Pioneer spikers return seven veterans for upcoming season

Something's up on the Pierz Pioneers volleyball team. That something is excitement.

The Pioneers have a number of reasons to be excited for the season as they are loaded with experience (seven returning players with extensive playing time) and talent from last year's 22-6 team.

Back are Central Minnesota Conference first-team picks Sarah Kahl and Lisa Pohlkamp as well as second-teamer Amber Kummet.

The 5-foot-11 Pohlkamp led the Pioneers with 227 kills, averaging 3.1 kills a game, while the 5-11 Kahl was second with 159 kills. Kummet had 117 kills and led Pierz with 269 digs.

Two of the most important pieces of the Pioneers' puzzle are setters Lisa Kurtz and Jenae Swanson. The 5-11 Kurtz led Pierz with 376 set assists while Swanson was a close second with 309 set assists and led the Pioneers with 56 ace serves.

Football coach -- Leo Pohlkamp, 19th year

Career record -- 121-60

2003 record -- 6-1 in CMC; 10-3 overall

Assistant coaches -- Rick Sczublewski, Dean Dahmen, Dave Rocheleau, Adam Langer, Dan Saehr.

Volleyball coaches -- Kurt Stumpf, 4th year

Career record -- 67-17

2003 record -- 6-1 in CMC; 22-6 overall

Assistant coaches -- Wally Brown, Tracy Bell

Cross country coach -- Rey Zimney, 25th year

2003 record -- Girls, 3rd in CMC, 5th in Subsection; Boys, 1st in CMC, 4th in Subsection, 5th in Section

Tennis coaches -- Karla Jensen, 10th year, Mark Jensen, 10th year

Career record -- 117-63

2003 record -- 11-9

"We have a large group of talented players that have a lot of varsity experience," Pierz coach Kurt Stumpf said. "We will be able to go deep into the bench and maintain a high level of play."

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Amber Kummet (outside hitter), Christy Virnig (outside hitter), Jenae Swanson (setter)

Juniors -- Lisa Pohlkamp (middle hitter), Lisa Kurtz (setter), Sarah Kahl (middle hitter), Tonya Athman (outside/middle hitter), Kayla Meyer (setter), Kelly Solinger (outside hitter)

Additional varsity candidates

Seniors -- Kelsey Fuhrman (libero)

Juniors -- Jessica Riley (outside hitter), Ashley Schwartz (middle hitter)

Sophomores -- Lauren Fischer (setter), Tina Pohlkamp (middle hitter)

Football

Question marks surround the Pierz football team. Will it be able to match last year's 10-3 record and trip to the Class 2A state semifinals? How will it replace all-state running back Craig Luberts?

Pioneers coach Leo Pohlkamp always finds a way to be successful and this year should be no exception.

Pierz has a bevy of running backs to replace Luberts, starting with the trio of Nick Gruber, Preston Loidolt and junior Warren Gall. Also vying for carries will be Little Falls transfer Christian Even.

Seniors Matt Mrnak and Nathan Britz will anchor a strong defensive unit. Mrnak, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound defensive tackle, led Pierz with 10 quarterback sacks, 16 hurries and four fumble recoveries. The 5-11, 170-pound Britz is the top returning tackler as he collected 35 tackles and a team-high 51 assists from his linebacker position.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Cody Happke (TE/DE), Matt Mrnak (G/DT), Nathan Britz (G/LB), Lenny Anderson (C), Preston Loidolt (RB/DB), Nick Gruber (RB/DB), Jesse Zajac (TE/DT), Joe Stangl (RB/LB)

Juniors -- Scott Saehr (OT/NG), Kyle Girtz (G/LB), Warren Gall (RB/CB), Jeremy Monson (G/DE/K), Brandon Grittner (OT), Mike Pohlkamp (QB), Shane Weber (QB)

Additional varsity candidates

Seniors -- Christian Even (RB/WR), Andy Johnson (QB/DE)

Sophomores -- Bryan Virnig (RB/DB)

Girls' cross country

It was a record year for junior Pierz girls' cross country runner Jamie Talberg last year and the 2004 season could be even better.

Talberg won her second straight Central Minnesota Conference individual title. Talberg turned in a record performance at the Class 2A state meet, finishing 10th to earn all-state honors as well as setting a 4,000-meter school-record time of 14:53.9.

Junior Kaitlyn Jensen is also back and will be doing double duty as she plays tennis as well.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Sarah Virnig

Juniors -- Jamie Talberg, Kaitlyn Jensen, Kelly Janson

Freshmen -- Ashley Langer

Boys' cross country

The Pioneers' boys' cross country team is poised to defend its Central Minnesota Conference championship and make a run at the subsection and section titles.

Two big reasons why the Pioneers' expectations are so high is that seniors Randy Rauch and Zach Solinger return. Last season Rauch ran in his first Class 1A state meet while Solinger won his third straight CMC championship before suffering a season-ending injury. Solinger ran in the 2001 and 2002 state meets.

Add junior Benny Andres and sophomore Josh Andrea, who placed in the top 20 at the subsection and section meets, and the Pioneers' lofty goals may be accomplished.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Randy Rauch, Zach Solinger

Juniors -- Benny Andres, Matt Beck

Sophomores -- Josh Andrea, Steven Gall, Matt Przybilla

Additional varsity candidates

Seniors -- Jon Andres

Sophomores -- Nathan Nordman

Tennis

With the losses of state tournament participants Emily Stumpf and Becky Korf from last year's 11-9 Pierz tennis team, one might think the Pioneers are headed for a lull.

But Pierz is returning eight letterwinners, including seniors Rachael Maurer, Nicole Kasper and Julie Kapsner.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Rachael Maurer, Nicole Kasper, Julie Kapsner

Juniors -- Kaitlyn Jensen, Melissa Waytashek, Lori Seppelt

Sophomores -- Katie Sczublewski, Kristin Sczublewski

Additional varsity candidates

Seniors -- Sarah Fylen

Juniors -- Bethany Fischer, Heidi Hoheisel, Stephanie Bleichner, Megan Meyer

Sophomores -- Sam Gritzmacher, Ashley St. Sauver, Melanie Hoheisel

TROY GUNDERSON can be reached at troy.gunderson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5865.