Hailey Werk has been a headlining student athlete for MACA this fall. We're in the midst of a terrific time of year for the outdoor running. Even though the temperature is expected to plummet tonight (Tuesday), the daytime conditions are wholly conducive to being outside. That's especially if the sun is out. And not being overwhelmed by wind.
So on Thursday, Sept. 22, the running Tigers made the trip to Eden Valley. Werk was primed with another top-notch effort. She covered the course in 20:19 which got her No. 1. Six seconds later came the runner-up - that's Madi Wenlandt of Paynesville. You know it's Paynesville when you see the color green. The MACA girls were No. 3 as a team among six teams.
The host EV-W girls were the top team. In second was Hinckley-Finlayson.
Kendal Fischer of the Tigers arrived at the finish chute eighth. Hanna Schutz was 14th.
The MACA boys were led by Gavin Stallman in fifth place. He was joined in the MACA effort by Matthew Giese (ninth), Grady Stallman (16th) and Truett Richards (17th). Sauk Centre garnered No. 1, led by individual champion Brandon Kampsen. The orange and black was second.
Tennis: Tigers 4, MACCRAY 3
MACA-WCA tennis accomplished a win for Senior Day on September 22. The Tigers are coached by my neighbor Britney House. She was Britney Greenwaldt when I typed about her generation of students in Tiger country. I have never forgotten the spelling of her fist name - it gets ingrained. And of course I had a lot of contact with Britney's father Jim Greenwaldt.
So on Senior Day 2022, the Tigers worked to a 4-3 win over MACCRAY. Parents were in the recognition spotlight with the seniors. Let's say the whole Tiger team was in the spotlight.
So at first singles the Tiger with the racket was Claire Stark. Claire turned back her MACCRAY opponent Tayte Nokelby, 6-2 and 6-1. Then at second singles it was Kristen Mueller of the Tigers showing winning form over Hannah DeLong, 4-6, 6-3 and 7-5. Wolverine Greta Meyer had the advantage over the Tiger at No. 3. Greta defeated Elizabeth Pollard 6-4 and 6-2. The Wolverine at No. 4 prevailed also: Erika Pieper over Chloe Zimmel, 7-6 and 6-2.
The singles phase was a 2-2 stalemate. So it would be up to the doubles tandems of MACA-WCA to carve out the difference. It was mission accomplished. Ashley Koehl and Karlie Bruns did the work at No. 1 doubles. This pair disposed of Malinda Peterson and Alex Dirksen 6-4 and 6-4. Then at No. 2, the MACA-WCA pair of Nora Meek and Izabell Hoffman notched the win over Iris Donner and Mackenna Burnett, 6-4 and 6-1. MACCRAY got the win at No. 3 doubles: Kienitz Ella and Mia Shubert over Ellen Reed and Grace Hauglie.
The five MACA-WCA seniors: Claire Stark, Lydia Fynboh, Liz Pollard, Kristen Muller and Carmen Figueroa.
 |
| Izayah Boss |
Lots of points and a UMM win: that's what fans were treated to on Saturday at our Big Cat Stadium. The Cougars got their first win as they closed out the non-conference portion of the schedule. So the success built optimism as the conference slate beckons. We rolled up 512 total yards. Of that, 387 were on the ground.
Lawrence University got the lead first, then UMM answered with a 50-yard run that featured Izayah Boss. Our touchdown was on our first snap from scrimmage. Alex Happ kicked the PAT to make the score 7-7.
Lawrence made another early statement as their quarterback, Jack Sweeney, scrambled for a 16-yard running TD. The Cougars had more scoring business to take care of in the first quarter. Keyton Johnson advanced the ball to midfield with an 11-yard run. The Cougars' "mo" continued and it culminated with a passing TD: Marcus Reeb to Boss. Sophomore Boss was boss on this play - only a matter of time before I'd use that - and covered 30 yards for the score.
The UMM defense made a statement at the end of the first quarter: a sack executed by Chayce Meyer and Austin Sterling. Then the Cougars drove for six in their third drive. Reeb passed to Cameron Whitney, 32 yards. So now the Cougars own a 21-13 lead. The Vikings closed the gap some on a 43-yard scoring drive in seven plays. Sweeney ran in from the two.
As halftime approached, the Cougars took advantage of penalties on Lawrence. This momentum helped us ultimately score on a 16-yard run by Johnson. UMM is now up 28-19. A fumble recovery set the stage for the next Cougar score. Carter Maurice gained control of the football, setting up QB Reeb for his carry that had the refs signalling "score." So it's 35-19 with UMM in seeming command.
The sense of command grew as Johnson carried for 15 yards and Boss broke through for a 49-yard sprint that resulted in UMM up 42-19.
Johnson showed again he's a money player as he covered 54 yards with a run, nearly scoring on the play. The ball was at the one. What could be more logical than to hand the ball to Johnson again? That's what happened and again Johnson was a money player. So the score is 49-19 which stood as the final. The game was a nice recovery from the frustrating game the week before against Carleton.
Boss was boss with his rushing stats of 180 yards on 15 carries. Johnson's numbers: 155 yards on 19 carries. Reeb's passing day was with eight completions in 13 attempts, 125 yards and two touchdowns. Gavin Paulson supplied defensive punch with ten tackles, one solo and a fumble recovery. Hunter Infanger came through with nine tackles (four solo) and three pass break-ups.
Public gatherings therapeutic
We
used to take for granted regular public gatherings, then along came the
health crisis. Church congregations could not even gather for a time. I
remember when six of us showed up in the church parking lot on a day
that was 50/50 for having an outdoor service. Rain threatened but did not materialize. The pastor turned
thumbs-down for outside.
So, what to do? No one was meeting inside at that
time. But I figured that since there were only six of us, why not venture
in, and we could practice "separation" at our discretion? There were two
married couples who sat together. The other guy and I sat in an
isolated way, and on the whole we felt good being there. The service was
presented on YouTube naturally. I remember the pastor interviewed a guest. They wore masks.
The very next day, signs were slapped
on the doors "do not enter" or something like that. I had led the group
into perdition, I guess. But I'm thankful we did it. It may well have
been the last-ever service in the sanctuary to be attended by Dennis
Johnson. Dennis was a pillar of the community. Remember how he and
Carole had starring roles on television?!
Fast-forward to the present
and we are getting slowly more accustomed to people getting together.
But it seems to be a less-than-total recovery. That's based on what we
saw at First Lutheran Church Monday night. A public supper and not only
that, it was free! A free meal!
Made me remember the late Allen
Anderson. I am still troubled as I reflect on Allen's life. God gives
all of us some special challenges but Allen was burdened. In the end he
had to be banished from certain places. Nevertheless, through all my life
I sensed a strain of real goodness in him. There but for the grace of
God go us. Never forget that.
So the Monday supper was free but the
turnout was pretty minor. I was there for quite a while, it did not
remind me of similar events at Faith Lutheran in the past. We're just
not bouncing back from the pandemic sufficiently. The pandemic does
continue to hover, of course. I have had four "jabs" to date. How
about you? Did Jeff Backer ever get vaccinated?
 |
| Doug Ehlers (left) and your blog host at the public supper, First Lutheran Church. You might say I was showing my "Michael Nesmith look." Michael of the "Monkees" has passed away. Photo by Del Sarlette |
No comments:
Post a Comment