Controversy never really a good thing

Friday so our spirits are up, right? No routine time in Morris. I was informed just now at Caribou that the city council is indeed following through on a new closed meeting today to handle something quite untidy. I had the thought that, based on the tempest that arose when this matter first broke, i.e. the "fan club" for the library director - bearing signs in fact - maybe our elected people would want to dispose the matter quietly. 

Well, "quiet" is pretty important in a  small community, right? But no, the meeting this morning is going to happen and I wonder if we'll get the full story. If the whole thing was much ado about nothing, then we need to hold certain people's feet to the fire. We shouldn't have been dragged through this. I mean, "allegations of misconduct." Those are such strong, sharp words. 

So are they just "allegations?" Isn't there a basis of fact established by now? The "fan club" aspect of this has bothered me. The individual who appears to be in the hot seat has so many zealous admirers. Should we just get out of their way and let the library director get back in the groove? 

There is one side in this matter who would have us think that the city manager is some sort of evil or vindictive person, i.e. shallow. And I am not prepared to believe that at all. 

Will all the facts come out? Even if it embarrasses the city? If this is a case of oversell by the city manager, wouldn't the elected council people have come to that conclusion by now? Well, the deliberations are about to happen. 

When the library director got the job, wasn't this a typical example of a subordinate getting promoted, maybe not based on the most solid criteria? Promoted mainly because of such a strong following of friends? I don't know, I just know that it's possible. I have certainly seen cliques throw their weight around in Morris before, sometimes to the detriment of the best community interests or even school interests. And "school" involves our young people. 

I do not think our teachers should have the power of union. Really I feel that way about all public employees. And I'm not even a Republican. 

The way things are going now, maybe all Republicans should wear a sack over their heads. A panic over things like Social Security and Medicare? The Speaker of the House now proposing that we completely eliminate the Federal court system? If the USA collapses with all this neglect, are you really prepared to live with the new reality? 

Can't you ask some hard questions of our congressperson? Good luck in even getting her to answer. Is she holding town halls? But this is what most  of you wanted: the MAGA reality. You voted for it out here in western Minnesota. 

 

Piling-on

Back on the library matter, a well-known Morris attorney has started waving his flag on a particular side. He talks about a "personality conflict." Oh, so that's all it is, a "personality conflict." And given the very well-known stripes of both he and his spouse, we can deduce immediately that he thinks it's the city manager with a "personality problem." 

I hate this piling-on that we have been seeing. Added to the crowds and the signs in support of the individual under scrutiny, we now learn of an apparently prestigious "award" for this person. It's an award connected to our august U of M-Morris, i.e. the DEI capital in our higher education system. And don't think the top honchos in the U of M system - yes the denizens in the Twin Cities - aren't agonizing over how our Morris campus sticks its neck out about DEI. 

I could be indifferent about DEI - I really could - if it weren't for the very heavy-handed movement coming down on it from the top of MAGA. Even including an executive order that a Federal judge had to strike down. Remember that top Republicans are now talking about abolishing the whole Federal court system. This has got to be fantasy-level, right? Not so fast: MAGA keeps acquiring momentum because no one ever stops it. 

The church pews are filled out here by older people who would vote Trump even if they have to sacrifice their own government benefits like Social Security. When Republicans talk about eliminating so much "waste, fraud and abuse," what it really means is that they'll look for an excuse to challenge people's benefits, to allege fraud where there is most likely none. 

All this will pave the way for DJT to pursue his top priority which is bigger tax cuts for billionaires. I don't know why I point this out because I won't persuade anyone. All you churchgoers will stay hypnotized for your man and his people. And I'm not talking about Jesus Christ. "Your man" is DJT. 

My Morris attorney acquaintance is trying to write off the whole library matter as one of an administrator with a grudge. He and his spouse cannot deny that this is an accurate representation or translation. And I think this is disrespectful to the city manager who has the pressure-filled job of making sure the city gets maximum bang for the buck of city spending. 

I think the library is something where overspending can easily happen. It's so easy for the do-gooders to argue for library spending because the library on the surface represents such virtuous things. However, in the digital age we have so many other resources. Pre-digital, the need for public libraries didn't even need an argument. It was self-evident. 

 

Way back when

I smile as I remember the days of our old Carnegie library with the pillar Ms. Grove in charge, Margaret Grove, who would "shush" you if you spoke aloud. Well, libraries were definitely a necessity then. 

Mom would walk me to the old Carnegie libary often. We rented a house in west Morris for a time - I recall it was called the "Gustafson house." The Eystads were next door. Mom would assist me selecting books and when I was real young she read them to me, an example being the biography of Jim Bridger the "mountain man." 

Mom insisted that I develop literacy from a very young age. The lessons she imposed on me were difficult at times. So I guess this is how I became a writer. My friend Brent Waddell says I should wear a white suit coat to church because Mark Twain was known to wear white.  Good idea, Brent.

The Internet has helped me keep going with my writing. I was exhausted at the end of March Madness because I got so involved writing. And as soon as the dust cleared there, my, we had this whole kerfuffle arise with the library and its director! Again, if this whole flap is over very minor alleged bad judgment, the city should feel regret that it arose. Controversy is always a last resort in a small community. Mobs of people bearing signs is never a good thing. 

Is the city manager really the "wicked witch of the west?" Right now I am inclined to say "no." These matters can get oversimplified. I'm still upset that Stone's Throw Restaurant had to close. And I'll bet the city is upset about that too because the city lost some tax base. 

I'm sure the city is getting feedback on abandoning the downtown with the liquor store, to go out to the trendy and contemporary "highway strip." But whither downtown Morris? Whither our "entertainment district?" And what if UMM continues to shrink? What if the heavy hand of the Federal government comes down on the U of M because of our embrace of DEI? 

Columbia University out east has already felt the wrath of this. Can Morris sustain having UMM fall into really hard times? We may already be there.

  

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

Springtime and the folks are restless

The spring of our discontent in Morris? A time where people have to use their precious time to go door-to-door to get sigs on a petition of protest? My, a chorus of voices has certainly been raised. It's raised against this "NextGen" group which certainly had its heart in the right place. 

I did not sign the petition. Nor would I stick my neck out in the other direction. I do feel that constructive proposals for park systems always run into objections for one reason or another. NextGen obviously felt a need existed for what they were laying out. Do you disagree on that? There really is no need? East Side Park as it is, then, is an optimal asset for this community? 

Have you noticed the years just roll by with the "Killoran stage" just "sitting there?" It was nigh impossible to make an argument for that place even when the old Prairie Pioneer Days was in existence. And how in heck does an event like that essentially disappear? I assure you that in its prime, it was thoroughly thriving and joyous. Remember the "Baby Olympics" of the Morris Women of Today? Jack Fuchs giving carriage rides? "Hot Shot" basketball? 

Things change or things disappear. I can't really explain it. 

So now we have NextGen sensing a void and trying to be dynamic. And a petition drive rises up to oppose it. Don't worry, I got word last night (Tuesday) that NextGen has called off its whole project. Will the whole idea just lie dormant now? Will East Side Park just continue being this peaceful open space with a huge structure - the Killoran thing - that just sits there? Oh, that doesn't mean that it doesn't cost anything to maintain. I know The City of Morris spends $ on it. And the thing was "donated?" 

Decades have rolled by. 

As I get older I can increasingly share recollections of when things were different in many ways. I am 70. The Morris High School class of 1973 had its 50-year reunion two years ago. You'll see more of us with walkers pretty soon. "Boomers" using walkers? Well of course. But we no longer have the Morris Senior Citizens Center as an asset. 

My, the senior center was born with a real sense of satisfaction. I believe Senator Dave Durenberger had something to do with all these "senior centers." That's what the late Glen Helberg told me. I miss Glen. He carried out groceries at Coborn's, remember? And why did Coborn's have to disappear? Its disappearance left Willie's in basically a monopoly position. We can be thankful that Donald Trump got elected because he said his biggest priority from Day 1 would be to lower grocery prices. 

But this morning there's a headline about how DJT's priority is to get "reparations" for the pardoned Jan. 6 rioters. 

 

That's the word

Most people in Morris concluded that Coborn's left here because it couldn't get the liquor license it was seeking. And now the municipal liquor store is going to be relocating? Out to the "highway strip" or whatever you want to call it? Leaving the old "downtown" to erode more? The liquor store's current location is too "dead?" Is that it? 

So the city feels it can get a lot more people to acquire liquor - what an asset in life - if the store's location is in the "trendy" place on edge of town with newer buildings. Sorry, I do not purchase liquor. 

So, the park idea is disposed. East Side Park will continue being a sleepy place. But now the City of Morris has a new matter on its plate. Hold on, it's the library! And my, what a kerfuffle we have. 

Our Morris library

It is so easy to be hit over the head with "one side" in this matter. Makes me wonder why on earth the city manager and council would even want to consider, in the slightest, any lapses or mistakes made by the library director who comes off as a candidate for sainthood. 

Well, I certainly like Anne Barber. But I don't have all the details of what goes on behind the scenes. My first sense, to be honest, is that Ms. Barber has engendered so much good will because she is an individual that stands for serving the public and young families. I said to Kevin Wohlers in an email the other day that "criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie." 

Could we just wait a little and learn more about just what allegations are being levied? I have to believe the city manager has the support of at least two council people for at least looking into this. But widespread rage has erupted. It's along the lines of the petition vs. the NextGen thing. So many people so riled up. 

In the library's case I can't help but think that personalities get overly involved, and heavens to Betsy I have seen this before in Morris. Social networks which I sometimes call "good old boys." And we need people in official positions sometimes who are not cowed by this. 

I remember the burning issue/controversy involving the Morris school in the late 1980s. The controversy was so unnecessary of course. Good old boys and social ties got involved. Businesses got hurt. 

Now, between the park kerfuffle and the library matter, we have to be careful there are no scars left over. Well, I'll warn y'all. But the impulses of younger people can disregard what I have to say. 

Really truly, we have to look at libraries in a different light, so deep into the transformative digital age. And I have to bite my cheeks when hearing the cliche-ish line "the need for libraries has never been greater." Just like the Star-Tribune editorial that once began "the need for higher education has never been greater." Sheesh, the need for "higher education" has never been LESS. 

I'd like to say "I rest my case" but Jim Morrison would laugh at me. 

There are always do-gooders around who are ready with the cliches. These are left-of-center people politically. And the left at this moment is being crushed, obliterated. There is one primary question we ought to ask Michelle Fischbach now: "Is there anything that Donald Trump could do or say that you would disagree with?" 

 

Is UMM doomed?

And what about UMM?

We vote Republican even though it could mean the literal end of the University of Minnesota-Morris. I mean, with the total clamp-down on DEI which, if the U does not acquiesce, could have catastrophic consequences like it has for Columbia Unviversity. You think the top U administrators want to risk that for a second? 

I recently shared some ideas on current local topics with Kevin Wohlers. I'm a long-time Wohlers family friend. Remember Mel? I shall quote parts of my email in the remainder of this post.

 

Has the city considered land out along Prairie Lane as possibility for new park? This is on my daily walking route so I'm quite aware of everything going on out there. This was how I developed strong views on the softball complex. So I'm talking the road that goes past the softball complex and water treatment plant, and gee I believe I had some opinions on water treatment plant also. 

 

The land out along Prairie Lane is already under some management like for mowing but it's still basically vacant. Far enough from town that a park and concert stage could work there and not ruffle feathers. It's amazing how the Killoran stage has sat there for years and years with negligible use. And I'm sure it costs the city money to manage as with the public washrooms (with video surveillance). I think permanent washrooms can become a major issue for lots of entities. Were "porta-potties" really so terrible in the old days? Not pleasant to use but how often do we need them? 

Look at Wells Park. Look how much space is devoted to "ball diamonds" at Wells. I have read that many parks in big cities have eliminated their ball diamonds because these sports are no longer as popular for kids. Kids get almost no exercise in little league baseball. The Wells Park diamonds were perfect for MACA softball.

Did the city get any permanent resentment by saying "no" on the final request for $ for the softball complex? I still think the lack of fan seating there is terrible. As for the bleachers right behind home plate at Holmberg field, you have to sit right in the middle to get a view of the whole playing field. Everyone really has to bring their own chairs and many sit out by the outfield fence. Is that really by preference?

OK, the library. It's easy to get an earful of "one side" in this. There are many reasons to feel affection for Anne Barber. I'm not presuming here in this email that either side is correct, but it's reasonable for a person in Anne's position to get a fair review that is not automatically fawning. You listen to certain people and you think that the city manager is some sort of wicked witch of the west! I'm not exaggerating.

So, what are my feelings? For a long time now, whenever I think of the library I think of a place that seems anachronistic. A big building full of books and "stuff" that has to be costly to maintain, but this in the age of the Internet, which. . . Well I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I get all the info, entertainment and communication I need for my whole life in the laptop I'm typing on right now! I'm sure the library has rows of books about WWII. But I can use the search bar on YouTube to research any fine detail of WWII, in fact get multiple sources.

This is dicey because criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie. A place that has a weekly "children's story hour." Sheesh.

 

I have to believe that at least two council people are sympathetic with what the city manager is doing to keep close watch on library expenses. Otherwise she'd be ill-advised to do it. This is another case of where we have to put personalities aside. It's like when {name withheld} finally left the school system. It was past due but then personalities and cliques got involved. 

The city has this major real estate in the middle of town - the library and the former senior center - and we really have to wonder how essential all this is. I close my eyes and imagine the library just disappearing sometime and would we really miss it? Just plain gone. And, how could the need for a "senior center" just totally vanish into thin air?

 

Oh and how is UMM going to be affected by this major crackdown on DEI? UMM "bleeds" DEI, advertises it. Are we going to end up like Columbia University? I'm sure the top U administrators in the Twin Cities are on edge. I'll be interested to observe UMM graduation just to get a sense of how the place is doing. We hear rumors. I never thought day would come when there would be no band for graduation.

 

Well Kevin I'm done writing about March Madness so I thought I'd write this email to you today. Good luck in these challenging times.

 

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

Cardinals reach summit of boys hoops!

The Alexandria Cardinals with their No. 1 state trophy at Williams Arena.

 

We can all catch our breath now. On this Sunday morning, we can relax and reflect on some momentous prep basketball happenings. A peak was reached yesterday (Saturday) in the boys basketball state tournament. 

Making state by itself is significant. Winning a game there elevates you a few more notches. Making the state championship game? Exhilarating. My goodness, to win it all? That's the perch now occupied by the Alexandria Cardinals. This is the boys hoops team whose accomplishments are on the heels of the Alex girls placing third. 

March Madness to the utmost? I can only imagine what the mood is around Alexandria now. Church pastors will probably acknowledge it. Many of us in Morris followed the exploits of the Cardinal boys and girls in state. 

Many of us are also ecstatic to see the West Central Area girls having won the state Class A title! That was with a Morris product coaching them: Becca Holland. I'm proud to say the Holland sisters Becca and Beth grew up in my church. That's First Lutheran where I'll be going in just a couple hours for coffee hour. Our weekly service will follow. Maybe hear some mention of the basketball world there?  

My current post on "Morris of Course" asks the question of whether the MACA athletic program may have been able to secure Becca for coaching here. Here's the link:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/03/too-bad-maca-could-not-get-becca-holland.html 

 

No. 1 in state! That's what Alexandria and West Central Area can celebrate. Add on No. 3 for the Alex girls. And while we're at it, No. 4 for the Minnewaska Area girls. And, someone told me Dawson is closer to Morris than Alex. The Dawson-Boyd boys reached rarefied air too: No. 1 in state Class A. 

Excluded in all this is MACA. Well, maybe next year. Our boys actually did have a successful season. Our girls? Well I guess not. 

The Alex boys coached by Forrest Witt took the 2025 state title with a 73-64  win over Mankato East which had the top seed. It all came to a head at storied Williams Arena, U of M. Alex was seeded No. 3. 

Alex exuded an emotional intensity on the court. Mankato East was a juggernaut sporting a 28-game win streak! They're known as the "Cougars." 

Alex asserted itself from early-on. The Cards led for more than 34 minutes of the 36-minute game. Future Clemson player Chase Thompson, a forward, scored 28 points. Junior guard Talan Witt sported a total of 13. Thompson proclaimed "this is for the city of Alexandria." 

The Alex fans could envision this victory at halftime. The Cards had an 8-2 run to close out first half play. So they were up at the halfway mark 37-28. Mason Witt hit a '3' with 12 seconds left in the half. I am trying to check out the Echo-Press coverage of the game, but a recurring problem crops up: "404 not found." 

Alex closed out the campaign with a 25-game win streak. Their final record: 29-3. The co-captains were seniors Samson Hagstrom and Thompson. They'll get their diplomas from Alex High this spring. 

Look for the following players to don the Alex school colors when action resumes next season: Mason Witt, Talan Witt, Gavin Roderick, Myles Gray, Thomas Hinrichs, Blake Scholl and Grady Starzl. I'm assuming that Blake is the brother of girls standout Chloe Scholl. 

There are Morris connections with a lot of these folks, not just the Witts. The Witt players will be returning starters for next season. Roderick joins them in this category. 

Now, I personally am exhausted! As a journalist I have tried to do all these accomplishments justice. I will need some rest just like the fans! Congrats to Cardinal country! Why do I put pressure on myself? I don't need to. Jerry Witt would smile if he read that. I came to share with him about the vicissitudes of being a press person!

In the immediate aftermath of final buzzer: win over Mankato East. 

Talan Witt, 13 points in title game

Chase Thompson, 28 points in title game

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

Alexandria Cards slay Totino-Grace

Cardinals 73, 

Totino-Grace 65

Let's catch our breath once again between state tournament basketball games, if that's possible. Man, I feel a need to re-charge a little. But what an adrenalin rush it is! March Madness seems more intoxicating as time goes on, don't you think? Considering the crappy nature of our March weather, it's quite the antidote, n'est-ce pas? 

Alexandria has gripped our attention. This began in the girls tournament where the Cardinals gave us thrills up to the very end. They even won their very last game which was over Cretin-Derham Hall. No intimidation factor on the part of Cretin-Derham Hall. The Cardinals took the court with total confidence to win for third. 

The Cards included Chloe Scholl whose mother is the former Heather Lucken. Heather played her prep sports here at Morris Area. Receding in time, yes, but I well remember. The Alex girls' great heights are tucked away in the historical annals now. I hope some fans are aware of, and will remember, the blogging I did in the closing stages. It's ditto with the Minnewaska Area girls, fourth in state. 

Writing on high school sports has been a prime calling in my life. So now I'm proud to report on what the Alexandria boys did on Thursday! They were at the elite level of state, matched against a true state power, Totino-Grace. I wasn't certain that Alex's chances were all that good. 

In rooting for Alexandria I'm rooting for the Witts, all four of them! There's Jerry who is now an assistant coach. His son Forrest is head coach and building a stellar reputation steadily. Alex is most fortunate. I should acknowledge the mom, Holly! 

There are not one but two Witt players on the roster. They are not brothers, they are cousins. So let's acknowledge the Witt players Mason and Talan. Mason has opted to wear the number zero. I find that unconventional but why not? 

Was Alex really the underdog going into the Thursday game versus Totino-Grace? Not sure that would be the proper characterization. Alex has built up all sorts of creds. At the state semis level you're bound to face a challenge. Alex was unfazed just as the girls were against Cretin-Derham Hall. You might know that Cretin-Derham Hall is the alma mater of Joe Mauer. 

The Alex boys are now in the running for No. 1 in state. 

I'd like to suggest a middle finger toward the Echo-Press for putting coverage behind a "paywall." Message to the old newspaper industry: you're not that special any more. When a team is excelling like Alex is, extend a public service and apply some normal open coverage for the many people who are interested, like players' relatives (grandmas and grandpas) who live elsewhere. Don't come at them with a stupid paywall overture. 

I'm not going to deal with it. I'll use info instead from the free coverage on the KSTP website. It's good enough, extensive enough. 

The third-seeded Cardinals overcame vaunted Totino-Grace by a score of 73-65 at Williams Arena. Mason Witt, he of the number "zero," put in 25 points to supply key fuel. He's a junior guard. Mason made six three-pointers! 

The Cards are now 28-3. 

Witt worked in tandem with Chase Thompson who scored 33 points, 22 of them in the second half. 

Totino-Grace was seeded No. 2. The T-G Eagles had a skein going of ten straight state tournament wins dating to 2022. 

The Cards asserted themselves in the second half to outscore the Eagles 42-30. Alex showed weapons both inside and outside. Alex fans were ecstatic to see their team surge with a 15-5 run in the last five minutes. Thompson scored nine of his points then. He's headed to Clemson for future play. 

Alex will now play Mankato East for the state championship on Saturday.

Mason Witt, "0"

 

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

Alexandria boys in state glow now

It's good to keep the focus indoors for March, like for following basketball. Weather has been blah. 

March Madness has no better showcase this year than Alexandria MN. It's about a 45-minute drive from our Morris. Multiple routes are available. Do you use the Lowry route? Go to Starbuck, take a left?

You can go to Glenwood and take a left. This is the route where I first got introduced to the "roundabout." I think my heart skipped a beat the first time. You are not alone if you feel confused and maybe scared of these. A well -known "stealth camper" spent the night camping in the middle of a roundabout where he was concealed by vegetation. He noticed many motorists veering off like they were shaken by dealing with it. 

I have learned: when all else fails, just look for the "yield" signs and be sure to honor them. You'll come out in one piece. I'm not sure I'd go for stealth camping. 

I regret that I did not make any trips to Alex this past winter to watch basketball. I rarely drive out of town now. But I should have gotten ambitious because I could have watched the Alexandria basketball teams, boys and girls. There are strong Morris connections with both, people who I think I could still consider close friends. Like the Witts. I emailed Jerry recently and he sent back a warm response. I need a little of that now and then because my life has gotten a little isolated. 

With the Alex girls team I have a connection with the old Lucken family, even though "Lucken" is not a name currently in use. I will still type "Lucken" as a reminder of who these people are, very special people. I wrote about Heather Lucken when she played MAHS sports. Heather's mom was "Lucken" and was married to the now-deceased Rick. Today Bev is Bev Kieffer and yes that's a connection with the well-known Kieffer family of Morris. 

Heather's daughter Chloe Scholl was an important member of the Alexandria girls team which recently captured third in Minnesota. They weren't even intimidated playing Cretin-Derham Hall! Such positive attitudes these student athletes have! No one scolds them on how "academics is more important than sports." I grew up when the attitude behind such scolding emanated quite a bit from the education establishment. I have hated it all along. 

Hey teachers, let the kids have fun! We aren't competing with the Russians any more. In fact we have a U.S. president who is an ally with Russia. Up is down, yes. The old education establishment that reflected a monopolistic system was really only interested in feathering its own nest anyway. Think I didn't notice that? The situation today is far better, rather liberated. 

Certainly the people of Alex are feeling abundant joy about how their girls and boys hoopsters are doing. The girls played all the way through the very last day of prep girls competition. That's the day of the state championship and third place games. The boys are making a run to do the same. As I write this the Alex boys have played one state game. A victory for the Cardinals over Byron. 

I wrote a preview post for the Alexandria boys in state yesterday. This post is on my companion blog of "Morris of Course." I invite you to read with this link:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/03/now-its-alexandria-boys-in-state-aaa.html 

  

Cardinals 82, Byron 70

I have always been aware of this town called Byron but don't know much about it. Turns out it's in southeastern Minnesota and is sort of a bedroom community for Rochester. Its population isn't much larger than ours in Morris but the sports teams are AAA. 

The Alex Cardinals and Byron "Bears" played on Tuesday at Williams Arena on the U of M campus. This was a state quarter-final game. The teams appeared evenly matched in many ways. There was a big deciding factor: turnovers. This worked to the Cards' advantage. Byron experienced 25 turnovers compared to eight for Alex in this 82-70 win for the Cardinals. 

Mason Witt

The Alex head coach is Forrest Witt. His father Jerry is an assistant coach. The team roster includes Mason and Talan Witt, cousins not brothers. I wonder why Mason chose the number "0" to wear - unusual but why not? Talan is No. 4. 

Coach Forrest felt his team could pressure the Bears and it worked. 

Alex has the No. 3 seed and their record now is 27-3.  They got 33 points off turnovers. Talan Witt and Samson Hagstrom combined for 11 of Alex's 21 steals. 

Shooting was certainly not a problem for the Bears. Alex overcame the foul trouble experienced by Chase Thompson, who is one of five finalists for Mr. Minnesota Basketball. Chase is headed to Clemson for his college play. Thompson had four fouls with ten minutes left in the game. 

Make no mistake, there was suspense in this game, as Byron got the score tied with 14:13 remaining. The Cardinals tamped down the suspense by going on a 10-0 run. So the score was 59-49 with 11:47 left. They kept a sense of command. 

Talan Witt

Here are the Alex individual scoring totals: Mason Witt 18, Chase Thompson 10, Talan Witt 15, Samson Hagstrom 10, Gavin Roderick 16, Myles Gray 2, Thomas Hinrichs 5 and Grady Starzl 6. 

Now it's on to the semis for the Cardinal crew. There they will face Totino-Grace, the three-time defending Class 3A state champion. The game is set for 2 p.m. Thursday at Williams Arena.

One thing is a given: the Cardinals aren't intimidated by anyone.

If you're keeping score, Mason Witt is Forrest's son while Talan is Zachary's son. I wonder if Talan will have to clarify for the rest of his life what the second vowel in his name is! I wonder where that name came from but it sounds fine.

Oh, and Myles Gray of the Alex team is a Morris connection! Myles is the son of Dan Gray and Tracy Kleespie, both of Morris. Have you noticed, us Morrissites never lose track of each other?

 

Addendum: Another route to Alex from Morris: go north until you can take a right to go through Hoffman. Then it's a straight shot.

Here's Chase Thompson playing AAU ball

 

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

Alex girls own second half for third place win

Cardinal red is a mighty classy color right now. The Alexandria girls were able to keep their spirit and determination high for the state third place game. Playing for third means you're coming off a loss in the semi-finals. Of course teams at this level are all going for No. 1. Could Alex keep their focus strong even when out of contention for No. 1? 

Well yes! Classy as they are, they took to the court and executed most impressively on Saturday in this third place contest. I had to wonder how this was going to go. When I first saw "Cretin-Derham Hall" as their opponent, man, a part of me flinched. Cretin-Derham Hall is one of those private schools that includes rarefied-air athletes so often. 

Providence Academy is like that this year. They can intimidate with their record and credentials. I have learned that you can make no assumptions about a well-known private school in state. They can be bulldozers or they can be mortal. I'm not sure how Cretin-DH ranked on that scale, actually, because maybe the Alex Cardinals simply performed as the bulldozer! Leave it to me as a sportswriter to get carried away with this extraneous analysis. 

Let's let the game outcome tell the story. And, this was a 66-36 win by Alex at the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia-St. Paul. 

Cretin-DH is known as the "Raiders." The game was the last for five Alexandria seniors, a group that includes Chloe Scholl, daughter of Morris native Heather (nee) Lucken. Chloe is also the granddaughter of Morris native Bev Kieffer who was known as Bev Lucken in her Morris time. I have to type the Lucken name to make clear to many Morris people who we're talking about. 

It was a pleasure for yours truly to know Bev pretty well. She served with commitment on the Morris school board. Chloe's grandfather is the late Rick Lucken. Now, how could any of us forget Rick! Let those memories never die. 

Bev is married to Dennis Kieffer. So Dennis is the proud step-grandfather. Chloe bears resemblance to her mother Heather. The blond hair is a big example. Heather has a sister Chris. The two were active in MAHS athletics back in the day. There was some turbulence in MAHS athletics during that time period. 

Appears there is no turbulence with Alexandria Cardinal athletics today. The Cardinal boys just like the girls are most high-achieving. The Cardinals are "alive" in the tournament season as I write this. There are four Witts involved with the boys, two players and two coaches. That's the Witt family with such a strong background from Morris and from UMM. 

What would Alexandria do without its Morris connections, eh? I guess Alex is the place to retire if you've "made it." I'm still here in Motown. Am happy to still be writing about area sports. At this point I'm almost a little exhausted. I have been drained writing about Minnewaska Area and Alexandria. 

Minnewaska took fourth in state AA. Alex plays at the AAA level. And my how they achieved. It wasn't even close in the girls' last game versus Cretin-Derham Hall. We now know that the Cretin-DH kids put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else! 

Yes I was a little stunned when I first saw "Cretin-Derham Hall" as the upcoming opponent. 

"Uh-oh," I thought for a moment. The best way to wrap this up is to quote Chris Berman of ESPN, a line he uses often: "that's why they play the game." Make no assumptions based on reputation. 

There were five seniors total on the Alex team. Chloe was joined by Allie Haabala, MaCee Linow, Camree Miller and Hadley Thul. 

Cretin-DH did get an early lead in the Saturday contest. Alex crept back and so we saw a tied halftime score of 24-all. And then Alexandria turned on the jets! The Cardinals owned second half play. My, this was to the tune of outscoring Cretin 42-12! The Raiders were hurt by turnovers. 

Thul passed the career 1,000-point mark along the way. Her final career number is 1,007. Linow made four of her six three-point shots. 

For Scholl, her stats were modest on this day as she scored four points. She grabbed five rebounds. But Scholl made quite the impression overall in the tourney, and this was reflected in her being named to the AAA All-Tournament Team long with Thul. The final Alex won-lost mark is 26-5. They took third in state in back-to-back seasons. 

Let's review the Alex individual scoring from Saturday: Thul 23, Scholl 4, Linow 14, Haabala 7, McKinley Hoelscher 2, Camree Miller 6, Lauren Beyer 7, Riley Beyer 3.

 

Media notes 

I tried looking up info on this game Sunday, all day really, but I kept finding "404 not found" on the Echo-Press site. I'm sure many people were looking for this coverage. I tried again early Monday morning and got the same result. Then later in the morning, the problem was fixed. 

Is it possible the problem couldn't be fixed on Sunday because people "don't work on Sunday?" I think that would be sad. Society has been gradually getting over this obsession with weekends being totally free time. We have obligations. 

The Willie's grocery store in Morris was once closed on Sunday "because it was the Lord's day." We have gotten over that. Today, Christianity seems more like an extension of the Donald Trump presidency.

Chloe Scholl of the Alexandria Cardinals. She's committed to Gustavus Adolphus for future play.

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

Minnewaska girls fourth in state AA

Is it fair to say the end of the season was a little deflating for the exciting Minnwaska Area girls basketball team? I never played basketball in school so I don't have the background to know. As a writer I can "pretend" I know. Donald Trump would say "fake news media." I offer these thoughts in a context of levity! 

You know, there does seem to be something discouraging about finishing fourth in state. I hope the emphasis now is in building up the jubilant emotions about having such a successful season! Fourth in state! Think of the pride this will provide as the people observe the trophy. Wouldn't our MACA program like to be in this position? 

Well, Minnewaska showed real command in playing our Tigers in 2024-25. I won't cite the most significant details of that. But hey, we all have to be happy about an area team that does so well. Lake Minnewaska is basically down the road from us in Morris. 

What a wild ride the Laker fans had through the 2025 state tournament! I understand what it's like to be emotionally invested in this. I wrote about many Morris teams that had the good fortune to climb far. Toward the end, the standards set by certain parents and school administrators for judging my coverage had gotten so high, I withdrew from some of that. I took on the work of the company custodian and van driver! 

As much as I absolutely loved the experience of high-level tournament success, the party was over for me. That's OK, I accepted reality, and I never dreamt the door would open in the future, thanks to tech, for diving into high school sports journalism again. But here I am! And I am no longer encumbered by the expectation to cover a whole raft of teams all the time with no inconsistencies or mistakes. 

Today as you see right here, I can write about whatever I want. In the style that I want. It is my No. 1 calling in life. So congratulations to the 2024-25 Minnewaska Area girls basketball team on the "wild ride" they took us through! 

The problem with finishing fourth in state is that you've lost your last two games. Maybe a team can take this in stride. But again I'm speculating. I think there has to be kind of a downbeat unspoken air about it. Well I hope I'm wrong. 

 

The image shows Minnehaha standout Addi Mack.
 

Redhawks 61, Lakers 42

The Lakers completed their historic campaign on Saturday in the Twin Cities of course. The Lakers were on the short end of the 61-42 score at the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia-St. Paul. I can remember when UMM played the "Comets" of Concordia quite often. 'Waska fell to Minnehaha Academy in the state third place game. 

The other girls team that I've been writing about - Alexandria - had the good fortune of winning their third place game. I realize this morning that I probably should have been writing about West Central Area too. In my newspaper days, I could be judged harshly on such criteria. Today? Not at all. I do strive to be fair and forthright in my writing. 

It has always meant a lot for me to stay close to area high school sports. How could we deal with the Minnesota winter without this? 

Wow! Take a look at the final Minnewaska Area record of 28-5! Awesome talent. I will miss typing many of these names. The Lakers' coach is Nick Danielson who obviously deserves a tip of the hat. 

'Waska had the No. 5 seed in state. Minnehaha owned No. 3. The final Minnehaha Academy record is 22-10. 

Minnehaha "Redhawks"

Minnehaha is known as the "Redhawks." This is one of those nicknames where you wonder if it's one word or two. In this case it's one!

The Lakers had trouble trying to control Addison Mack. Mack poured in 32 points. She was also a thorn in the Lakers' side with four steals and three assists. She has committed to University of Maryland. Isn't that where Brenda Frese coaches? 

Mack and the Lakers' Sydney Dahl are on the Class AA All-Tournament Team. 

There were signs Minnewaska was headed in the wrong direction at halftime: trailing 36-25. The Redhawks cruised in the second half to outscore the Lakers 25-17. 

 

Dahl scores 17

Let's acknowledge all the 'Waska point scorers starting with Dahl who scored 17 points. Olivia Danielson was No. 2 on the list with 11. Then we see Megan Thorfinnson 6, Jayda Kolstoe 5 and Addy Kath 3. Dahl, Thorfinnson and Kolstoe each made a 3-pointer. 

Danielson led in rebounds with eight followed by Kath with six. We see five Lakers each with one assist: Kath, Danielson, Dahl, Thorfinnson and Kolstoe. Thorfinnson topped steals with four followed by Lauren Ankeny and Danielson each with three. Kath and Dahl each blocked two shots. 

I will remind you that my blogging has been on two sites: "I Love Morris" and "Morris of Course." My review of the section championship game is on "Morris of Course" which I generally consider to be my secondary site. Here is the link to that March 7 post. The score was 53-38! What an awesome group.

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-score-is-53-38-as-minnewaska-soars.html 

  

I hope that a few Minnewaska people have become aware of my writing.

  

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

Providence w/ Greenways topples 'Waska

Climb in state far enough and you might come up against a real juggernaut. Minnewaska Area had the looks of this kind of team itself. After all they pushed aside our MACA Tigers in a game with a 58-4 halftime score. But in state, you have to gulp when contemplating certain upcoming foes. And whenever I read a reference to an obviously private school, I could gulp. 

Sometimes these schools are not totally awesome. But sometimes for sure they are. The latter description fit the team that the 'Waska Lakers faced in their Friday game. The game was in the state AA semis. The Lakers' stellar foe would be Providence Academy. 

"Academy" certainly suggests private school. There was a time when the state's private schools had their own state tournament. And that tournament seemed like an afterthought compared to the big one-class tourney that was such a highlight on the calendar. One class! We sure could not imagine that now. We are enlightened and we set the proper standards. 

There was a one-year experiment with trying to have the best of both worlds. A multi-class arrangement would veer into one class at the end. I remember Mark Torgerson giving me some quotes that suggested it might be a good thing. I think Torgy was just trying to be positive about something the High School League was trying to do. Nice to be positive, but it wasn't long before we heard the whole "hybrid" idea had been disposed in the trash. 

So not only did we let the "class system" prevail again, we had it prevail with four classes instead of two! Seems to have become a good thing. We may have lost some of the "mass interest" that the old tourney created. You know, with kids being excused from school classes so they could go to the cafeteria and watch the games on TV. A real priority then. 

There remains a healthy level of interest but it's just different. Diversified? Fragmented? Put aside this question and just consider that up until about 1971, there was no girls basketball at all! Hard to believe. 

The Gene Hackman movie "Hoosiers" showed us a world of the one-class tourney and boys monopolizing. 

Here's a cultural memory that pertains to Minnesota: Remember how people would say "we'll get a big winter storm at the time of the state tournament?"  And back then nobody had to specify "boys" or "girls" of course. Girls  could get involved as cheerleaders. The cute girls were selected. Bygone times, yes, and our culture has evolved in myriad ways. 

The situation is always a little fluid, so today there's a debate over "trans" kids in sports. IMHO this is not a case of cultural enlightenment slowly taking over. It's not like the "arrival" of girls basketball. Well I certainly hope not. I am totally against "trans" kids in girls and women's sports. Will I be on the side that prevails? It really is hard to say. 

The Democratic Party will have a hard time making inroads until it comes over to my side on this. Gavin Newsom has come around to my side. In the end, all I can really do is observe. 

I was skeptical going into the Minnewaska vs. Providence game in the state semis on Friday. I was skeptical about the really super 'Waska team having much of a chance. I read about the Providence Academy creds and felt "this is one of those private schools that will bury you." 

Well, finishing in the state's top four is still a pretty lofty position for the Lakers and their coach Nick Danielson. 

 

Providence "Lions"

Providence 88, Lakers 43

The Lions of Providence Academy have no memories of losing. So on Friday they rolled past Minnewaska Area in an 88-43 final at Williams Arena. 

It was the Lions' 43rd consecutive win. As I write this, Providence Academy is one win away from winning a fourth straight state title! Break up the Lions! 

I remember as a kid hearing about the "Minnesota Independent State Tournament" and thinking it was so obscure, anticlimactic. I didn't even understand what it was at first. I think the Catholics began lobbying big-time to get their private schools into the big tent of the "real" tournament, the "Hoosiers" style of tournament. It's hard to keep the Catholics down. 

Providence Academy applied their standard playbook against 'Waska. They applied relentless speed and quickness. Providence has a junior, Maddyn Greenway, who is a real player of note, committed to U of Kentucky in fact. She's the daughter of former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. 

But my goodness, Maddyn has a "little sister" who is making an impression too! That's Beckett who is just an eighth-grader. Beckett scored 14 points in the first half and had 19 for the game. Maddyn's contribution? It was 26 points. 

Senior guard McKenna Schaefer had 17 points and eight rebounds. And senior Hope Counts worked the post position to score 15, plus grab 15 rebounds. Hey that's kind of cute: "Hope Counts." I agree it does.

The Lakers had a hard time avoiding turnovers against such a stellar opponent. The Lions converted 24 turnovers into 35 points. 

Ouch: the West Central Tribune's headline about the game reads: "Girls basketball: Providence Academy pounds Minnewaska Lakers in Class AA semis." 

Providence plays for the AA title this evening (Saturday) against Crosby-Ironton. Minnewaska will face Minnehaha Academy pretty darn soon from when I'm writing this. It's all I can do to keep up with everything. Action for third in state is set for 2 p.m. today (Saturday). It's a mighty blustery Saturday here on the prairie. Game site will be the Gangelhoff Center, Concordia-St. Paul. 

Providence had an "iron man" look on the court vs. 'Waska. The five starters didn't leave the court until 3:53 left. Counts and Beckett Greenway stayed in the game even after having some foul trouble. Beckett was quoted in media following the game. I can remember when eighth graders here in Morris weren't even eligible to be on varsity! 

Sydney Dahl has been a standout for 'Waska all season. She provided 21 points against Providence. The rest of the Laker scoring list: Jayda Kolstoe 7, Lauryn Ankeny 6, Megan Thorfinnson 4, Olivia Danielson 3 and Addy Kath 2. Ankeny made two 3-pointers while Dahl, Thorfinnson and Kolstoe each made one. 

Kath was team-best in rebounds with nine. Ankeny dished out five assists plus she had three steals. Dahl blocked a shot. 

The Lakers are guaranteed to come away from the season with super memories! I am pleased to have blogged about this crew regularly. I hope some of the 'Waska people have discovered it on my two blog sites. My two sites are "I Love Morris" and "Morris of Course." I'll repeat that I have family connections to Glenwood.

Maddyn Greenway with coach Conner Goetz after scoring her 3000th point last year. And she's now over 4000!

 

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