Sports from the week of October 28, 1999
Julie Gifford, Panthers aiming high at state CC meet Saturday
• Balaton senior wins third-consecutive Section 3A title as team also repeats
Julie Gifford won her third-straight Section 3A cross-country championship Saturday as the Panthers repeated as team champions.
Tracy-Milroy advances to the state Class A cross country meet at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Saturday. Gifford, appearing in her fourth state meet, is one of the individual favorites.
The Panthers topped the 18-team section field without Melissa Sweetman, often the squad's fourth or fifth runner earlier in the season. The senior couldn't run because of back pain. Two other Panthers were also sidelined, forcing the team to run with six instead of seven runners.
"We were fortunate to win when you consider that we were without the services of three of our runners," said Panther Coach Brian Michelson. "Melissa could not run because of her back problems, Heather Engesser had shin splints and Laura Miller was ill."
After the race, T-M runners waited anxiously for the results, worried that the team hadn't qualified for state. But it turned out that T-M's 76 points were eight points better than second place Jackson County Central. T-M's winning total was an improvement over 1998, when the Panthers edged JCC by only three points, 94 to 97. Below: A happy Panther team celebrates their championship.
Team scores were: Tracy-Milroy, 76; Jackson County Central, 84; Cedar Mountain/Comfrey/ Springfield, 115; Martin County West, 132; Canby/Minneota/Lincoln HI, 146; Murray County Central, 151; Luverne, 179; SW Star/SV/RL/Brewster, 194; Mt Lake/Butterfield/Odin, 230; Redwood Valley, 233; Windom, 269; BDRSH, 311; Pipestone-Jasper, 314; Adrian-Edgerton, 349; BOLD, 356; Yellow Medicine East, 402.
The top two teams from each section, plus the top seven individuals, qualify for the state meet.
Gifford's winning time was 15:21, 26 seconds ahead of C-M-C-S senior Sheena Dauer. Gifford, the No. 1 ranked Class A runner in state, completed her third straight undefeated regular cross country season. The 1997 state meet, when she finished second; and last year's state meet, when she finished 19th, are the only cross country races over the past three years that Gifford has not won. Julie was an eighth-place state medalist as a freshman.
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The Panthers placed three runners in the top ten in winning the section crown. Senior Jenna Boerboom improved on her 9th place showing last year, capturing eighth at 16:07. Freshman Kristen Sweetman was 10th at 16:23.
The Panthers' fourth runner was eighth grader Johanna Schmidt at 17:12. Senior Debbie Gabel, who finished 78th a year ago, came through with her best race of her career, finishing 33rd at 17:28. Senior DeAnn Johnson, usually the Panthers' fourth or fifth runner, struggled, finishing 52nd with a time of 18:04.
The places of the top five runners of each team are used to figure team. scores.
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Michelson says the Panthers have their sights set high at state.
"I think we have as good a chance to win the state Class A Championship as any one," he commented.
Last year, the Panthers placed 6th at the meet. Gifford, however, had a sub-par day, finishing 19th, the only race all season that she didn't win.
The Class A girls race starts at 2 p.m. at St Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.
To alleveiate parking and traffic congestion, St Olaf plans a shuttle service from outlying parking lots to the campus from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Parking and traffic is always a problem for the state meet on the hilly compus. But space is even tighter this year due to the college's 125th anniversary celebration on the same day.
All spectators, aside from handicaped persons, will be routed to lots adjacent to the campus. Directional signs and parking attendants will be positioned to direct fans to the various lots.
Visitors are encouraged to not walk along Cedar Avenue and to not access the course from points that might disrupt races. Buses will transport fans from the parking lots to a point where they can walk along a marked path to the starting point of the races. The process will reverse itself for those leaving the meet site.
Red-hot spikers looking forward to rematch with BDRSH Thursday
Panther spikers advanced to the Sub-Section 3AA finals with a 3-0 win over BOLD Saturday night at Fairfax.
The game scores were 15-7, 15-9 and 15-13. The win improved T-M's record to 21-6.
With a 2-0 lead, T-M attempted to close out the match quickly. In the third game Maria Ankrum opened at the serving line and registered 4 straight aces on the way to a 5-0 lead. BOLD came back with 2 points before Rhonda Bitker got the serve back with a kill. Heidi Peterson then served three straight aces before BOLD got their third point to make it 9-3. Suzanne LaVoy served for the 10th point and Stephanie Welvaert got three more from the service line to make it 13-3. The Warriors registered their 4th point and then Michelle Schreier served for a 14-3 Panther lead.
T-M was only one point away from the finals, but BOLD would not fold. They put up nine straight points to make it 14-13 before Heidi Peterson served for the game and match point.
"The Panthers served very aggressevely and hit the ball hard," said BOLD Coach Kelly Matthies-Carlson. "We just couldn't stay with them." Right: Marcia Ankrum gets ready for the ball.
"Although better than our first playoff match, we were still nervous and out of rythm," said Panther Coach Katie Gervais. "We served well enough to keep them out of any offensive flow which enabled us to win the match. "
Rhonda Bitker led the team in hitting with 8 kills. She was followed by Stephanie Welvaert with 6 and Maria Ankrum with 3.
Maria Ankrum led in serving with 24 of 25 and 8 aces, Heidi Peterson was 11 of 12 with 3 aces and Suzanne LaVoy was 9 of 10 with 2 aces. Peterson had 19 set assists.
"Rhonda Bitker has started our last 3 matches and has added some more height to our lineup," added Gervais. "She has done a nice job of slowing down the attacks and had a good match leading the team with 8 kills."
The Panthers will now meet BDRSH for the sub-section title Thursday night at SSU in a 6 p.m. match. The winner will meet the champion of the South sub-section for the right to participate in the state Volleyball Tournament. The section championship match will take place at SSU on Saturday, November 6 in the second match of the evening following the match for the section class A championship.
"In order to defeat BDRSH on Thursday we will need to have a quicker tempo with our attacks," said Gervais. "I think, more importantly, that we need to finish the play. We have really gotten caught watching the game instead of playing the game, and against a good team like BDRSH, we can't afford to do that. Like any team BDRSH is beatable and if we play like we are capable of, we hope to avenge a regular season loss to the Jaguars."
Gutty Panthers overcome turnovers
4th period interception proves decisive
The Tracy-Milroy/Balaton Panther football team clawed their way into the Section 3AAA finals with a narrow 23-22 win at Luverne Saturday afternoon. T-M/B will now meet Minnewaska for the Section 3AAA crown at Minnewaska in a 7 p.m.game Friday night.
Unexpected twists and turns marked the Luverne game. The Panthers won despite losing the the ball four times on turnovers: three lost fumbles and an interception. But the T-M/B defense countered with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
The Panthers also blocked a Luverne field goal attempt.
The game winner for T-M/B turned out to be a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown by lineman Nate Clark midway through the fourth period. The 6-6 junior grabbed the ball after it had been deflected defensive end Ben Lightfoot charging in on the quarterback. Right: Derek Rignell (10) runs for yardage against Luverne
With Jeremy Goltz's kick, the Panthers staked a 23-14 lead, then held on for a 23-14 lead.
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In shirt sleeve weather, rare for late October, the Panthers overcame adversity of their own making to score a field goal and a touchdown to take a 10-0 first quarter lead. The Cards recovered a late second quarter fumble to set-up a touchdown with 22 seconds left on the clock before the half to close within 10-7 at half.
After a scoreless third period a flurry of 28 points saw the lead change hands twice before T-M/B hung on for the win.
"I was proud of our kids. They didn't fold when they got behind but kept their heads up," said Cardinal Coach Joel Swanson. "The Panthers did the same. That punt return for a touchdown could have taken the wind out of their sails but they hung in there and beat us."
"Our defense really did a good job for us in this game," said Panther Coach Gale Otto. "We held Luverne to only 54 yards in rushing and many of the passing yards they got on us came late in the game. We did what we had to do to win the game." Right: Aaron Gottig takes the ball and runs.
No. 1 seeded Minnewaska is Friday foe
Tracy-Milroy/Balaton, seeded third in the Section 3AAA tourney, faces No. 1 seeded Minnewaska Friday night at 7 p.m. at Minnewaska for the Section 3AAA championship.
Minnewaska (Glenwood and Starbuck) advanced with a 14-3 victory over Pipestone.
If the Panthers could win this game they would host the first game of the state playoffs. Saturday, Nov. 13. The remaining semi-final and State Championship games would be played at the Metrodome.
"Minnewaska employs a split-T offense," said Panther Coach Galer Otto. "They use a lot of quick dives and counters will also pass off play action."
Older Panther fans will recall well the split-T offense since it was used for many years by former Scrapper Coach "Gabby" Sebastian. Most coaches refer to it as the single wing offense with the quarterback moved under the center.
"The Minnewaska team uses a 4-4 defense and they are very athletic," observed Otto. "They have a guard that has been recruited by the University of Minnesota as a baseball pitcher. That gives you an idea of their athletic talents."