Nine-man rankings in the state may be a little bit off the first few weeks but should align much better after games like the week four battle in LeRoy. LeRoy-Ostrander (2-1) struck Mountain Lake Area (3-0) from the ranks of the unbeaten, from its top spot in the state in 9-Man. And Trevor Carrier’s group did so emphatically. The Cards built a 21-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 36-6 convincing victory. Naturally, elusive senior quarterback Chase Johnson was the beak of the hard-billed birds’ attack. Maybe the section’s most individually unstoppable player, Johnson did what he does. The 5’6” 170-pounder accounted for five TDs. He ran for 214 yards on 17 carries with three rushing scores (58, 40, and 13 yards). He connected on 6 of 9 passes for 132 yards and two more TDs. He hit his favorite target, Tristan Lewison just once, but it went for six (32 yards). Layne Bird (2-74 receiving) topped the Cardinals in receiving yards including catching a 39-yard TD. Tanner Olson had three tackles (two sacks) for loss and 15 total tackles to lead the defensive effort. The Cardinals as a team posted five sacks and got interceptions from Lewison and Hayden Sass. L-O improved to 2-1, 3-1. It was Johnson’s third 200-yard rushing effort of the season. He has 651 yards passing and 9 TDs, 878 yards rushing (15.1 YPC) and 12 TDs thru four games. Coach Carrier on the game; “It was a very good team win. I was happy with the way our defense played and dictated play. Offensively we took what Mountain Lake gave us and we had a good night. Mountain Lake was the #1 team for a reason, they are talented across the board. Just happened to be our night on Friday.”
SEC Volleyball
Features SG/M-C and SG/GM Match-Ups
It was a notable week in the SEC volleyball world, with a couple of key league games. Spring Grove volleyball competed in both. On Monday, a good lot of fans filed into the Mabel-Canton gym for the Cougars (#4 in A, 6-0, 11-1) and the Lions (4-0, 7-2), a battle of SEC unbeatens. SG hoped to somehow at least threatened M-C’s super-long league winning streak, but Lonnie Morken’s bunch had nothing of that from the start. Team Coug’ began game won 9-1 including first server Sahara Morken scoring the first seven points. M-C was then only minorly threatened; SG went 5-0 to pull to down 18-12. M-C prevailed 25-15. The Grove was tougher in game two. But the Cougars went 3-0 to turn a 6-5 Lion lead into an 8-6 Lion deficit, and M-C led the rest of the way in posting a 25-19 win. Game three was similar with the Cougars breaking away around 10 total points. A 6-0 run with Molly Lee serving made it academic (19-9). The Cougars prevailed again 25-19 to post the 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-19, 25-19). The match featured numerous long volleys and good play, with M-C totaling 70 digs and SG 69 (unofficially), Cougars a little tighter with their play. Middle Kinley Soiney (12 kills, .476 hitting, 5 blks) had a big game to lead M-C. Senior Molly Lee (11 kills, 11 digs) also pounded down shots, as the duo helped offset SG keying on top hitter Sophie Morken (6 kills, 24 digs). Sahara M. (34 assists, 8 digs, 20-20 serving) spread it around. MaKenzie Kelly (16 digs, 3 aces), Emily Carolan (6 kills, 7 digs), and Saijal Slafter (6 kills) helped. Lions were led by strong libero Maggie Lile (24 digs, 3 aces). Addyson McHugh (10 kills, 10 digs), Lydia Solum (9 kills), Rachel Normann (18 assists, 9 digs), Sydney Holland (11 digs), and Danika Holty (6 digs) helped. M-C later beat Southland and had the Class A Showcase (See Volleyball)
Photo by Ron Mayer
SG (4-1, 7-3) then trekked to GM for a match-up with the West leading Larks (6-1, 8-4) on Thursday. GM entered having just beat Southland (See Volleyball). Game one had nine ties up to 12-12. A four-point Lydia Solum serving run put SG up 16-12. They had a solid 20-15 lead, only for a 6-0 GM run (five points coming in an Isabelle Fretty serving session), a 21-20 Lark lead. GM threatened stealing the set, but the Lions broke the 11th tie, 22-22, with block/kill by Kenadee Gerard and a Lark hitting error. SG took the game 25-22. Game two saw the Lions post 18 kills. Gerard (six), Addyson McHugh (5), and Brielle Neeley (4) were all active. Amidst another serving run by Solum, SG turned a 13-12 deficit into a 19-13 lead. GM crept within two twice, but time ran out. A Gerard kill gave SG the set 25-22. The Lions then led game three from start to finish for the 25-18 win, the 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-22, 25-18). McHugh (13 kills, 12 digs), Gerard (12 kills), and Neeley (7 kills) combined for 32 kills. Defenders Maggie Lile (22 digs, 4 aces) and Danika Holty (13 digs) combined for 35 digs. Rachel Normann (3 kills, 33 assists, 16 digs) set and defended. Solum (5 kills, 23-23 serving) helped. GM was led by Anna Oehlke (7 kills, 9 digs), Emma Grafe (5 kills, 14 assists, 12 digs), and Fretty (4 kills, 9 assists, 10 digs). Sydney Cotton added 12 digs. Lauren Queensland and River Landers each added four kills. SG out-killed GM 41 to 28. M-C (8-0, 16-3), Lanesboro (6-1, 13-3) and Kelsey Morken’s Lions (5-1, 9-6) are the East’s elite. GM (6-2, 8-5) has control of the West over L-O (4-3, 7-9). SG also had a weekend tourney (See Volleyball).
Falcon FB
Downs Undefeated
Faribault B.A
Photo submitted
Faribault B.A. (3-0) came into the game fresh off a big win over Randolph (2-1). But home Fillmore Central (2-1) didn’t care in grabbing a high-quality win at Del Elston Field. FC put up 19 unopposed first half points, and its defense held the Falcons to just 22 total first half yards while snagging two turnovers. FC got a pair of TD passes from Dillon O’Connor in the half. He connected with Alec Sikkink (11-yard TD) for the Falcons’ first score (which came after FC converted on 4th and 10) and later with Jayce Kiehne for a 53-yard pitch and catch. In between, Bryce Corson authored a 1-yard TD run. Faribault B.A.’s only score came late in the fourth quarter when they blocked a punt for a TD. Holding B.A. under 100 yards total offense, the Falcons got a big win by a 19-8 final. O’Connor (9-16, 212 yards, 2 TDs, INT passing) and the athletes around him, Kiehne (3-100, TD receiving), Sikkink (15-77 rushing, 4-59, TD receiving), and Corson (18-47, TD rushing; 2-53 receiving), did a lot of offensive work. FC had 325 yards of “O.” It is the second straight game three Falcons players have topped 100 yards total offense. FC (2-1, 3-1), B.A. (2-1, 3-1) and Randolph (2-1, 3-1) trail R-P (3-0, 4-0) in Mid-Southeast “East.”
Trojans’ Smothering Win Leads to
Sub-District Lead
Photo by Paul Trende
They were one of the first teams in the state to get to 4-0. Rushford-Peterson put 21 points up on the first quarter scoreboard to start the defeat of Wabasha-Kellogg. Davin Thompson’s group’s first scoring drive occurred after a Falcon fumble inside the 5-yard line. Back-up QB Riley Tesch hit Justin Ruberg on fourth and goal for a 1-yard TD strike for a 6-0 lead. W-K then fumbled its next possession and the ball went through the end zone for a safety and an 8-0 Trojan lead. R-P took the free kick and scored three plays later, as Malachi Bunke tossed a 49-yard TD to Ruberg (14-0). W-K fumbled on its next possession. R-P took over at the 12. Bunke to Ruberg for 10-yards (with PAT) made it 21-0, as the 6’3” senior WR/TE caught all three first quarter TD passes. The Trojans tacked on a second quarter TD (Bunke to Grady Hengel 8-yard pass and catch) and a fourth quarter TD (Bunke 2-yard TD run). The Trojan defense, meanwhile, surrendered just five first downs, held W-K to 25 yards total offense, and collected three of the nine W-K fumbles. R-P posted a 35-0 win. Bunke (9-16, 141 yards, 3 TDs, INT passing; 5-28, TD rushing) accounted for four Trojan scores. Ruberg (3-60, 3 TDs receiving) became the second R-P player this season to catch three passes, all for scores (Alex Ronnenberg in week three). Hadyn Kahoun (17-69 rushing) and Tommy Ekern (3-57 receiving) helped. With FC beating Faribault B.A., the #10 in A Trojans (3-0, 4-0) lead the Falcons (2-1, 3-1), B.A. (2-1, 3-1) and Randolph (2-1, 3-1) in the Mid-Southeast “East” sub-district race.
Gopher VB Downs Trojans and Cardinals, Gets to 10 Wins
Photo by Lee Epps
The TRC volleyball league season is about halfway done. The top four teams entering the of Monday September 20 were FC (5-0, 8-3), Caledonia (4-0, 8-2), R-P (3-0, 7-2) and Chatfield (4-1, 8-5). A match-up of the Gophers and Trojans in Chatfield was thus a key one. And though the scores were close in all three games, Molly Thomas’ Gophers got the 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-20, 25-19). Game one was the key set, as R-P was up big, 15-7. They later led 20-16. Chatfield finished on a 9-3 run. A Peyton Berg kill was the exclamation point. The key spurt in a close game two was a seven-point serving run by Gopher senior setter Sydney Allen, which turned a 10-9 Trojan lead into a 16-10 Gopher edge. Chatfield senior hitter Zayda Priebe had 8 kills in the game. She was also big in Chatfield’s 9-2 start to game three (three kills, three blocks). The nearly unstoppable senior finished with 15 kills and 3 blocks. She hit .522, scoring on 15 of 23 attempts! All-the-way-around senior Peyton Berg (8 kills, 13 digs, 12-13 serving) made multiple quick reaction plays, including ending set two with one-arm a dig-turned-kill. Jaelyn LaPlante (7 kills) and Kennedie Schmaltz (6 kills) gave the Gophers balance. Allen (14 assists, 9 digs, 20-20 serving) and Devann Clemens (18 assists) called the offense while Alexis Hinckley (6 digs) helped on defense. Junior Kaylee Ruberg (10 kills, 8 digs, 4 aces) led the Trojans. Elly Malone (5 kills) and Isabelle Kahoun (18 assists, 6 digs) helped. The Trojans were a night removed from beating PEM 3-1 (See Volleyball). The Gophers then beat L-A 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-20). Priebe (16 kills, .542 hitting) was again forceful, with help from LaPlante (11 kills), and Berg (10 kills, 9 digs) offensively. Allen (19 assists, 6 digs, 15-15 serving, 4 aces) and Clemens (18 assists) helped. Schmaltz added 4 kills. It was the teams’ third meeting, a non-conference affair. Chatfield won the designated TRC match too. L-A won in a tourney match in Wabasha. The Cardinals were one match removed from taking TRC co-leader FC to five games before losing. Chatfield improved to 5-1, 10-5.
#8 Warriors Win Lone TRC Match, Take 4th at Class AA Showcase
Caledonia volleyball had just one TRC match on the week but Scott Koepke’s group had a big weekend tourney in Burnsville. The Warriors dispatched with W-K 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-16) to remain TRC unbeaten. Logan Koepke (9 kills, 10 digs), Sadie Treptow (7 kills, 5 blks), Grace Myhre (8 kills, 7 digs), Paige Klug (7 kills, 3 blks), and Alexis Schroeder (7 digs) did work. Cal hit .294 as a team with 14 aces versus eight service errors. The Warriors then took on the Class AA Showcase, a tourney with a lot of the top teams in the state. They went 3-0 in their pool, beating #4 Watertown-Mayer (25-15, 26-24), W-E-M (25-18, 25-14), and Redwood Valley (25-15, 23-25, 15-5). In the prestigious Gold Bracket, they fell to #3 Cannon Falls (20-25, 19-25) and #2 Jackson County Central (10-25, 25-22, 12-15) to take fourth. Rankings were as of September 26, after the tourney. W-E-M was ranked #8 coming into the event. Caledonia (5-0, 12-4) is now ranked #8 in Class AA.
GM Sinks #4 SG with Special Teams TDs
Photo by Paul Trende
Kick and punt return touchdowns were the difference in Grand Meadow’s 20-17 win at Spring Grove. Both offenses scored only once. The teams had back-to-back kickoff return touchdowns. The game winner was Dustin Copley’s 71-yard TD punt return in the third quarter – the only TD in the second half. Spring Grove led at halftime, 17-12, despite not scoring on 75 and 70-yard drives. The first ended on downs at the GM 5 yard-line, but two plays later led to a safety when Grand Meadow recovered a loose fumble in its end zone. The Lions led 2-0 after that last play of the first quarter. The second long scoreless thrust came at the end of a 10-play possession just 26 seconds before halftime with two almost-caught passes in the end zone. The fireworks all came with three touchdowns scored within 28 seconds of clock time in the second quarter. After the safety, the Lions capped a 10-play, 43-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run by Hunter Holland. Sophomore Elijah Solum hit Carson Gerard with a two-point conversion pass, and Spring Grove led 10-0. Then GM’s Copley ran the kickoff back 83 yards to make it 10-6. SG’s Tysen Grinde returned the favor by taking the next kickoff 89 yards to paydirt. The conversion kick by Caleb Griffin made it 17-6 before GM drove 60 yards with Copley carrying the final 8 yards to make 17-12 at halftime. Copley’s 71-yard punt return TD came on the final play of the third quarter. With the ensuing two-point conversion carry, he scored all 20 GM points. Defenses dominated the second half until the Super Larks consumed the final four minutes, finally taking a knee at the Lion five. Most SG yardage came with passes, while GM got it done on the ground with only one pass completion for 12 yards. Overall, the Lions outgained the Larks 237 yards to 202. There were no turnovers all game, but there were 10 punts (SG 7, GM 3) and five possessions that died on downs (SG 2, GM 3). Lion sophomore Elijah Solum completed 15 of 28 passes with no interceptions for 207 yards. Grinde reeled in 6 passes for 86 yards. Super Lark QB Taylor Glynn rushed for 116 yards. Copley was held to 32 yards on 21 carries (but had three total TDs). GM improved to 2-1, 3-1. SG, which was ranked #4, fell to 2-1, 2-1.
County Teams
Host C-C Meets
Photo by Paul Trende
It is totally unofficial. But if one wanted to actually tally who the best runner is of the five cross country programs within the Journal 11 umbrella, one could have on Tuesday, September 21. LFC hosted a meet at the Harmony Golf Course with only GMLOS. LARP hosted a meet at Ferndale with only Chatfield and Kingsland. Outside Rushford in the light hills, LARP’s boys (21) were easily the top guy team over Kingsland (40) and Chatfield (71). LARP senior stand-outs Tyler Rislov (17:24.3) and Andrew Hoiness (17:28.1) took first and second. Knights Garrison Hubka (17:58.1) and Cole Kruegel (18:03.3) took third and fourth. LARP then had places fifth through eighth with Ryan Prinsen (18:39.6), Tyler Betthauser (18:52.4), Matthew Sprague (19:18.6), and Sam Adamcyk (19:56.4). Chatfield’s Logan Thompson (19:56.6) and Kingsland’s Andrew Imm (20:44.8) rounded out the top 10. On the girls’ side, Chatfield (17) took an easy first over LARP (43) while Kingsland was incomplete. Gopher senior Katelyn Dornack (22:11.4) paced the field followed by teammates Belle Carr (22:15.6) and Tessa McMahon (22:29.5). LARP’s Lauren Honken (22:42.8) took fourth. Chatfield then had places five through seven with Abbi Gillespie (23:20), Ella Bakken (23:28.8), and Anna Kivimagi (23:31.8). LARP’s Ellie Ekern (23:32.1) took eighth while Kingsland’s Kylie Meyer (23:34.9) and Susan Mettler (23:35) took ninth and tenth. Meanwhile in Harmony, LFC’s boys (23) topped GMLOS (32). Carson Ruen (18:07) paced the pack followed by teammates Isaac Snyder (18:58) and Riley Serfling (19:10). GMLOS had places four through six; Tate Goergen (19:19), Carter Glynn (19:22), and Cohen Wiste (19:49). On the girls’ side, LFC (24) also won over GMLOS (34). Bulldog junior McKenna Hendrickson (20:49) finally got a race win after finishing second at three straight meets. She was faster than LFC’s top two runners, Lillyan Kiehne (21:21) and Brielle Ruen (22:25). GMLOS’ Naomi Warmka (22:45) took fourth followed by LFC’s Morgan Pickett (23:03) and Addie Miner (23:29). So, who was the fastest Journal 11 runner of the night? Albeit at different courses, the boys’ top five went Rislov (17:24.3), Hoiness (17:28.1), Hubka (17:58.1), Kruegel (18:03.3), and C-Ruen (18:07). The girls’ top five went Hendrickson (20:49), Kiehne (21:21), Dornack (22:11.4), Carr (22:15.6), and B-Ruen (22:25). A couple notable runners didn’t compete, Chatfield’s Aletta Strande and Treyton Lanning. LARP’s boys went on to win the Pine Island Invite too (See Cross Country for more).
Hot Shots
Photo by Paul Trende
Sam Backer ran for 260 yards and 4 TDs as Chatfield handled St. Charles 37-6. The #8 in Class AA Gophers (3-0, 3-1) lead Goodhue (2-1, 3-1), L-A (2-1, 3-1), and Triton (2-1, 3-1) in the Southeast-White. Lanesboro hammered Houston 48-0, as J.T. Rein again topped 100 yards rushing and Seth Semmen accounted for three total TDs. The #5 in 9-Man Burros (4-0, 4-0) lead the South-East district over L-O (2-1, 3-1), GM (2-1, 3-1) and SG (2-1, 2-1). Mabel-Canton ran 34 second half plays to Kingsland’s four (at one point) in beating the Knights 28-14. Lanesboro volleyball won its two matches on the week to improve to 6-1, 13-3. Malia Tessum had 27 digs in the win over Houston. M-C volleyball (8-0, 16-3) won its two SEC matches and went 3-2 at the Class A Showcase, taking 6th place. Sophie Morken made the All-Tourney team. Kaylee Ruberg had 15 kills, 17 digs, and 5 aces in a 3-1 win over PEM, 18 kills in a win over Houston 3-0. The Trojans went 5-3 on the week, improving to 4-1, 12-5. FC volleyball (6-0, 10-7) led L-A 2-0, only to win 3-2 in a key TRC match. Abby Bothun had 18 kills, Lauren Mensink 33 assists and 16 digs, to lead the Falcons. Shelby Beck had 18 kills, Alyssa Link 8 kills and 33 assists, as Kingsland beat Houston 3-1. LARP’s boys won the Winona Jim Flim C-C invite with Tyler Rislov taking third and Andrew Hoiness fourth. Kingsland’s Garrison Hubka took second at the Pine Island C-C Invite.
Football (9/25)
Southeast District
Caledonia 14, Lewiston-Altura 21 (C: Lewis Doyle 10-21, 141 yards, TD, INT passing, 13-39, TD rushing; Eric Mauss 14-94 rushing, 1-20 receiving; Jackson Koepke 2-40, TD receiving. Warriors scored first but L-A had a pair of first half TD runs by Collin Bonow for a 14-8 halftime lead. L-A scored again in fourth quarter to make score 21-8 Cardinals. Warriors: 1-2, 1-3)
St. Charles 6, #8 in AA Chatfield 37 (C: S. Backer 20-260, 4 TDs rushing; Jackson Schild 15-97, TD rushing; Parker Delaney 5-9, 8-9, 25 yards passing, TD rushing. All six of Chatfield’s scores came on the ground while the Saints’ lone TD was a fumble return. Chatfield’s defense held SC to 93 total yards while the Gophers ran for 432)
Mabel-Canton 28, Kingsland 14 (MC: Tyler Larson 10-105, TD rushing; Cayden Tollefsrud 30-86, 2 TDs rushing; Jordan Larson 4-7, 43 yards, TD, INT passing; Alex Arneson 1-yard TD catch. K: James Howard 10-41 rushing, 3-29, TD receiving; Kale Mensink 9-17, 93 yards, TD passing; Kaden Rath 70-yard punt return TD, interception. M-C used two short fields (failed Knight punt, Knight turnover) to score the first two TDs of the game. Kingsland responded to trail 14-6 only for the Cougars to score late in the first half to take a 22-6 lead to intermission. Rath’s punt return pulled the Knights to down 22-14 in the third. But at one point, M-C ran 34 second half play to Kingsland’s four. A J-Larson to Tollefsurd 8-yard pass on 4th and 7 from the Knight 12 led to a T-Larson 4-yard TD run late, capping a 15-play drive, capping the game. Kingsland had just five rush attempts and 15 total offensive plays in the second half (the equivalent to the Cougars last drive). M-C 2-2, 2-2. Kingsland 1-2, 2-2)
#5 in 9-Man Lanesboro 48, Houston 0 (L: J.T Rein 21-132, 2 TDs rushing, 2-23 receiving; Seth Semmen 6-38, TD rushing, 4-9, 81 yards, 2 TDs, INT passing; Orion Sass 6-99, 2 TDs rushing; Mason Howard 2-58, 2 TDs receiving. H: Isaac Heyer 4-19, 35 yards passing; Maddox Rodriguez 5-48 rushing. Houston is 0-4, 0-4)
Volleyball (9/20 – 9/25)
Southeast Conference
Photo by Paul Trende
Glenville-Emmons 0, LeRoy-Ostrander 3 > 25-11, 26-24, 25-10 (L-O: Jordan Runde 12 kills, 6 digs; Gracie O’Byrne 19 digs; Jenna Olson 9 assists, 11 digs; Anna Welsh 10 assists, 7 digs; Sidney Lewison 3 kills, 5 blks, 5 aces; Sam Volkart 7 kills; Kylie Welsh 7 digs. Cardinals are 4-3, 7-9)
Houston 0, Lanesboro 3 > 25-12, 25-12, 25-23 (L: Kaci Ruen 15 kills, 16 digs; M. Tessum 27 digs; Ella Cambern 34 assists, 5 digs; Jessie Schreiber 11 kills, 6 digs; Jensyn Storhoff 4 kills, 7 digs, 14-15 serving, 6 aces; Skyler Check 11 digs; Ellie Anderson 5 kills. H: Sydney Torgerson 8 kills, 6 digs; Priya Kingsley 8 digs; Lilly Carr 6 digs; Emily Botcher 5 digs. Burros had 87 digs in a three-set match)
Southland 0, Grand Meadow 3 > 25-10, 25-14, 25-21 (GM: E. Grafe 5 kills, 5 assists, 3 aces; I. Fretty 10 assists; A. Oehlke 5 digs; S. Cotton 5 digs; R. Landers 4 kills, 3 aces)
Mabel-Canton 3, Southland 0 > 25-15, 25-15, 25-11 (M-C: So. Morken 9 kills, 11 digs; S. Slafter 8 kills; Sah. Morken 30 assists, 7 digs, 16-17 serving, 3 aces; E. Carolan 7 kills, 5 digs, 23-24 serving, 7 aces; M. Lee 5 kills; M. Kelly 8 digs; K. Soiney 4 ½ blocks)
Lanesboro 3, Lyle/Pacelli 0 > 25-17, 25-8, 25-8 (L: J. Schreiber 8 kills; K. Ruen 6 kills, 15-16 serving 6 aces; M. Tessum 12 digs, 5 aces; E. Cambern 16 assists; Sarah Eversole 12-12 serving, 3 aces. Burros had 19 aces)
Houston 1, Kingsland 3 > 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18 (K: S. Beck 18 kills; A. Link 33 assists, 8 kills, 3 aces; Audrey Webster 18 digs; Shayla Aarsvold 5 kills, 3 aces; Anika Reiland 19 digs; Alexys Harwood 7 kills. H: S. Torgerson 9 kills, 6 digs, 4 blks; Jaden Woodward 7 kills; L. Carr 16 assists, 6 digs; Emily Botcher 3 kills, 7 digs, 3 blks; P. Kingsley 7 digs. Knights are 2-4, 2-4)
Three Rivers Conference
Photo by Lee Epps
Rushford-Peterson 3, PEM 1 > 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 (RP: K. Ruberg 15 kills, 17 digs, 21-21 serving, 5 aces; I. Kahoun 34 assists, 10 digs, 16-17 serving; Hannah Ronnenberg 6 kills, 10 digs; Aviana Anderson-Ingram 7 kills, 7 digs; Elly Malone 7 kills; Emarie Jacobson 8 digs)
Lewiston-Altura 2, Fillmore Central 3 > 25-19, 25-16, 16-25, 19-25, 15-13 (FC: A. Bothun 18 kills, 7 digs; L. Mensink 3 kills, 33 assists, 17 digs; Kyla Hellickson 25 digs, 25-28 serving, 7 aces; Regan Hanson 8 kills, 10 digs; Alyssa Britton 7 kills; Kammry Broadwater 5 kills, 14 digs; Kendyl Kraling 9 digs. Each team pretty much controlled their first two set wins. In game two, with it tied 15-15, FC scored five straight to lead 20-15. FC took the lead in game five at 7-6. There was a span of 10 points all scored off errors in the fifth set. A Cardinal service error ended the set and match)
Non-Conference
Rushford-Peterson 3, Houston 0 > 25-17, 25-13, 25-13 (RP: K. Ruberg 21 kills, 8 digs; A. Anderson-Ingram 9 kills, 5 digs; I. Kahoun 27 assists, 8 digs, 17-17 serving, 4 aces; E. Malone 16-17 serving, 5 aces. H: S. Torgerson 7 kills, 6 digs, 4 blks; E. Botcher 7 digs; L. Carr 16 assists; Emma Chapel 4 kills. Hurricanes are 3-4, 3-9)
Class A Showcase (M-C (#4 in Class A) beat Kittson County Central (25-19, 25-19), #9 Cleveland (25-17, 27-25), lost to #8 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (22-25, 25-27) in pool play. They beat Henning (19-25, 25-19, 15-9) but lost to #5 Legacy Christian Academy (23-25, 25-16, 13-15) in the Silver Bracket. They took sixth. Cougar tourney leaders: So. Morken (44 kills, 72 digs), Sah. Morken (122 assists, 30 digs, 7 aces), M. Kelly (66 digs), M. Lee (22 kills, 52 digs), E. Carolan (25 kills, 37 digs), S. Slafter (25 kills), K. Soiney (22 kills, 5 blks). So. Morken made the All-Tournament team. FC beat Badger-Greenbush-Middle River (14-25, 30-28, 15-13), lost to #2 Minneota (15-25, 18-25) and #5 Legacy Christian Academy (25-23, 17-25, 9-15) in pool play. They lost to #9 Cleveland (24-26, 28-26, 8-15) and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (16-25, 15-25) in tournament play. Falcon tourney leaders: A. Bothun (26 kills, 50 digs), L. Mensink (21 kills, 74 assists, 28 digs, 34-34 serving, 4 aces), K. Broadwater (19 kills, 18 digs), K. Hellickson (60 digs), R. Hanson (18 kills), A. Britton (15 kills), Marissa Topness (25 digs). All rankings are as of the September 26 poll, after the tournament. Badger-Greenbush-Middle River was ranked #9)
Dassel-Cokato Tourney (Spring Grove lost to Melrose (14-25, 25-22, 10-15), Eden Valley-Watkins (15-25, 19-25), and Dassel-Cokato (27-29, 19-25) while beating Kimball Area (25-19, 25-19). Lions are 5-1, 9-6)
St. Anthony “Cupcake Wars” (R-P beat the Breck School (25-13, 25-17), St. Anthony (25-23, 23-25, 25-17), and Maranatha Christian Academy (21-25, 25-17, 25-21) while losing to Park Center (23-25, 24-26) and Pine Island (21-25, 23-25). The Trojans lost the game to win the Silver Bracket)
Cross Country
(9/21 – 9/25)
Pine Island Invite (Rochester-Lourdes’ boys (59) nipped Pine Island (61) and Kingsland (67) with LFC (90) taking fourth of seven complete teams. Lourdes’ Kevin Turlington (16:48.3) was the boy’s individual champion. Knights Garrison Hubka (17:24.2) and Cole Kruegel (17:33.71) took second and fourth respectively. LFC’s Carson Ruen (17:38.36) took fifth. Teammate Isaac Snyder (18:45.34) also made the top 10, taking ninth. Knight Andrew Imm (13th) and Burro Riley Serfling (16th) also cracked the top 20 in a 77-man race. PI’s girls (44) bested Lourdes (58), LFC (61), and Byron (63) while Kingsland was incomplete. Lillyan Kiehne of LFC took third (20:52.5) behind Lourdes’ Anna Peikert (20:04.79) and Abigail Oxentenko (20:40.46). Burro Brielle Reun (21:48.28) also finished top 10, taking ninth. Fellow Burro runners Morgan Pickett (14th), Addie Miner (17th), and Lauren Brogle (20th) made the top 20, as did Kingsland’s Susan Mettler (15th) of a 46-gal race)
University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invite (Chatfield’s girls took 32nd of 45 teams at the “Maroon” 5k run. Belle Carr (139th) and Tessa McMahon (145th) finished top 150 in a race with 397 competitors. Chatfield’s boys took 42nd of 50 at the “Maroon” 5k run. Logan Thompson was Chatfield’s top runner (165th) in a massive race with 446 competitors)
Winona Invite (LARP’s boys (54) took first over Belle Plaine (60) at an 11-team event. Tyler Rislov (17:03.8) took third and Andrew Hoiness (17:10) fourth. Tyler Betthauser (17:54.9) and Ryan Prinsen (17:55.6) took 10th and 11th respectively. Emmett Gerres of Belle Plaine (15:54.4) was boys’ individual champion. LARP’s girls took 8th of 10 complete teams. Brynn Beardsley of Faribault (20:24.6) was girls champion)
Soccer (9/21 – 9/25)
(G) Caledonia/SG/Hou 0, PEM 4 (The Plainview-Elgin-Millville girls avenged a previous loss by scoring both early and twice in each half. Warrior goalkeeper Josie Foster saved 13 of 17 Bulldog shots. Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston had defeated P-E-M, 3-1, in the season opener at Caledonia)
(B) PEM 0, Caledonia/SG/Hou 2 (Austin Meyer opened scoring midway through the first half before adding an insurance goal in the Warriors’ second 2-0 win over the Bulldogs this season.)
(G) #5 Cotter 7, Caledonia/SG/Hou 0 (The undefeated Rambler girls completed a season sweep after a previous 12-0 shutout. This time, two goals came off Warrior players. Foster made 18 saves while Cotter outshot the home team 25 to 2. It was 4-0 at halftime after the Ramblers scored just nine seconds before the break)
(B) Caledonia/SG/Hou 1, Cotter 2 (The Cotter boys led 1-0 at halftime before both teams hit the net once in the second half. The teams had previously battled to a 1-1 tie)
(B) Schaeffer Academy 2, Caledonia/SG/Hou 2 (Lyle Myhre and Austin Meyer scored for the Warriors in this non-conference tie. The Warriors closed the week at 3-3-2 in the TRC, 4-5-2 overall)
(G) Schaeffer Academy 0, Caledonia/SG/Hou 11 (The Warriors broke their scoring drought with goals galore in the home shutout of Schaeffer Academy. Ayshia Gay scored the first of her four goals just four minutes into the morning contest. Cameryn Kruse had two goals. Hailey Alfson scored once and assisted on five other goals. Marley Sherbon contributed three assists, Siri Konkel and Gay each had one assist. Other goals came from Anessa Johnson, Therese Jore, Kennedy Kruse and eighth grader Macy Kraus. Josie Foster saved the only Schaeffer shot. Cal/SG/Hou improved to 1-6 in the TRC, 2-7 overall)
*The Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration of Paul Trende and Lee Epps.