Boys Soccer: Shooting for the top

Tyler Petter-McCauley (in red) and Jake Bauman go one-on-one on opening day

The 2012 edition of Tiger boys soccer offers a mix of experience and youth that coach Julian Buss hopes will combine for a Missota Conference title.

"I think we can compete in both the section and the conference," Buss said. "We are a team with depth at each position and we have a solid group of upperclassmen, so I certainly think we should finish strong."

To meet Buss's high expectations the Tigers will have to fill the holes left by four all-Missota Conference players lost to graduation last spring: high-scoring forwards Cole Landwehr and Brandon Scott Scott, sweeper Sam Leske and keeper Chad Stivers.

Much of that burden will fall on the shoulders of nine returnees from the 2011 team that posted the school's first-ever winning record (8-7-2): seniors forwards Tyler Petter-McCauley, Karid Nokes, and Urive Omana; juniors Jeffrey Hanson (defense), Hunter Meyers (defense), Blake Smith (midfielder/ defense), Eric Stoeckman (defense) and Jared Wolt (midfield/defense) and sophomore Robin DeCastro (midfielder/defense).

Varsity additions expected to make major contributions in 2012 include senior keepers Sam Peterson and Isaac Toenjes; seniors Leslie Adjei (forward,/wing), Jake Bauman (defense/wing) and Mikkel Peterson (defense/wing) and sophomore midfielder Noah Amundson.

Others expected to battle for varsity playing minutes include seniors Connor Phu (forward/wing) and Michael Torgerson (defense); sophomore Joey Herrera (forward/midfielder) and freshmen keepers Jake Agnew and Jesse Buffington.

"One of our strength is a strong senior class," Buss said. "I can look to them for the depth, experience and leadership that a strong program requires. It is obvious these boys have been developing strength and speed during the off-season.

The long and short of it: Tigers seniors Mikkel Peterson and Connor PHu

"We also have a group of players with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the game and I have been very pleased with the play of our goalkeepers so far. That was a concern."

Seniors Peterson and Toenjes figure to split the net duties in the early going with Agnew and Buffington playing at the junior varsity level while waiting in the varsity wings.

Buss is excited about his veteran defensive corps of Meyers, Hanson, Stoeckman and DeCastro.

"They are brutally difficult to get through," he said. "I would expect the oppositon to get less shots on our goal this season."

The Tiger coach added midfielders Wolt and Smith will also play important roles, at times being called upon to play all 90 minutes.

Three-year veteran Petter-McCauley, Nokes, Cochenauer and Omana will be called upon to replace the offensive production of Landwehr and Scott who combined for 32 points last fall.

Buss feels the talent is there for another successful season but noted that to produce on the field the Tigers will have stay on top of two important areas, focus and intensity.

"We'll be fine if we don't lose focus of our goals," he said.

Buss threw down the challenge to his team by picking it to finish atop the Missota Conference ladder, adding Lakeville North, Rochester Mayo and Northfield would provide major challenges in Section 1AA.

Britta Pahl steps in as junior varsity coach this fall with Lindsay Collins handling  and ex-Tiger head coach Loren Cartwright handling the B-squad and ninth grade team respectively. The goalie coach is Lowell Peterson. Todd Karich and Al Jenrich coach the middle school teams.

"I think some of our major strengths are the experience, knowledge and ability of  this year's coaching staff," Buss said.

The Tigers get their first taste of game action Thursday, Aug. 23, with a non-conference game at Faribault. Saturday they entertain Lakeville North at Tiger Stadium in an 11:00 game.

Football: Tigers return 14 starters for 2012

Athen Aston rushed for 770 yards and 7 touchdowns last season (photo by Jim Lindquist)

After not posting a winning season since 2008 and not winning a playoff game since 2006 the Tigers appear on the cusp of getting things back on track in 2012.

Veteran coach Mark Froehling (71-49 in 12 years at FHS) returns seven starters on each side of the ball from a 2011 team that finished 3-6 overall and 3-4 in Missota Conference play.

"We return an all-conference quarterback (Darren Beenken), an all-conference running back (Athen Ashton) and several starters on our offensive line," Froehling said. "This should give us more consistent offensive play.

"The defense should be more aggressive and competitive and we should have a strong kicking game with the return of Reid Taubenheim."

Darren Beenken 1265 yard passing, 269 rushing in 2011 (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The returning offensive starters include Beenken, Ashton, senior linemen Josh Boatwright and David Silber, junior wide receiver Johnny Dittman, junior tight end CJ Wynings and  and junior lineman Ryan Gowen.

Defensive starters back include senior linemen Tom Sell and Denver Robinson, senior back Alex Chadwick, junior backs Kevin Clifton and Jack Erickson and junior linebackers Godfrey Mpetey and Mason Auge.

Key newcomers on the offensive side of the ball are junior wide receivers Mac Bassett, Jordan DeCrook and Tyler VanWinkle; linemen Nate Retterath and Alex Witkowski and junior lineman Josh Patterson.

Four juniors are expected to contribute heavily to the Tiger defense: junior linebacker Taubenheim; lineman John LeBlond; back Mason Gaylord and linebakcer Nick Ruark.

Alex Chadwick-3-year starter at defensive back

"We will be young at several positions with multiple underclassmen starters," Froehling said. "A lack of size and depth are also concerns for us."

Froehling said he expects his team to be more competitive in the Missota Conference this fall but that moving up in the standings won't be an easy task.

" It will be difficult because I believe the conference as a whole will be better," he said. " I think Holy Angels, Chanhassen and Shakopee would be considered the pre-season favorites... The section is new to us so we will learn about our ability to compete there as the season progresses."

The new section includes just six teams: Farmington, St. Louis Park, Apple Valley, Bloomington Kennedy, Bloomington Jefferson and Minneapolis Southwest. Of the six schools only Southwest (5-4) finished with a winning record in 2011.

Froehling brings back a veteran varsity coaching staff in Gary Burr, Pat Hudak, Glenn Mogensen, Shane Wyandt and Jon Lund.

Lew Miskowicz, Mike Winters and Jon Malin coach the B-sqaud with Chad Olson, Brian Helmstetter, Brent Grengs and Tharen Johnon handling the ninth grade coaching duties.

Boeckman Middle School coaches include eighth grade: Jim Swedin, Brad Alabano, Lance Walsten and Justyn Helgeson and seventh grade: Shawn Anderson, Mark Pickar, Nick Davis and Jon Stock.

Paul Ahrenholz, Jeff Stulz, Brent Mahlstedt and Jacob Bauer coach the Dodge Middle School eighth-graders while Michael Schommer, Brian Louis and Bryan Buesgens work with the seventh-graders. A fourth seventh-grade position has yet to be filled.

The Tigers open their 2012 season with a non-conference game against Rochester Mayo, Friday, Aug. 31, at Tiger Field.

Girls CC: A year older and faster

(l to r) 2012 varsity runners Maricia Pacheco, Sofia Chadwick, Sarah Cummings, Alexis Johnson, Maricella Pacheco and Maria Kiminski

The 2012 Tiger varsity lineup is going to look very much like that of the 2011 team...and according to coach Heidi Revels, that's a good thing.

Last fall the young Farmington team improved steadily, finishing sixth in the Missota Conference and 14th at the Section 1AA Championships. Six of the seven runners from that team are back in the field and Revels expects that to translate into a better finish in 2012.

"Our top six have been running together for several years and have a strong, positive rapport with each other," she said. "Having a bond like that is very important in training and racing.

"These girls trained more than ever over the summer. Their dedication in putting in so many miles and working on strength training is going to pay off."

Maria Kiminski, a state meet track qualifier in 2010 before being sidelined with a leg injury last spring, is still the only senior on the team. The other five returnees include sophomore all-Missota Conference performer Sofia Chadwick, junior Maricia Pacheco; sophomores Sarah Cummings and Alexis Johnson and freshman Maricella Pacheco.

Maricia Pacheco and Kiminski, tabbed the team's Most Dedicated Runner last fall, each earned all-Missota honorable mention honors last fall. Cummings was the team's Most Improved Runner and Johnson was named Rookie of the Year.

If there is a question mark, it would have to be lack of depth. Only 26 athletes in grades seven through 12 in grades are out for the sport.

"We always struggle with low numbers," Revels said. "There are so many other fall sports to compete with. We're hoping we might get some more girls out once school starts."

The seventh spot in the varsity lineup will likely be filled by another underclassmen. Based on early workouts, freshmen Courtney Kimmel, Hannah Morgan and Breana Sutter as well as seventh grader Lexie Laube seem strong contenders.

With three of the top 20 finishers in the 2011 Missota Conference championships back for another go-around, Revels is looking for a move up in both the conference and section standings.

"Every year these girls have made progress individually," she said. "I strongly believe they will see even more success this season."

Revels said cracking the top three in the Missota will be a tough task with Shakopee, New Prague and Chanhassen all expected to field strong entries. She said perennial powers Lakeville North and Lakeville South figure to be the teams to beat in Section 1AA.

Allison Laube will serve as varsity assistant coach this fall with Connie Berg handling the middle school chores.

The Tigers get their first taste of competition Friday, Aug. 31, when they travel to Eagan for their annual appearance in the Dakota County Championships.

Girls Soccer: Depth + Experience = Optimism

Juniors Izzie Ferm and Gabby Baumann battle for a loose ball on the first day of practice

Coach Rob Carpentier's 2011 team had its up and downs as witnessed by its final 8-8-1 season record and fifth place finish in the Missota Conference (3-3-1).

Eight players from that squad graduated last spring, including all-Missota Conference performers Kelli Harstad and Ashley Kimmel, but with 17 letterwinners returning, Carpentier and his staff like the potential of their 2012 team.

"We have 17 players who have started at least two varsity games," Carpentier said. "We'll be two-deep at every position and we have a lot of speed.

"We should be mentally tough because of our experience and our keeper (Ashley Becker) may win us a game or two. To be blunt, I see us as the conference favorite."

Carpentier said there were too many returnees to single many out but he did indicate the presence of all-Missota Conference honorable mention performers Izzie Ferm and Kelli Elmer was a definite plus.

Senior Sydney Eckert (left) and sophomore Tyler Words go one-on-one in ball-handling drill

Captains Sydney Eckert, Leah Zak and Hannah Miller, back after sitting out the 2011 season with an injury, also drew special words of praise for their efforts in early practice sessions.

As for sophomore keeper Becker, the Tiger head coach said she has an unlimited upside to her game.

"She has the potential to be the best keeper in the program's history," he said. "She is that good. We may see it this season as she has been outstanding in practice."

80-plus girls were on hand for the Monday's first practice

To illustrate his team's depth, Carpentier said he is taking no less than 40 players to his team's first scrimmage with Rosemount.

"Every one of them has a legitimate chance of making the varsity team," he said.

To back up his statement about his team's speed, Carpentier pointed out that with Ferm, Elmer, Kali Allard and Megan Graham there is the potential to have four all-state sprinters on the field at the same time.

"My goals are to stay injury-free, play hard and play aggressively and most of all, enjoy the experience," Carpentier said. "I think the girls have more tangible goals."

Chief among those objectives would be to finish at the top of the Missota Conference standings and make a deep run in the section playoffs.

"Honestly, I believe that if we as a staff do our job, we clearly have the talent to go to state and not have it be a shock," Carpentier said.

Chanhassen, Holy Angels and Farmington figure to be the front-runners in the race for Missota honors with Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Owatonna and Rochester Century all expected to field quality teams in Section 1AA.

Robb Virgin moves over from the Tiger boys program to coach the junior varsity this fall with Linda Crawford and Eric Shelton coaching the B-squad and ninth grade teams respectively.

Tracie Randall and Kjerstin Tharaldson will work with the Dodge Middle School squad while Jon Graff and Jason Kohlbeck will handle the Boeckman Middle School coaching chores.

The Tigers kick off their 2012 season Thursday, Aug. 23, with a non-conference road contest at Faribault.

Fall sports season is here