Young Chatfield got its feet wet in the 1AA playoffs, making the semis. In the quarters, Molly Thomas’ Gophers (3-seed, 25-2) matched up with La Crescent/Hokah (6-seed, 11-6). Chatfield lived by its serving and the hops and swing of its star hitter. In game one, the Gophers had seven service errors. And yet, they still led 19-13. But Lancer sophomore Abbi Ernster served six … [Read more...]
Football: Field Goal Propels #1 Chatfield to State Over #8 Caledonia
Caledonia. Chatfield. Football. Not much more has to be said. A match-up of the #1 Gophers (1-seed, 10-0) and #8 Warriors (2-seed, 8-2) in the 1AA title game marked the fifth such meeting since 2012. All four previous victors won state titles. The teams combined own eight (Cal 6, Chat 2) of the nines title (competed) since 2012 (2020 didn’t have one). Field goal. Erickson’s is … [Read more...]
Volleyball Playoffs (10/24 & 10/27)
Section 1A 17-seed Southland (6-13) 3, 16-seed Kingsland (11-14) 1 > 18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 16-25 (K: Anika Reiland 10 kills, 19 digs; Chantle Reiland 4 kills, 10 digs; Macie Rasmussen 14 assists, 7 digs; Morgan Phillips 5 kills; Vaira Merkel 6 kills; Kadence Aarsvold 13 digs. Knights beat Southland 3-2 and 3-1 in regular season. Kingsland finishes at 11-15) 19-seed … [Read more...]
Football: Teams Blast to Section Title Games
One thing was certain when it came to football play-offs in Section 1 9-Man, Class A, and Class AA. There wasn’t too much dispute in the first two rounds over which teams were better. Top two seeds Spring Grove, Lanesboro, Fillmore Central, Chatfield, and Caledonia all blasted opponents to make their respective section finals. #3 Lions Roar Through Houston and GM into … [Read more...]
Football: SG, FC, and Chatfield Win District Titles
The last week of the regular season had football teams cinching up district titles. Spring Grove took the South-East courtesy of a huge ranked-versus-ranked win over Lanesboro. Fillmore Central romped to the Mid-Southeast Blue title. Chatfield got out of Goodhue with a win to ensure the Southeast-White title. Spring Grove Defense Shows up for State-Ranked Showdown with … [Read more...]
Cross Country: Hubka’s Title Highlights TRC Meet
All five “Journal 11” cross country programs plus Cotter, PEM, St. Charles, La Crescent/Hokah, W-K, and D-E descended upon Chatfield’s Chosen Valley Golf Course for the annual TRC meet. Two area teams were meet runners-up. The big area headline was Kingsland senior Garrison Hubka. After emerging as a sophomore in the COVID year, Hubka has been one of Minnesota’s top Class A … [Read more...]
Football: Teams Grab Titles, Big Week Eight Games Set
Week seven of the football season had Fillmore Central and Chatfield winning to ensure they at least shared district titles. Lanesboro and Spring Grove each won to force a week eight battle for that district’s title. Plus, R-P won its fifth straight. They too have a big week eight game. Caledonia also has a big season finale. #4 Falcons Blast W-K, Ensure MSE-Blue Share It … [Read more...]
Cross Country: Area Teams Host Meets
The Week of Monday, October 3 had area cross country teams hosting meets. Chatfield held its annual run at Chosen Valley Golf Course on Tuesday while LARPH hosted at Lewiston’s Heartland GC Thursday. Kivimagi/Strande Go 1-2 at Gopher Home Meet Chatfield’s home cross country meet featured two of the five ‘Journal 11’ teams, the Gophers and Kingsland. Twelve total squads … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Rivals Battle for Positioning
Volleyball the week of Monday, October 3 had rivals battling for league positioning. The big-ticket match was in the TRC, where league undefeated teams, former often AA play-off foes, Caledonia and Chatfield, did battle. Size Propels Warriors Past Gophers in TRC Showdown It was the biggest TRC match to date (and precursor to a huge football game). Caledonia (6-0, … [Read more...]
Football: #1 Chatfield and #3 Caledonia Battle
Week six of the football season featured the Class AA battle of #1 Chatfield and #3 Caledonia. Gutsy Call Ensures #1 Gophers Big Win Over #3 Warriors It was a big game; #3 in AA Caledonia (4-0, 5-0) at #1 in AA Chatfield (3-0, 5-0). It was a physical defensive battle between standout football program coached by long tenured men (Carl Fruechte, Jeff Johnson) in … [Read more...]
Football Week Five: Top Teams Continue Tear
The Fillmore County Journal Sports covers 11 football teams. After five weeks, five are still undefeated. Two more have just one loss. Chatfield (#1 in AA), Caledonia (#3 in AA), Fillmore Central (#6 in A), Lanesboro (#3 in 9-man), and Spring Grove (#6 in 9-man) all won to move to 5-0. R-P and M-C posted “Ws” to move to 4-1. #1 Gophers Pick LCH’s Bones Ahead of … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Gophers Win PI Tourney, Improved to 22-1
It was a reduced week of volleyball on the whole. The TRC had just one day of league games while SEC matches saw top teams handle weaker ones. The biggest development was the ongoing outstanding season of the Chatfield Gophers. Team Chosen Valley beat La Crescent/Hokah 3-1 (24-26, 25-12, 25-14, 25-22) in their sole league game of the week. Jaelyn LaPlante had 21 (kills) and 15 … [Read more...]
Volleyball: Multiple Squads Win Tourneys
The week in volleyball was highlighted by Spring Grove, Mabel-Canton, and Rushford-Peterson winning weekend tournaments. The Lions and Cougars stayed undefeated. See Hot Shots for the Trojans win. SG Girls Capture Waukon Tournament Title The Spring Grove girls remained undefeated with a pair of SEC weeknight wins before seizing the championship at the Waukon Tournament. … [Read more...]
#1 Gophers Drop 69 on St. Charles
Chatfield is the defending state Class AA champions. They returned a lot of talent and experience. The Gophers put up convincing wins in week one and two, so it wasn’t a huge surprise they earned the Class AA #1-ranking in the first poll of the season. After their week three showing, they are #1 with a bullet. The Gophers put a serious shellacking on St. Charles. Jeff Johnson’s … [Read more...]
Gopher Football Opens State Title Defense, Beats AAA Lourdes
The last time Chatfield football stepped on the gridiron for a game, they took home the state title. To open their 2022 season, and their state title defense, the Gophers took out Class AAA Rochester-Lourdes in an inter-district contest. But the onset wasn’t particularly championship worthy. The Eagles turned an early interception into points. Lourdes QB Adam Sellner’s … [Read more...]