Sports from the week of October 16, 2002

TMB sweeps Springfield; home match is Thursday

The Panther volleyball team returned from Springfield Monday night with a clean sweep. The varsity won 15-7, 15-5 and 15-5. The B-squad won 15-0. 15-9 and 15-10, with the C-squad winning 4-15, 15-9 and 15-10.

The win improved the varsity season record to 7-16. They are 3-3 in the 212 Conference.

"We played quite well," said Panther Coach Katie Gervais. "We had a little more consistency in this match."

Junior Kasey Loeslie led the team in kills with 13. She also had 2 blocks and was 9 of 10 serving with 3 aces.

Laura Lanoue contributed 10 kills, with 2 blocks plus 4 digs and was 12 of 13 serving with 2 aces. Laura Zwach was 13 of 16 serving with 2 aces and added 12 digs. Tessa Nelson had 6 kills to go with 5 blocks and Krysta Tholen had 18 set assists to go with her 15 of 16 serving and 5 digs. Andrea Van Moer was 7 of 8 serving with 3 aces.

As a team the Panthers served aggressively with 12 serving aces.

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton returns to conference action Thursday night when they will host Central Minnesota Christian with C-squad action beginning at 5 p.m.

TMB looks to play-offs after home finale thriller

Tracy/Milroy/Balaton closed out their regular season with a heart-breaking 6-0 loss to Yellow Medicine East Tuesday night at Tracy.

The Panthers finished the season with a 1-7 record, 1-4 in the 212 Conference.

"The Panthers played very well tonight," said YME Coach "Dave Brokke. "They hit hard and played well enough to win."

"I told the kids that they played very well tonight," said Panther Coach Randy McIntire. "The defense played very well. We stopped ourselves on offense with too many turnovers and too many penalties."

The Panthers face the West Central Knights at Barrett, Tuesday night, in the first round of the playoffs. The Knight are the No. 1 seeded team in the section. The Panthers seeded eighth.

Tuesday night's game was probably the best game they have played all season. By this time of the season football teams know so much about each other through scouting reports and film exchanges that it is difficult to fool anyone. The Panthers were aware that the Sting had good speed and if they got outside on TMB there could be a lot of trouble. From the opening play it was apparent that the Panthers would do everything they could to contain the Sting's sweeps. TMB limited the Sting's running attack to 87 yards in 33 rushes. However YME was able to complete 7 of 12 passes good for 135 yards and the only touchdown of the game.

YME knew that the Panthers had a good passing game and that Jake Peterreins was the favorite target for Donald Strand. The Sting concentrated on jamming Peterreins on the line of scrimmage and destroying timing for a passing play. YME held the Panthers to eight completions in 14 passing plays for 98 yards and limited Peterreins to three catches for 17 yards.

"We have told the offensive line all season that they could control the line of scrimmage and make our running game successful," said Jason Kainz, Panther line coach. "But until half-time of this game they did not believe us."

Runners repeat as 212 champs

The Panther cross-country team won its seventh straight 212 Conference title Thursday at Granite Falls. The team scores were: TMB 25, BOLD 63, YME 74, 4) RCW 76.

"We were really focused," said Panther Coach Brian Michelson. "The girls ran one of their better races this season. We have the potential to go a long way."

Michelson was referring to the up-coming section meet Thursday, October 24 at Slayton and the state meet at St. Olaf College Nov. 2. The Panthers finished third in the state meet in 1999 and sixth in 1998.

The Panthers placed five runners in the Top Ten. Kristin Sweetman and Jillian Tholen finished 1-2 with times of 16:18 and 16:25. Kelly Laleman was fourth at 16:43, Steph Kaup eighth at 17:17, and Rebecca Gervais tenth at 17:57. Megan Pool, 11th; 18:10; and Julia Olson, 12th, 18:13; rounded out the varsity.

Sweetman, Tholen, Laleman and Kaup earned All-Conference honors by finishing in the top eight.

"Our junior varsity runners also did an excellent job by taking the first ten places," observed Michelson.

The junior varsity runners were: 1) Ayla Snyder 8:43, 2) Jessica Coulter 8:48, 3) Dani Jones 8:54, 4) Ashlee Domine 8:59, 5) Johanna Schmidt 9:02, 6) Suzanne Knott 9:08, 7) Jessica Mason 9:10, 8) Celia Brockway 9:23, 10) Jackie Vroman 9:27, Jess Lenertz 10:12, Erin McCoy 11:48, Aum Nantanajit, 13:40.

212 title is third for Kristin Sweetman

Kristin Sweetman is an old hand at winning All-Conference honors with the Panther cross-country team.

Sweetman has won the 212 Conference meet for three straight years, and earned all-conference honors four straight years. She just missed when she was in eighth grade by finishing in ninth place.

Sweetman has been a team captain in each of the last three years.

"Kris is an excellent team leader," said Panther Coach Brian Michelson. "She is the best I have ever had."