School activities abuzz: hockey, wrestling wins

First, let's clarify something: I have been advised by our police chief that contrary to suggestions on this website, the legal charges against our high school principal have not been dismissed, nor is there any understanding or assumption that they will be dismissed soon.

Let the record show the charges stand, which I think is sad because this whole episode has disrupted the school and community. Of course I want justice to be served. That's a given, but I still think it's reasonable to say we'd be better off without this whole mess.

I initially heard charges were "tossed out" from a source with connections to the school. Subsequent to that, I heard statements about how the principal would be back to work and it just seemed a question of when, not if. Just this week, a person who happens to be in the legal system said to me "he's coming back" (to work as principal).

I guess I'm surmising that if the principal returns, there must be some understanding that he's past his legal problems, because those problems appeared quite severe. But maybe I'm wrong on this too.

I do not wish to hear from the police chief again, therefore this is the last post in which I'll be sharing any thoughts on this. Again: charges have not been dropped.

The high school principal in any community is a leading citizen who should be setting an example with his behavior, for everyone. This current legal situation ought to be discouraging for everyone concerned with the image of the community.

Am I sticking my neck out to say the school should maybe have a policy encouraging all employees not to hang out in places that serve alcohol? I mean, I personally don't drink, and I'm not in a position of setting an example for the community's youth.

  

Boys hockey: Storm 3, Redwood Valley1

The MBA hockey faithful gathered at the Benson arena on Monday, Feb. 3, to see the Storm battle Redwood Valley. It was a victorious night for MBA.

A highlight was Corey Goff sending the puck into an empty net with a mere one second remaining. Up until then, the margin on the scoreboard was just one goal. Goff's empty-netter left the final score at 3-1. It was the Storm's sixth victory in this season which has had some struggling.

Tony Bruns wore the goalie equipment for Morris Benson Area. Tony stopped 24 of the 25 shots that were sent his way.

MBA scored a goal in each of the three periods. Bo Gullickson was the first Storm skater to score. He put the puck in the net at 3:03 of the first, assisted by Bo Olson. Redwood got the score tied at 15:47 as Bailey Sommers scored, assisted by Logan Sandgren.

We heard from "the Bo's" again in the second period as it was Bo Olson scoring at 10:18, assisted by Cole Watzke.

Goff scored his empty-netter just before the game's final horn. Corey Storck and Tanner Mikkelson were credited with assists. Bruns' goalie rival was Tyler Domeier.

Congrats to the Storm. I get enthusiastic updates from Grandma Carrie Melchert.

  

Wrestling: Tigers 45, BOLD 24

Forfeits are a discouraging aspect of the wrestling sport. A team shows up at a venue ready to wrestle, and some of the kids end up having their arms raised in "victory" by forfeit. Former coach George Graff used to joke about "Fred Forfeit" being assigned one of the weights.

Well, MAHACA picked up forfeit "wins" at the bottom three weights in the win over BOLD. These wins went to Christian Athey, Matt Munsterman and Jared Rohloff. The Tigers prevailed 45-24. The action was part of the Quad County Triangular.

Mitchell Ascheman at 126 pounds was on the short end by a 13-6 decision vs. BOLD's Brett Grund. Travis Ostby came up short as the Tiger 132-pounder, dropping an 8-4 decision to Benny Garcia.

Phillip Messner at 138 pounds battled Drew Maher through two overtimes and alas, came out on the short end of a 4-3 decision. Trenton Nelson of the Tigers picked up a forfeit win at 145. Myles Smith won by fall over Derrick Lothert, time of 1:11, at 152 pounds.

Danny Tracy won by fall too. The MAHACA 160-pounder pinned Jake Rauenhorst in 5:42. Steven Koehl lost by fall in 2:38 to Ben Steffel. Jordan Thooft, 182 pounds, wrestled with a winning flair vs. Joel Erickson but it was a hard-fought win, with Jordan getting his arm raised via a 6-5 decision.

Aaron Nelson got Austin Einerson's shoulders pinned to the mat in 3:23, at 195 pounds. Alec Gausman at 220 was edged in a 4-2 decision by Manuel Garcia. Jacob Sperr lost by fall in 0:19 to Trevor Nissen in the battle of 285-pounders.

Congrats to the Morris Area Hancock Chokio Alberta Tigers.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com