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Sports from the week of August 13, 2003

56 turn out for TMB football

Fifty-six candidates reported for football practice at Tracy/Milroy/Balaton on Monday of this week.

Nineteen athletes are in the junior and senior classes, 17 are sophomores and 19 are freshmen.

Last season the Panthers finished the season with a 1-8 record, losing to No. 1 seeded and undefeated West Central in the first round of the playoffs.

"We ended last season on a positive note by winning the physical battle with West Central in a 14-6 loss," said Assistant Coach Jason Kainz. "That was likely the best game we played all season."

Gone from last year's team are Greg Carlson, Tim Byrne, Matt Schreier, Jake Peterreins, Bryan Jackson, Austin Skoblik and Mike Smith.

"We definitely suffered from lack of experience last season," said Panther Coach Randy McIntire. "We are a little quicker this season but we will lack depth."


Volleyball practice begins

Thirty-one students turned out for season-opening Tracy/Milroy/Balaton volleyball practices Monday. The roster has eight juniors and seniors, 8 sophomores, 3 freshmen, 11 eighth graders and 1 seventh grader.

The Panthers will be trying to improve on last year's record of 9-18 against some of the toughest competition in the state.

Laura Zwach is the only senior lost from last year's team.

The Panthers ended their 2002 season with a loss to the BOLD Warriors in the second round of the Northern Division of the Section 3AA Tournament. The Panthers, seeded sixth, upset GFW, the third seed, in the first round of the tournament.


TMB cross country welcomes first boys

The Panther cross-country squad registered a pair of firsts as they started workouts last Monday.

The practice was the first under Head Coach Steve Jones. This season is also the first time Tracy/Milroy/Balaton has fielded a boys' cross country team.

Cole Cooreman, Alex Jones and Ryan Tholen were the boys reporting for the Panther boys cross country team.

Seventeen girls reported for practice Monday with the goal of improving on last year's sixth place finish in the Section 3A meet. The team will also attempt to continue their dominance in the 212 Conference by winning their eighth straight conference championship.

Seniors gone from last year's squad include Kristin Sweetman, Kelly Laleman, and Jessica Lenertz.

The Mt. Lake Invitational on Wednesday, August 27, is the team's season opener. Their first home meet will be the Panther Invitational at the Tracy Country Club on Thursday, Sept. 4.