The Ridgewater College Warriors finished the season 2-7 with only 33 players in uniform. First-year coach Rob Baumgarn doesn't plan to let that happen again. He wants to bring in at least 60 young men each August. This year he started with 47, after getting the job in July.
He plans to contact every player, both junior and senior, in a 100-mile radius from the Willmar campus. The letter will include information on both the football program and the manifold college programs.
"Our focus is going to be on recruiting Minnesota kids with the emphasis on area players," said Baumgarn. Former coach John Vraa had the same take and managed to build successful program that won every year.
It's going to take some time for Baumgarn, a 30-year old Montevideo native employed by the city education and recreation office, to build the kind of network Vraa maintained. But Baumgarn has the enthusiasm and the ideas to move the program forward.
Lady Warrior hoops
ADVERTISEMENT
Kayla Karnes, point guard from New London, returns to lead Ridgewater women's basketball team which reached the national tournament in 2006. She's the only returning player in the gym for now. Coach Carrie Ogdahl has six players practicing but five more are expected to join at the end of the volleyball season -- which could to as late Nov. 17-19, the national tournament weekend and also the basketball opener. Sophomores Ashley Olson, Melissa Sterkel and Amy Ballard, plus freshmen Krystle Prodoehl and Hilary Groothuis will continue in the volley mode for another two weeks if the Lady Warriors can win the Region 13A tournament this Friday and Saturday here.
Nehl in fitness HOF
Mary Beth Nehl, instrumental in starting the cross-country ski program at the high school, was named to the Community Fitness Hall of Fame on Friday. Nehl, who operates the Yoga Loft on Eagle Lake, was advisor/coach the ski program's first four years (1998-2002). The award, sponsored by the YMCA and the Glacial Ridge Fitness Fellowship, recognizes community leadership and lifelong commitment to physical fitness.
The Volunteer Award went to Mary Jo DeCathelineau and Jay Vagle, organizers of the two-year-old Pat Boros Memorial Trail Run at Sibley State Park. Rambow, Inc., of New London received the Sponsor Award in recognition of it contributions and support of both team and individual events, especially the Glacial Lakes Running Series.
Also honored at the eighth annual awards night at the junior high were the following: Youth, Phil Cleary; Adventure/Triathlons, Mike Pluimer; Cycling, Wes Hompe; Older Adults, Sandy Pierce; Running, Lori Gehrking and Micah Driscoll; Skiing, Sarah Willis.
On the fly
n Three Central Lakes Conference football teams are still going: No. 2 seed Alexandria (8-2) will play No. 1 Sartell (9-1) for the Section 8AAAA title at the Fargodome Friday while No. 4 St. Cloud Tech (7-3) will play at No. 3 Moorhead (7-3) on Friday. Tech upset No. 1 Brainerd 23-20 on a last second field goal.
n Mary Sussenguth, freshmen hitter at Minnesota State Moorhead, is making the most of an opportunity to start after a Dragons' hitter got injured. She has 33 kills and 18 blocks as MSU-Moorhead has gone 3-1 leading to the NSIC Tournament starting Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
n Zach Juhnke, a 265-pound senior from Willmar, starts at right tackle for the Minnesota-Morris Cougars which beat Rockford (Ill.) at the Metrodome Friday in overtime to claim their first title in the 10-team Upper Midwest Athletic Conference title. The Cougars (7-0, 7-2), after dropping two non-conference games, have won seven straight, the school's longest win streak since 1986. The Cougars end the year Nov. 10 playing Concordia at the Fargodome.
n The No. 1 rated Willmar boys cross-country team scored 84 points each of the last two state meets, finishing second and first. How low can the Cardinals' go this year? Marshall's 34 points to win the 2004 event was the lowest Class AA score since a 29 by Minneapolis South in 1991. The low Class A total is 22 by Staples-Motley in 1999.
