Fall Sports Preview

2021 Volleyball Preview 

After a year that was annulled, restarted, only to be ended prematurely (all because of COVID), the hope for the 2021 volleyball campaign is a return to normalcy.  This season will be the first Caledonia is covered under the Journal Sports umbrella. Statewide, there is one huge change. Volleyball in Minnesota is now four classes (after being three for the longest time).  As it pertains to the Journal 11 schools, Chatfield and Caledonia move up to Class AA.  Each school has competed in Class AA in the past.  The other nine Journal 11 schools (Fillmore Central, Mabel-Canton, Lanesboro, Rushford-Peterson, Grand Meadow, LeRoy-Ostrander, Spring Grove, Houston, and Kingsland) remain in Class A.  Section 1A has 20 schools, 1AA has 18.  It’ll make it a bit easier to make state (and more teams qualify).  Of note, Section 1A is devoid a couple bigger schools including two-time defending champ Medford.  Section 1AA no longer features powers Stewartville and Kasson-Mantorville, as each is Class AAA.

If, 10 years ago, somebody told Mabel-Canton coach Lonnie Morken that his team would go undefeated in 2020, he’d probably be ecstatic.  Such a proclamation inferred a state title.  Well, the Cougars didn’t lose a game last season.  M-C went 10-0 versus SEC-East division foes, winning the league for a 23rd straight year.  They finished 14-0 overall.   With no play-offs, a trio of seniors missed out on their final year of post-season eligibility.  M-C’s biggest graduation was two-time SEC Player of the Year Kenidi McCabe (5’5” setter/OH), a fantastic four-time All-SEC pick who finished with over 3,000 assists, over 1,500 digs, and over 300 aces.  Jordyn Newgard (5’6” OH/MH), a two-time All-SEC pick, also departed, along with Lauren Wyffels (5’5” DS).  It’ll be up to the likes of All-SEC returnees Sophie Morken and Molly Lee to help lead the Cougars dynasty.  Morken (5’7” Jr. setter/OH) had 100 kills (.288 hitting), 84 digs, 209 assists, and a team-best 51 aces in her break-out year in 2020.  Daughter of the coach, she is versatile and knows how to play.  Lee (5’4” Sr. OH) had 80 kills and 75 digs.  Also back is All-SEC HM pick Emily Carolan (5’4” Sr. RH), who contributed 64 kills and 38 digs.  After that trio, Sahara Morken (5’0” Fr. Setter > 51 digs) and Saijal Slafter (5’8” Fr. OH > 30 kills, 10 ½ blocks) were full-time contributors.  Gwen Tollefsrud (5’2” Sr. DS), Emma Tollefsrud (5’2” Sr. DS), and Kinley Soiney (5’8” 8th OH) played in most sets.  Brianna Wallin (5’3” DS) gives M-C five seniors.  The Cougs have three in-season tournaments, the Class A Showcase, Heritage Christian Academy, and Riceville.  Big SEC games are against Lanesboro (away September 2, home September 28) and SG (home September 20, away October 14).   In 2019’s full season, M-C went 14-0 in the SEC and 34-3 overall, finishing as 1A Runner-Up.

Giving M-C a run for its money last year were the Lanesboro Burros.  Julie Schreiber’s group went 9-3, with two losses coming to M-C (the last an epic five-set battle).  Team Burro should again be a force, with four returning All-SEC picks including two roughly six-footers.  Heading the cast is Kaci Ruen (6’0” Jr. OH/MH), who had a breakout season a year ago with a team-best 131 kills plus 98 digs, 20 aces, and 21 ½ blocks.  Jessie Schreiber (5’11” Jr. MH) gives the Burros a second big hitter (19 kills, 77 digs, 21 aces, and 16 blocks).  They’ll be formidable duo.  Setter Ella Cambern (5’5” Jr. setter) will try to keep them happy.  She’s over 1,000 career set assists, having posted 318 helpers while adding 111 digs and great serving (98%) last season.  Malia Tessum did Lanesboro’s serve receive and passing, leading the squad with 237 digs.  The All-SEC foursome may be the best in the league.  All have multiple years of experience.  Tessum to Cambern to Ruen or Schreiber will be an oft seen Burro offense.  From there, Lanesboro will have to find new pieces.   All-SEC pick Sydney Taylor (5’9” RH) was a key graduation (112 kills, 141 digs).  Eleyna Wyant (5’5” DS), Hannah Luck (5’7” OH), and Lydia Betz (5’6” OH) give Lanesboro a five-girl senior class.  The Burros have three tournaments; Cotter, Wabasha, and Pine Island.  They open the season hosting Kingsland and have big SEC-East battles with M-C (home September 2, away September 28) and SG (away September 9, home October 5).  In 2019’s full season, Lanesboro went 10-4 in the SEC, 16-14 overall. 

Spring Grove, coming off an 8-4 season with a third-place tie in the SEC East (5-4), is experienced with the tallest lineup in memory. Seven of 10 letterwinners return, including both All-SEC selections plus a three-year starting setter. The defense and serving appears solid. The Lions seek improved hitting efficiency. Addyson McHugh (5-10, Jr. MH > 135 kills, 30 aces), two-time All-SEC, has led the team in kills and blocks for two years. Last fall, she also led in ace serves. Maggie Lile (Jr. libero > 188 digs), who was All-SEC and Honorable Mention All-Area, will start for a fourth season after leading the Lions in serve receive and digs. Rachel Normann (Sr. setter) will start for a third year. Four of last year’s six servers return – Lile, Normann and McHugh plus Julia Halverson (5-7, Sr. OH), who served a team-high 98%. Other letterwinners include Kenadee Gerard (5-9, Jr. OH), Brielle Neeley (5-10, Sr. MH) and Lydia Solum (5-9, Jr. MH). Katelyn Kraus (5-10, So. RS) makes five tall hitters. Joining Lile on defense are seniors McKenzie Fisch and Danika Holty plus freshman Sydney Holland. The Lions will play in three tournaments – Waukon (Iowa), Dassel-Cokato and Goodhue. They open at home versus Southland (August 26) before road trips to Lyle versus L/P (August 31) and to Rochester against Schaeffer Academy (September 7).  Lanesboro (home September 9, away October 5) and M-C (away September 20, home October 14) are big league games.  In 2019, SG went 10-4 in the SEC 19-10 overall. 

Having another fine year last season in the TRC were the Fillmore Central Falcons.  Travis Malley’s group went 7-1 in league, 9-1 overall.  They quad-shared the TRC title, season ending prematurely.  The Falcons graduated two of their three All-TRC picks, both of whom were two-time selections.  Included was their top hitter, explosive Maddie Krage (5’7” OH).  She had a team-best 142 kills.  The other was four-year starter K.J. Corson (5’3” libero), who led the team with 181 digs.  She finished with over 1,300 career digs.   All told, 11 seniors graduated, a list that also included two All-TRC HM picks (Hadley Yoder, Hope Sexton).  FC’s biggest holdover is three-year starter Lauren Mensink (5’6” setter/OH), their sole returning All-TRC pick.  Mensink amassed 278 assists, 104 digs, and 36 kills a season ago.  Marissa Topness (5’3” Sr. DS > 50 digs) and Kendyl Kraling (5’8” Sr. RS) are two other returning experienced seniors.  Kammry Broadwater (5’10” So. OH > 64 kills) and Alyssa Britton (5’11” So. MH > 32 kills) are two younger returnees.  Those five are the only veterans off 2020’s varsity squad.  The Falcons have tournaments at Apple Valley and Rochester-Century.  They open at Hayfield.   Z-M, Lourdes, and Stewartville are other non-con games.  They host fellow Journal 11 teams Chatfield (August 31) and Caledonia (October 14, season finale), while travelling to take on R-P (September 28).  In 2019’s full season, FC went 9-2 in the TRC, 17-11 overall. 

Taking nice steps forward last year were the Chatfield Gophers.  Behind first year Head Coach Molly Thomas, the gals of the Chosen Valley posted the program’s first winning season since 2015.  Chatfield went 5-1 in the TRC, 7-4 overall.  They shared the TRC title and beat teams from the TRC, HVL, and Big Nine.  Chatfield graduated five seniors including a trio of multi-year mainstays.  All-league pick Paige Erickson (5’9” MH > 87 kills, 34 blocks, 13 aces) was the biggest loss.  But the Gophers return two All-TRC selections, Zayda Priebe (6’2” Sr. MH) and Peyton Berg (5’7” Sr. OH).   Priebe is maybe the TRC’s most imposing player at the net.  She had a team-best 118 kills plus 25 blocks last year.  Berg transitioned from libero to all-the-way around, registering 58 kills and a team-best 132 digs.  Also back as returning full-timers are co-setters Devann Clemens (5’7” Sr. setter > 136 assists, 68 digs, 21 aces) and Sydney Allen (5’6” Sr. setter > 169 assists, 77 digs), Jaiden Zimmerman (5’8” Sr. OH > 26 kills, 56 digs), Kennedie Schmaltz (5’7” Sr. OH > 32 kills, 15 blocks), and Shelby Nolan (5’4” Sr. DS > 61 digs).  All told, the Gophers have 10 seniors, as Autumn Allen (5’6” RH/DS), Bryn Van Dyke (6’1” RS/MH), and Ann Borgen (5’5” DS)  join the above seven.  The Gophers have tournaments at Century, Wabasha, and Pine Island.  They open by hosting Lourdes before going to FC.  They host R-P (September 21) and play at Caledonia (October 12).  In 2019’s full season, the Gophers went 4-7 in the TRC, 11-17 overall. 

Volleyball in the SEC-West a season ago was a hiccup.  Because of COVID, teams didn’t play too many games.  Kingsland was one team whose season was abbreviated.  The Knights went 3-0 versus fellow SEC-West teams, 5-2 overall.  They shared the West title with Grand Meadow.  Coach Amanda Siskow graduated her main offensive asset in the form of Ellie Buchholtz.   The splendid hitter had 142 kills over just seven games.  She graduated a four-time All-league selection (All-TRC once, All-SEC thrice) with over 1,000 career assists and almost 700 career kills.  But she was one of just two seniors.  Kingsland has a large nine-gal senior class for this season.  They return their other All-SEC pick, fourth-year starting setter Alyssa Link (5’7” Sr.).  Link topped 1,000 career assists also last season, tallying 221.   She’s sided by returning classmates Shelby Beck (5’9” OH/MH > 62 kills), Audrey Webster (5’4” libero > 93 digs), Alexys Harwood (5’7” OH), Ashley McNamara (5’5” DS), Shayla Aarsvold (5’5” OH), Kennedy Fenske (5’4” DS), Paidin Bicknese (5’11” MH), and Allyson Horsman (5’6” OH).  Additionally, All-SEC HM pick Anika Reiland (5’5” junior OH) returns.  Kingsland’s schedule includes tournaments in Decorah and Riceville.   They start with top tier teams Lanesboro (away August 26), M-C (home August 31), and GM (home September 2).  The re-match with the Larks is on September 28.  In 2019, the Knights went 7-7 in the SEC, 8-22 overall. 

Like Kingsland, Grand Meadow had shortened 2020 season.  The Super Larks went 4-0 versus West foes, and 5-3 overall.  They shared the West title with the Knights.  GM graduated five seniors including its two All-SEC picks (multi-year selections), twin sisters Hailey Hindt (5’8” OH) and Madison Hindt (5’8” OH/setter).  Hailey led GM with 109 kills while contributing 73 digs and 19 aces. Madison had a team-best 117 assists, 66 digs, and 15 aces. The Super Larks only honored returnee is Emma Grafe (5’7” Sr. setter > 101 assists, 48 digs), who made All-SEC HM.  But Coach Sue Wilson has other experienced key returnees in Sydney Cotten (5’6” Jr. libero > team-high 98 digs), Anna Oehlke (5’5” Sr. OH > 21 kills, 91 digs, 12 aces), and River Landers (6’1” Sr. MH > 43 kills, 17 total blocks).   Grafe, Oehlke, Landers, Leah Hanson (5’5” OH), and Kelsea Gehling (5’4” DS) give GM a five-girl senior class.  Cotton and Kendyl Queensland (5’9” OH) are the team’s two returning varsity juniors.   GM begins its season on the road versus M-C (August 26) and then Kingsland (September 2).  They host Kingsland (September 28) and have two dates with L-O (away September 9, home October 5).  As of August 24, they have no tournaments scheduled.  In 2019’s full season, GM went 12-2 in the SEC, 22-12 overall. 

Caledonia volleyball joins the Journal Sports coverage area this season.  For those not up on the specific, the Warriors from 2010-2020 (the Fillmore County Journal Sports era) under Coach Scott Koepke, were perennial TRC and section contenders, including carrying on multiple high-level battles with Journal-covered squads Chatfield, FC, and M-C.  Warrior teams racked up five TRC titles, went to six section title matches, including making state twice (runner-up each time).  Last year was a rare down year for the Warriors.  Caledonia went 1-6 in the TRC, 1-7 overall.  The Warriors had four players honored a season ago, all seniors. including purely All-TRC selections OH Dana Augedahl and libero Grace Privet.  Sadie Treptow (5’9” Sr. MH), Alysha Heaney (5’8” Sr. OH), Logan Koepke (5’10” So. OH), Jovial King (Jr. setter), Paige Klug (Jr. MH), Emma Rommes (So. Setter), Alexis Schroeder (5’4” Jr. libero), and Brianna Stemper (Jr. MH/OH) all return after playing last season.  Grace Myhre (5’11” Sr. MH/OH) returns after not playing due to injury.   They’ll look to lead the Warriors back to more on-court wins. Teagan Lange (Sr. MH) will miss the season per injury.  The Warriors open with non-con tilts at Winona-Senior and versus Orono at the Hopkins Side Out Classic.  They have the Apple Valley, Class AA Showcase, and Lakeville-North tournaments. Key TRC matches include Chatfield (home), FC (away), and PEM (away) to close out the league season. In 2019, Caledonia went 11-0 to win the TRC.  They finished 25-7 (lost in the 1A East finals). 

Like some other volleyball teams last season, it was a brief year (as it pertains to matches) for Rushford-Peterson.  The Trojans played just seven times, going 2-4 in the TRC and 2-5 overall.  COVID issues then put R-P down, and with the season ending early, it was for the count.  Head Coach Nikki Schultz graduated four full-time seniors including three-time All-TRC selection Alyvia Eide (5’4” libero), who finished with well over 1,000 career digs.  The top returnee is their other All-TRC pick, Kaylee Ruberg (5’10” Jr. OH).  Entering her fourth year of varsity action, Ruberg had team-bests in kills (66) and blocks (10) while adding 81 digs in 2020.  Senior Elly Malone (5’7” OH) also returns after earning All-TRC HM last season (41 kills, 102 digs).  She’s part of a five-girl senior class that also includes Emarie Jacobson (5’8” MH), Aviana Anderson-Ingram (5’7” MH), Brooke Johnson, (5’8” RH), and Brie Papenfuss (5’7” OH).  Juniors Isabelle Kahoun (5’5” setter > 133 assists, 87 digs) and Hannah Ronnenberg (5’5” RH > 63 digs) join Ruberg as having played full-time last year.  The Trojans have tournaments at Rochester-Century, St. Anthony Village, and Goodhue. They open the season hosting D-E (August 31). Caledonia (September 14) is the first Journal 11 foe, followed by Chatfield (September 21).  Both are on the road.  R-P hosts FC (September 28).  Houston (away September 9) is one non-con game.  In 2019’s full season, R-P went 4-7 in the TRC, 12-16 overall. 

Down LeRoy way, the Cardinals of LeRoy-Ostrander will look to continue to improve. Lindsay Milks’ group won more than they lost last year.  L-O went 4-2 in the SEC, 5-4 overall.   The Cardinals didn’t get an All-SEC selection.  They had two seniors.  Only one was a full-time player.  L-O returns pretty much everybody off last year’s team.  Senior Sidney Lewison (5’8” MH > team second-best 51 kills, 17 blocks) was honored as All-SEC HM.   She’s joined by returning full-time classmates Gracie O’Byrne (5’5” libero > 194 digs, 22 aces), Sam Volkart (5’7” OH/MH > 45 kills), Kylie Welsh (5’4” DS > 55 digs, 25 aces), and Anna Welsh (5’5” setter > 178 assists, 61 digs, 20 aces).  Brianna Tucke (5’9” OH) rounds out a nice six-girl senior group.  L-O also has full-time returnees in the forms of junior Jordan Runde (5’7” OH > 55 kills, 99 digs, 19 aces) and frosh Benita Nolt (5’9” OH/MH > 29 kills).  Of all the Journal 11 squads, the Cardinals have the most continuity returning.  Team L-O has two tournaments, Hayfield and W-K.  They begin the year hosting Schaeffer.  They have rivalry games with Southland (away September 7), GM (home September 9, away October 5) and Kingsland (home September 14, away October 12).  In 2019, L-O went 5-9 in the SEC, 8-16 overall. 

In Houston, the Hurricanes begin the season with a new coach.  Hurricane graduate Vanessa Lee takes over.  Lee was an assistant last season (and a multiple time All-SEC pick in the early 2010’s).  Team double-H went 2-8 in the SEC last season, 3-10 overall.   The ‘Canes graduated five seniors, all of whom played.  The top two departures were All-SEC pick Emma Geiwitz (5’9” MH > 94 kills, 68 digs, 16 aces, 11 ½ blocks) and All-SEC HM pick Becca Rostad (5’5” libero > 125 digs, 19 aces).   Houston’s top two returnees are Lilly Carr (5’4” Jr.), the starting setter, and Sydney Torgerson (5’10” Jr. MH).   Emma Chapel (5’9” RH), Calley Colsch (5’5” DS), and Grace Rohweder (5’11” MH) are the teams seniors.  Priya Kingsley (5’6” Jr. DS) and Jaden Woodward (5’6” Fr. RH) played some last season.  Houston has two tourneys, at Cotter and Wabasha.  They open by hosting Lyle-Pacelli.  Rival SG is September 14 (home) and October 12 (away).  In 2019’s full season, Houston went 4-10 in the SEC, 6-21 overall. 

2021 Cross Country Preview 

The 2020 cross country season was semi-normal (at least more normal than football and volleyball).  The season started on time, tough there were many changes.  Cross country had a Section race, and state qualifiers.  The state tournament was not held.  Like volleyball, another class of competition has been added this season.  Cross country moves from two classes to three.  All five ‘Journal 11’ programs remain in A.  Top tier teams like Stewartville and PEM (plus Z-M/K-W) move up to Class AA, making state a bit easier in Class A.  A state team qualifier and three individual qualifiers return, heading the ‘Journal 11’ C-C narrative.

Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson boys’ cross country was the top ‘Journal 11’ program in 2020.  Matt Kingsbury’s guys, headed by Luke O’Hare and Tyler Rislov, continued their front-of-the-pack running.   For a second straight year, they took second at the 1A Meet and earned a state berth.  LARP graduated a good one, maybe Section 1A’s top male runner from 2018-2020, O’Hare.  He was a two-time 1A Meet champion and three-time state qualifier.  Luke took fourth at last year’s 1A Meet (16:48.9).  But returnee Tyler Rislov ran just behind O’Hare most of last year before besting his heralded teammate at the 1A Meet.  Rislov (Sr.) finished third overall (16:42.5) and is the defending TRC champ.  Rislov will join with a third LARP top five Section 1A Meet runner, Andrew Hoiness.  They give the Screamin’ Eagles a formidable All-TRC pair.  Hoiness (Sr.) took fifth at sections last year (17:15.6).  Each has resumed two top 20 1A Meet finishes.  From there, Tyler Betthauser (So. > 32nd place) is the only other returnee of the top six that run at sections last year.  Would-be returnees Grady Hengel and Aaron Prinsen are out for football.  Ryan Prinsen (So.) is a fourth key returnee.  The girls’squad was very young, and finished 12th (of 17 complete) at sections.  They had just one senior compete at the 1A Meet.  Lauren Honken (So.) was their top runner.  She finished 33rd overall (22:19.4), the only LARP gal runner to finish in the top 50.   A top 20 1A Meet runner in 2019, Honken was All-TRC last year.  Shelby Tesch (8th), Ellie Ekern (So.), Grace Buchanan (Sr.), and Ceona Johnson (So.) are other key section returnees.  Ekern (45th) and Buchanon (51st) finished in the top half of the field in 2019.  LARP’s schedule features home meets at Ferndale and Heartland golf courses.  They open with the W-K Gallop and also roll three meets along U.S. Highway 14 (Winona, St. Charles, D-E). 

The best Journal 11 girls team of 2020 resided in Chatfield.  Jayna Harstad’s Gophers had an excellent season.  They took third (121) at the 1A meet, just missing state behind Cotter (68) and PEM (102).  It came a year after Chatfield took seventh.  The Gophers should be strong again.  With PEM going to Class AA, Chatfield is the second-highest team finisher from 2020 in 1A. All seven runners from sections last year, all juniors and seniors, return.  Senior Tessa McMahon leads the way.  She took 10th overall (20:43.9), qualifying for state.  Four other Gopher runners finished top 40.  Aletta Strande (Jr.) checked in next.  She finished 17th (21:20.0).  A state entrant in 2019 (9th place at sections), Strande gives the Gophers two state-credentialled returnees.  From there, Abbi Gillespie (Sr., 28th > 22:09.0), Belle Carr (Jr., 31st > 22:17.3), and Katelyn Dornack (Sr., 39th > 22.:31) round out Chatfield’s excellent five-some of scoring runners.  Each made All-TRC last year.  Josie Koenigs (Jr.) and Alissa Frank (Jr.) round out the squad’s top seven 2020 1A meet returnees.  Strande, McMahon, Gillespie, and Dornack were 4/5 of Chatfield’s 1A Meet scorers in 2019 too.  The guys team also fared well, taking sixth (of 21) at the 2020 1A Meet.  Three of seven runners graduated (including top 30 finishers, All-TRC honorees Alex Wright and Cody Guenther).  Their top returnee is top their 2020 1A Meet finisher, junior Treyten Lanning.  He took 20th overall (18:30.4) a year after taking 38th (18:28.5).  He was All-TRC.  After that, Logan Thompson (Sr.), Gabe Erding (Jr.), Colton Guenther (Jr). also return after running at the 1A Meet.  Thompson (51st) was the highest sections finisher of that group.  The Gophers running schedule includes multiple big invitationals, Stewartville, Decorah, and at the University of Minnesota to name three.  Chatfield hosts a meet October 5. 

Lanesboro/Fillmore Central’s cross country had each of its units finish middle of the pack at the 1A Meet in 2020.  The Burros saw their guys take ninth (of 21) and the girls take ninth (of 17 complete).  The boys return five of their seven runners from sections.  Senior Carson Ruen heads the cast.  He took 13th overall at the 1A Meet (18:06.4), earning state qualification for his efforts.  It was LFC’s first male state qualifier since 1991.  He moved up the field after taking 29th in 2019 (18:16.2).  Ruen made All-TRC.  Riley Serfling (Sr.), Nicholas Weist (So.), Isaac Snyder (So.), and Seth Rolfs (Sr.) are other key returnees.  Ruen, Serfling, and Snyder were LFC’s top three runners at sections in 2019.  On the girl’s side, Lillyan Kiehne had a breakout year as just a 7th grader for Coach Ellen Cullen.  Kiehne (the sister of ex-LFCMC track standout Carson Kiehne) took 15th overall at the 1A Meet (21:17.6) in her first year.  She made All-TRC.  Five of seven total section athletes return including senior Brielle Ruen.  Sibling to Carson, she finished top 50 (45th place) just off the “COVID” list.  Ruen took 21st overall as a sophomore in 2019 (21:10.5).  Addie Miner (Jr.), Morgan Pickett (Jr.), and Audra Otto (Fr.) also competed at last year’s 1A Meet.  B-Ruen and Pickett were L/FC’s top two finishers at the 2019 1A Meet.  L/FC’s biggest meets of the year are in Stewartville and in Decorah.  They notably host a meet at Harmony’s golf course on September 21. 

GMLOS cross country finished just a touch below L/FC as the 1A Meet.  Lisa Glynn’s girls took 10th (of 17 complete) while the boys took 13th (of 21 complete).  Their top returnee is gal runner McKenna Hendrickson (Jr.).  She started what turned out to be an excellent running season.  Hendrickson was GMLOS top finisher, taking 22nd overall at the 1A Meet.  She went on to make state in two events in track and field too.  Three other of the Bulldogs’ 2020 Section 1A meet gal runners return, Naomi Warmka (8th), Katy Ottman (Jr.), and Aubrie Schneider (Jr.)  Warmka took 51st at sections.  On the guys’ side, Cohen Wiste was GMLOS’ top finisher at sections, as he took 37th overall.  After that, Erik Shaw (So.), Brendon Arndorfer (So), and Teague Alden (Fr) are back, though none finished in the top 50 at sections.  GMLOS has zero seniors on either squad.  A trio of notable meets to GMLOS’ schedule are a home meet to open the year (Cedar River Course), a meet in Harmony, and a meet in Lewiston. 

Kingsland cross country saw its 2020 season highlighted by the emergence of Garrison Hubka.  The now junior came from nowhere to become one of the section’s top 10 runners.  After finishing 77th as a freshman in 2019, Hubka placed eighth (17:32.5) at the 2020 1A Meet.  He qualified for state.  Hubka’s 2020-2021 season had him perform the high school distance running triple crown.  He made state in cross country, then state in track and field in both 1,600 and 3,200.  Overall, Kingsland’s guys return their top six runners from the 2020 1A Meet, when as a team they finished 14th (of 21).  Andrew Imm (Jr.), Josh Meskill (Jr.), Noah Broadwater (Sr.), Isaac Hauser (Sr.), and Jayden Brink (So.) were Kingsland’s other 2020 section runners.  On the girls’ side of things, the Knights took 16th (of 17).  Only two of five 2020 1A section meet runners return.  Susie Mettler (Sr.) is the top returning finisher (52nd).  Lily Freet (Jr.) also ran.  Coach Erin Milz has better numbers in her program than in previous years.  The Knights’ schedule includes the bigger Stewartville Invite plus ventures to two LARP Invites.

2021 Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston  Soccer Preview 

Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston boys soccer brings back most of last year’s 3-9-1 team for second-season head coach Craig Hahn and assistant Jay Marschall. Only four Warriors graduated, so 10 of the 14-player rotation return, including all-conference, three-year starting goalkeeper August Allen. Each position group – forwards, midfielders and defenders – lost only one starter each. All-conference Austin Meyer (Sr. F/MF) is one of seven seniors, six of which with starting experience: Meyer plus defenders Andrew Klinski, Jonah Udstuen and Thomas Bechtel along with midfielders Eric Myhre and Gabe Morey in addition to newcomer Owen Zahn. Also back with starting credentials are juniors Allen, defender Evan Hawkins and forward Lyle Myhre plus freshman William Hahn. Returning with mostly junior varsity experience are juniors Tristan Augedahl, Riley Aasum and Noah Stigeler plus sophomores Laurent Stigeler, Caleb Ranzenberger, Alijah Marshall, Sean McCormick, Vincent Colsch and Troy Zibrowski. Hahn expects to again employ a primary 14-player rotation in a 4-4-2 formation. He seeks to build on the progress he saw the Warriors achieve last fall when they pulled off a first-round playoff upset. The boys open a 15-match slate at home versus Aquinas (noon, August 28) before a trip to West Salem against Coulee Christian (August 31) and to Plainview versus P-E-M (September 2).

Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston girls soccer brings back 13 letter winners, nine of which have lettered more than once. Seventh-season head coach Chris Jandt has extensive experience on defense, while the offense must be replaced. Freshman Josie Foster returns in goal, supported by four letter-winning defensive backs: seniors Grace Denstad, Katelynn Seymour and Autumn Meiners plus junior Mikaela Konkel. Senior Hailey Alfson and Honorable Mention All-TRC junior Ayshia Gay will move from midfield into forward positions, along with junior Cameryn Kruse, in the search for goals. But the midfield is still well-stocked with five letter winners: seniors Therese Jore and Marley Sherbon along with junior Kennedy Kruse and eighth graders Siri Konkel and Loisah Gay. Scoring is the challenge after last year’s 1-11 (0-10 TRC) season during which all six goals came in the season-opening win. The Warriors open a 15-game slate at home versus Plainview-Elgin-Millville (September. 2) before traveling to section champion Winona Cotter (September. 7) and then returning home against Dover-Eyota (September. 9).

*The Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration of Paul Trende and Lee Epps. 

**A special thank you to all coaches who submitted info on their teams.