(B) Cotter/Hope 1, Cal/SG/Hou 4 (Austin Meyer scored two goals and assisted with a free kick on a Dominick Konkel goal, which put the Warriors up 3-1 with 9:36 to play. Sam Flatin assisted both Meyer goals, the first midway through the first half and the final score with only two minutes remaining. Just two minutes after Meyer scored the ice-breaker, Lyle Myhre made it 2-0, a … [Read more...]
Spring Grove volleyball returns mostly young, but experienced lineup
Experience and more height than usual provide optimism for the 2020 Spring Grove volleyball girls, who return nine of 10 letter winners from a 19-10 team, a third straight season with that many wins. Half of 10 setbacks came against state-ranked teams. The Lions, at 10-4 SEC, finished tied for second in the SEC East, a fourth straight runner-up finish with a playoff win. The … [Read more...]
Spring Grove gridders restocking line again
For the second straight season, it is a mostly inexperienced Spring Grove football squad, following last year’s 7-3 crew who achieved a 10th straight winning season. Eight of 16 letter winners return, but only four with starting experience on offense and defense. The kicking game is the most experienced unit for new head coach Kody Moore, who takes the reins after the … [Read more...]
LFC, LARP and GMLOS Host C-C Meets
he week of Monday, September 21 featured area cross country teams taking part in four total meets. Three were hosted by Journal-covered squads. LFC hosted Monday, LARP Tuesday, and GMLOS Friday. The Burros triangular in Preston (LFC’s third of the year) also included Chatfield and W-K. It was the second time in less than a week that LFC and the Gophers competed in the same … [Read more...]
Cross Country (9/24)
La Crescent/Hokah Invite (On the boys’ side, LC/H (34) nipped St. Charles (37) for first with Kingsland (57) taking third. Saint Andrew O’Hara (17:35) took first, Knight Garrison Hubka (17:45) second, and Lancer Cody Kowalski (18:07) third. Knight Cole Kruegel (19:01) took sixth. Twenty-nine runners competed. On the girls’ side, LC/H (15) was the only complete team. St. … [Read more...]
Soccer (9/22 & 9/24)
(B) La Crescent-Hokah 8, Cal/SG/Hou 1 (Trailing 7-0, Warrior Austin Meyer scored with a penalty kick with the 68th minute of the 80-minute game at Caledonia. The Lancers had scored seven minutes into the match, led 4-0 at halftime, and added a pair of penalty-kick goals in the second half while improving to 4-2-1 behind a hat trick from Andy Lopez. The teams had tied 1-1 … [Read more...]
The Fall Top 50 Countdown (#35 to #31)
The top 50 teams of the fall from 2010-2019 continues. As before, squads from the “Journal 10,” FC, R-P, Chatfield, Kingsland, M-C, Houston, Lanesboro, GM, SG, and L-O, are eligible. Ranking across different years, and involving teams from three different sports, is difficult and thus subject to debate. Ranking is by how far teams made it in the play-offs. Starting at … [Read more...]
Decades of sports, mostly spectating The great Ernie Banks and I were both sitting in his sister’s living room
It never had a favorite player; as a child, every Chicago Cub was a hero. But it was no secret who was the best player. Many say one of the best baseball players ever. In 1958 and 1959, “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks was the first in National League history voted Most Valuable Player in two consecutive seasons. At that time, it seemed to me that distinction usually went to a player on … [Read more...]
Decades of sports, mostly spectating Enjoying the 21st Summer Olympics in Montreal, 1976
Hearing the “Star-Spangled Banner” played while standing on foreign soil was unexpectedly emotional. I had heard the national anthem at sporting events countless times, but for me, it was different at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. That anthem was played 34 times, once for each gold medal. At the 21st modern Olympiad, the United States won the third-most gold … [Read more...]
O’Hare Nearly Breaks 17:00 in Win
He will probably get there this season. He won last year’s 1A Meet in a time of 16:48.7. LARP runner Luke O’Hare did finally tear up yardage he’s yet to blaze a trail on, the Ferndale Golf Course. Matt Kingsbury’s group hosted its first of two meets at Rushford’s estate for golf and the boys squad had no problem winning its third race in as many tries. LARP (21) easily … [Read more...]