Mabel-Canton graduate Belle Sand (2014) completed her third year of volleyball at the University of Syracuse. Sand, a 5’6” junior defensive specialist, led the Orange in digs (416) and service aces (18). Syracuse finished 6-14 in the ACC, 7-23 overall. The Orange were 14-6, 23-8 in 2015. Sand’s former M-C classmate, Sara Lind (2014), finished her third year at St. Mary’s (Winona). The 5’10” junior middle hitter had a team third best 184 kills and a team second-best 51 total blocks.
Fillmore Central graduate Leah Scheevel (2015) is a 5’10” sophomore middle hitter for the Cardinals. St. Mary’s went 24-5 overall, 8-3 in the MIAC.
Fellow Falcon grad Morgan Malley (2016) finished her second year at Augsburg. The 5’8” sophomore setter put up a rounded stat-line of 88 kills, 310 assists, a team-high 28 aces, and 271 digs. The Auggies went a perfect 11-0 in the MIAC, 18-10 overall. They fell in the MIAC semifinals. Other former area volleyball players at the next level include Rachel Kimball (2016 Lanesboro > frosh at RCTC), Sheridan Salisbury (2016 Chatfield > frosh at NC-Asheville), and Alex Duxbury (2014 Chatfield > junior Winona State). WSU went 16-4 in the NSIC and 27-6 overall, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament. They lost to Duxbury’s former school, D-II National Champions Concordia University (St. Paul).
Houston grad Hans Lundberg (2012) finished off his senior year at Taylor University in Indiana. The 6’3” 245-pound tight end started all 11 games (36 receptions, 427 yards, 7 TDs receiving). The Trojans went 4-7. For a second time, Lundberg was first team All Mid-States Football Association (Mid-East division). Lundberg was honored as CoSIDA Academic All-American (3.93 GPA), the only Taylor football player ever to do so thrice. He totaled 89 receptions for 1,001 yards and 18 TDs in his fine career. On the Winona State football roster were Zach Olstad (FC 2012), Tyler Lund (Chatfield 2012), Cale Stensgard (R-P 2014), and Carter Duxbury (Chatfield 2016). Lund, a 6’3” 305-pound offensive lineman was a three-year starter up front for WSU, including all 11 games at left tackle senior year. Olstad, a 5’11” 245-pound junior fullback, played in ten of eleven games (9 receptions, 61 yards, TD) this past year. The Warriors went 8-3. Chatfield grad Nate Skare (2014) completed his third year at Upper Iowa University (Fayette). The junior punter had 54 kicks for 2,031 yards (37.6 average) for the Peacocks. Teammate Isaac Freese (Lanesboro 2013), a 6’3” 260-pound red-shirt junior defensive end had 26 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Upper Iowa went 3-8. Chatfield’s Jayme LaPlante (2014) completed his third year at Minnesota State-Mankato. The 6’3” 240-pound sophomore defensive end saw action in 11 games (22 tackles, two forced fumbles, fumble recovery, interception) for a Maverick group that went 8-3. At UW-Eau Claire are Chatfield graduates Justin Viss (2013) and Drew Hurley (2015). Hurley, a 6’2” 190-pound sophomore safety, had 36 total tackles. He transferred in after spending his freshman season at Gustavus Adolphus. Viss, a 6’2” 221-pound junior defensive lineman, played in nine games (20 tackles, one sack). The Blugolds went 2-8. Houston grad Evan Scheck (2014) is a 6’0” 240-pound o-lineman at Luther College. Rushford-Peterson graduate (2014) Austin O’Hare ran cross country for St. Mary’s University. The junior (who also runs track and field) was the Cardinals second best runner. Karen Gomez-Ruiz (Chatfield 2015) is running cross country at UW-Eau Claire.