2 kickoff returns for 36 yards vs St. Thomas
The sports calendar may read the first week in December but two former Tiger athletes are still playing football, hoping to help their teams to a berth in a national championship game.
Cody Eich, an all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive back, has played a big role in the University of Minnesota-Duluth's unbeaten season. He ranks third on the team in tackles with 66 and his blocked punt led to the go-ahead touchdown in 20-17 overtime playoff win over St. Cloud State University two weeks ago. The Bulldogs play Northwest Missouri State University in the NCAA Division II semifinals this weekend with the winner advancing to the national title game in Florence, Alabama the following week.
Former Tiger Derek Waldbillig, who transferred to Bethel from the University of St. Thomas after his freshman season last year had to feel especially good after the Royals upset the Tommies 15-7 in last Saturday's NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Waldbillig returned two kickoffs 36 yards for Bethel who will travel to Mount Union (Ohio) this Saturday with a trip to the Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia on the line.
Ex-Tiger Wade Fischer, a four-year starter on the offensive line for William Penn University (Iowa), earned second team all-Midwest League honors this season. Teammate and former FHS classmate Jimmy Deegan who caught four passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns received all-Midwest League honorable mention.
Former FHS boys basketball Dave DeWitt has guided the Anoka-Ramsey Community College women's team to an early 6-1 record. Lumumba Samuels who has played an active role in Farmington Youth Basketball for years is one of DeWitt's assistants.
The University of Minnesota track and field roster for 2011 contains the names of three former Tigers: throwers Trey Davis and Logan Hussung on the men's side and middle distance runner Kaitlin Mincke on the women's team.
Eric Wictor of the FHS class of 1988 is head boys basketball coach at Pine City who kicks off its 2010-11 season Tuesday, Dec. 7 against Aitkin...Ex-Tiger Ryan Pietsch is an assistant girls hockey coach at Northfield.
Former Tiger basketball standout Abby Kenealy scored 20 points, including a 12-14 night at the foul line, and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Southwest State University to an upset of 17th ranked Augustana last week...Ex-Tiger goalie Erin McNamara recorded 26 saves for St. Olaf in a recent 7-1 win over Hamline.
Four of the eight head coaches for winter varsity sports at FHS are ex-Tiger athletes: Keith Revels, boys hockey (1987); Lynn (Gramentz) Bauman, gymnastics (1993); Chad Olson, wrestling (1995) and Jon Holmes, girls hockey (1999).
