Cardinals return four runners from state title team
The Staples-Motley boys' cross country team is loaded and ready to fire as the Cardinals set out to defend their Class 1A state championship.
And they will have the ammunition to do it as they return four runners from last season's squad.
Two of the Cardinals' big guns are juniors Chad Brever and Isaac Landecker. Brever placed 10th last year at the state meet while Landecker was 17th, earning all-state honors. Both enter the season ranked in Class 1A. Brever is fifth while Landecker is 11th. As a team, the Cardinals are ranked second in the state.
Junior Dan Freeman and sophomore Dan Huebsch round out the Cardinals' top runners.
Staples-Motley Cardinals
Football coach -- Ryan Beachy, 5th year
Career record -- 21-16
2001 record -- 5-1 in Mid-State Conference; 6-3 overall
Assistant coaches -- Erik Johnson, Lynn Peterson, Paul Mithun, Ron Beachy, Mark Jennissen
Volleyball coach -- Lisa Otteson Smith, 1st year
2001 record -- 2-2 in Mid-State Conference; 13-12 overall
Assistant coaches -- Brian Hartwig, Bobbe Anderson
Cross country coach -- Gene Mattila, 8th year
Assistant coaches -- Jerry Reck, Al Griffith, Jerry Riewer, Terry Farber
Tennis coach -- Kevin Coughlin, 10th year
2001 record -- 6-0 in the Mid-State Conference; 22-2 overall; Subsection champions; section runner-up.
Assistant coaches -- Mary Freeman, Sarah Penfield, Terry Dockendorf
Girls' swimming coach -- Bruce Onischuk, 7th year
Assistant coach -- Paul Binek
Returning letterwinners
Seniors -- David Reichel, Buddy Anderson.
Juniors -- Chad Brever, Isaac Landecker, Dan Freeman.
Sophomores -- Dan Huebsch.
Freshmen -- Charlie Farber.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors -- Tony Adamietz, Derek Deckert.
Juniors -- Derek Gold, Joe Dahlman, Jacob Swenson, Wade Robb.
Sophomores -- Jesse Givens.
Freshmen -- Daniel Sveom.
Seventh graders -- Joe Furhman.
Girls' cross country
Last season, the Staples-Motley girls' cross country team got a taste of state meet success as it placed third in Class 1A. But the only thing that will quench S-M's thirst this season is to bring home the championship plaque.
The Cardinals, who enter this season as the second-ranked team in Class 1A, should be one of the most dangerous teams in the state as they return their top six runners from last year.
Freshman Hannah Landecker, who finished 10th in last year's state meet, is ranked eighth in Class 1A and will help lead the Cardinals as they make a run for the state title.
Also back is sophomore Brittany Brenny. She gained all-state honors by finishing 23rd at the last year's state meet and will help anchor an outstanding group of runners.
Rounding out the team are junior Steph Jares, sophomore Liza Milless and freshmen Courtney Robinson and Ashlee Jordan.
Returning letterwinners
Juniors -- Steph Jares, Amanda Reichel.
Sophomores -- Brittany Brenny, Liza Milless.
Freshmen -- Hannah Landecker, Courtney Robinson, Kelsey Griffith, Ashlee Jordan.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors -- Lindsay Wright.
Juniors -- Samantha Henk, Kerrie Becker, Liz Kelm, Alisha Wright.
Sophomores -- Amy Bernstrom, Megan Noska.
Freshmen -- Kayla Bendson, Mandy Heldman.
Seventh graders -- Kayla Smith.
With seven returning starters from last season's section 8, Class 1A state runner-up team, the Staples-Motley girls' tennis team has its sights set on one thing: Making a trip to the state tournament.
S-M coach Kevin Coughlin will team up senior Rose Milless and junior Nicki Hoffmann to form the top doubles team. Another doubles team that will give opponents fits is senior Emily Burrows and sophomore Amanda DiGiovanni.
Sophomore Jacque Peterson, a section runner-up and state tournament participant, is back as the top singles player.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors -- Jenna Vogel, Rose Milless, Emily Burrows.
Juniors -- Nicki Hoffmann, Emma Pipek, Bri Orth.
Sophomores -- Jacque Peterson, Amanda DiGiovanni, Kim Mosack.
Additional varsity candidates
Sophomores -- Machele Michels, Becca Nordell, Kayla Kavanaugh.
Freshmen -- Amy Freeman, Christi Halverson, Jenni Mueller, Jordan Freese, Katie Becker.
Football
The Staples-Motley football team welcomes back nine returning letterwinners from last year's Northern Lakes Conference co-championship team, including eight seniors.
The Cardinals will look to a pair of senior running backs to grind out yards. Tyler Frisk, 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, along with 5-9, 165-pound Landon Thompson, will try to fill the hole left by Kyle Bendson, last season's conference MVP.
Adam Johnson, a 6-2, 190-pound junior, will take over the reigns at quarterback. Izaak Schafer, a 5-10, 155-pound senior wide receiver, should be a lethal downfield target.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors -- Tyler Frisk, RB-DB; Izaak Schafer, WR-S; Landon Thompson, RB-DB; Lem Berry, DE-OL; Nick Doll, FB-OLB; Josh Smith, DE-OL; Bryan Motl, DT-OL; Kurt Porter, WR-DB.
Juniors -- Adam Johnson, QB-MLB.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors -- David Brenna, DT-OL.
Juniors -- Corey Nundahl, DE-OL.
Sophomores -- Cory Detloff, DT-OL.
Volleyball
Lisa Otteson Smith enters her first year as the Staples-Motley head volleyball coach and should have some talent to work with as they seek to improve on last season's Subsection 24 runner-up finish.
One reason Otteson Smith will have a good transition into her first season will be the return of 5-foot-9 middle hitter, junior Michelle Honek, one of the area's best all-around athletes.
Seniors Stacy Berg and Ashley Blake will provide senior leadership as well as game experience for a relatively young squad.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors -- Stacy Berg, Ashley Blake, Amy Gaugert, Tina Fitcher.
Juniors -- Michelle Honek.
Additional varsity candidates
Seniors -- Krystal Shequen, Rachel Landis.
Juniors -- Jenna Dumpprope, Shannon Fleisher, Kari Zahler.
Swimming and diving
There's a buzz around the Staples-Motley girls' swim team because the Cardinals have added diving to their already solid program.
Mary Pate and Trista Johnson will be the first divers the Cardinals have had. S-M coach Bruce Onischuk hopes the diving program mushrooms from there.
Onishuk has other reasons to be excited for the season, such as having Abby Palmer, Britta Binek and Kendell Spar back from last year's 200 free relay.
Returning letterwinners
Seniors -- Cathy Pate, Bre Brown.
Juniors -- Abby Palmer, Britta Binek.
Freshmen -- Sonja Pipek, Kendell Spar, Anne Palmer.
Additional varsity candidates
Jesica Berry, Megan Miller, Mary Pate, Trista Johnson.