Sports from the week of March 21, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Banquet wraps up winter sports season

The winter sports banquet, ably run by Master of Ceremonies Jeremy Trulock, featured the cheer teams first on the agenda.

Crystal Deem, Rebecca Gervais, Jonna Grunden, Bailey Landa, Becky Lessman, Tina McIntire, Gina Ockenfels and Sara Saxton all lettered as the cheer team for the basketball teams. Amber Engesser, Amanda Honeycutt, Karin Radke and Catie Willard were members of the wrestling cheer team and received letters.

Rebecca Gervais won the award for most improved, Jonna Grunden was most valuable, Becky Lessman had the best form and Tina McIntire the best jump.

The dance team, who capped off their season by placing seventh in the state in jazz funk, rewarded all of their members with letters. They were: Lisa Buysse, Jenny Johnson, Catie Macken, Jackie Rathje, Brooke Averill, Lindsay Hemmingsen, Emily Vandendriessche, Elisabeth Fox, Shanna Lowe, Elizabeth Malmberg, Shannon Vylasek, Chelsea Cambronne, Brittany Scott, Emily Rayman.

Legion baseball sponsors looking into future options

The sponsorship of the summer baseball programs is in doubt. Milroy has been sponsoring the American Legion program, for players 16-18, and Tracy has financed the VFW program, for players 14-16, for several years. The situation has worked well and the two programs have helped to develop players for the high school team.

A few years ago, in 1998 on a team that finished third in the state in class A, there were six Milroy boys that started for the high school team. They included Derrick Pinckney, Jeremy Gilb, Jamie Louwagie, Brian Dolan, Andy Schmidt and Dan Frey. Only Brendan Rokke, Raleigh Schmidt and Wade Rignell were from Tracy until a shoulder separation to Derrick Pinckney at the catching position gave Freshman Derek Rignell a chance to play in the state tournament.

"This year it looks like the situation has been completely reversed," said VFW baseball coach Bill Tauer. "Only Adam Schmidt and Eric Dolan from Milroy look to be starters on the high school team."

Both the American Legion and the VFW programs have done well. The VFW had fed a steady stream of talent to the Legion team and both have helped to develop players for the high school team. Brian Dolan, Jamie Louwagie, Andy Schmidt, Raleigh Schmidt and Brendan Rokke have gone on to play college baseball and make contributions to the Milroy town team, the Yankees. Jeremy Goltz has made the baseball squad at St. Johns and will play with Jamie Louwagie there.

Baseball team steps up to plate

The Panther baseball team, following a 12-12 record last year, began preparations Monday for the up-coming season. because of the late spring they are working out inside the Prairie Pavilion.

Vying for spots on the 2001 team are: Joe Brockway, Clay Caron, Matt Daniels, Eric Dolan, Andy Fraser, Nick Hanson, John Hay, James Holter, Zach Jones, Erik Kathman, Scott LaVoy, Bryce Peterson, Derek Rignell, Adam Schmidt, Brady Schmidt, Josh Skoblik, Brad Ziemke, Tim Byrne, Greg Carlson, J.T. Cook, Anders Davidson, Billy Fedde, Eric Fraser, Ross Ladehoff, Dan Luckhardt, Damian Paczkowski, Matt Persons, Matt Schreier, Austin Skoblick, Pat Spielman, Jason Vercruysse and Jared Wendorff.

From seventh and eighth grades are: Dane Bloch, Mike Goblish, Lance Iverson, Brett Jackson, Paul Johnson, Ted Nilius, Kyle Rosa, Matt Schons, Donald Strand, Kirby Arens, Josh Arrazolo, Sean Castle, Cole Cooreman, Derek Daniels, Michael Dardis, Sean Fox, Frank Henry, Casey Kline, Tristan Larson, James Lima, Daniel Malmberg, Derek Radke, Dan Schreier, Lucas Walling.