. Madi Stern (5’8” So. OH > 135 kills) is a key returning underclassman. Kim Volkart (RS) and Mabel Johnson (OH) round out a four-girl senior class. Tierney Schulte (Jr. libero) is another notable returnee with some experience. The Cardinals return three of their four top hitters from a year ago in Nagel, Stern and Almaraz-Nolt, but will break in a new setter with Stevens departed. Lindsay Milks’ group opens the year with three straight home SEC matches, versus Schaeffer, L/P, and Southland. They then play at Grand Meadow (September 10) while hosting the Larks in early October (October 6). The Cards have tourneys in Hayfield, Wabasha, and Goodhue.
Kingsland went 2-12 in the SEC last year and 4-18 overall. They lost to Hayfield in a 1A play-in match. The Knights have been through there share of coaches over the years, but Tanna Opseth returns for her second season. Kingsland had six seniors a year ago with All-SEC honorable mention pick Emma Howard (5’5” setter > 200 assists, 116 digs, 22 aces) the only honored athlete. Their top defender Paisley Robinson (5’5” libero/DS > 275 digs) also graduated. They return five seniors this year in Jillian Moore (5’5” DS/libero > 118 digs), Chloe Drury-DeBoer (5’4” setter/RH > 129 digs), Skylar Lentz (5’8” MH/setter), Taylor Lawson (5’5” RH), and Mylah Montgomery (5’9” MH). Kenidy Fenton (5’8”) gives the Knights six total seniors. The varsity had just two juniors. Aliyah Holland (5’6” So. OH > 61 kills) and Sydney Wendt (Fr. 87 digs) are a couple of key returning underclassmen. Holland was the team leader in kills last season. The team as a whole struggled in that department. The Knights will hope to move the win tally upward. They start the year at Lanesboro and at Glenville-Emmons. Kingsland has tourneys in Austin and Wabasha.
2026 Cross Country Preview
A year ago, was the year of the Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston boys cross country team. After six years straight of qualifying for state, LARPH’s guys won a state title to highlight cross country action. LFC gal runner Autumn Rakosnik also competed at state (for a third straight year). Said team and individual should again highlight the local up-and-down running action. And this year’s state meet is at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake.
From 15th to 15th to 14th to 8th to 4th to state champions. It is what the Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston boys cross-country team has accomplished the last six years (minus the COVID season, where they also qualified for state). Matt Kingsbury’s group held off rival Cotter/Hope Lutheran to win the TRC Meet title, then their third straight 1A meet title, before again topping nearest foe the Ramblers at state. It gave the LARPH program their first state cross country title ever. But graduation claimed key All-TRC seniors Isaac Rasmussen (3rd TRC Meet, 6th 1A Meet), Aaron Ploetz (7th TRC Meet, 9th 1A Meet), Trey Hegland (9th TRC Meet, 12th 1A Meet), and Hunter Rislov (13th TRC Meet, 16th 1A meet). Rasmussen finished 17th at state, Ploetz 22nd, and Hegland 19th. Said group definitely shouldered a big chunk of the LARPH dynasty. But seven guys finish top 20 at the 1A meet, so rallying the wagons for another good run is again a goal. Top returnees are strong runners, junior Grayson Speltz (5th TRC Meet, 5th 1A Meet), senior Brennan Kunst (6th TRC Meet, 4th 1A Meet), and junior Will Jewison (10th TRC Meet, 13th 1A Meet). Each was All-TRC last year. Speltz was the team’s highest finisher at state (11th place) while Jewison (37th place) and Kunst (38th place) each finished top 40. But from there, other guys will have to step up. Senior Cole Timm (25th TRC Meet), juniors Henry Meyer (39th TRC Meet) and Damien Gossen are three more notable returnees. Kunst and Timm are the two seniors though the team has nine juniors. On the girls’ side, LARPH took ninth at the TRC Meet and 12th at sections. Caitlin Bauer had a second strong season. The now junior (4th TRC Meet, 9th 1A Meet) just missed state. The group’s top returnee, she will aim for the big run this year. The team’s two seniors, Vada Larson (29th TRC Meet) and Glory Erickson, sophomore Violet Passow, freshmen Payson Speltz, Claire Jewison and Sarah Hennessey also are back. Last year’s 1A meet team returns completely. Track and field 800-meter state qualifier, junior Emily Helgemoe also notably joins the team. LARPH’s schedule sees them host meets at Ferndale (September 22) and Heartland courses (October 8). They also run at Wabasha, La Crescent (“Crazy Buffalo”), Luther College (“All American’” Meet), the University of Minnesota (“Roy Griak”), St. Mary’s, St. Charles, and Plainview.
Notably claiming the TRC Meet team title a year ago to lead Lanesboro/Fillmore Central was their girls’ team. Autumn Rakosnik was again Coach Ellen Cullen’s top runner. Rakosnik was TRC Meet and Section 1A Meet champion while placing 11th at state, her second straight high finish at the biggest run of the season. The junior’s high-end abilities are key to a strong L/FC girls team that returns six of seven runners from the 1A Meet. It is an event where L/FC took a narrow fourth place last year, just 10 points out of a state qualification. Also back is All-TRC performer junior Charity Kingsley (20th TRC Meet, 30th 1A Meet) plus freshman Stella Charlebois (23rd TRC Meet, 26th 1A Meet), junior Grace Kingsley (24th TRC Meet, 47th 1A Meet), sophomore Eliza Cullen (26th TRC Meet, 31st 1A Meet), and senior Olivia Rindels (35th TRC meet). Avalon Timmerman is a second senior on the squad. L/FC did graduate six-time All-TRC honoree and former state qualifier Lillyan Kiehne (10th TRC Meet, 29th 1A Meet). She was typically the team’s second strongest runner behind Rakosnik. Improvement from its returnees not named Rakosnik would be a key to helping L/FC to a state berth. On the guys’ side, the Burros took fifth at the TRC Meet and a solid sixth at sections. They return a good group, too, headed by seniors Andy Brown (19th TRC, 28th 1A Meet), who was All-Conference last year, Riley Grant (22nd TRC meet, 25th 1A Meet), who just missed All-TRC (and was in 2024), and Cooper Pickett (26 TRC Meet, 35th 1A Meet). Also back from the 1A Meet are freshman Quinn Lepper and Luke Brown, sophomore Asher Hershberger. Just one runner graduated off of last year’s section team. Tristen Sill is a fourth senior. L/FC has meets in Stewartville (“Bill Glomski”), La Crescent (“Crazy Buffalo”), Luther College (“All-American Invite”), Rushford, St. Charles, Lewiston, and Plainview (“Jodi Rahman”).
The best performance from its teams last year for the Chatfield came on the girls’ side of the equation. Niki DeBuhr’s gals took third at the TRC Meet and sixth at sections. Three Gopher gals made All-TRC and the same three finished top 40 at sections. All three return to head a squad that should again compete favorably. Leading the group is Lexi Kivimagi (8th TRC meet, 18th 1A Meet). After four straight state qualifications, Kivimagi missed out on state last year. Now a senior, she will bookend a fantastic running career this season. Freshman Adeline Schild (12th TRC meet, 20th 1A Meet) and 8th grader Autumn Norsten (14th TRC Meet, 39th place 1A) each also finished top 21 at the TRC meet to earn all-conference. They give Chatfield a good starting threesome. Also returning for the Gophers from the 1A meet are freshmen Sophie Welder and Karsyn Dyer, 8th grader Emily Njos. Only one senior departed from last year’s sections group of seven. On the guys’ side of the equation, Chatfield took sixth at the TRC meet and tenth at the 1A Meet. The Gophers graduated two of their top four runners. But they return their sole All-TRC selection in senior Ben Peeters (21st TRC Meet, 26th 1A Meet). Junior Max Hoover (30th TRC meet, 34th 1A Meet) plus sophomores Avett Kivimagi and Cael Sinn also return off of last year’s 1A Meet squad. Colter Milander joins Peeters as the guys’ two seniors (Kivimagi is the lone gal senior). The Gophers’ schedule has them running in Stewartville (“Bill Glomski”), Decorah (“All-American Invite”), Rochester, Rushford, Winona (St. Mary’s Meet), St. Charles, and Plainview (“Jodi Rahman”) while they also host the annual event at Chatfield Golf Course on October 6.
The squads from Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland will look for improvement this year. The GMLOS girls took sixth and the boys tenth at the TRC Meet. They then finished 13th and 20th respectively at the 1A Meet. The teams sole All-TRC pick, both sexes, Naomi Warmka (15th TRC Meet, 41st 1A Meet), graduated. She was one of two female seniors to run at sections last year. Coach McKenzie Bradley returns three runners from last year’s 1A Meet squad in junior Sadie Bustad (31st TRC Meet, 45th 1A Meet), sophomore Audrey Main (30th TRC Meet), and senior Madi Clapp. Only Bustad finished top 50 at sections. Paisley Kolling, Lily McKay, and Abby Steinkamp are three more seniors. On the guys’ side of things, no runner finished in the top 75 of sections. Three seniors graduated including the top two finishers from sections. Senior Braydn Nordeng, juniors Zeke Phillips and Ashton Gehling, and freshman Shane Ruechel are returnees from the section run. Tayegan Williams and Ethan Schammel are two more seniors. GMLOS has meets in Stewartville (“Bill Glomski”), Hayfield, Rochester (Mayo Invite), Pine Island, Lewiston (LARPH Invite #2), and Austin.
Kingsland only had a full girls’ team a year ago. Erin Milz’ Knights took 11th at the TRC meet and 16th at the 1A Meet. The Knights did get an All-TRC runner in Reeyin Lanning, and she returns to head the cast. The now sophomore led Kingsland at both the TRC Meet (19th place) and at sections (42nd place). Also, back from sections is senior Gretchen Hubka, sister to Knight boys standout from yesteryear Garrison Hubka, junior Esme Mundfrom, freshman Adelyn Zweibohmer and Madeline Horton. Julie King gives the Knights two seniors. Kingsland returns five of six girls from the 1A Meet. They do not have a boys team this year. Kingsland has meets at Stewartville (“Bill Glomski”), Dover-Eyota, Lake City, St. Charles, LARPH (in Lewiston), and PEM.
*The Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration of Paul Trende and Lee Epps.
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