Ganske, 13 other letterwinners bolster hopes of Pequot Lakes boys' track team

The Pequot Lakes Patriots boys' track and field team hopes to build upon last season's success.

Last year, the Patriots won the Section 7, Class 1A true team title and finished sixth at state. They finished second in the Subsection 24 and Section 6A meets and won the Park Region Conference meet.

Head coach Dave Guenther returns for his fourth year. Also back are 14 letterwinners, including Josh Ganske who won subsection and section titles.

Pequot Lakes Patriots

Baseball coach -- Brett Dale, 8th year

2001 finish -- 21-4 overall, 8-2 Park Region Conference

Assistant coach -- Joel Harmela

Softball coach -- Bret Sergent, 11th year

2001 finish -- 12-5 overall, 7-3 in PRC

Assistant coaches -- Al Amundson

Boys' track coach -- Dave Guenther, 4th year at Pequot

Assistant coaches -- Ryan Koslofsky, Bart Roepke

Girls' track coach -- Tony Mauer, 1st year

Assistant coaches -- Ryan Koslofsky, Bart Roepke

Boys' golf coach -- Steve Heslop, 10th year

Assistant coach -- Steve Stoxen

Girls' golf coach -- Judy Heslop, 10th year

2001 finish -- 1st in Mid-Minnesota Conference, 2nd Subsection 4A, third in Section 6A

Assistant coach -- Jon Dale

Along with Ganske, seniors; Joby Goerges (pole vault), Nic Collette (shot, discus), Justin Biebighauser (sprints, jumps), Shane Blowers (high jump, distance), Matt Russell (hurdles, sprints), Corey Sargent (sprints, jumps), Matt Royer (middle distances), Dan Domenzain (distance), Paul Fox (shot, discus) and Joey Neznik (sprints, jumps) return.

Juniors returning are Matt Mailand (shot, discus), Matt Kline (distance) and Tony Craig (shot, discus, sprints).

Additional varsity candidates:

Juniors -- Danny Sargent (sprints), Eric Buck (shot, discus), Andy Kidrowski (sprints).

Sophomores -- Derek Voss (sprints, jumps), Josh Strange (sprints, jumps), Cory Ledin (jumps, sprints), Tim Koch (jumps, vault), Chris Clasen (sprints), Mike Wiebolt (distance).

Freshmen -- Ryan Koslofsky (jumps, shot, discus), Danny Goerges (vault, sprints), Jake Scott (distance), Leaf Olson (vault, distance), Eric Oseland (jumps, sprints), Mike McClean (distance).

Softball

Head coach Bret Sergent enjoyed one of his most successful seasons last year as the Patriots' finished 7-3 in the Park Region Conference, 12-5 overall.

The Patriots will build around the pitcher-catcher combination of sophomore Emma Hoglund and senior Amanda Monnier.

Last year, Hoglund pitched 106 innings and finished with a 2.05 ERA and a 12-5 record. She gave up 66 hits and 81 walks. She struck out 110.

Monnier played every inning and committed just eight errors. She finished with a .327 average and added 19 RBI, one home run, four doubles and scored 14 runs.

Both girls were all-conference selections.

Also back is junior Jenna Carlson, a three-year starter. Carlson played second base last year but will move to shortstop to replace Megan Arns, who transferred back to Brainerd. Carlson had a .314 average, 9 RBI, a home run and 28 runs.

Juniors April Miller, Alyssa Parker and Carly Blanksma will patrol the outfield.

Girls' golf

Senior Jackie Heslop and junior Ashley Meschke return to lead the Patriots after participating in the Class 1A state meet.

Heslop finished behind a trio of medalists while Meschke saw her first state action.

Last year the Patriots won the Mid-Minn Conference with Heslop the conference medalist for the third year in a row.

The Patriots finished second at the Subsection 4A meet and third in Section 6A.

Also back are sophomore Kim Larson, freshman Val Meschke, senior Courtney Suemnick and freshman Ali Gravdahl.

Boys' golf

The Pequot Lakes boys' golf team returns seven letterwinners from last year.

Jeremy Wiczek is the only senior on the squad. Juniors Dan Albertson and Rick Bjorkquist also return.

Sophomore Andrew Kraft and freshmen Josh Dale, Josh Thorson and Dave Olson round out the list of returning letterwinners.

Also on the squad are juniors Cody Nelson, David Goerges and Evyn Thompson, sophomore Paul Millard and eighth-grader Nathan Larson.

Baseball

The Patriots' baseball team has large shoes to fill, but is hoping to have another successful season.

Last year Pequot finished with a 21-4 overall record and was 8-2 in the Park Region Conference. The Patriots were led by Chase Nelson, the Section 7, Class 2A player of the year. Along with Nelson, the Patriots graduated four other starters.

Back are pitchers Todd Szymanski and Mike Langer. Tony Landecker (OF) returns along with senior Jon Daughty (C). Juniors Patrick Johnson (DH-OF) and Chad Foster (OF) also return.

Additional varsity candidates:

Junior -- Jake Christianson (OF);.

Sophomores -- James Park (1B), James Bauman (OF), Jesse Nelson (IF), Ian Dickmeyer (IF), Zach Herding (IF), Matt Sergent (OF), Pat Buss (C), Kyle Medearis (IF-OF).

Girls' track and field

Discus thrower Julie Redebaugh is the lone senior on the Patriots' girls' track and field team.

She returns along with freshman sprinter Flecia Foster.

Juniors back are Kristin Tiggelaar, Alyssa Cogan, Vanessa Berens, Crystal Price and Tiffany McClellan.

First-year head coach Tony Maurer has a host of sophomores and freshmen to fill the roster. Also in the mix are seventh-grader Lauren Anderson and eighth-grader Jenny Scott.

Additional varsity members:

Sophomores -- Brittany Engen, Amanda Gangl, Jenni Derkson, Kristy Myers, Amanda Wilson, Calida Cogan, Laura Nick, Nicole Szudy, Becky Swanson, Megan O'Neill, Holly Johnson.

Freshmen -- Teresa Parker, Nicole Pierce, Cassie Price, Kelly Anderson.