Give Alayna Kabanuk the ball. At least that’s her feeling and the feeling of her teammates as the outside hitter for the Little Falls Flyers has proven she can rise to the level of pressure surrounding her. Case in point was a 3-2 victory over Mora Oct. 4. In the decisive Game Five, Kabanuk...

  Mike Ryan did not have a good state meet last year. By his own admission last year’s Class 1A state cross country meet at St. Olaf was an eye-opener. That’s why he’s working hard to get back and do it all over again. The Pequot Lakes junior won the Deer River/Northland and McGregor invi...

Emily Beltran has had a hot foot. The Brainerd Warriors junior erupted for seven goals and 10 total points in back-to-back games last week, earning her distinction as Central Lakes Conference Performer of the Week ending Sept. 24. “I don’t know,” Beltran said when asked the reason for her rece...

  In a preview story for the 2011 Brainerd Warriors baseball team head coach Lowell Scearcy said he would be surprised if Jack Hegarty “doesn’t have a really good year.” Hegarty hasn’t disappointed his coach. He leads the team in hitting (.455) and RBIs (20) and has struck out only thre...

Morgan Demars had a knack for getting on base. That’s a good trait to have if you are the leadoff hitter on your softball team. Demars reached base in 60 percent of her at bats and led the Pine River-Backus Tigers with 33 runs scored. Even when she didn’t make it on base, which was rare, she mad...

Bryan Yackley has found his groove. The Pequot Lakes senior entered the baseball season with high expectations, but nothing like what he’s been able to do lately. During a 13-12 loss to Aitkin May 17, Yackley went 4-for-5 with three RBIs. He followed that by going 2-3 with a double against Sebeka ...

A successful tennis team must have ability at all four singles positions, and all three doubles spots. It also must have players willing to play a role, individuals who realize if they play that role the team will benefit....

Emily Israelson is a nice, friendly girl. She just hates to lose. At anything. Lately, the Staples-Motley freshman hasn’t been on the winning side of things. Israelson fired an 81 to win the Park Rapids Invite May 2 at Headwaters Golf Club. On May 9 at the Presection 6-2A tournament at The Territo...

Wesley DeLong feels no pain. At least that’s the way it would seem during a track and field meet. The Pillager Huskies junior usually opens his competitive list of events with a quick 4x800 relay. After a short rest, he runs the grueling 400-meter dash. With barely a chance to catch his breath dur...

On a team loaded with potent hitters, Ashley Tibbetts is one of the big boppers the Brainerd Warriors softball team can count on. In a doubleheader against St. Cloud Tech on Tuesday, the senior second baseman went 6-for-7 with two home runs and three RBIs. Last week, she was 9-for-16 with three doub...