It was a key win. It was a win over a strong sub-district foe. It was a win on the road. It staved off the possibility of heading to Caledonia sporting an 0-2 record. It was a win by one point. Chatfield (0-1) and Triton (1-0) squared off in a highly contested week two game. The Gophers rallied, dominating the ball in the fourth quarter (having just enough anti-venom) to secure victory. The teams exchanged scores all game. Chatfield ran 22 offensive plays to Triton’s five in the first quarter, and had two excursions deep into Cobra territory, but came up empty. After an interception on the four-yard-line, the snakes struck first, marching 96 yards in 16 plays. A Braxton Munnikhuysen’s 2-yard TD run made it 6-0. After the teams exchanged second quarter turnovers, Chatfield’s stud Sam Backer did a Sam Backer. On 4th and three from the Triton 39, Backer put his head down to ensure a first down, absorbed collision, and then burst out for an impressive 39-yard TD run. The PAT succeeded leaving it 7-6 Gophers at the half. It was then Triton’s turn after intermission. After a Gopher fumble, the Cobras had to go just 31 yards. Munnikhuysen’s 4-yard TD run (plus conversion) made it 14-7 home team. But Chatfield replied just two plays later. Backer hit tight end Sulley Ferguson, who snuck out behind the defense, for a 76-yard TD pass. Grady Schott’s two-point run made it 15-14 Chatfield. Triton then scored on its next possession, going 68 yards in nine plays. Two big plays (23-yard pass, 31-yard run) on third down were key. Munnikhusyen’s third TD run (3 yards) plus two-point pass made it 20-15 Triton heading to the fourth. There, like the first quarter, Chatfield controlled the ball. A 13-play, 67-yard drive ended when Backer romped in (2-yard run). The two-point pass failed, leaving Chatfield clinging to a 21-20 lead. But they didn’t have to sweat much. The Gopher defense shut down Triton’s next drive on just three plays, Isaac Stevens’ sack on 2nd down a key play. Chatfield took over the ball with 4:33 left in the game and promptly had runs of 8, 10, 4, 10, 8, and 4 before being able to kneel. Surviving losing the turnover battle 3-1 and racking 85 yards on nine penalties, the Gophers prevailed 21-20. Backer was huge (8-8, 129 yards, TD passing; 30-141, 2 TDs rushing), accounting for all three Gopher scores. Jacob Erickson (4-7, 43 yards, INT passing) also threw the ball some. Nine different Gophers recorded a reception. Ferguson had just one catch, but it was a big one. Triton was led by Munnikhuysen (12-63, 3 TDs rushing) and Noah Thomas (5-57 receiving). Contrary to Chatfield’s passing, the later caught five of six Cobra completions. Chatfield (1-0, 1-1) faces Caledonia (1-0, 1-1) in week two.
Photo by Paul Trende
Trojan Passing Sets up Rush TDs in Win Over Falcon
Rushford-Peterson (1-0) used it passing attack to hit chunks plays, but relied on its ground game to punch the ball into the end zone, in a week two win over rival Fillmore Central (1-0). R-P put the game’s first two TDs on the board. After a 13-play drive, Brady Gile’s one-yard run made it 6-0 late in the first quarter. After a 10-play drive, Hadyn Kahoun’s 6-yard TD run made it 12-0 in the second. FC also leaned on its passing game. The Falcons had two big pass plays in the first half (Dillon O’Connor 39-yard and 59-yard passes to Luke Hellickson and Jayce Kiehne) that set up red zone opportunities. But a 1st and 10 at the 20, and a 1st and 10 at the 11, both yielded zero points. Late in the second quarter, a big FC pass play finally helped activate the scoreboard. O’Connor hit Bryce Corson for 30 yards deep into Trojan territory. A couple plays later, the connection was true again, this time a 29-yard TD strike. FC converted its PAT making the score 12-7, where it stood at the half. But R-P’s opening possession of the second half went 65 yards in 13 plays. The biggest yardage getter was a 29-yard pass from Malachi Bunke to Grady Hengel. Chunk tosses of 12 yards to Justin Ruberg, and 10 yards to Hengel, negated most of an ensuing 2nd and goal from the 23. Bunke went to the duo often. On 4th and goal from the one, Kahoun’s second TD run (plus Bunke to Ruberg pass) made the score 20-7 Trojans. R-P then stopped FC on fourth down in their territory, icing the game a bit later when Bunke authored a 5-yard TD run on third and goal. The Trojans went ahead 26-7. FC got a late O’Connor to Alec Sikkink 20-yard TD pass, but by a final of 26-15, the Trojans got the win. Bunke (15-21, 181 yards passing, 10-66, TD rushing) targeted Ruberg (7-90 receiving) and Hengel (5-76 receiving) often. Kahoun (18-65, 2 TDs rushing) and Gile (4-22, TD rushing) joined Bunke inflicting damage on the ground. R-P’s senior QB also had two interceptions on defense. Davin Thompson’s group passed for 186 yards and ran for 190 yards; balance. FC was led by O’Connor (14-21, 229 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs passing), Kiehne (2-70 receiving), Sikkink (8-42, rushing; 4-24, TD receiving), and Corson (5-69 receiving). They were held to 52 yards rushing after having 342 yards in week one. The Falcons threw for 229 yards. One of O’Connor’s picks came on a 4th down proverbially ‘do-or-die’ situation, another at the end of the half. R-P improved to 1-0, 2-0. FC fell to 0-1, 1-1.
Photo by Paul Trende
Trojans, Warriors, Falcons, Gophers All Win, Top TRC VB Standings
It was a short week for the Journal 11 volleyball teams in the TRC. All four had just one league game. Three went more than three sets. The other grabbed a big sweep of a squad they’ve struggled against. On Tuesday, Rushford-Peterson won its only match of the week, toasting Wabasha-Kellogg (25-22, 25-18, 25-22). It was a big win. A Trojan team hasn’t beaten the Falcons since 2014, their only series win of the decade. They’d lost five straight TRC matches to and nine straight overall. Nikki Schultz’s group went iron-woman, as only six girls played. Kaylee Ruberg (20 digs, 5 digs) had a career-high number of spikes. Isabelle Kahoun (29 assists, 7 digs) did the setting while Hannah Ronnenberg (8 kills, 11 digs), Elly Malone (5 kills, 18 digs, 14-14 serving, 2 aces), Emarie Jacobson (6 kills, 8 digs), and Aviana Anderson-Ingram (10 digs) made it a team effort. All six of R-P’s servers had at least nine attempts. On Thursday, Scott Koepke’s Caledonia squad played the volleyball match of the week at Lewiston-Altura, which has 16 seniors. The Cardinals won the first two close sets (25-23, 25-22) to have the Warriors down 0-2. But Cal rallied to take game three (25-23) to get back in things. They took game four in the matches only set that wasn’t tooth-and-nail (25-17) before also snagging a tight set five (16-14) for the 3-2 comeback win! Logan Koepke led the Warriors effort (15 kills, 30 digs, 7 aces). Paige Klug (7 kills, 8 digs), Grace Myhre (6 kills), Sadie Treptow (5 kills), and Brianna Stemper (4 kills, 7 digs) helped out. Emma Rommes (20 assists, 10 digs) and Jovial King (20 assists, 9 digs) split the setting. Emme Kittleson (28 digs) joined Koepke in being defensively busy. Alexis Schroeder (10 digs) gave Caledonia four with 10-plus denials, as the team racked up 109 digs. L-A got 20 kills from Tanner Reed. Coach Koepke credited the Cardinals with being “well coached” and that “both teams played a lot of really strong volleyball.” On the same night, FC trekked to PEM. The Falcons spotted the Bulldogs game one but then won three straight convincingly for the 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-5). Eighth-grader Kyla Hellickson was 25 of 27 with 11 aces plus 5 digs. Lauren Mensink (3 kills, 20 assists, 4 digs), Abby Bothun (9 kills, 13 digs), Kammry Broadwater (8 kills, 5 digs), and Alyssa Britton (5 kills, 5 digs, 18-20 serving, 6 aces) also did big work. All told, FC had 22 aces and 17 came from cousins Hellickson and Britton. Also going four sets the same night was Chatfield. The Gophers took the first two at Cotter, dropped one, but got the 3-1 win (25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18) in another tightly contested match. Zayda Priebe (17 kills) and Jaelyn LaPlante (10 kills) led the offense, with help from Peyton Berg (6 kills, 18 digs). The trio had 33 of Chatfield’s 37 kills. Cotter’s serve-receive limited the Gophers to just one ace. Devann Clemens (19 assists, 12 digs, 18-18 serving) and Sydney Allen (17 assists, 12 digs) split the setting. Alexis Hinckley (9 digs) helped on defense. Priebe hit .467 in the match. “Big Z” is hitting .360 on the year with 99 kills in 22 sets. And thus, four of the top TRC schools in the standings are Caledonia (3-0, 7-2), FC (3-0, 6-3), R-P (3-0, 6-2), and Chatfield (2-1, 5-3). There will be some big matches between the teams to come. Only Chatfield and FC have played (Falcons won). FC also beat Lourdes earlier in the week, the Falcons and Warriors each had the Apple Valley tourney (See ‘Volleyball’ below for more).
Photo by Christine Vreeman
Warrior Football Starts Strong, Downs Saints
Caledonia football (0-1) avenged a week one loss by starting strong in week two. Carl Fruechte’s group scored the first 24 points of the game versus St. Charles (0-1), putting the ball in the end zone on its first three possessions. Cal led 24-0 at the half and coasted to a 24-6 win over the Saints. The Warriors split the offensive load. Thane Meiners led Cal on the ground (13-66, TD rushing), scoring the first TD (5-yard run) on drive number one. Ayden Goetzinger (11-50, TD rushing) and Eric Mauss (5-28 rushing, 1-20 receiving) also contributed yardage. Goetzinger had Caledonia’s second score (1-yard run) in the first quarter. Through the air, sophomore quarterback Lewis Doyle got a big weapon back in Jackson Koepke. He was the Warriors’ leading receiver (5-64 yards, TD receiving), authoring the third score (34-yard reception) in the second quarter. Koepke added an interception defensively. Chris Pieper had Caledonia’s fourth first half score, a 22-yard second quarter TD catch. Doyle finished 11 of 19 for 129 yards and 2 TDs passing (113.7 QB rating). The Warriors had zero turnovers after miscuing six times versus Lake City in week one. The Caledonia defense kept the Saints run-based triple-option offense at bay, surrendering just one score, a 14-yard Jett Thoreson TD run on St. Charles’ first possession of the second half. It capped a 15-play, 70-yard drive. The teams combined for just five second half possessions. St. Charles hit a 33-yard pass with their second offensive play, but had just 21 yards offense the rest of the first half. They finished with 102 yards rushing on 42 attempts and 148 total yards offense. Caledonia rushed for 148 yards on 31 attempts, but also threw for 129 yards, gaining 277 yards total offense. The Warriors improved to 1-0, 1-1 ahead of a key Southeast match-up with Chatfield (1-0, 1-1).
Photo by Christine Vreeman
Huge Fourth Quarter Propels Knights to 2-0
Two-and-0 starts aren’t typically things for massive fanfare. On about a five-to-ten-year recurring trend, almost every high school football team posts at least one 2-0 start. Things haven’t been so trendy in Spring Valley. But this is a new season, and courtesy of a huge second half, the Knights (1-0) head to week three unblemished. Early on, Houston (0-1) was the team in control. Senior quarterback Isaac Heyer authored two first half scores, a 3-yard TD run (plus conversion), and an 18-yard TD pass to Ethan Hargrove. The Hurricanes led 14-0 at half. But Kingsland made it a tense game in the third quarter. A Beau Wiersma 7-yard TD run, plus conversion pass, made it 14-8. A Kale Mensink 8-yard TD pass to Kaden Rath knotted the score at 14-14 heading to the fourth. There, the Knights scored 28 points, running their tally to 42-unanswered. James Howard had two rushing TDs, Mensink and Zach Reiland ground scores at well. Coming back from down 14-0, Matt Kolling’s group prevailed 42-14. They grabbed their second win in as many tries. Hurricane turnovers were key in the turn-about, as Houston lost two fumbles and had an interception all in the second half. Howard (15-63, 2 TDs rushing), Wiersma (8-56, TD rushing; 2-16 receiving), Reiland (3-29, TD rushing) and Mensink (7-18, TD rushing) all scored on the ground for team double-K. Mensink (5-7, 37 yards, TD passing) also accounted for a passing TD to Rath (2-20, TD receiving). The Hurricanes were led by Heyer (7-8, 58 yards, TD passing, 21-40, TD rushing), Austin Swenson (6-52 rushing), Kam Morgan (10-41 rushing), and Hargrove (4-42, TD receiving). The Knights improve to 1-0, 2-0. Houston falls to 0-2, 0-2. The last Knight football team to win multiple games in a season was the 2011 group, which finished 3-6. The last Knight team to start 2-0 was purportedly 2006 (definitely prior to 2010).
Photo by Paul Trende
Knight Duo Go 1-2 at Hayfield
It is going to be cross country season where at every meet, someone from either LARP, Chatfield, Kingsland, LFC, or GMLOS stands out. All five teams have either a marquee runner or good squads. At the Hayfield Invite, Kingsland cross country had its best day in over a decade. The name Garrison Hubka isn’t a new one. In his third race of the year, the Knight junior notched his third top two finish, his second consecutive 5,000-meter title. Hubka ran 16:50.6 to win the boys’ individual crown. He was over 30 seconds faster than his win at the Stewartville Invite a week earlier (17:24.8). But coming in second was Hubka’s teammate, fellow junior Cole Kruegel. Kruegel ran 17:30 to top PEM’s Baylor Hagen (17:32.6) and WEM/JWP’s Landon Dimler (17:48) for runner-up. Kruegel was also around 30 seconds faster than at Stewie (17:59.2). The duo helped Erin Milz’s Knights to their best team finish in a long while. Kingsland (98) took third to Pine Island (61) and WEM/JWP (76). Twelve complete teams competed. Fellow Journal 11 teams GMLOS (4th place) and Chatfield (8th place) also took to the course. Gopher Logan Thompson (9th > 18:34.2) finished top ten. Cohen Wiste (11th > 18:36.2) led GMLOS. Chatfield’s Gabe Erding (16th > 18:45.4) and GMLOS 7th grader Tate Goergen (17th > 18:45.5) finished top 20. On the girls’ side, GMLOS’ McKenna Hendrickson (20:16.1) had the privilege of finishing runner-up to last year’s section champion Natasha Sortland of Z-M/K-W (18:08.5). It was Hendrickson’s second straight second, as she ran 19:54.2 behind Cotter’s Sonja Semling (19:43.8) at the Stewie Invite. Team-wise, Chatfield (82) took second to Pine Island (51). GMLOS was sixth of eight complete teams. Kingsland was incomplete. Chatfield’s Aletta Strande (13th > 22:26.7), Ella Bakken (16th > 22:53.7), Anna Kivimagi (22nd > 23:17.8), Savannah Thompson (23rd > 23:21.4), Charlotte Oeltjen (24th > 23:21.7), and Josie Koenigs (27th > 23:22.3) all finished top 26. GMLOS’ Naomi Warmka (18th > 22:54) and Kingsland’s Susan Mettler (25th > 23:22.1) finished top 25. Chatfield’s full line-up didn’t compete, boy or girls. The Gophers had the large Luther College Invite just days later.
Photo by Paul Trende
Burro Volleyball Takes Second at Cotter Invite
Weekend volleyball tournaments are difficult to win. Unless your name is Mabel-Canton, Journal-covered teams in the past haven’t won, or even taken second place at such events, too often. There are exceptions (excluding M-C); FC won the 2013 Class A Showcase and Lanesboro won the 2016 LeRoy-Ostrander Tourney (to name a couple). This year’s group of Burros trekked to Winona and almost added a second exception, but had a big day nonetheless at the Cotter Sugarloaf Classic. Julie Schrieber’s group worked overtime for their weekend volleyball. The Burros went 3-0 in pool play, beating Lewiston-Altura’s junior varsity (25-20, 25-21), PEM (22-25, 25-14, 15-8), and Red Wing (25-17, 25-27, 15-12). The top seed in the four-team championship tournament, Lanesboro beat Triton (21-25, 25-16, 15-11) in the semis before running out of steam and falling to Red Wing (25-21, 22-25, 6-15) in the finals. The Burros took second, downing teams from three different conferences, from two larger classes (PEM/Triton AA, Red Wing AAA). Burro tourney leaders were Kaci Ruen (59 kills, 41 digs), Ella Cambern (10 kills, 89 assists, 36 digs), Malia Tessum (78 digs), and Jessie Schreiber (28 kills, 40 digs, 10 aces). The latter is shaking off a sprained ankle. Ellie Anderson (15 kills) and Lynsey Ruen (29 digs) helped. Ruen had a least 9 kills in each match. Tessum had 25 digs in the pool play match versus the Wingers. Lanesboro is 2-1, 6-2. Houston was also to compete at the event, but they are on hiatus per COVID.
Photo by Heather Kleiboer
Hot Shots
Lanesboro’s J.T. Rein ran for 184 yards and had 2 TDs, including a big 74-yarder in the third quarter, in beating Southland 40-19. Lanesboro led 16-7 at half but 32-7 late in the third. L-O got 432 yards total offense (268 rushing) from Chase Johnson and 5 total TDs as the Cardinals beat M-C 38-8. Tristan Lewison added nine catches for 113 yards and a TD to help team Card. The Burros (2-0, 2-0) and L-O (2-0, 2-0) are set for a huge week three match-up in Lanesboro. Dustin Copley returned to GM’s line-up and promptly scored four first quarter TDs as the Super Larks (0-1, 1-1) beat Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 53-16. Corbin Ludemann also topped the century mark, 119 yards, on just six carries. Addyson McHugh was 33 of 33 serving with 12 aces as SG (3-0, 3-0) beat SA 3-0. GM volleyball posted wins over L/P and L-O to take control of the SEC-West lead. Sue Wilson’s Larks (3-1, 5-4) lead L-O (3-2, 5-5). Cardinal Gracie O’Byrne had 30 digs in the loss to GM. Over two SEC matches, O’Byrne amassed 50 digs. Mabel-Canton (#4 in Class A) won its only match of the week (Schaeffer). The Cougars (4-0, 4-0), Houston (3-0, 3-0), and SG (3-0) are tied atop the East with Lanesboro (2-1, 6-2) lurking. Lauren Mensink had 9 kills, 24 assists, and 8 digs as FC beat Lourdes 3-0. Multiple games (volleyball Houston at M-C, Lanesboro at SG, R-P at Houston, football L/P at Spring Grove) were postponed or cancelled this week per COVID.
Football (9/10 & 9/11) South-East District
Lanesboro 40, Southland 19 (L: J.T. Rein 17-184, 2 TDs rushing; Seth Semmen 7-60, TD rushing, 2-4, 37 yards, TD passing; Orion Sass 9-56, TD rushing; Mason Howard 4-50 rushing; Jordan Peterson 28-yard TD catch. Rebels scored on their first possession, but then went scoreless over six possessions with four punts, a fumble, and halftime. The Burros led 16-7 at half, breaking the game open in the third via a 74-yard TD run by Rein and a subsequent 4-yard TD run by Sass. Lanesboro led 32-7 late in the third. For a second straight week, James Semmen’s group had zero turnovers)
LeRoy-Ostrander 38, Mabel-Canton 8 (L-O: C. Johnson 15-268 yards, 4 TDs rushing, 17-31, 164 yards, TD, INT passing; T. Lewison 9-113, TD receiving; Camden Hungerholt 19-yard TD run; Tanner Olson 12 tackles, 1 ½ sacks. MC: Dawson Kleiboer 3-63, TD rushing; Cayden Tollefsrud 23-53 rushing, 1-15 receiving. L-O led 18-0 at half and 30-0 after three. Cardinals ran for 363 yards and Johnson had 268 of it. He’s amassed over four straight games of over 350 yards total offense. Cardinals have scored 95 points through two weeks. M-C is 1-1, 1-1)
Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 16, Grand Meadow 53 (GM: D. Copley 10-127, 3 TDs rushing, 72-yard kickoff-return TD; C. Ludemann 6-119, TD rushing; Taylor Glynn 3-63, TD rushing; Dustin Stejskal 8-32, TD rushing; Dalton Pischke 7-21, TD rushing. Copley returned the opening kick-off for six and had three rushing TDs all in the first quarter as GM built a 31-0 lead that was 47-0 at halftime. All of Larks’ 369 yards came on ground. GM is 0-1, 1-1)
Volleyball (9/7 – 9/11) Southeast Conference
LeRoy-Ostrander 3, Southland 0 > 25-14, 27-25, 25-17 (LO: G. O’Byrne 20 digs, 3 aces; Sydney Lewison 10 kills (.438 hitting); Benita Nolt 8 kills; Sam Volkart 5 kills; Jenna Olson 15 assists; Anna Welsh 7 assists, 7 digs; Jordan Runde 3 kills, 6 digs, 16-17 serving)
Spring Grove 3, Schaeffer Academy 0 > 25-4, 25-12, 25-11 (SG: A. McHugh 9 kills, 33-33 serving, 12 aces; Rachel Normann 24 assists; Kenadee Gerard 8 kills; Lydia Solum 5 kills; Maggie Lile 6 digs. Spring Grove served 93% with 17 aces and had 30 kills with only six errors)
Glenville-Emmons 0, Kingsland 3 > 25-19, 25-15, 25-22 (K: Shelby Beck 6 kills; Alyssa Link 18 assists; Audrey Webster 9 digs, 4 aces; Alexys Harwood 6 kills, 5 aces; Anika Reiland 6 kills, 8 digs; Shayla Aarsvold 3 kills, 4 aces. Knights pick up first win)
Lyle/Pacelli 0, Grand Meadow 3 > 25-9, 25-12, 25-9 (GM: River Landers 10 kills; Anna Oehlke 7 kills; Emma Grafe 6 digs, 3 assists, 3 aces; Lauren Queensland 3 kills, 5 digs)
Kingsland 1, Southland 3 > 25-20, 14-25, 9-25, 18-25 (K: A. Webster 12 digs; A. Reiland 5 kills, 14 digs; Macie Rasmussen 10 assists. Knights didn’t have multiple regular players. Kingsland (1-4, 1-4) is also is now on the COVID list)
Mabel-Canton 3, Schaeffer Academy 0 > 25-10, 25-5, 25-8 (MC: Saijal Slafter 10 kills; Molly Lee 8 kills, 5 digs, 9-10 serving, 4 aces; Kinley Soiney 8 kills, 4 blks; Sophie Morken 4 kills, 9 digs; Sahara Morken 28 assists, 13-13 serving, 3 aces; Emily Carolan 21-22 serving)
Grand Meadow 3, LeRoy-Ostrander 1 > 25-8, 25-14, 22-25, 25-19 (GM: E. Grafe 5 kills, 9 assists, 17 digs; Kendyl Queensland 7 kills; R. Landers 5 kills, 5 blks; Isabelle Fretty 14 assists; A. Oehlke 13 digs. L-O: J. Runde 5 kills, 10 digs, 5 aces; S. Lewison 6 kills; G. O’Byrne 30 digs; S. Volkart 10 digs; J. Olson 12 digs; Kylie Welsh 10 digs; A. Welsh 9 assists)
Non-Conference
Rochester-Lourdes 0, Fillmore Central 3 > 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 (FC: L. Mensink 9 kills (.643 hitting), 24 assists, 8 digs, 14-15 serving, 2 aces; K. Broadwater 12 kills, 7 digs, 16-16 serving, 3 aces; A. Bothun 10 kills, 7 digs; K. Hellickson 9 digs, 11-12 serving, 3 aces; Emma Illg 4 kills)
Apple Valley Tourney (Caledonia went 2-2, beating Avail Academy (25-12, 25-18) and Cretin-Derham Hall (25-14, 25-13), losing to New Prague (16-25, 17-25) and Cottage Grove-Park (21-25, 17-25). FC beat Apple Valley (16-25, 29-27, 15-10) and Cretin-Durham Hall (25-17, 18-25, 15-10) while losing to Concordia Academy (6-25, 12-25) and Mounds View (23-25, 23-25). Falcons tourney leaders: L. Mensink (16 kills, 40 assists, 17 digs, 31-33 serving), A. Bothun (14 kills, 19 digs, 32-34, 6 aces), K. Hellickson (36 digs, 33-37 serving, 7 aces), K. Broadwater (16 kills, 13 digs), Regan Hanson (10 kills), A. Britton (9 kills))
Hayfield Tourney (L-O beat D-E (2-0) while losing to Alden Conger (0-2) and Hayfield (0-2) in pool play. BP beat L-O (0-2) for seventh place)
W-E-M Tourney (GM beat Tri-City United (25-20, 29-31, 15-12) and Minnesota Valley Lutheran (25-23, 25-15) while losing to Minnetonka (11-25, 12-25), Cleveland (17-25, 12-25), and Tri-City United (24-26, 21-25))
Rochester-Century Tourney (Enhanced and corrected results with R-P stats from tourney on September 4. R-P defeated Austin (25-20, 25-22) and Albert Lea (25-23, 25-18) while losing to Rochester-Century (15-25, 13-25) in pool play. R-P was placed in the third-place match and lost to Lake City (19-25, 25-23). Trojan tourney leaders: K. Ruberg (26 kills, 12 digs, 3 aces), A. Anderson-Ingram (12 kills, 11 digs, 28-30 serving), I. Kahoun (44 assists, 14 digs, 5 aces), H. Ronnenberg (13 digs). Chatfield also competed. Gopher results and stats were in last week’s paper)
Cross Country
(9/9 & 9/11)
Luther College Invite (Chatfield and LFC competed at the 27-guy-team, 28-girl-team, large-schools-included race. Chatfield’s guys took 18th and LFC’s 22nd (of 27). Onalaska’s Manny Putz (16:09.96) took first, leading his squad to the team title (38) over Blaine-Liberty (118). Onalaska had five in the top 15. Burro Carson Ruen (34th overall > 18:00.09) was the top Journal 11 runner. Chatfield’s Treyten Lanning (49th > 18:17.25) also finished top 50 while teammate Logan Thompson (56th > 18:29.72) was just outside to top 50. One-hundred-seventy-six guys competed. Chatfield’s girls took 11th (of 28) while LFC didn’t have a team score. Dubuque-Hempstead took first (65) over Champlin Park (93). Burro Lillyan Kiehne (46th > 21:27.84) paced all Journal 11 runners. Gophers Aletta Strande (51st > 21:36.10), Belle Carr (63rd > 21:56.95), Tessa McMahon (66th > 21:59.46), and Katelyn Dornack (68th > 22:02.12) finished top 75. Two hundred girls competed)
Soccer (9/7 – 9/11)
(B) Cotter 1, Caledonia/SG/Hou 1 (Austin Meyer scored a second-half goal for C/SG/Houston)
(G) Caledonia/SG/Hou 0, Cotter 12 (C/SG/H goalkeeper Josie Foster saved 22 of 34 Cotter shots. The formerly state-ranked Ramblers allowed no Warrior shots on goal. It was 5-0 at halftime)
(B) Cal/SG/Hou 0, Dover-Eyota 3 (D-E scored all three goals after halftime. Warrior goalkeeper August Allen made nine saves, while Cal/SG/H attempted only five shots)
(G) Dover-Eyota 2, Cal/SG/Hou 1 (The C/SG/H girls scored first with a 20-yard shot by Ayshia Gay. With the score tied at 1-1 just before halftime, Warrior goalkeeper Josie Foster made an outstanding save of a Dover-Eyota penalty kick. Foster saved 15 of 17 Eagle shots, while the Warriors managed only three shots. Cal/SG/H is 1-2, 1-2)
(B) Holmen 3, Cal/SG/Hou 1 (The Warrior boys tied the score with an unassisted Austin Meyer goal, but Holmen came back to lead 2-1 at halftime. Warriors are 1-1-1, 1-2-1)
*The Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration of Paul Trende and Lee Epps.