Sports from the week of August 28, 2002

Minneota sweeps in TMB opener

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton opened its 2002 season with a 3-0 loss at Minneota Tuesday, 1-15, 12-15, 13-15.

After first match jitters, the squad improved in the final two games.

Minneota won the B-squad match 7-15, 15-6, 15-1. Minneota also took the C-squad 15-6, 15-5.

Tessa Nelson, Laura Lanoue and Emily Miller led the varsity with six kills each. Laura Zwach was 18 for 18 serving with 3 aces. Miller and Jadeen Schultz added two aces each while Tessa Nelson registered 3 blocks. Krysta Tholen had 14 set assists.

The Panthers first home match is Sept. 12 against MACCRAY. The Panthers travel to Kerkhoven on Sept. 5, participate in the Columbia Heights Tournament Sept. 7. TMB meets R-T-R at Tyler Sept. 9.

Ineligible players create holes for Panther opener

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton football team opens its football season Thursday at Redwood Falls. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.

The team begins the season with a number of athletes academically ineligible to compete. "We have about 15 players ready and eligible for this week and they are going to have to do the job for us,” said Coach Randy McIntire.

The Panthers participated in a four-team scrimmage Saturday at Sleepy Eye with Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, Red Rock Central and Windom.

"We held our own," McIntire. "Of course at this time we don't know how strong the other teams are."

The Panthers found that their defense was a little ahead of the offense and that they will need to work on pass-blocking.

"We were all right on our quick release passes but when we had to drop back to throw we were not able to get the pass off," said McIntire.

The Panthers managed to break a few big plays including an option play good for about 40 yards.

"We are going to have to work on our pass blocking and on our timing this week to get ready for the Redwood Valley game," observed McIntire. "We found that the plays we had worked hard on in practice went well in the scrimmage."

Entries still welcome for Box Car Days road races

Entries are still being accepted for a Box Car Days Road Race Monday, Sept. 2.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. in the high school parking lot. Race-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Both 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) and 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) races will be run.

Medallions will be awarded to the top two finishers in each age group, with trophies going to the overall male and female winners. There are eight age divisions.

Both events will start simultaneously, and head west onto Pine Street, before turning north at the Highline Road. The 5K will loop through the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum and return to the school parking lot. The 10K will continue east on Hwy. 14, then north to Swift Lake Park, before heading back to Tracy. The 10K route continues around Tracy Hospital, and then south down Center Street, and west on Pine Street, back to the high school.

The $12 registration fee includes a T-shirt to all participants. Both runners and walkers are welcome to participate.