After it was all completed, the top four teams in state in Class AA volleyball were Pequot Lakes, Rush City, Southwest Christian and Caledonia. Each took home a trophy. And yet it took Pequot Lakes five sets to overcome the Warriors, before beating Rush City in a sweep. Rush City swept Southwest Christian, which then beat Caledonia in four! It sometimes does not quite add … [Read more...]
Football: Falcons Fall to Springfield 22-12 in State Quarters
A year ago, on the same field in Jordan, Fillmore Central snuck by Lester Prairie 18-16 in the state quarterfinals to make the state semis and a game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The same site at this year’s 1A state quarterfinal versus #7 Springfield (Section 3A Champ, 10-1) was not so kind to the #2 Falcons (Section 1A Champ, 11-0). The beginning of FC’s fate being doomed could be … [Read more...]
Football: Jackson County Central Ends Caledonia’s Season
In a state quarterfinal at Mayo High, Section 3AA champion #4 Jackson County Central (10-0) majorly controlled the trenches in taking down 1AA champion #2 Caledonia (10-0). The Huskies piled up over 300 yards rushing with two 100-yard rushers in a 41-0 victory. After stopping Cal’s first series, JCC went 68 yards in 11 plays. The Warrior defense had a trio of … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Two Comebacks Thrillingly Lead Caledonia to State
Caledonia volleyball had a week they will not ever forget, posting two huge hard-fought wins in come-back fashion. Scott Koepke’s Warriors were super resilient in fighting their way to the moniker of 2023 1AA champions. Team Cal (2-seed, 24-5) started its week with an easy 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-17) win over Cotter (10-seed, 10-9) in the 1AA quarters. Logan Koepke (17 kills), … [Read more...]
Football: #2 Warriors Are Back… in the State Tourney
After a three-year hiatus (that followed five straight state titles), Caledonia football is back in the state tournament. The #2-ranked Warriors beat Lewiston-Altura and Dover-Eyota to reclaim the 1AA throne. The moved Monday night semifinal game versus the Cardinals (5-seed, 4-5) was not a work of art. The Warriors (1-seed, 8-0) had not played in 12 days and struggled with a … [Read more...]
Volleyball: #2 M-C Tops #7 FC, Cougars Repeat as 1A Champions
Ten years after the teams met for a 1A final (2013), Fillmore Central and Mabel-Canton did so again. Both teams battled hard to get there. The finals match was then an anti-climactic sweep after a wild week of action. Cougars Trek Through Goodhue, Defend Past Upstart Alden-Conger in Five Sets Defending 1A champ #2 Mabel-Canton (1-seed, 32-1) downed Goodhue (9-seed, 12-13) … [Read more...]
Football: Undefeated #5 Kingsland Heads to State for First Time in 20 Years
Kaaleem Reiland rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns while also passing for 135 yards and two more scores as Kingsland sped past Spring Grove, 44-14, in the 9-player football Section One championship game at Austin. The sophomore quarterback also ran and passed conversions. Beau Wiersma (25-130 rushing) scored three TDs – two rushing and one pass reception – plus added a … [Read more...]
Football: #2 Falcons Repeat as 1A Champs, Return to State
Fillmore Central school district existed for 29 years and boasted exactly zero state football berths (and a lot of lost section title games). But for the second straight year, Falcon football is headed to state. FC (1-seed, 10-0) withstood Kenyon-Wanamingo (3-seed, 8-2) and its physical running attack in posting 14-0 win in the 1A finals. The Knights’ first possession took 17 … [Read more...]
Cross Country: LARPH Boys, Rakosnik, and Kivimagi Take on State
The area’s top cross-country runners took on their last event of the year, the state meet at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. LARPH’s boys team, LFC’s Autumn Rakosnik, and Chatfield’s Lexi Kivimagi all had solid showings. Rakosnik competed in her first state meet. She took a very impressive 28th place (19:59.4), the third best 8th grader in the field. It was her third … [Read more...]
Volleyball: #2 Chatfield’s Season Ends in 1AA Semis
It was a great season. But 1AA top-seed Chatfield had its state hopes annulled by the same team they fell to last year in the same spot. Kristi Rindels’ #2 Gophers (1-seed, 25-2) only had a little trouble in the 1AA quarters versus Medford (8-seed, 14-15). The Tigers fought in set one, but Chatfield prevailed 27-25. They then swept the match 3-0 (27-25, 25-12, 25-6). Harper … [Read more...]