Sports from the week of November 6, 2002

TMB posts 88% serving

The 2002 Panther volleyball team concluded their season by playing 27 matches, winning 9 and losing 18 against some very good competition and with a young team.

In 72 games, the Panthers made 1,809 serve attempts, of which 1578 were successful for a serving percentage of 88% with 201 ace serves. They registered 223 ace blocks, 806 kills and 630 kill assists.

Laura Zwach led the team in serving as she was 354 of 388 serving for 90% with 52 aces. Tessa Nelson followed with 209 of 230 for 90%. Nelson led the team in blocks with 97 and in kills with 250. she was followed by Kasey Loeslie who had 75 blocks and 210 kills. Krysta Tholen had 555 set assists.

Runners share thoughts on memorable season

The Tracy/Milroy/Balaton cross country team reflected on memories and accomplishments from their 2002 season at an awards supper Sunday night.

Coach Brian Michelson said scores and finishes can't quantify the success of this year's team. He praised the team for its camaraderie, work ethic, and academic excellence. He complimented the team for again winning Section 3A academic honors.

He said that the while the team's sixth-place finish at the Section 3A meet wasn't as high as the team had hoped, competition in section was keen this year. Team members ran their fastest times of the season at the meet, he said. In another year, those times might have been enough to get the team to state.

The team did win the 212 Conference championship for the seventh year in a row.

Senior Kristin Sweetman, the team's No. 1 runner for the past three years, was named the team's most valuable runner. Sweetman finished in the Top Ten of seven races this fall and won the 212 Conference meet. She placed 12th in the Section 3A meet.

Boyer looks forward to new season

Nate Boyer, the new coach of the Panther boys basketball program, wants to stress the positive as the new season begins.

"My goal is to find some successes for the players," Nate said. "The game has to be fun for the players and successes are enjoyable and memorable."

Boyer grew up in New Richland, where he attended New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School. He was a point guard under his dad, Tony Boyer, who was a coach and administrator at the school.

Nate attended Bethany College for two years and then graduated from Minnesota State University at Mankato. His playing days were limited to high school by three ACL knee operations.

"I knew, after the third one, that my playing the game I love was over and it was time to turn to coaching," he said.

Boyer has coached under some excellent coaches, Hall of Famer's Ted Pelzl of NR-H-E-G, Merv Shepplee of New Prague, John Girtman of Prior Lake and his Father Tony Boyer now of LeCenter. He has coached seventh grade at Le Center) and was an assistant coach at Southwest Star Concept, New Prague and at Prior Lake. He has also helped coach the AAU Minnesota Select Team.

"I thoroughly enjoyed coaching with these great coaches but I knew it was time to get out and be on my own," Boyer said.