Sports Roundup: Swimming team headed to sections

• Brooke Fletcher

Brooke Fletcher was first in the 500-yard freestyle at the North-South Invitational last week. She is one of the top seeds for the section meet which begins Nov. 11 in Hibbing. Jill Innis

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Two Harbors swimming

The Two Harbors swim team’s last regular season meet was Thursday at Chisholm. Sections begin Nov. 11 in Hibbing. Finals will be held Nov. 13.

Last year, the Agates had diver Rebecca Ronning qualify for the state meet for a second year. She didn’t make it out of the preliminaries.

Last year the team placed seventh out of the nine teams in the section.

“This year I’m hoping to see the team move up to the fourth place spot,” said assistant coach Kathy Ronning. “I really think we can do it. I’m very excited with what I’ve been seeing out of the girls. I believe our relays will all be swimming in the finals on Saturday with a chance to move up in the medals this year.”

Individuals to watch include seniors captains Heather Fynboh (100-yard butterfly) and Sara Shepersky (100 and 200 freestyle), Brooke Fletcher (200 and 500 freestyle – she’s seeded very high in both events), Jennie Dwyer (seeded high in 500 free), junior co-captain Emily Riemer (100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley), Steph McGregor (200 individual medley and 100 butterfly), Kiersten Haaversen (100 backstroke and 100 freestyle), Mara Boulanger (100 butterfly and 100 backstroke), and Leann Fynboh (50 freestyle and 100 backstroke).

Two Harbors football

The Two Harbors football team won its final game of the season 28-7 over Duluth Marshall last Wednesday. The team did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing the season going 3-5 (1-3 in the Polar League White Conference).

“Although we were in pursuit of more success in the win column this year, this team had many victories throughout the season,” head coach Tom Nelson said.

Two Harbors took an early 6-0 lead after Billy Sell rushed in from 12 yards out. The extra point was blocked. Marshall scored in the second, making it 7-6 at the half.

It was all Agates in the second half as Jon McDannold scored on a 19-yard run in the third to put Two Harbors up 14-7 (with a two-point conversion).

In the fourth, Brandon Willemarck scored on a 1-yard run and Jesse Omtvedt hit the end zone on a 13-yard rushing attempt.

Sell gained 51 yards on nine carries and McDannold had 69 yards on 10 attempts.

Among those who will be graduating this season include captains Willie Larson (lineman) and Justin Torgerson (RB/LB). Other seniors include McDannold (QB/DB), Adam Martin (OL/LB), Gage Matlock (OL/LB), Nick Hudson (lineman), Jake Iskat (TE/DE), Steve Graton (TE/DL), Jeremiah Torgerson (lineman), Cody Rogers (RB), Willemarck (RB), and Drew Fleck (RB/LB).

“We will bring back a good core group of players for next year’s team,” Nelson said.

The Agates started strong with a 2-0 record followed by two tough losses to Esko and Deer River. Nelson said the three games that followed may be one of the more difficult schedules north of the Twin Cities as they faced Pine City, Moose Lake-Willow River, and Grand Rapids – teams with a combined record of 22-2 throughout the regular season.

“Thank you to all the parents and fans as you were wonderful once again,” Nelson said.

Silver Bay football

The Silver Bay football season came to an end at Hill City with a 28-6 to the Hornets in a nine-man Section 5 quarterfinal contest in very wet and windy conditions. Snow didn’t start until after the game.

It was a tale of halfs and a tale of dealing with the deteriorating conditions. They finished the first with a score of 14-6 in favor of the Hornets with a 132-131 advantage in yardage. The second half was all Hill City by a score of 14-0 and an offensive yardage advantage of 149-24.

The Mariners struck first and looked very good as they moved the ball 67 yards after receiving the opening kickoff. Luke Thun scored on a quarterback sneak from the one on a second effort as the initial surge was stopped. The score was set up by a 59-yard run by Cody Larson.

The Hornets fumbled the ball on their first three plays from scrimmage and it looked like they would be unable to handle the conditions.

What proved to be the turning point of the contest came in the first quarter on the Mariner’s third possession of the game. The Mariners got down to the Hornet’s 11-yard line before two holding calls moved them back and a fumble turned the ball over at the 21. From there on it was all Hornets.

Larson finished the evening with 105 yards rushing. The Mariners were 3-of-10 thru the air good for 17 yards with Thun going 3-for-7 while the Hornets did not complete a pass in four attempts. Kyle Blood had an interception for the Mariners and Holden Panetti and Michael Klofstad each had fumble recoveries for Silver Bay. The Mariners finished the season at 2-6 with everyone returning next season.

Silver Bay went 44 yards in seven plays the first time they had the ball, took a 8-0 lead and never trailed in a defeat of Babbitt-Embarrass 39-14 last Wednesday in the team’s final regular season game of the year.

The Mariners won the toss and elected to kick due to the windy conditions. Panetti ran the ball in from the 5-yard line to give the Mariners the lead and scored the first of his four touchdowns during the afternoon game at Babbitt. Larson ran in for the two-point conversion.

Babbitt came back on their next possession to score on a 61-yard run by Scott Solberg to cut the deficit to 8-6, but that would be as close as they would get. It would be all Bay the rest of the way.

Panetti scored on a 14-yard run and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thun to make it 20-6 at halftime. The Knights made it to the Mariner 12-yard line on a pass completion before Blood stripped the receiver of the ball and the Mariners recovered it with 29 seconds to go in the half.

In the third quarter Larson ran one in from 3 yards out and then kicked the extra point. Panetti’s final TD of the game made it 33-6 with Blood running one in from 23 yards out to conclude the scoring for the Mariners.

The Mariners ran for total of 252 yards and balanced the majority of it between four runners.

Thun and Panetti each had 68 yards rushing, Blood had 66, and Larson had 63. Thun had a run of 52 yards on a broken pass play and returned a punt for 54 yards. Both set up Panetti touchdowns. Thun was 4-of-7 thru the air for 40 yards. Solberg had 135 yards on the ground for the Knights and the Knights were 4-of-8 in the air for 85 yards.

Two Harbors volleyball

The Two Harbors volleyball team season ended Wednesday as they lost to Greenway in the Section 7AA playoffs.

Earlier in the season the Agates lost to Greenway, 25-15, 25-14, and 25-11. The Agates finished the regular season in ninth place in the Polar League.

“We are playing against a tough team first round, but we just want to go in and do the best we can,” head coach Brooke Chaffee said. “If we can stay consistent, cut down on errors, and play scrappy we certainly have a chance. This is what we have been working toward all season, and I know we will give it everything we have Wednesday night.”

Two Harbors-Cook County cross country

The Two Harbors-Cook County cross country team competed in the Section 7A meet Thursday in Cloquet.

Last year, the entire girls team went to the state meet as did boys runner Kieran Scannell of Cook County. The girls team finished in 15th place while Scannell placed No. 134 in the field.

Head coach Chris Hegg said they will give it their best effort. “[This is the] best training season I’ve ever had with a group.”

Silver Bay volleyball

The Silver Bay volleyball team started out the playoffs strong winning 3-0 over Ely Monday 25-18, 25-12, and 25-7. The Mariners, a No. 7 seed, lost to No. 2 Babbitt-Embarrass Wednesday, ending Silver Bay’s season.

“We’ve improved,” said head coach Tom Frericks about how the season has gone. He said the team was keeping the ball on the court and didn’t shank any balls during its match against Ely.

Shay Viola had seven ace-serves and six digs while Marina Carter had five kills and three ace-blocks. Katie Smedstad had four kills and Taylor Guzzo had 14 set-assists.

The Mariners finished the regular season with a record of 3-15 (1-10 in the conference) placing 10th in the Polar League.

Two Harbors junior high football

This year’s Two Harbors junior high football team, comprised of 12 seventh-graders, and 18 eighth- graders went 4-1-1.

Playing separately. the seventh grade was 3-1 while eighth grade was 2-2.

The team was coached by Ryan McIntyre, Justin Voss, and Ron Fransen.

Members of the team included eighth-graders: Tim Bott, Jake Hauger, Ricky Hietala, Lucas Kempffer, Thomas Kessler, Kyler Kinn, Ben Larson, Alex Lemke, Shannon Lysaker, Hunter McCullough, Nathan Mickelson, Willis O’Neil, John Peer, Taylor Ross, Casey Sandretsky, Ray Schwitters, and Brandon Zapolski. Seventh-graders: Tanner Aho, Jonah Alm, Daniel Anderson, Jerrick Ashcroft, Zane Carlson, Derek Hooey, Davey Keranen, Austin Mostrom, Nick Osbakken, Will Peterson, and Even Sandretsky. Sixth grade: Jacob Zapolski.

Pony League football

The Pony Football team is made up of third- through sixth-graders from the Minnehaha and North Shore Schools. This year’s team had more than 50 participants. Coaches said they were a great group of boys to work with. The Pony team scrimmaged amongst themselves on four occasions and traveled to play East Duluth in a game. They also hosted East Duluth.

The team was coached by Casey Hyopponen, Silas Walker, Logan Gow, and Sean Jones.

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