Sports from the week of August 29, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Football team opens against Redwood Valley Thursday night

The Panther football team hosts Redwood Valley Thursday night in its season opener. Kick-off time is 7 p.m.

The team prepared for the opener by scrimmaging Wabasso, Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's and Windom Saturday.

"This scrimmage, with the abundance of new players seeing playing time, was to measure ourselves...not how we do against the other team," said Coach Joe Kemp. "I think when you look at the scrimmage as a whole we did okay. We were missing numerous starters and are trying to replace a host of three-year starters...it is going to take time."

Kemp said the team enjoyed playing against new opponents.

"We did some things all right and other things poorly. The mistakes we made were mental, just players not doing THEIR job. As a staff we all realize that the effort is there. I think you will see this team change and grow as the season goes on."

Spikers win opener over Minneota

The Panther volleyball team won their season opener Tuesday night, beating Minneota 15-7, 15-3 and 15-7.

"I was happy with the effort the team made," said Panther Coach Katie Gervais. "Overall we hustled. There is plenty of room for improvement but that is typical of a first match."

The Panthers did a good job of keeping the ball alive. Minneota, without Brittany Dalagher, was not as strong as they were last year, but gave the Panthers all they wanted in the three games.

"We knew it would be tough without the three veterans that I held out of play tonight," said Gervais. " We had to bring several youngsters up from the B-squad and that had a rippling effect on the B and C squad scores. However, I hope it will make us a better team down the road."

Runners look for good showing at Mt. Lake Invite

The Panther cross-country team opens its season Wednesday (August 29) at the Mountain Lake Invitational. Coach Michelson expects tough competition.

"We see teams at this meet that we do not run into in our regular schedule," he said. "This year MCC, H-BC, SSC/SVRLB, Windom, ML-B-O, JCC, Adrian and Worthington will be there but also we will see Waseca, Fairmont and Blue Earth."

The girls have set a goal to finish fourth or better. Jillian Tholen, Kristin Sweetman, Kelly Laleman, Megan Pool, Dani Jones, Johanna Schmidt and Andrea VanMoer are running varsity.

"The girls have worked hard all summer and I expect them to do well," said Michelson. "We have more experience this year and we still have had a girl (Van Moer) break into the starting line-up without any previous experience."

Junior Varsity runners will be: Jessie Coulter, Jessica Lenertz, Jackie Bruss, Julia Olson, Rebecca Gervais, Stefanie Hebig, Emma Miller, Ashlee Vandromme, Ashlee Domine and Jackie Vroman.