GMLOKS Girls 4×200 Title Highlights State Track Meet
It’s just the fourth year of GMLOKS as a combined track program (Kingsland was added for the 2015 season). In that span, the Bulldogs have had a number of state entrants, but no state champions. That is, until this year. The girls 4×200 has been a state qualifier the last three years. It took third in 2017. This year’s incarnation (Anika Reiland, Emily Hovden, Lauren Buchholtz, Riley Queensland), courtesy of its 1:44.54 showing at sections, entered as the top seed. They won their prelim heat (1:45.12), won the prelims entirely over Mesabi East (1:45.13). In the state finals, five teams finished within one second of each other. GMLOKS (1:45.23) held off Mesabi East (1:45.60), Pequot Lakes (1:45.61), Providence Academy (1:45.94), and Byron (1:45.98) to claim the 4×200 title. Aaron Thauwald’s girls did what they needed to do and ran their fastest three races, the last three (biggest) races of the year. They finish undefeated. Not only is it GMLOKS’ first state championship, but Reiland and Buchholtz are Kingsland’s first track and field champions since Brianna Kvanli (Pole Vault) in 2006. On the GMLOKS boys’ side, Drew Lewison put a great cap to his great hurdling career. Lewison qualified for both the 110-hurdle (15.82) and 300-hurdle (39.67) finals. Running his best time of the year (39.25), Lewison is state 300-hurdle runner-up to Pequot Lakes’ Reid Pierzinksi (38.48). Pierzinki was the defending champ. Lewison took fifth last year. Drew also placed in the 110-hurdles, taking sixth (15.66). The GMLOKS girls 4×100 (Isabelle Olson, Hovden, Kassidy Kirtz, Reiland) qualified for the finals (50.06) with a season-best time, the second fastest prelim. But they were disqualified in the finals (bad 3-4 exchange), a tough end to another fast ‘Bulldog’ relay team that also had title hopes. Hovden was the only senior between the two relays. Lori Anderson and Alex Aiken’s LFCMC team sent three individuals and one relay. Sophomore Emma Breitsprecher did best, winning her 300-hurdles prelim heat (46.27). In the finals, she ran a season-best 45.49 to take third behind fellow soph’s, Belle Plaine’s Jaylen Struck-Schmitz (44.24) and Park Christian’s Karley Motschenda (45.09). Breitsprecher also ran the 100-hurdles (15.99), qualifying 10th. The top nine make the finals. Senior Ashley Miner capped her career. She pole vaulted 10’, which garnered a 6th place finish. Her best season effort was 10’3”. Ashley Hokanson of Perham’s was state champion (11’7”). Miner also ran the 100 (13.15) but didn’t qualify for the finals. Breitsprecher and Miner then joined with the Ruen sisters (Bailey/Brielle) to run the 4×400. In the squads third straight state meet, LFCMC posted a season-best time school record time (4:01.37) and took second to section rival Stewartville (4:00.5) in their prelim heat. In the finals, LFCMC went 4:03 and took seventh. They took sixth the last two years, though with slower times. On the guy’s side, freshman phenom Carson Kiehne for the 400 finals (51.02). There, he posted a season-best time (50.67) to claim seventh place. Kiehne was the only non-junior, non-senior to run in the 400 finals. Seven of the nine finalists were seniors. He was one of only six freshman guys (non-relays) to compete at state period. On the RPH front, Cullen Olson competed in Friday’s boy’s shot put. The senior topped 50’ twice (51’1 ½”, 51’3”), something he didn’t do all year. He had his four best throws of the year, topping 49’ twice as well (49’1 ½”, 49’7 ¾). His season-best had been 48’10 ½”. He took sixth place. Nicole Blagsvedt then took the shot stage on Saturday. The senior’s best effort was 37’2”. She didn’t make the finals and took 13th place overall. Blagsvedt did beat Section 1A rival Kristi Fett, whose best effort was 36’ ¼”. Olson and Blagsvedt end senior years on the state stage. Fellow seniors Lewison (four), Hovden, Miner, and Bailey Ruen (five times each) all end multi-time state track and field careers. Breitsprecher (10th grader) already has six qualifications.
Trojan Baseball Dramatically Makes State
There are certainly better ways to start a Section title baseball game. Spotting the opposing team a handful of early runs is not ideal. Rushford-Peterson (East Champ, 1-seed, 14-8) did just that versus Lyle/Pacelli (West Champ, 3-seed, 12-8) in the first of possibly two games. The Athletics came out making contact against Trojan starter Ben Ansell. In the second inning, they batted around, amassing four hits, taking advantage of two hit-batsman, a walk, and an error. Four different players racked up RBIs as L/P built a 5-0 lead. But the Trojans amassed four hits in five at bats in their second. Payton Hahn’s 2-run single was the biggest hit in a key catch-up 3-run inning. The Trojans made it 5-3. L/P left two on base in the third. In the fourth, Trojan senior Dawson Dahl’s sprawling catch, of a well struck, Trinity Anderson bases loaded gap-shot, proved a huge play. It ended the inning. A non-catch probably would’ve resulted in a 2- or even 3-run play. L/P did extend its lead in the fifth, scoring a run on an error, and going up 6-3. R-P loaded the bases the following inning, plating two on an infield grounder with errant throw. Trojan relief pitcher Nolan Mueller then settled in, facing seven batters over the sixth and seventh innings. Heading to R-P’s last frame, they trailed 6-5. Cue the dramatics. Ansell led off with a liner-double just past the first baseman’s glove. Dahl followed with a single. Shawn Marg’s RBI single to right-field scored the tying run (Ansell). With outfield miscue, both Dahl and Marg moved into scoring position (no outs). Carter Weidemann was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Halen Schwendinger’s “L-8” couldn’t plate Dahl on tag-up. Jake Paulson then came to the plate, ye of not playing baseball (at least) the last three years. He hit a solid fly-ball to left-field. It was just deep enough to allow Dahl to tag. He slid in safely just in time, the walk-off sac fly that takes you to state! Jordan Aug’s group won the 1A title by final of 7-6. Dahl (3-4, 2B, RBI, GW-R), Hahn (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Ansell (1-2, 2B, 2 R) led the way. Marg (1-4, 2 RBI), Landon Skalet (1-3, RBI, R), and Paulson (0-2, R) drove in runs. Mueller (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) collected the win. Athletic’s starter Bryce Strouf (6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) got a no decision. Cole Walter (2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) took the loss. Zach Bollingberg (3-4, RBI, 2 R) brought L/P’s best bat. Tanner Murphy (2-3, 2B, RBI, R) also had multiple hits. Walter (1-5), Jed Nelson (1-3), and Cory Weber (0-3) added RBIs. It’s R-P’s first state baseball berth since 2005.
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