Sports from the week of April 4, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Weather postpones track opener

"We are all sick and tired of working inside," said Panther Track Coach Steve Jones. "Aside from that we are doing as well as can be expected."

The track meet scheduled for this Tuesday in Luverne was rescheduled for Thursday.

The Panthers' first home meet has been scheduled for April 10 Bill Tauer, Tracy Athletic Director, just returned from a series of meeting of athletic directors in Minneapolis and reports that Redwood Valley High School has offered to let the Panthers use their new indoor facility for that meet if the weather does not improve.

No decision has been made as yet but it remains an option. The new community center in Redwood Falls has been attached to the high school and is large enough to hold an indoor track meet with all events except the discus possible.

JO squad has winning start

The Tracy/Milroy Junior 17s are off to a good start in Junior Olympic Volleyball. They have won their first three tournaments.

At Luverne , on March 25, they won over Worthington, Mendota Central (South Dakota), Murray County Central, Jackson County Central and Sioux City, Iowa.

The second tournament was held at St. Ben's on Saturday, March 31, and the team recorded wins over Crookston, Minnetonka and The Sting in pool play and won over Virginia and Star Athletes in the championship round.

Sunday, the team participated in a tournament at Jackson and won over Luverne, St. James and Martin County West in pool play. In the championship tournament they defeated Worthington and Martin County West.

The team is coached by former Panther athlete Andy Leonard and includes: Marcia Ankrum, Maria Ankrum, Kami Skoglund, Katie Lanoue, Rhonda Bitker, Jenny Otto, Kristen Rokke, Jenna Tholen, Laura Zwach.

Balaton girls are foundation for Panther softball program

The new Panther girls softball team has been working out in the Balaton gymnasium under the direction of Coach Dave Sogge and Assistant Coach Natalie Burmeister.

Sogge has had many years of experience in fast-pitch softball and Burmeister played second base for Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

Sogge expects the program to field three teams: a varsity, junior varsity and a junior high.

Fifteen girls from Balaton who have played softball for two years are the foundation for the program.

“They will provide a solid nucleus to draw from,” said Sogge. An additional 25 girls from Tracy and Milroy have also reported for practice.