Back L-R: Tyler Sellner, Isaac Christensen, Braylon Nelson, Colton Romberg Front L-R: Landry Folkens, Riley Voigt, Cooper Walter
The Sleepy Eye 7th grade boys’ basketball team will be playing in the Target Center Sunday, July 23, in the Pacesetter Great Five-State Championships.
The “Great State” playoff system includes Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The 7th grade boys’ tournament Sunday will include Medford (WI), Brooking
Games will begin with pool play starting at 8:30 a.m. at Maple Grove Middle School. The championship bracket will move to the Target Center at 2:10 p.m. with all teams guaranteed to play at minimum one game on the main floor.
All players, coaches and spectators will be attending the Minnesota Lynx game on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. against the Las Vegas Aces as part of the weekend experience, which is coordinated in cooperation with the Lynx/Timberwolves.
Sleepy Eye qualified through Pacesetter’s 8-region playoff system for grades 4-9 that began in March and advanced to the Pacesetter Minnesota youth state championships played at St. Ben’s in June.
Brackets and further information are available on the Pacesetter Sports website at www.pacesettersports.net.
Former St. Mary’s and University of Wisconsin River Falls basketball player Cassie Heinrichs signed a professional contract to continue her playing career with DCU Mercy of the Irish Super League. Heinrichs announced the signing with a Social Media post (see below) More about DCI Mercy>>>
Division 2 Sub-Sub State Playoffs in Springfield
Game Stats – 7/6/23 Wabasso Legion vs Sleepy Eye Legion
Box Score
WABASSO LEGION (1) AT SLEEPY EYE LEGION (14)
WABASSO LEGION AB R H BI SLEEPY EYE LEGION AB R H BI
Adrian Tietz 2 0 1 0 Austin Uecker 4 1 3 1
Kaysen Harms 2 0 0 0 Cody Schultz 2 1 0 0
Noah Andersen 2 1 1 0 Kaleb Wait 2 2 1 0
Joe Liebl 2 0 1 1 Arian Saenz 1 0 1 2
Jaxson Wagner 2 0 0 0 Kaleb Butenhoff 2 1 0 0
Jayden Remiger 2 0 0 0 Caden Evers 3 1 1 1
Garret Marotzke 2 0 1 0 Mark Anderson 2 1 0 0
Preston Remiger 2 0 0 0 Winsten Nienhaus 2 0 0 0
Calvin Haana 2 0 0 0 Owen Weiss 0 2 0 1
Talan Helget 2 1 1 1
Brandon Tauer 1 1 1 3
Jon Petermann 3 2 2 3
Blake Wales 3 1 1 0
TOTALS 18 1 4 1 TOTALS 27 14 11 12
WABASSO LEGION 100 00 -- 1
SLEEPY EYE LEGION 419 0x -- 14
LOB--WABASSO LEGION 2, SLEEPY EYE LEGION 6. ERR--Garret
Marotzke (2), Zach Skoblik, Jaxson Wagner, Calvin Haana (2),
Preston Remiger, Adrian Tietz (2). 3B--Joe Liebl, Brandon
Tauer. HBP--Owen Weiss. SB--Cody Schultz (2), Jon Petermann.
WABASSO LEGION IP H R ER BB SO HR
Adrian Tietz (L) 1.00 2 4 1 1 0 0
Ethan Jenniges 3.00 9 10 5 3 0 0
SLEEPY EYE LEGION
Nick Mielke (W) 4.00 3 1 1 0 7 0
Kaleb Wait 1.00 1 0 0 0 3 0
WP--Adrian Tietz. SO--Garret Marotzke, Noah Andersen, Jaxson
Wagner, Calvin Haana, Kaysen Harms (2), Preston Remiger (2),
Jayden Remiger (2). BB--Owen Weiss (2), Caden Evers, Arian
Saenz.
Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Award
The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Board is pleased to announce the inductees for the Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Award. This award is given to individuals whose work, actions and continued promotion have brought outstanding positive recognition to Minnesota Amateur Baseball.
The Glenn Carlson Award winners are the umpiring twin brother combination of Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls (grew up in Sleepy Eye) and Warren Cook from Sleepy Eye.
The Induction Banquet will take place on Saturday, September 16 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud – the home of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.
The late Dean Briunkman was selected as one of 2023’s inductees into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. Dean’s illustrious and respected career and involvement in his community on and off the field will be acknowledged on the third weekend in September in St. Cloud.
All Conference (L to R) Lacey Mathiowetz, Adelinde Hoffmann, Allie Labat, Isabella Hoffmann, Kallie Zarn
Team Awards: Most Improved-Alexa Pelzel, Team Leadership-Lacey Mathiowetz, Co-MVP-Kallie Zarn and Lacey Mathiowetz
1st Team-Lacey Mathiowetz, 2nd Team-Kallie Zarn
All State Academic (GPA of 3.75 or above needed and a senior): Isabella Hoffmann and Lacey Mathiowetz
All Section: Lacey Mathiowetz, Alexa Pelzel, Allie Labat, Kallie Zarn and Isabella Hoffmann
Senior: Lacey Mathiowetz, Gracie Sellner, Kallie Zarn, Isabella Hoffmann, Allie Labat, Kenadi Steffl, Samantha Ibberson(stats)
Academic All Conference (GPA of 3.75 or above) Lacey Mathiowetz and Isabella Hoffmann
Tomahawk Player/Coach of the Year: Lacey Mathiowetz and Kayla Mathiowetz
Boys Class A – Minnesota Golf Coaches Assn. All-State
Ryan Engel (Ada-Borup), Cole Witherow (New Life Academy), Parker Brock (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley), Evan Villagomez (Heritage Christian Academy), Jake Fishbaugher (Filmore Central), Ethan Finseth (Fertile-Beltrami), Carson Boe (Lakeview), Carson Erickson (Sleepy Eye United), Sawyer Drent (HLOF/WWG), Tony Carlin (Fosston), Hunter Schmidt (Martin County West), Brady Schwinghammer (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa), Carson Besonen (Lac qui Parle Valley), Nathan Kueny (HLOF/WWG), Masen Nowacki (Fertile-Beltrami), Caiden Swenby (Fertile-Beltrami), Jaxon Janousek (Badger-Greenbush-Middle River), Isaiah Aulie (Pine River-Backus), Tanner Doeden Park Christian), Maverick Reed (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.
By Travis Rosenau, Journal Sports Editor
SLEEPY EYE – Dedicated, humble and always improving was Sleepy Eye United’s Carson Erickson throughout his high school golf career.
After making it to the Class A state tournament for the third year in a row at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker last week, Erickson improved again from the prior season as he cracked the top 10 and finished tied for 10th place with a two-day score of 155.
Two years ago when the SEU boys golf team went to state together, Erickson finished with a 159, good enough for 21st overall. Last year when Erickson made it back to state individually, he shot a 157 to take 11th.
While taking home a state medal was always the goal for Erickson, he wasn’t upset with his improvements and getting into the top 10.
“It’s a little different now being done, but I was pretty happy with that top 10,” he said.
Erickson’s state tournament success and success all season, a season that saw him medal in 13 meets, earned him another repeat award as he finished his senior year as the All-Journal Boys Golfer of the Year for the second year in a row.
“It’s nice always being acknowledged for what you do,” Erickson said. “So you know everything you do, the time you put in gets acknowledged just kind of dedicates you to keep it going.”
SEU head coach Bryant Mages said Erickson’s continued success came from much dedication to the sport.
“Carson’s so deserving of what he’s accomplished over the last couple years,” Mages said. “He pretty much grew up on the golf course from sixth grade on. I remember when his mom would drop him off at the course in the morning before he was even able to drive and he would literally be up there from sunup to sundown.”
After last season, Erickson had a goal in mind to work on his driver. This year, he said the work he put in over last summer paid off.
“I think it definitely got better this year than it was last year,” Erickson said. “Overall, it was just a little longer this year, but a little bit of work in the offseason helped out. … Go out to the course a lot, hit driver, play the game, it kind of happens naturally.”
Mages said Erickson has impressed him with his continued improvements over the years.
“I think when you get to where he’s at, it’s kind of easy to plateau when you get to that level,” Mages said. “But for him, he’s been in the top 10 scoring average in the state the last three years. But even with that, he’s been improving by a stroke or so every year for nine holes, so that’s been pretty impressive to see.”
This season Erickson shot a 69 at North Links Golf Club against Springfield on May 24, an 18-hole low score. He also shot a nine-hole low of 34 on two different occasions this year and was named an All-State golfer for the third year in a row.
Erickson also finished this season as the Tomahawk Conference champion and Player of the Year for the second year in a row, turning in a nine-hole average of 37.7 to lead the Tomahawk Conference.
“It was just nice to go out, senior year, have a pretty good year,” Erickson said. “It could have been better, but its always fun to end senior year on a good note.”
Erickson said his favorite moment from his high school career was during his sophomore year when he went to the state tournament with his teammates Toby Weiss, Logan Netzke, Jack Nelson, Jacob Schultz and Allen Arneson. The SEU boys finished third in that 2021 tournament.
Travis Rosenau
SLEEPY EYE – For the third year in a row, Sleepy Eye United’s Liz Schwint punched her ticket to the Class A State Girls Golf Tournament at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.
With Schwint’s experience and ability came the label of captain, something the team’s younger players have benefited from.
“If every athlete was like Liz, coaches would have a pretty easy job,” SEU head coach Bryant Mages said. “I mean, it’s kind of cliché to say things like, ‘She always gives 110%,’ but honestly, Liz never lets a single day of practice go to waste. And I think some of the younger ones see that and it motivates them to be productive at every practice, too.”
One younger SEU golfer in particular that has benefited from Schwint’s senior leadership this year was freshman Sam Price.
“She’s always been super coachable,” Mages said of Price. “She’s like a sponge. Everything you tell her, she takes it to heart and she tries to put it into practice. Like I’ve said before, we always struggle with our mental game, and that’s really where she’s developed a lot this year, I would say, and it really paid dividends for her.
“Also, I think golf really came naturally to her, and it doesn’t to some people. But, personally, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another high school girl golfer hit driver as far as she does, which is mind-boggling because she was only a freshman this year.”
Schwint and Price’s blend of youth and experience made for a real one-two punch on courses in the area this year, and their seasons also saw them finish as the 2023 All-Journal Girls Co-Golfers of the Year.
“Not only to myself, but I think it’s just a good testament to how much the Sleepy Eye United golf program has changed,” Schwint said. “We’re really strong, have a lot of good talent and a lot of potential. It means a lot that golf is so noticed now.”
Price’s strong season and awards she’s picked up during her freshman year, including being the Tomahawk Conference Girls Golfer of the Year, will certainly increase expectations from her over the next several years.
“It’s going to put a lot of pressure on me for the next couple of years, but it’s really nice to have that confidence going into the season next year and my junior year and senior year,” Price said.
Price and Schwint both made an impact for the SEU girls golf team last season as the program made its first state tournament appearance, but this year was another step forward for the team. Price finished first in this year’s Section 2A Golf Tournament at North Links Golf Club with a two-day score of 187, while Schwint was right behind her in second with a 189.
In addition to strong scoring from the rest of the team, SEU cruised back to state this year as a team. There, Price finished 29th with an 18-hole record round of 92 on the second day of the tournament for a 187 total score. Schwint finished tied for 40th with a 193, rebounding from a 101 on Day 1 with a 92 on Day 2.
Many times in high school, an older student won’t care to make friends with a freshman. But that’s not the case for Schwint and Price.
The two have developed a bond over golf that has led them to being two of the area’s best prep golfers.
“Looking back on my golf career, I would say that, overall, my favorite part has been getting to play with Sam,” Schwint said. “I didn’t know Sam before golf and now she’s one of my best friends. Seeing her succeed and seeing us both have so much success this last season has been the best part of high school golf.”
Price, who averaged a 49.1 this year over nine holes and was a seven-time medalist, said Schwint helped her out early in her career.
“As a seventh-grader, Liz kind of took me under her wing,” Price said. “And we’re really good friends and this year, it was just amazing, both of us playing really good. And her leadership really guided me seventh, eighth and freshman year.”
Schwint, who led the Tomahawk Conference with a nine-hole average score of 48.3 and was a nine-time medalist this season, said she was happy with how her career with SEU came to a close.
“I’m very happy that I ended with a really nice round for myself, a 92’s a really good score,” Schwint said. “The first day, I shot 101, which is higher than I wanted to, but I’m just very happy that I ended my career on kind of a high note – at the state tournament, our team taking sixth compared to eighth last year was a big improvement.”
Schwint will play college golf this fall with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls women’s golf team and pursue a degree in environmental science.
Price has a long way to go in her SEU golf career before she thinks about college, but she’s already looking for how she can improve next season.
“Obviously I want to improve my average score,” she said. “And I would love to take first in the conference again and first in the section again and then maybe, I don’t know how it’s going to work out next year, but hopefully top 20 at state next year.
“For me, I just hope to be more consistent with all of my clubs … I struggle with my putter sometimes, I’ve just really got to get the feel for the greens and then just be more consistent.”
