2017 Fall Sports Preview

Transcription

1 2017 Fall Sports Preview A preview including Valley City High School, Maple Valley, Barnes County North, Valley City State University and the University of Jamestown Special Section A supplement to the Times-Record Fall Means Baseball for Former Hi-Liner Special to the Times-Record Nate Rodriguez signs a letter of intent to attend the University of Jamestown and compete for the Jimmies baseball team. While baseball is traditionally considered a summer sport, one local student athlete will begin his collegiate athletic career playing the fall season of baseball at the University of Jamestown. Nate Rodriguez, who is a 2017 graduate of Valley City High school, signed a letter of intent earlier this year to play baseball for the Jimmies. As a four-sport letterwinner in high school, Rodriguez said he wasn t exactly sure which sport he d choose to play in college. I think I ve always wanted to play in college, Rodriguez said. I didn t really know which one I wanted to play. Rodriguez suffered an injury during his last football season as a Hi-Liner; an injury which made him realize the impact football could have on one s body. It s kind of hard on your body, Rodriguez said, adding that he made his decision to focus on college baseball aspirations after the football season. Rodriguez said a lot of recruiters looked at him for football. A lot of people thought I was going to play football, Rodriguez said. Special to the Times-Record (Top right) Nate Rodriguez is pictured batting during a baseball game earlier this year. Rodriguez will play for the Jimmies while majoring in biology at the University of Jamestown. (Bottom left) Rodriguez (left) shakes the hand of Jimmies Head Coach Tom Hager after signing his letter of intent. When it came down to baseball, Rodriguez said he considered Valley City State University, Bismarck State College and his ultimate choice, the University of Jamestown. Rodriguez was also named the VCHS Male Athlete of the Year during his senior year. It was really cool, Rodriguez said. I put in a lot of work in through high school. I played four sports so balancing it out was hard. Rodriguez was a dual sport athlete in the spring, competing in baseball and track and field. He said he originally joined track and field to try to get faster for football, and found he enjoyed it. This summer, Rodriguez has been doing a workout through the University of Jamestown, and also has been working out on his own to get ready for the upcoming season. Rodriguez is excited about the transition to college baseball. They have a good program so I m excited to join that, Rodriguez said, adding he is fortunate to play in college. It s going to be a completely different atmosphere and experience than high school. Rodriguez plans to major in biology, and hopes to possibly become a chiropractor or physical therapist. He also hopes to give back to baseball by one day becoming a coach. I d really like to coach sometime in my life, Rodriguez added. The Jimmies will play against the VCSU Vikings in Jamestown on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at UJ Fall Baseball September State University September 20 Valley City State University September 23 September 24 October 2 Mayville State University October 4 Valley City State University October University 2 p.m. 1 p.m. VCSU Fall Baseball September 12 Mayville State University September of Jamestown September 23 September 24 September 27 Mayville State University September University October of Jamestown 1 p.m nd St NE, Valley City, ND (701)

2 Page 2B Proud to Be a Bison The Barnes County North volleyball team plays in Region 5, District 3. The team is coached by Joy Hanson and assisted by Tori Enstad. They play their first game of the season at Kindred High School on Monday, Aug. 28, at Their home opener is Thursday, Sept. 7, at, against New Rockford-Sheyenne High School. Cynthia McFadgen (right) takes over as the Barnes County North head cross country coach, after program founder Kelly Scott retired from coaching at the end of last year. The young team features ninth-grader Ashley McFadgen (left) and eighth-grader Hanna Wieland (center). BCN Volleyball Proud to be the official Sports Medicine team for: Valley City HI-LINERS Orthopedics and Sports Medicine EssentiaHealth.org August High School August September Invitational 8 a.m. September High School September 7 New Rockford-Sheyenne 7p.m. September in the Valley 8 a.m. September 12 Midkota September City Tourney 8 a.m. September 19 Griggs County September 25 Maple Valley September 28 Oakes October 3 Carrington October 5 MPB October October 12 LLM October October County 7:30 p.m. October 5 Tournament, Oakes High School November 3 Tournament, Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 3 p.m. November NDHSAA Class B Volleyball State The Sports Fanatic/Fall Sports edition is a special section publication of the. Publisher: Bill Parsons Editor: Heidi Harris. Reporters: Ashley Limesand and Sheila Anderson Advertising Design & Sales: Tina Olson, Megan Kjelland and Brenda Tompt Circulation: Timothy Johnson, Nick Sterger, Sheree Bowen, Jamie Bowen, Dave Nelson. Classified: Kaitlyn Huss

3 Proud to Be a Raider Maple Valley s volleyball team comes into its season with a strong returning core group of student athletes. Raider Head Coach Alecia Killoran said the group lost their lead by example player, Alyssa Fowler, to graduation. We miss her constant dedication and determination, but I have had many players stepping up to fill her role, Killoran said. Killoran is in her third year as the Raiders head coach. This year she will be assisted by first year Assistant Coach Alex Hoffmann. Returning to the team from last year s line-up is setter/right side hitter Sierra Wendt. Wendt, a senior, comes back with five years of varsity experience. She is a leader on and off the court and demonstrates great work ethic, Killoran said. Wendt is the team s leading starter with 183 kills, 335 digs, 78 aces and 225 assists. Tessa Schroder will be a second-year starter as a middle hitter. Tessa is our strong block and a leader that the team looks to for stability, Killoran said. Tessa is a also a senior this year and will start the season with 48 blocks and 38 kills. This year s starting setter will be Kaylee Janish, who is a junior. Killoran said Janish is in her second year as a starter and comes back with 65 assists. Junior libero Lindsey Pommerer is currently out with a knee injury, but will hopefully be back mid-season. Pommerer was a starter last season. Killoran said Emma Baasch has been a very versatile player for the team and is back for her third season. She will be starting this year as a libero and seeing some playing time as an outside hitter, Killoran said, adding that Baasch has 255 career digs. The team s younger players Sarah Richman and Maddy Olson, will return for their second year. They were young players last year, and I look forward to seeing all of the hard work that they have put in this off season pay off, Killoran said. New to the team this year are Breanna Walburn, Analise Hansen, Sophia Weshnevsik, and Courtney Hovelson. I look forward to seeing what this young hardworking blood has to off er the Raiders this year, Killoran said. These are some young girls that have demonstrated great volleyball knowledge and constant commitment. The Raiders, who play in Region 1, finished last season with a 1-17 record. Killoran said she can t wait to see where the road takes the team this season. I am looking forward to working with a group of girls that has the utmost integrity, Killoran said. They are a team that shows continued support of the entire team and they truly believe in a strong support system to become successful. They open play against Ellendale High School at home on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Maple Valley Volleyball August 26 Ellendale High School 2 p.m. September 14 Northern Cass High September 21 LLM September October October 17 Richland High School October Grove November 1 Tournament, Oak Grove November NDHSAA Class B Volleyball State How is Sports Participation a Benefit to High Schoolers? Special to the Times-Record Everyone knows that the core of education is within the academic curriculum, but extra-curricular activities are vital in teaching our teens the basics in not only surviving life but finding a life that s abundantly blessed. The key to a teen s success later on in life has everything to do with a balanced high school experience, which includes those activities beyond math or biology class. At a cost of only about 3 percent (or less in many cases) of an overall school s budget, high school activity programs are one of the best bargains around. Life Outside the Classroom Sure, life in school is pretty interesting. You ve got algebraic equations, Bunsen burners, sentence diagrams... but chances are, you ve got commitments outside of school, too. Maybe you have a part time job, play in a band, are on a sports team, or do volunteer work. Colleges Care The good news is that colleges pay attention to your life both inside and outside the classroom. Yes, your academics probably come first, but your activities reveal a great deal about you, such as: * How you ve made a meaningful contribution to something * What your non-academic interests are * Whether you can maintain a long-term commitment * Whether you can manage your time and priorities * What diversity you d bring to the student body Maintaining a Balance Keep in mind, colleges are not interested in seeing you do it all. We re looking for a commitment to and a passion for an activity outside of the academic setting we re looking for depth rather than breadth, explains Nanci Tessier, a college admissions director. Colleges don t have a checklist of requirements when it comes to extracurricular activities they want to see your individuality and your consistent commitment. Haven t Gotten In- volved Yet? Lots of school, community, and religious organizations give you chances to explore your interests and talents. If you haven t felt drawn into something yet, there s no shortage of opportunities for you to explore. Work Experience Work experience paid or volunteer, year-round or summer can help you identify career interests and goals, gain work experience, and apply classroom learning to the real world. It s also a great way to earn money for college, of course. Consider arranging for an internship or to shadow someone at his or her job. Community Service You can also gain skills and experience through volunteer work, such as by tutoring elementary school kids or spending time at a local hospital. Some schools even offer academic credit for volunteer work. School Activities It s pretty easy to find out about activities available at Highland. Once you start exploring, sometimes the challenge is figuring out how much to do. Here are some quick tips: Stop by the Activities Office and pick up a list of the clubs and organizations available at school. Find one or two that really interest you and talk to the sponsor about joining. Ask the sponsor to give you the name(s) of kids in the group to talk to also. Most importantly, when you find something you like to do, stick with it. If you re interested and have extra time, try to excel in more than one area. For example, write for the paper and volunteer. But make sure you re giving your all to each activity, and, most importantly, to your school work. Don t worry about being president, or captain. The key is whether you ve done something significant, center stage or behind the scenes. Participation in extracurricular activities will foster creative, social and physical skills that are desirable qualities to colleges and future employers. Involvement can strengthen self-esteem, build lasting friendships and create BENEFITS, Page 4 Page 3B

4 Page 4B BEK Communications proudly supports our local teams! 415 Winter Show Road SE Valley City, ND Connections that matter. 2017_08_4512 Sheila Anderson/Times-Record The benefits of participation in high school sports are many, including learning the importance of teamwork. Doubles partners Riley Miller (left) and Hunter Burchill are pictured during a Valley City High School boys tennis match last year. BENEFITS From 3 a lifetime of memories. These activities help define you in a different way than academic study will. Academics require so much of a teen s attention that subjects become jobs. Even a student who loves to read in spare time may find that assigned reading for an English class is work. Extra-curricular activities can provide a much-needed break. Surprisingly, there is sufficient argument that students who are involved in extra-curricular activities earn better grades than students who are not. Parents may argue otherwise, and with good reasons. If a student s evenings are spent playing a sport or rehearsing a play, when will he or she have time to complete homework and study for tests? However, students who have active lives learn very quickly how to manage their time. Procrastination is not an option for a student whose days are busy and structured. Students are much more likely to study during specified hours of down time than another student who has the entire weekend, so right now I ll just play with my XBox. Along those lines, students learn organizational skills from having to wisely budget their time. Calendars are necessary tools, not only for busy teens, but for busy adults, too! Learning how to use one properly is a fantastic skill to master, both in the classroom and after graduating. Parents can aid their teen in creating and maintaining the family calendar by allowing them to write practice schedules, due dates and study group meetings. It s fun, it keeps family members in-theloop, and effectively maintains household sanity. Better grades can also stem from the discipline that extra-curricular activities teach. Good coaches do not respond well to poor excuses for missing practices. Failing in a school subject generally hurts only the student. Failing at a group activity affects everyone. Involved students learn this truth quickly, and loyalty to themselves and teammates becomes an important priority. Teamwork is another part of discipline and a very necessary skill. Understanding how to work well with others can guarantee a lifetime of positive relationships. In extracurricular activities, students learn to encourage others, lift others spirits, celebrate wins and learn from losses. Teamwork is well applied to studies. Group activities will be well monitored by the active students who already know how to share, delegate and carry their own weight! The American College Testing Service compared the value of four factors in predicting success after high school. The one measurement that could be used to predict later success in life was achievement in school activities. The College Entrance Examination Board s Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was examined in much the same way. It was found that having a high SAT score did not necessarily indicate success in a chosen career. The best predictor of later success, the study showed, was a person s independent, self-sustained venture. Teens who were active in school activities were found to be most likely to succeed. Besides higher grades, participation in activities helps students have a better attitude, according to a study conducted at the request of the Utah State Board of Education. Encourage your teen or any teen to get involved in extra-curricular activities. The time it takes away from studying and book learning will be replaced with a good self esteem that can achieve anything. With a determined will, success will follow. Life needs to be balanced with activity which stimulates a child s inner spirit and mind. High school activities are the best way to accomplish that, so take advantage while you can. You ll never regret it, and the memories you ll take along will remain. Involvement in extracurricular activities does not have to be expensive, overly time consuming, or exhausting. It doesn t even have to be school related. Religious groups often offer activities for youths, generally requiring only a few hours per week worth of time. Get creative. If no school activities look interesting, try volunteering. Animal shelters, food banks, and hospitals are always in need of help with various duties. The choice of extracurricular activity matters little. What matters most is the student s enjoyment of it. Amazingly, the rest of the benefits simply fall into place! Sheila Anderson/Times-Record Skills learned on the court last a lifetime. Valley City High School volleyball teammates Josie Berntson, Maren Gullickson, Grace Scherr and Macy Olstad are pictured playing together last year. Gullickson has achieved an opportunity to play collegiate volleyball at Lake Region State College this fall.

5 Page 5B Proud to Be a Hi-Liner Join Us In Supporting Our Hometown e. N., tral Aivty n e C 316 Valley C 926 m (701) ceiling.co uilted Fall Sports Teams! Stop In And See Us For... Bridal Registry Table For Registry Items Free Gift Wrapping Gift Delivery In Valley City and so much more! 2017_08_4453 The Valley City High School volleyball team members from left are (back row) Assistant Coach Vanessa Kocka, Taryn Dieterle, Cali Halgrimson, Lindsey Noeske, Macy Olstad, Josie Berntson, Head Coach Jill Taylor, (middle row) Sam Ranisate, Lexi Ondracek, Mackenzie Pederson, Reagan Ingstad, Megan Roswick, (front row) Kacee White. Valley City High School Head Coach Jill Taylor leads a team of experienced starters this season. The team lost just one player, Maren Gullickson, to graduation, and had leaders in the junior class as well, according to Taylor. We lost one senior, Taylor said. Our junior class from last year took on a leadership role as well, therefore we do not need to currently cultivate new leaders. Taylor said the girls on the team show a huge amount of character. Last year s strengths were very evident, and we are excited to continue working with the girls we currently have, Taylor said. This group of girls works tremendously hard, are determined, tenacious, and are great teammates. Besides their personal characteristics, this group of athletes brings back much experience both offensively and defensively. The team has also spent hours this summer working with the Valley City State University volleyball team to develop their skills further. And that is a big part of Taylor s coaching philosophy. Each athlete needs to develop their core skills constantly to provide them with a solid base as they progress in volleyball, Taylor said. The athlete will benefit when exposed to challenging drills that require effective decision making and precise execution under pressure. Taylor said the repetition of the varied drills during practice helps each athlete develop competency and confidence. I also believe the girls need to learn to work together and to overcome problems and situations as a team, which will teach the lifelong skills, Taylor added. Returning starters are Reagan Ingstad, Kacee White, Lexi Ondracek, Mackenzie Pederson, Macy Olstad, and Josie Berntson. Taylor said the team members bring athleti- cism and court experience to the team. We continue to work as a scrappy team defensively, and continue to improve our offense, Taylor said. The Hi-Liners face a very tough Eastern Dakota Conference schedule. The EDC is very competitive, Taylor said. We hope to be in the top half of the conference going into regionals. The team finished last season with a solid record. The girls play in Bismarck on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Hi-Liners open at home on Tuesday, Aug. 29, hosting West Fargo High School at 1125 West Main Street, Valley City Hi-Liner Boys Tennis Play with Positive Philosophy on Court Over the years, Valley City High School boy s tennis Head Coach Matt Nielson s coaching philosophy has not faltered. And his student athletes continue to elevate their game, and more importantly their lives, according to that philosophy. Our coaching philosophy has not changed in the last few seasons, but the buy-in from the players continues to increase each year, Nielson said. The team s philosophy is based on the philosophy of the late Steve Wilkensen s three crowns. We call them the three Hi-Liner Pillars: positive attitude, 100 percent effort, and sportsmanship, Nielson said. If a player gives 100 percent physical, mental and emotional effort in practice and matches, being respectful with a positive attitude, that player gives themselves the best shot at improving in practice and winning in matches. If the three pillars are followed at all times, the score will take care of itself. When the pillars are believed in, success can happen all the time to include losses. The team returns two senior leaders, Riley Miller and Liam Williams. Nielson said other returning doubles and singles varsity players are Collin White and Zach Baumgartner. Several other players return with varsity experience, including Hale Kringlie, Trevor Winter and Josh Vachal with doubles experience and Jack Ingstad, Austin Rogelstad and Bennett Rogelstad with singles experience. While the team lost no seniors from last season, they did lose Hunter Burchill do to an injury. Last year, Burchill played at No. 1 singles for the Hi-Liners in singles and doubles and was named All-EDC. Nielson looks deep into his team for leadership, calling upon all team members to step up. We return everyone else and all players are expected to be leaders with their actions and words, Nielson said. The team s attitude and effort were very strong last season, according to Nielson. When attitude and effort are strong, players become coachable and improve leaps and bounds, Nielson said. So far, our team is strong in this area again and is improving at a rapid pace. The program currently has 24 participants, which is the highest number of team members boys tennis has had in over a decade. Nielson said the program has continued to grow over the last few years. Those numbers have led to depth on the team. Our team has not been this deep for a very long time, Nielson said. We usually play seven on varsity, but we have 13 players that potentially could make the top seven. Of those players, four are ninth graders and under. Also, we have three seventh-graders that are coming in with much USTA experience and all three are amongst the top seventh-graders to enter our program in over a decade, Nielson added. The season is always busy due to the time constraints of a nine-week season. The team has two weeks of practice to start the season and two weeks at the end of the season for regionals and state. That gives us only five weeks for the regular season, Nielson said. In that five weeks, we play nine EDC matches, four non-conference matches, and one individual tournament to average out to almost three matches per week. Nielson said the packed schedule means players need to take in-match coaching and implement it into their play on the spot, if they are going to improve. As coaches, we are not worried about the wins VCBT, Page 6 STOUDT-ROSS Valley Cit y, ND

6 Page 6B Proud to Be a Hi-Liner The Valley City High School girls golf team members from left are Katarina Vachal, Emma Mielke, Maggie Oberlander, Abby Lemnus, and Head Coach Roberta Lemnus. Abby Lemnus is the team s sole senior. The girls have been competing since mid-august. Cross Country Builds Lifelong Love of Running in Athletes Special to the Times-Record The Valley City High School cross country team can be seen practicing throughout Valley City. The members are working hard to prepare for their first meet of the season on Saturday, Aug. 26, in Hillsboro. Cross country offers a unique perspective on the concept of team and starting athletes, according to Valley City High School Head Coach Deb Beilke. Cross country is a little different because we don t have starters as we all start one race or another, Beilke said. This year the Hi-Liners have 30 athletes out for cross country. The team is currently preparing for the begin- VCBT From 5 and losses; we are worried about the three pillars and playing as they were coached, Nielson said. If they do this, the score will take care of itself. Last season, the HiLiners finished with a 3-10 record, taking wins over ning of their season. We have a great group of athletes participating in cross country, Beilke said. They are working hard to prepare for their first meet. There is a lot of potential for good race times this year if the athletes are willing to work for it. It will be fun to see them progress throughout the season. The team had no seniors last year, and returns most of last year s participants. Beilke said the leadership role has been assumed by the team captains. Last year, the Hi-Liners had a total of six boys and seven girls qualify to race at state. We hope to add a few more this year, Beilke said. That is the goal for most runners is to participate at the state level. Overall, Beilke said the coaches hope to build a team that is competitive with individuals that are constantly improving. But that is not the end all, Beilke said. We want the team to enjoy being together at races, practices and wherever. We also want to create moments where the runners can look back on these days with fond memories and say they were part of something special. Through cross country, we want to also develop lifelong runners. Trevor Bakalar and Brad Sufficool are assistant coaches for the team. This year, the state meet will be held in Valley City on Saturday, Oct. 28. The opening meet is on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Hillsboro-Goose River Golf Course. Wahpeton, West Fargo and Mandan. The Hi-Liners lost a very tight Eastern Dakota Conference play-in match, 7-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-7(4), and just missed going to the region tournament. Even though the team was stopped short of postseason play, Nielson said many good things came out of the season. Teamwork and belief in the system, the pillars, each other, and the coaches are very positive outcomes, Nielson said. Also, our players are very respectful and positive with their coaches, the fans, and their opponents. Other teams love playing Valley City because they know that we are fair on the court, respectful and polite. Erik Kringlie has increased his role becoming the assistant coach. Coach Sara Aberle and Coach Don Schaack are volunteer coaches. Susan Kringlie is volunteering with the junior high players.