Sports in 2010
Published 5:00 pm Saturday, January 1, 2011
looming Prairie's Tricia DeBoer stands on second in the second inning of the Class A State Softball Tournament quarterfinals, surrounded by the muddy mess that was the infield this past spring. The first round was suspended for three and a half hours because of rain and lightning. - Herald file photo
Blossoms get to state
The Awesome Blossoms had to end their 2010 season by playing through the rain and mud before losing a close game in extra innings, and then things got worse when they lost their second game on the last day of the season as two close calls went against them at the end of another close loss.
Still, 2010 will be remebered as asolid year because all of those bad things happened at the Class ‘A’ state softball tournament, to which BP advanced for the first time in school history.
BP finished 2010 23-4 and the season was highlighted by a 21-game winning streak.
Watch for the Blossoms to be a force again this spring as they should return seven starters.
Packers leave it all out there
Austin's Henry Darling takes the baton for the final leg of the Class AA 4 X400-meter relay finals at the Minnesota State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul. Two school records fell at this year’s state meet. - Herald file photo
The Austin boys track and field team had a performance to remember at the Class ‘AA’ state meet this past spring.
Austin sent three relays to state and two of them took third, while one took sixth.
The 4 x 800 team of Jacob Bentley, Christian Folken, Jacob Larson and Tim Erickson broke a school record in the state finals as they took third, the 4 x 400 team of Will Darling, Bentley, Erickson and Henry Darling broke a school record in the state prelims and took third in the finals, and the 4 x 200 team of Will Darling, Bentley, Mike Hirsch, and Henry Darling took sixth.
As a team, the Packers broke five school records in 2010 and Will Darling broke the 300-meter hurdle record at the Big Nine meet.
The 4 x 800 team’s run was especially impressive as they weren’t seeded that high, but Christian Folken gave the team a huge boost with a strong run to actually put the Packers in first halfway through the race.
Packer gymnasts step it up
Austin Abby Bickler performs on the floor during the Class A team portion of the State Girls' Gymnastics Meet. - Herald file photo
The Austin gymnastics program took a huge step in 2010 as they competed ever in their first ‘true team’ state meet and they made it to their first Class ‘A’ state meet.
The Packers took sixth at state and they hope the trip has a strong impact on many of their younger gymnasts.
Rebels back at state
The Southland baseball team made it back to the Class ‘A’ state tournament for the second time in three years.
While they had to settle for sixth place, the Rebels were a tough team to deal with as they finished 22-6.
Two greats finish up
Austin wrestlers Howie Underwood and Michael Hirsch both completed their high school careers with over 100 wins and trips to the state tournament.
Underwood, a 145-pounder, had a tough draw early at state and didn’t place but Hirsch, a 189-pounder, finished in second place after losing to Owatonna’s Dalton Henderson for the second time in as many weeks.
