The long-awaited and much-anticipated thaw is looming, and area high school student athletes are chomping at the bit to get the spring season rolling. Coaches are optimistic and look forward to successful journeys in 2023.
Big Lake Boys Golf
“A spring sport like golf is very hard to compete outside, much less getting to the course in March. Golf courses take time for playing conditions to improve, and so far, the weather is not cooperating, once again,” said Coach Bill Miller.
Historically, it is very snowy, wet, cold, and windy, until April. Therefore, girls and boys share practice areas inside the schools for sometimes about a month.
“And when outside, we still need to dress for the weather. It takes a toll on the mind,” added Coach Miller. The team has four golfers returning from Varsity competition last year, and as yet, it is unknown who will try out this season.
The golf team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a match against Becker at Pebble Creek on Mon., April 10 (weather permitting).
Big Lake Boys Lacrosse
In 2022, the Big Lake boys Varsity lacrosse team was young, with only two returning seniors, zero returning juniors, and a core of sophomores. That was also the first year of a co-op agreement between Big Lake and Princeton, with seven new players from Princeton logging significant time on Varsity in their first season playing the game. The new and the young players progressed well throughout the season, but struggled with consistency throughout the year.
“When we looked to take a step forward in one aspect of the game, we seemed to struggle a bit somewhere else on the field,” offered Head Coach Brad Weber.
Starting the 2023 season against Duluth, the Hornets field a group of 24 players on Varsity who have all played the game before. This is the first time in this program’s history that the team returns a full Varsity roster with experience. Part of having experienced players is that they know what went well, and what didn’t, from the previous year.
The captains for the 2023 team are juniors Colin Roberdeau and Will Schultz from Princeton High School, along with juniors Cade Fagen and Declan Weber from Big Lake.
Weber returns for his sixth season as head coach with the program. Also returning to the sideline is Kyle Fagen, in his second year with the team. Coach Weber moves to the offensive coordinator role with the Varsity team, and Kyle leads the defensive group on both Varsity and JV. Other assistant coaches for the season are Jeremy Suelter and Caden Weber, a 2020 BLHS graduate and assistant coach from the 2021 season.
The boys lacrosse team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a match at home against Duluth Denfeld on Fri., April 14 (weather permitting).
Big Lake Girls Lacrosse
“Leaving off from our season last year, our program was able to accomplish not only our first program wins, finishing with a record of 4-10, but in that season our girls shared a combined 71 goals and 29 assists across the team, finishing with a team total of 100 points,” said Coach Lindsey Hartfiel. “In my first year as the head coach for this program in 2021, we did not achieve any wins, and were only able to combine for 31 points for the entire season. Not only does the increase in points demonstrate growth in our program, but also our numbers continue to increase,”
Last year there were 29 girls registered on the roster, but this season, Hartfiel expects the numbers to be nearing 35 girls with their Big Lake-Spectrum-Princeton coop. The expectations are high for this solid group of returning players, as well as for players new to the program.
The Hornets graduated eight seniors last season, but Hartfiel believes they are fortunate enough to have a solid group of both returning underclassmen and current upperclassmen, ready to step up and fill the gaps. Team captains this season are seniors Alynna Acosta, Ella Beach, Madison Farnsworth, and Autumn Grunewald.
The coaching staff consists of returning assistant Zach Barzee, returning volunteer coach Katie Bondhus, and new to the roster, volunteer coach Natalie Manning. Zach has been a member of the boys hockey program for multiple years, Katie has been a long time lacrosse coach, and Natalie brings previous college lacrosse and coaching experience.
The girls’ first official game is scheduled for Friday, April 14, away, versus Duluth East.
Big Lake Baseball
Coaching Big Lake baseball for 32 years, Loren Holthaus enters his third season as head coach of the baseball Hornets.
“I am very excited about this upcoming baseball season. Last year we had some up-and-coming young talent. This season, most of the starters on our section team from last year are back,” said Coach Holthaus.
The boys had just seven wins last year, and one of their goals is to double that number in the 2023 tour.
Isaiah Terlinden, the ace on the mound from a year ago, is back as a junior this season. Too, the club has a very talented ninth-grader, Owen Wilzek, who will see a lot of time on the mound. The top hitter from last season, Keenan Hjermstad, returns in the catcher’s position. Seniors also returning are Nolan Reiter, second base, and Connor Stern in center field. The remaining spots will all be filled by players returning with Varsity experience.
“We are hoping to make a run for the section title. Monticello and Princeton, I believe, will both have very talented teams and will challenge for the top spot,” exclaimed Coach Holthaus.
The baseball team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a game at Cambridge-Isanti on Tues., April 4 (weather permitting).
Big Lake Softball
Kim Bowen begins her 29th season as the Big Lake softball head coach.
“I am very optimistic about the abilities of our softball team this year. We return eight players that saw significant time on the Varsity last year,” said Coach Bowen.
Those players are seniors Emmy Bowne, Emma Jacobs, Anna Lund, Tristyn Deckard, and Ruby Stockham; juniors Sydnie Loftus and Grace Knodle; and sophomore Ava Prosser. Additionally, the roster includes three more seniors; Bella Kalthoff, Shelby Baufield, and Macy Craig, making eight total seniors.
There are also many very talented underclassmen that are competing for positions. Pitching will be a strength for the Lady Hornets this season. Bowne and Loftus were great in the circle last year, with Bowne being named the Mississippi 8 Pitcher of the Year. Tessa Fjone also threw a few innings with the rotation.
Coaching staff: Tony Loftus was a volunteer coach last year and has stepped into the assistant coach role this season. Kellie Olson has moved up to coach the JV, and former Big Lake grad Ally Helgoe coaches the ninth-grade team.
“If we can stay healthy and if the snow will ever melt, I think we can compete for both the conference and section championship,” Coach Bowen explained.
The girls softball team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a road game against Cambridge-Isanti on Tues., April 4 (weather permitting).
Big Lake Girls Golf
“Spring golf season is a very exciting time for players, coaches, and spectators. It provides an opportunity for the golfers to showcase their skills and compete against other teams in a fun and challenging environment,” said Head Coach Matthew Vogel. “We are hopeful for a quick thaw of the mountain’s of snow piles, in order to get out to Pebble Creek as soon as possible. I am excited to be returning five out of our six Varsity golfers. As we gain experience, I am hoping to achieve many personal bests throughout the season”
The girls golf team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a match at Monticello Country Club on Mon., April 10 (weather permitting).
Big Lake Trap Team
Co-Head Coach Roy McMullen teaches this valuable acronym to all the athletes: The meaning of TRAP: TRUST; RESPECT; ACCURACY; PASSION.
The Big Lake trap team started in 2012 as a Community-Ed program with eight students. It is now a high school team, with 60 students; men and women competing against each other. The team had to cap the number of team members, due to the need for one coach for every 10 students and one RSO for every squad that is shooting on the line.
A squad is five shooters, shooting from five different positions on the shooting line, 16 yards back from the trap house. The trap house is where the clay targets come out, in five different directions (unknown to the shooter). The shooter shoots from each position, five times, rotating after each shooter shoots at five clays from his or her perspective position. A round is 25 targets, and each shooter shoots two rounds per night. There is a great group of experienced volunteer coaches and staff, always on hand.
“We have done really well the past few years, with students placing in the Top 100 in the state. Last year the top shooter in the state, missed only two registered clay targets. Last year we placed eighth overall in the state of MN out of 373 teams,” said Coach McMullen.
The kids are very fortunate to be able to shoot each week on Monday nights for competition—with Wednesday and Thursday for practices at the Monticello Sportsmen’s Club, from March 27 to mid June. The shooters will perform their shooting in snow and rain. The only time they won’t be shooting is if there is lightning or a tornado.
The athletes will compete in Alexandria, MN, over a 13-day tournament, with approximately 13,500 other students in the state, at the end of June. The hope is to qualify multiple shooters in the Top 100 individuals, and top 40 teams in the state. Nationals are held in Mason, Michigan, in July.
“We have been sending students to Michigan the past three years. Our kids did very well last year, placing 106th out of 1716. We will also be shooting at three other tournaments this spring,” Coach McMullen explained.
(Mid-Sota Tournament date to be determined. St-Michael Tournament date to be determined. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday shooting begins at 5 p.m. Shooting may start a little early if teams are ready to shoot).
The trap team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with competition for week one starting April 17.
Big Lake Boys Tennis
Big Lake boys tennis Head Coach Brett Mattson enters his 12th season at the helm.
“It’s a little early yet to know our numbers, and as of right now, we have just a few kids registered,” said Coach Mattson.
Later in the month, the boys hold their first practice, and final registration numbers will be in place at that time. Last season’s Varsity consisted of five high school kids and five from middle school. The Hornets’ captains this season are Miles Slack (11) and Erick Carlson (11).
The boys tennis team is scheduled to kick off the regular season with a match against Aitkin at home on Thu., April 13 (weather permitting).
The 2023 high school spring sports season promises to be a highly competitive and fun-filled experience for participants and fans alike. Full schedules are available on the individual school’s websites or by visiting the Minnesota State High School League website at www.mshsl.org. Good Luck, All!
