Last year’s girls basketball season saw four “Journal 10” squads reach the 1A final eight. FC (2-seed) and GM (6-seed) made the final four. The Falcons won the section over BP, making state. Hayfield (4-seed) was the fourth semifinalist. Houston (3-seed) and Kingsland (5-seed) each made the quarters. In Class AA, Lourdes (1-seed) beat Goodhue (3-seed) for the section title. Stewartville (5-seed) and D-E (7-seed) also made the semis. Conference division alignments have changed. The SEC-East is SG, Lanesboro, M-C, Randolph, Schaeffer, and Houston. The West is Southland, L/P, GM, Kingsland, and L-O. G-E shares with Alden-Conger (Gopher Conference). In the TRC, the East is R-P, FC, LC/H, Caledonia, and Cotter. The West is L-A, SC, PEM, Chatfield, and D-E. W-K doesn’t have a varsity. All teams will try to play division foes twice and cross-division foes once.
The last team standing a season ago was Fillmore Central. The Falcons went 10-5 in the TRC (second in the east). From the 2-seed, Levi Olstad’s bunch dispatched with B.A., Southland, GM, and BP 69-56 to win the school’s first ever girls basketball section title. The Falcons fell to Henning in their only state game 69-56 to finish the year 22-9. Three really good ones, three All-TRC picks, graduated, leading scorer Kandace Sikkink (17.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG), speed guard Kassidy Broadwater (9.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 4.9 SPG), and defender Emma Breitsprecher (7.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG). Everyone else is back. Lauren Mensink (5’7” Jr. G > 4.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG), Kammry Broadwater (5’8” Fr. F/G > 3.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG), Kelly Ristau (6’4” Sr. C > 4.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG), Hope Sexton (5’5” Sr. G > 3.8 PPG), Maddie Krage (5’7” Sr. F > 2.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG), and Ashlyn Simon (5’7” Sr. G) were all every-game girls last year. There is a lot of production to reallocate though. Addison Schoepski (5’4” G) rounds out a five-girl senior class. FC opened versus Lanesboro (below). Other non-con tilts are versus GM, SG, and M-C.
The “Journal 10” team most poised to make a strong run might just practice in Spring Valley. Kingsland went 13-0 in the SEC last year, sweeping their way to the West title. The Knights won a Round of 16 play-off game, but fell to Hayfield 47-43 in the 1A quarters. Steve Hauser’s group finished 18-10. They had zero seniors. It will be the same group this year. Three-time league post-season honoree Ellie Buchholtz (5’8” G) heads the cast. The senior has already been All-TRC HM, All-SEC 2nd Team, and finally All-SEC 1st team (last year). She was also Class A All-State HM in 2020 (19.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.1 SPG). Buchholtz is near 1,200 career points. Interior presence Merredith Farlinger (6’0” Sr. C > 7.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.4 BPG) and shooter Sam Wernimont (5’3” Sr. G > 10.1 PPG, 65 made threes) are a pair of returning All-SEC 2nd team picks. Other experienced full-timers are Audrey Webster (5’3” Jr. G > 4.3 PPG, 2.4), Emily Miner (5’9” Jr. F > 5.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG), Anika Reiland (5’5” So. G > 3.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.1 SPG), and Alexys Harwood (5’5” Jr. F), plus Shelby Beck (5’9” Jr. F > 3.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG), who missed much of last season to injury. Morgan Langeslag (5’7” F) rounds out a four-girl senior class. Kingsland opened at St. Charles (see below). Their non-con schedule also includes Z-M and Chatfield.
Also having won a division title a year ago was Houston. The Hurricanes went 12-1 in the SEC (only losing to Kingsland). Double-H won its third straight SEC-East title (second out-right). The ‘Canes won a play-off Round of 16 game, but fell to GM 49-45 in the section quarters. Houston finished at 21-7. Head Coach Dale Moga lost a pair of starters, including All-SEC HM pick Jenny Albrecht (4.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 4.1 SPG). He returns three total All-SEC picks though, including 1st Team selection Emma Geiwitz (5’9” Sr. G) and 2nd Team honoree Sydney Torgerson (5’9” So. F). Geiwitz scored big-time last year (21.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 4.1 SPG). The athletic senior is already over 1,200 career points. Torgerson nearly double-doubled (14.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 4.1 SPG) as a frosh. Additionally, Becca Rostad (5’7” Sr. G > 10.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.0 SPG) was named All-SEC HM, giving Houston a strong trio. Priya Kingsley (5’6” So. G), Allison Papenfuss (5’8” Sr. F), and Amelia Torgerson (5’8” Sr. F) were also every-game girls. Bev Hahn (5’5” G) rounds out a five-girl senior class. Houston opened with Southland (below). They then play ten straight versus SEC-East foes. They have three non-con games (Caledonia, R-P, and L-A).
Taking steps forward last year was Chatfield. The Gophers finished below five-hundred, but got to ten wins for the first time since 2015-2016. Brian Baum’s group went 4-10 in the TRC, 10-18 overall. They upset Z-M in a 1AA Round of 16 but bowed to section runner-up Goodhue 82-38 in the quarters. The Gophers had just one senior (All-TRC pick Silja Erickson). They lost a second would-be key returnee, All-TRC HM pick Zayda Preibe (6’0” Jr. C > 6.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG) to non-participation. Everyone else is back. The top returning scorer is Jaiden Zimmerman (5’8” Jr. G > 10.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.1 SPG). Seniors Mollie Henry (5’7” F > 5.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG) and Paige Erickson (5’9” F), juniors Tessa McMahon (5’5” G > 7.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.8 SPG) and Peyton Berg (5’7” G > 7.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.9 APG), all enter at least their third year of full-time varsity action. McMahon, Zimmerman, and Berg were All-TRC HM last year. Alyssa Baum (5’5” Sr. G > 4.2 PPG) tops off the three-girl senior class, giving the Gophers six essentially every-game returnees. Chatfield opens at Caledonia, followed by a five-game home-stand (PI, Cotter, SC, BP, D-E). They have additional non-con tilts with Lake City, Kingsland, and K-W.
Having a strong season again last year was Grand Meadow. The Super Larks went 10-3 in the SEC (second place in the West). GM beat AC/G-E and Houston in the play-offs, bowing to eventual section champ FC 43-41 in the 1A semis (after beating FC in the regular season). Ryan Queensland’s squad finished 18-10; a sixth straight year of at least 17 wins. GM lost just two seniors. But three-time All-SEC selection Riley Queensland (5’8” F/G) was one. The adept scorer (19.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.0 SPG) finished with 1,738 career points. She was Class A All-State HM. Also graduated was All-SEC 2nd team pick Isabelle Olson (5’4” G > 7.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.0 SPG). GM further lost would-be returnee, All-SEC HM pick Rylee Groom (5’6” Sr. G > 7.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG), who moved out of the district. That leaves River Landers (6’0” Jr. C > 6.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and Madison Hindt (5’5” Sr. G > 5.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG) as the top returnees. Gina Stier (5’8” Sr. F), Rebecca Hoffman (5’8” So. C), Lexy Foster (5’10” Fr. C), and Kendyl Queensland (5’8” So. F) also were full-timers in 2019-2020. Hindt and Stier are the seniors. GM opened at SG and Hayfield (stats below). A home game with Kingsland follows. GM also plays FC non-con.
Lanesboro will look for improvement from a season ago. The Burros went 5-8 in the TRC, 9-18 overall. They fell to Southland 62-49 in a 1A Round of 16 game. Head Coach Bret Klaehn is back for year two. He graduated four key seniors, including the team’s leading scorer, 2nd team All-SEC pick Payton Benson (5’4” G > 10.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 SPG). All-Southeast HM pick Jessie Schreiber (5’11” So F/C) and Brielle Ruen (5’7” Jr. G) are a pair of key returnees. Schreiber is the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder (10.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG). Ruen (9.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG) was a strong bench player. From there, Sydney Taylor (5’9” Sr. C > 5.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) and Malia Tessum (5’3” So. G) were every-game players. The Burros also get volleyball stand-out Kaci Ruen (6’0” So. C) back. She missed all but one game to injury in 2019-2020. Lanesboro opened at FC (see below). They then play all ten of their SEC-East opponents in succession. R-P is the Burros other non-con game.
Mabel-Canton went 7-6 (SEC), 10-16 (overall) last season. The Cougars fell to Randolph 42-39 in the 1A Round of 16 on a last second shot. Payton Danielson was the only key graduation. M-C’s top player led the squad in everything (12.3 PPG, 10.0 RGP, 2.8 APG, 4.2 SPG) in making All-SEC 1st team (fourth 1st or 2nd team selection). She finished as the Cougars all-time leading girl’s scorer (1,580). Everyone else is back. M-C’s two seniors, Lauren Wyffels (5’4” G > 8.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 SG) and Jordyn Newgard (5’6” F > 5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG), lead the way. Wyffels was All-SEC HM last year. Underclassmen starters last year, MaKenzie Kelly (5’5” So. G > 6.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG) and Camryn Cox (5’5” Jr. F > 5.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG), come next. Coach Adam Wilder went iron-girl a lot last year. The above five were the only ones to see action in 20 or more games. M-C started with home game versus L/P (see below). They then have ten straight versus SEC-East foes. The Cougars non-con tilts are FC, R-P, and St. Charles.
For the youthful Spring Grove girls, “depending on defense” while developing an “offensive identity” is the early-season assignment according to third-year head coach Kody Moore. There is a lot of offensive production to replace with three-fourths of the scoring and nearly two-thirds of both the assists and offensive rebounds no longer available after last year’s 6-21 season (4-9 SEC). The good news is the Lions return of most (five) of last year’s nine letter winners, but Jordian Leahy is the lone, full-time returning starter. With injuries and illness forcing lineup adjustments, Katelyn Kraus drew nine starts and Addyson McHugh seven. The veterans are young; the five returning letter winners are one junior, two sophomores, one freshman and one eighth grader. Leahy (5’7” Jr. G) was the third leading scorer and fourth leading rebounder last year (4.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG). Kraus, a freshman, and McHugh, a sophomore (3.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG), are both 5’10” forwards who will determine Lion success near the basket. Emerson Ingvalson (5’5” 8th grader) played in 24 of the 27 games last year as a seventh grader (3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG). Lydia Solum (5’8” So.) saw action in 15 contests. SG opened versus GM and at R-P (see below). They then have ten straight versus East foes. FC is a second non-con game. Additional coverage on FCJ web site.
Having a tough go of it in 2019-2020 was Rushford-Peterson. The Trojans went 0-15 in the TRC, 3-23 overall. They fell to L-O 37-34 in a 1A play-off play-in contest. R-P welcomes in a new coach, Joe Hatch, who has assisted multiple sports in Rushford. He returns some experience, as just two full-time players graduated. The team’s only post-season honoree, All-TRC HM pick Alayna Helgemoe (5’6” Sr. G > 5.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.0 APG), is one key returnee. Kaylee Ruberg (5’10” So. F), last year’s top scorer and rebounder (8.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.1 SPG), is a second key player back. From there, seniors Alora Wilkemeyer (5’10” Sr. F > 4.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and Isabelle Olson (5’8” Sr. G > 4.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG) are well experienced. Hannah Ronnenberg (5’6” So. G), Emarie Jacobson (5’9” Jr. F), and Isabelle Kahoun (5’7” G) got a lot of action as underclassmen. R-P opened with SG (see below), one of five non-con games (L-O, Lanesboro, M-C, Houston) scheduled.
LeRoy-Ostrander starts the year hoping youth growing older will help the win total. The Cardinals went 0-13 in the SEC, 1-26 overall last year. Trevor Carrier’s group posted a sole win, in the play-offs, beating R-P 37-34 in a play-in game. L-O then fell to BP 70-22 in the 1A Round of 16. The Cardinals had just one senior last year and played one junior in the form of Kelly Hanson (5’11” F). She returns after having made All-SEC HM as L-O’s top scorer (8.6 PPG) and rebounder (6.5 RPG). Underclassmen played a ton of minutes, but all are back this season. Jordan Runde (5’7” So. G > 5.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.2 SPG), Sam Volkart (5‘7“ Jr. G > 4.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG), and Gracie O’Byrne (5’6” Jr. G > 4.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG) are returning starters. Kylie Welsh (5’4” Jr. G), Nicole Hanson (5’8” Sr. F), and Benita Nolt (5’9” 8th F) all saw action in 20-plus games. The Cardinals began by hosting S.A. (see below). They play their eight SEC-West games in succession. R-P and Faribault B.A. are their two non-con games.
Hot Shots
Winter Sports are here! SG’s boys knocked off GM 45-41 in a key early SEC game. The Larks then regrouped and beat #2 in Class Hayfield 59-57 a night later. R-P boys looked R-P-like in beating Kingsland 79-32. FC’s boys trailed Lanesboro by double digits, but prevailed 59-56 behind Zach Haugerud’s 22 points. FC’s girls trailed the Burros 31-21 at half, but prevailed 62-51. Emma Geiwitz had 26 points to power Houston over Southland 65-40. L-O’s girls beat Schaeffer 58-26 to match last season’s win total. Freshman Cayden Tollefson had 20 points, but M-C’s boys fell to L/P 73-35. GMLOS (ranked #4 in Class A) wrestled a tough triangular, falling twice to Class AA ranked schools Scott West and Tri-City United. Chatfield (#11 in A) wrestling beat Goodhue 52-24. Caden Anderson’s picture was omitted from last week’s wrestling preview.
Boys Basketball
(1/15 & 1/16)
SG 45, GM 41 (SG: Caden Grinde 16 pts, 6 rebs; Eli Solum 14 pts, 6 rebs. GM: Taylor Glynn 10 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls; Colt Landers 8 pts, 5 reb. SG led the first half. GM went 18-2 to lead. SG rallied with a 13-2 run in the final four minutes)
M-C 35, L/P 73 (MC: C. Tollefsrud career-high 20 pts (6-8 FTs), 7 rebs)
#2 in A Hayfield 57, GM 59 (GM: C. Landers 14 pts (7-12 FGs), 8 rebs; Evan Oehlke 13 pts (6-9 FGs), 7 rebs; T. Glynn 12 pts; Ben Kraft 8 pts, 7 asts. Game had nine ties and nine lead changes. Larks hit a three to go to half down six. They went ahead for good a few minutes into the second half, though the Vikings pulled even thrice. GM’s Roman Warmka hit one free throw late to make it a two-point game. Hayfield’s last shot in the final possession didn’t fall, giving the Larks a big win)
Kingsland 32, R-P 79 (RP: Justin Ruberg 17 pts (7-12 FGs), 8 rebs; Luke O’Hare 15 pts (6-11 FGs); Malachi Bunke 7 pts, 7 asts, 4 stls; Andrew Hoiness/Logan Skalet 9 pts (3-4 threes). K: Walker Erdman 15 pts; Mason Kolling 13 pts (5-7 FGs), 6 rebs)
FC 59, Lanesboro 56 (FC: Z. Haugerud 22 pts (5-10 threes), 6 rebs; Jecob Wood 11 pts (4-5 FTs), 6 rebs; Trevor Hershberger 10 pts. L: Ryan Holmen 17 pts, 11 rebs; John Prestemon 12 pts, 8 rebs, 6 asts; Sawyer Johnson 9 pts, 5 rebs. Burros led most of the game, by as many as 12. FC’s first lead came at 55-53 (2:43). Logan Corson’s lay-up (0:45) proved the go-ahead points for good at 57-55. Trailing by three late (0:15), Burros didn’t attempt game-tying FG. Falcons hit 10 of 12 FTs in final ten minutes)
Houston 29, Southland 70 (H: Noah Kingsley 18 pts (4-16 threes), 3 stls. ‘Canes played just five combined 10-12 graders)
Schaeffer Academy 49, L-O 34 (LO: Tanner Olson 10 pts (5-10 FGs), 10 rebs)
Girls Basketball
(1/15 & 1/16)
GM 36, SG 20 (GM: Sydney Cotton 10 pts, 4 stls; Kendyl Queensland 8 pts, 3 stls; McKenna Hendrickson 7 pts; Lexy Foster 2 pts, 14 rebs, 3 stls. SG: Addyson McHugh 12 pts. SG scored the first 8 points. GM scored the next 21)
L/P 29, M-C 24 (MC: Camryn Cox 7 pts, 6 rebs; Kinley Soiney 2 pts, 11 rebs. Cougars led 19-13 at half)
Southland 40, Houston 65 (H: E. Geiwitz 26 pts (12-27 FGs), 9 rebs, 5 stls; Becca Rostad 11 pts (4-7 FGs), 5 stls; Priya Kingsley 8 pts, 7 asts, 3 stls; Sydney Torgerson 8 pts, 11 rebs, 5 asts, 4 stls. Houston had 23 steals)
Kingsland 40, St. Charles 50 (K: Ellie Buchholtz 10 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls; Sam Wernimont 10 pts, 6 rebs; Emily Miner 4 pts, 14 rebs; Anika Reiland 8 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts)
Schaeffer Academy 26, L-O 58 (LO: Jordan Runde 16 pts, 5 stls; Kelly Hanson 14 pts (7-12 FGs), 6 rebs; Gracie O’Byrne 11 pts, 8 stls; Kylie Welsh 8 pts, 7 rebs. Cardinals won just won game last year, match that total in game one)
GM 37, Hayfield 58 (GM: K. Queensland 12 pts, 3 stls; L. Foster 8 pts, 7 rebs; S. Cotton 7 pts, 7 rebs)
Lanesboro 51, FC 62 (FC: Kammry Broadwater 11 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls; Maddie Krage 10 pts, 8 rebs; Hope Sexton 9 pts (3-8 threes); Courtney Hershberger 8 pts. L: Malia Tessum 17 pts (9-10 FTs); Jessie Schreiber 11 pts (5-7 FTs); Kaci Ruen 8 pts, 10 rebs. Burros used 12-15 FTs to lead 31-21 at half, but FC won second half 41-20 (including starting 13-0))
SG 28, R-P 44 (RP: Kaylee Ruberg 12 pts; Lily Thompson 8 pts. SG: Jordian Leahy 13 pts (7-12 FTs); A. McHugh 8 pts)
Wrestling (1/15 & 1/16)
#11 in A Chatfield 52, Goodhue 24 (Gophers never trailed. Teams essentially went back-and-forth up to 152 pounds, Gophers leading 24-18. But Chatfield won five of the final six weights, four by fall. Eight of their nine wins were by fall: Gage Bartels (106), Ben Carrier (113), Cody Guenther (132), Kail Schott (145), Seth Goetzinger (170), Grady Schott (182), Campbell Berge (195), A.J. Karver (285). Tate Karver (160) scored a 9-1 major decision. Guenther (#10 at 132), Goetzinger (#4 at 160), G-Schott (#8 at 170), and A.J. Karver (#4 at 220) all begin the year ranked in Class A)
Goodhue 51, LARP 25 (Wildcats took 106, then never trailed. They won three straight from 132-145 to go up 30-10. Carter Jonsgaard (126), Gable Speltz (152) and Tyler Kryzer (195) had pins for LARP, Tyler Kreidemacher (113 > 13-3) a major decision, and Brennan Corcoran (182 > 11-5) a decision win); La Crescent/Hokah 4, LARP 78 (LARP took 106 (Spencer Nelson), 120 (Jordan Zibrowski), 132 (Quintin Betthauser), 138 (Titan Tekautz), 160 (Garrett Meisch), 182 (Corcoran), 195 (Kryzer), 220 (Jacob Meyer), and 285 (D.J. Plank) by forfeit. Kreidemacher (113), Jonsgaard (126), Speltz (152), and Collin Klug (170) had pins for S-Eagles)
#4 in A GMLOS 22, #12 in AA Scott West 44 (Scott West won first six weights to lead 32-0. Bulldogs won next six to trail 32-22, only to forfeit 220. Christian Jacobsen (170) had a pin, Cameron Sneed (195 > 12-0) a major decision, Donavon Felten (145 > 4-2), Rece Voigt (152 > 8-1), Daniel Smith (160 > 5-4), and Noah Sayles (182 > 8-1) decision wins over GMLOS); #4 GMLOS 27, #11 in AA Tri-City United 35 (A super tight dual saw seven lead changes. GMLOS led 6-4, 12-8, 24-23, and 27-23 (after 195). But Tri-City won 220 & 285 each by pin to claim the dual. Aiden Quintana (113) and Cohen Wiste (126) had pins for GMLOS, C-Jacobson (182) won by forfeit, D. Felten (152 > 5-0), D. Smith (170 > 4-3), and N. Sayles (195 > 5-3) by decision. Anthony Romero (#1 at 106) did not wrestle. Lucas Winfield (#5 at 138), Felten (#6 at 145), Voigt (#2 at 152), Smith (#3 at 160), C. Jacobsen (#6 at 170), Sayles (#2 at 182), and Sneed (#7 at 195) also start the year ranked)
FCLMC 46, Pine Island 31 (Panthers wrestled out wins in first four weights to lead 19-0, only for FCLMC to get forfeit wins at 132 thru 152 (Kyle Daniels, Cole Sass, Cale Anderson, Caleb Kunz). They took a 24-19 lead and then never trailed. Caden Anderson, Bodey Wright, Devin Troendle, and Oliver Hoeltzle added four straight pins from 160 thru 195); FCLMC 18, Lake City 57 (Wolves got pins from Cad. Anderson (160) and D. Troendle (182), decision wins from Kane Larson (106 > 5-2) and Connor Wingert (126 > 12-10))
*Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration by Paul Trende and Lee Epps.