Girls High School Hockey
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Rocket Hockey John Marshall / Lourdes Girls High School Hockey 2012-2013 Season POST-BULLETIN WEDNESDAY Sports NOVEMBER 7, 2012 D Shooting for the stars Following record season, Dodge County wants more BY BEN PHERSON and we’re hoping it shows.” [email protected] Wagner and Rasmussen At a glance spent the offseason skating It has been a long road for What: %BOB3BTNVTTFO the Dodge County girls hockey with the Twin Cities-based Ice Cats, while Robinson and Em- %BSCZ%PEET &NJMZ program. And it has been far Gunderson, Anna Hunter, Katie from easy. ily Gunderson played for the Thompson and Lydia Wagner There were days — not Whitecaps, who also are based that long ago — when coach in the Twin Cities. The Ice return to lead an experienced Jeremy Gunderson struggled Cats and Whitecaps are elite BOEUBMFOUFE%PEHF$PVOUZ to field enough players to fill AAA teams that travel around girls hockey team. out a varsity roster. Simply be- the country, playing some of Last season: The Wildcats were the best teams in the United ing competitive against local 21-6 overall. teams was a constant goal. States and Canada. “Anna Hunter would have Up next: %PEHF$PVOUZPQFOT Times have changed, its season at 3 p.m. Saturday, though. played, too, but she had an Nov. 17 at home against Coming off the best season injury that kept her from in the program’s history — it,” Gunderson said. “It was Rochester Mayo. the Wildcats were 21-6 in 2011- a great experience for all 12 and won their first-ever of them. The girls loved it. playoff game — Dodge County Playing against that kind of ral goal-scorer and has been Ken Klotzbach | [email protected] is looking for even more in competition helps them excel. since she was very young. The Dodge County girls hockey team had a record-breaking season last season and is looking for big- 2012-13. And with almost their Everyone on those teams is Hunter is extremely consis- ger things this year, building around a core that includes (from left) Katie Robinson, Emily Gunderson, entire roster back, improve- a superstar with their high- tent and her intelligence sets Lydia Wagner, Anna Hunter, Dana Rasmussen and Darby Dodds. ment seems likely. school team.” her apart. Gunderson said The Wildcats return a Gunderson’s six stars all she’s like “having another experience and a lot of hard just how far this program has after returning most of its whopping 22 players off last bring unique skill sets to the coach on the ice.” workers. It’s going to make it a risen. roster. But Gunderson said season’s team. That includes table. Thompson is a tall, lanky very fun year.” “I don’t think the teams he believes his team can play a core of six players — Darby Rasmussen is small, but defenseman with good speed. Despite last year’s suc- from the Cities look down with anyone. Dodds, Lydia Wagner, Emily she’s explosive. She’s a great She sees the ice well, too. cess and a roster loaded here and acknowledge us, or “Lakeville North is a very, Gunderson, Katie Thomp- two-way player, who brings Emily Gunderson sees the with future college hockey any of the teams from down very good team, and they have son, Anna Hunter and Dana toughness to the game. She’s ice as well as any defenseman players, Gunderson said he here, really,” Gunderson said. earned the right to be the Rasmussen — any team in the also a natural goal scorer. in the area. She’s very physi- believes there’s still a lack of “The metro teams don’t give favorites,” Gunderson said. state would love to have. Wagner is an explosive skat- cal, too, and moves the puck to respect for the Dodge County us the credit. But it’s OK. We “We hope we are right there, “That top-end group, they’re er with great strength. Her her forwards with precision. program. Teams in southern know what we’re capable of.” competing for that second all all-state performers,” sense of urgency is incredible, “Those top-end girls give Minnesota have been forced The Wildcats are hoping seed in the section. These girls coach Gunderson said. “Each and she has a frighteningly us a lot of weapons,” coach to respect the Wildcats — this year is even more special have some very big goals for kid on this team put in a lot powerful shot. Gunderson said. “But the because they’ve beaten them than the last. Lakeville North this season.” of hours, a lot of work. They Dodds is another strong, whole team has done a lot all. But teams from the Twin still is the section favorite Page D7: High school girls skated a lot in the offseason, two-way player. She’s a natu- to improve. We have a lot of Cities still haven’t grasped and figures to be even better hockey previews Next game Is Kasson-Mantorville taking program to next level? Saturday, 2:42 p.m. CST For example, K-M senior Broc Berge Minnesota (5-4) at PRESSBOX VIEW Illinois (2-7) $3"*(48"-#04,* was one of the top wrestling recruits [email protected] in the entire nation (he recently an- TV: Big Ten Network nounced his choice of the University Every region of of Iowa), but he also plays football. the state has a few Pretty well, too; he’s over the 1,000- Nelson mentally high schools whose yard mark in rushing and at last athletic programs check was averaging about 10 yards a are disproportion- carry. tough after loss ately successful. “He loves football,” Kroulik said, Sometimes that success in multiple “and I don’t think he has ever been to Michigan programs lasts for a few years, prob- pressured not to play football.” ably because one or two groups of As for academics, again Kroulik Associated Press quality athletes pushes their teams to acknowledges he doesn’t know how Losing is hard on any- be among the state’s elite. common this is, but K-M has a higher one. But it can be toughest But a few see that high level of com- standard than required by the State on a true freshman starting petitiveness continue for a long time. High School League for athletic eligi- quarterback. Maybe decades. bility (a C-minus average, rather than So Gophers coach Jerry “satisfactory progress toward gradu- Kasson-Mantorville has had a good Kill is thankful that Philip ation”). run in several sports for a few years Nelson was “not fazed” by One tangible asset to the KoMets’ now. But the way things have been go- the 35-13 loss against Michi- programs that no one else in the area ing this fall for the KoMets’ teams and gan on Saturday, Nov. 3. athletes, I’m thinking K-M might be has is its field. There is an artificial embarking on a generation (or more) turf playing field at KMTelecom Sta- That might be as impor- of athletic dominance. dium, which was ready for use for the tant as anything moving forward. The latest sign: K-M’s football team fall of 2011. Scott Jacobson | [email protected] — which moved up one class to AAAA “It was a partnership between the The Gophers (5-3, 1-4 Big The Kasson-Mantorville wrestling team hoists the Section 1AA !rst-place trophy this season — played in the section community and the school district,” Ten), who play at Illinois after defeating Caledonia in the 2011 championship match at Mayo Civic Arena. championship game and, on the road, Kroulik said. The KMTelecom com- (2-6, 0-5) this week, are buried Big Nine Conference member pany was the lead sponsor, but funds one win away from being Faribault 41-7. were raised by selling pavers for Ko- bowl eligible with three KoMets have been bright This on the heels of the volleyball Met Walk, the entrance walk into the games remaining. Nelson’s team going 28-2 and earning a No. 2 stadium, for $100 or $200 each. ability to bounce back Examples of Kasson-Mantorville’s success in a wide range of sports the last few after a rough performance ranking in the state Class AA poll Besides making it an all-weather years: could be the difference in before falling to Caledonia in the sec- field, the $1.1 million project included whether Minnesota can t Girls soccer team took 15-5 mark into state tournament this year. Last year finished tion championship; the girls soccer a 1,500-seat grandstand on the south win another game. 14-4 and ranked ninth in state A poll. Also 14-5-1 in 2010 and 12-6-1 in 2009. team — led by Laurel Ramer, who won side of the current facility with a t Softball team was 23-2 and ranked No. 2 in the state in AA entering last year’s state the Ms. Soccer award emblematic of press box at the top, and a new en- “That’s what’s going to make him a good quarter- tournament. Was 14-5 in 2011. the best player in the state — earned trance to the field, with better tick- a spot in the state tournament after back,” Kill said. “We’ve t5IF%PEHF$PVOUZ girls hockey team, with numerous players from K-M, has a record eting booths, restrooms, and a new building a 15-5 record; the boys soccer concession area. been doing this for 30 over last two seasons of a combined 37-9-3.