Amanda Woodley, 89, LeMars, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Nov. 10 at Plymouth Manor Care Center, LeMars. Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Paul Fries officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Luverne senior Dan Park positions himself in front of Windom’s net during the first period of Tuesday’s Southwest Conference boys’ hockey game in Luverne. Park scored one goal to help LHS up its SWC record to 2-0 with a 5-1 win over the Eagles.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne boys’ hockey team remained unbeaten for the season after playing three games in a six-day span.

The Cardinals posted a three-goal win in Worthington Thursday before battling Wadena-Deer Creek to a draw at two in Wadena Saturday. The Cards then whipped Windom by four goals in Luverne Tuesday.

Luverne, 5-0-1 overall, hosts Dodge County Saturday.

Luverne 5, Windom 1
Five unanswered goals by the Cardinals sealed their second Southwest Conference win of the season at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Tuesday.

Windom opened the scoring when AnthonyNemtz found the net 1:49 into the game, but the Cards outscored the Eagles 5-0 the rest of the way to win handily.

Eric Lammert and Andy Hess led the Cardinals to victory by recording three points each. Lammert had a pair of goals and one assist. Hess had two assists and one counter.

Tony Smedsrud tied the game at one with a power-play goal at the 9:52 mark of the first period. Hess, who set up Smedsrud’s tally, netted a short-handed goal at 6:08 of the opening period to put the Cards in front.

Lammert received an assist for the goal by Hess, and scored a pair of goals in the first five minutes of the third period to ice the win for LHS. Gregg Fuerstenberg and Chris Morgan set up Lammert’s first goal. Thomas Gluf and Smedsrud received assists for his second tally.

Dan Park capped the scoring with a short-handed goal set up by Hess late in the game.

Cody Gehrke stopped 15 of 16 shots in goal for the Cards. Luverne had 34 shots on goal in the game.

Luverne 2, W-DC 2
A late rally by the Cardinals gave them a tie during Saturday’s game in Wadena.

Trailing 2-0 after Wadena-Deer Creek’s Andy Murray scored his second goal of the game with 11:52 remaining in the third, things didn’t look good for LHS.

The Cardinals, however, rallied to score a pair of goals before regulation play was complete and skated to a scoreless draw with the hosts during an eight-minute overtime session.

Smedsrud ignited Luverne’s comeback by scoring a power-play goal with 10:45 left in regulation play. Morgan and Matt Reverts received assists for the goal.

After pulling goalie Gehrke in favor of an extra skater with less than 1:30 left to play, Luverne was rewarded for the move when Hess netted an unassisted goal with 49 seconds remaining.

Each team had four shots on goal in the extra overtime period, leaving W-DC with a 29-23 advantage in that area at game’s end.

Gehrke saved 27 of 29 shots. He was beaten by Murray with 38 seconds left in the first period, and again in the third period.

Luverne 4,
Worthington 1
The Cardinals opened Southwest Conference play by posting a three-goal victory in Worthington Thursday.

Smedsrud netted a pair of goals for the winners, and goalie Gehrke stopped 17 of 18 shots to highlight the win.

Power-play goals by Smedsrud and Tyler Elbers in a span of 1:07 in the first period gave the Cards a 2-0 advantage. Gehrke received an assist for Smedsrud’s goal at 7:20. Park and Reverts set up Elbers’ counter at 6:13.

Worthington’s Drew Seifert scored at 6:01 of the opening period before Hess countered with an unassisted effort at 2:17 to give the Cards a 3-1 lead.

Smedsrud capped the scoring with his second goal of the game at 9:48 in the second period. Lammert set up Smedsrud’s tally.

Luverne outshot the hosts 31-18 in the game.

Luverne senior Dana Smeins is unable to get a stick on a loose puck before Windom goalie Christine Flatebo covers it up during Tuesday’s Southwest Conference girls’ hockey game in Luverne. Smeins scored Luverne’s first goal in a 6-5 victory

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne girls’ hockey team climbed back into the race for a Southwest Conference championship by winning a pair of league games.

The Cards nipped Worthington by one goal in overtime Thursday before edging Windom by one goal at home Tuesday.

Luverne, 4-3 overall, hosts Dodge County Saturday.

Luverne 6, Windom 5
What started out as a quiet night for Luverne’s Natalie Domagala turned into a stunning performance during Tuesday’s one-goal win over Windom at the Blue Mound Ice Arena.

Domagala, who was scoreless for the game’s first 38 minutes, scored four goals in a span of 5:06 of the third period to carry the Cardinals to victory.

After Windom’s Amanda Ringquist found the net to give the Eagles a 3-2 edge with 7:25 remaining in the third period, Domagala got into the act by scoring an unassisted goal with 6:47 left to knot the score at three.

The Eagles moved in front 4-3 when Sam Harold scored her second of three goals in the game 26 seconds after Domagala’s first tally, but Domagala bounced back to score three goals in a span of 2:33 to give Luverne a lead it would never relinquish.

Stephanie Morgan and Jenny Braa set up Domagala’s game-tying goal with 4:14 left to play, and she scored an unassisted goal at 3:25 to give the Cards their first lead at 5-4. Domagala then scored an unassisted power-play goal with 1:41 remaining to give the Cards a 6-4 advantage.

Harold completed her hat trick with 47 seconds remaining, but the Cards blanked the Eagles the rest of the way.

Melanie Noomen opened the scoring with a short-handed effort with 4:14 left to play in the first period.

Luverne’s Dana Smeins tied the game at one at the 4:05 mark of the second period, but Harold put the Eagles in front 2-1 with her first goal with 3:33 remaining in the second stanza.

Braa tied the game at two with an unassisted effort (8:32) to start the scoring in what turned into an eight-goal third period.

Luverne outshot the Eagles 51-16 in the game. Alyssa Wieneke made 11 saves for LHS.

Luverne 5,
Worthington 4
An overtime goal by Luverne’s Domagala gave the Cardinals their first Southwest Conference win of the season Thursday in Worthington.

Domagala, who recorded a hat trick for LHS, found the net at the 5:34 mark of overtime to settle the issue. Braa received an assist for the game-winning goal.

Both teams sported leads in what was a tight game from beginning to end.

Domagala opened the scoring with an unassisted effort 1:07 into the contest, but counters by Worthington’s Samantha Pospisil and Amanda Duitsman at 8:01 and 1:31 respectively gave the Trojans a 2-1 edge at periods.

Second-period goals by Dietrich (unassisted, at 9:40) and Smeins (assists by Dietrich and Suzanne Gluf, at 9:27) gave the Cards a 3-2 edge, and a goal by Domagala (assists going to Morgan and Braa) at 9:40 of the third period gave LHS a 4-2 cushion.

Worthington’s Anne Vosburgh scored 15 seconds after Domagala’s goal in the third period before Duitsman knotted the score at four with a short-handed tally with 1:25 remaining in regulation play.

Wieneke stopped 16 of 20 shots in net for the Cards. Luverne had 32 shots on goal.

By Sara Strong
An engineer and architect study shows that the hospital building may cost more to remodel for public uses than the county would be willing to spend.

The study of the building was just what the doctor ordered — at a cost of $5,000 to the county — because any other party interested in the hospital building will now have a place to start when considering the building.

The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday heard a presentation on the hospital, which is presumed to be vacated by Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System if a new one is built.

The building would cost almost $3.8 million to convert to county uses, including a law enforcement center, Heartland Express, Southwestern Mental Health, Farm Service Agency, Land Management, Extension and National Resource Conservation Service.

None of these county offices have plans of moving, but for the purposes of a study, they were included as possible occupants of what is now Luverne Community Hospital.

If the process were to continue, issues of co-habitation among the various offices and specific space and efficiency needs would need to be addressed.

The amount of work done so far on the study is very preliminary.

The inadequate space of law enforcement, including the lack of holding cells, drove the county’s interest in exploring the hospital building.

The Board directed the County Building Committee to discuss the architect study further with Sioux Valley and the city of Luverne.

Although the County Board didn’t view the cost projections with much hope of going on with plans, it will share information from the study and try to work with any parties involved in a possible hospital move.

"I’m not interested in it," County Commissioner Ron Boyenga said. "I wasn’t in the beginning."

Reconstructive surgery
The hospital was built in 1955 with additions in the 1960s and 1990s.

The architect said the building was well-constructed and well-cared-for, but codes and regulations have changed even since the most recent addition. Converting the building to a broad-based county office space would require a massive overhaul.

The mechanical systems are outdated, for example, and the boilers would have to be replaced, for example.

"In terms of mechanics, we almost need to start over in this building," architect Steven Johnson said.

Air exchange guidelines would need to be followed and would require creative ways to maintain air quality. That’s considering there is no room between the ceiling and roof in many areas to add duct work.

The actual layout of the building includes load-bearing walls and corridors that can’t be changed without enormous cost.

That said, Johnson indicated the county offices mentioned could fit in the main floor, which is almost 29,000 square feet.

The cost estimate of $3.8 million assumes that work wouldn’t be started until 2005.

The building changes the architect could make allowed for a secure garage entrance for law enforcement with a booking room, locker rooms and a separate dispatching area that would be self contained near a public entrance.

The law enforcement area of the building would be secure from the other office spaces.

There was also room for two holding cells where prisoners could stay for eight hours.

Other office areas would have conference rooms and kitchenette and bathroom areas almost self-contained in their designated portions of the building.

The architect also estimated the cost of building a new building similar to the hospital at about $5 million in 2005.

Neither the remodeling estimate nor the new construction estimate count acquisition costs of the current building or new land.

By Sara Strong
Rock County Sheriff-elect Mike Winkels updated the Rock County Board of Commissioners on work he’s done before he formally takes office in January.

The department advertised deputy openings in the department made available by retiring investigator Clyde Menning and a part-time deputy.

The entire process probably won’t be completed until next fall, but the applicants have been interviewed, and they’re completing tests and other phases for the process.

Besides being involved in the hiring process, some deputies will move up within the department.

Four employees have shown an interest in the investigator position Menning will vacate when he retires.

One is interested in drug investigations, in particular. "There’s a lot of issues that a drug investigator may have that a regular investigator might not have — and he couldn’t drop other investigations for drugs," Winkels said.

Winkels said he’s trying to work out a plan to allow qualified department members, eager to step into the position, do so. He said a rotating two-year term as investigator might work.

Under that system, investigators would devote time to certain unsolved cases even after they left the post. The lead investigator at a given time would also have people in the department to help if cases piled up.

Another issue for the department could be the initiation of some community members as volunteers or employees of the sheriff.

Winkels said, "I feel that there are a lot of people who are willing to do detail work for us — transfers or traffic control."

He’s gotten calls inquiring about that concept already. Some of the detail work could include transferring prisoners to the Prairie Justice Center in Nobles County, traffic control during parades or extra patrol during street dances or the Rock County Fair.

This additonal help would save overtime costs for the department and free deputies and sergeants to do regular work while on duty.

Any civilians working on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department would receive a radio and a night stick, and the public would be able to distinguish them from sworn officers.

County salaries
The Board approved 2003 hourly and salary pay rates, employment contracts and elected salaries at its Tuesday meeting.

Newly-elected auditor-treasurer Gloria Rolfs has a salary of $38,000 and sheriff-elect Mike Winkels’ salary is $55,500.

Jere Ohme, recorder, will earn $46,275, increased from $44,250. County Commissioners received a $500 raise, earning an annual $12,500 in 2003.

Contract employees also finalized salaries. They are: Kyle Oldre, county administrator, $65,448 — increased from $64,000; county attorney’s office, $65,000 — the same as last year; Mark Sehr, county engineer, $71,575 — increased from $70,000; and Randy Ehlers, director of Family Services, $65,000 — increased from $62,000.

The county tries to keep its salaries comparable to other counties of similar size.

The pay plan for other county employees this year will range from $7.46 to $26.42 per hour depending on length of time employed and job duties.

‘Livestock friendly’
Andy Steensma, Luverne, spoke to the Rock County Board Tuesday, voicing objections to the county becoming a designated "Livestock Friendly" county.

The county received information on the possibility of becoming Livestock Friendly and referred the option to the Planning and Zoning Board to research.

"I always thought Rock County was livestock friendly," Steensma said.

He spoke on his own behalf, but is a former legislator and worked for Farmers Union.

He said the biggest drawback to having a livestock friendly designation is the change in control.

"We want production, but I think we’re best off if we keep the control local," Steensma said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture grants the Livestock Friendly title to counties that agree to follow federal zoning restrictions, which are less stringent than Rock County’s current restrictions. One major difference is that Livestock Friendly counties require less setbacks for new feedlot facilities.

The Department of Agriculture lists the Livestock Friendly counties, which then hope to increase population as a result of drawing more producers.

"I just want to bring it to your attention that I have some concerns," Steensma said.

One of his major concerns, he said, wasn’t that large producers would operate in the county. In fact, he’d like to see current, local producers be able to expand.

Steensma said he worries that people without an interest in the local environment would be running large livestock operations and could leave problems behind.

Commissioner Ron Boyenga said he would like the county to be able to encourage production and protect quality of life issues at the same time.

Commissioner-elect Richard Bakken said, "I think we have learned that we don’t want to give up what we’ve fought so hard to get. … I would be cautious about jumping into bed with [the USDA]."

The Planning and Zoning Board will probably look at the issue after the first of the year.

Bike trail crossing
With the new bike and pedestrian path ready for finishing work, the Rock County Board and County Engineer Mark Sehr discussed the possibility of changing the yield sign to a stop sign north of Luverne.

The Blue Mound Avenue path crosses County Road 6 at a T in the road by the state park.

Vehicles would cross the bike path if traveling east on County 6, and a stop sign may allow drivers more opportunity to notice bikers or pedestrians if making a right-hand turn from Blue Mound Avenue.

A traffic safety engineer from the state will look at the trail and recommend a course of action to the county.

Sehr gathered accident histories from the intersection from 1984 to the present. Almost all accidents were one-car or deer hits, and none were two-vehicle collisions, so Sehr theorized that a yield sign is adequate.

Statistically, Sehr said, 60 to 80 percent of drivers don’t come to a complete stop at rural stop signs when there is a clear road view, as it is in this case.

Administrator Kyle Oldre said the county may want to consider the stop sign because of the amount of young people that will probably use the bike path, also noting that pedestrians are less visible to drivers than other vehicles are.

Even if a stop sign won’t replace the yield sign, Sehr said the county will post the trail crossing so drivers and pedestrians are aware of each other.

Cory Bryan (left) and his sister, Megan Bryan, Jasper, discuss the finer points of their past year’s behavior with Santa and Mrs. Claus Saturday during Hardwick’s annual Santa Claus Day. Photo by Vickie Van Dyke.

The event, sponsored by the Hardwick Community Club, was staged this year in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church, which was also the location for a flurry of holiday activity, including craft making, cookie decorating and face painting. Roughly 60 children came to see the jolly couple, played by Rodger and Dianne Ossenfort, Luverne.

Appearing a bit out of place in the absence of snow, Jim Anderson (right) plays the role of the official Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Santa Claus downtown, Luverne, Saturday. He strolled up and down Main Street visiting with merchants and shoppers and, of course, hearing Christmas present requests from children. Jolly Ol' St. Nick (Anderson) will make a return visit to downtown Luverne this weekend, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Photo by Lori Ehde.

By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian wrestling team opened the 2002-03 season by winning five matches during three outings since last Thursday.

The Dragons rolled to a 51-point victory over Pipestone Area during their home opener Thursday and nipped Wabasso by two points in a road dual meet Monday. Adrian went 3-0 to win the Fulda-Murray County Central Tournament in Slayton Saturday.

AHS wrestles at the Jackson County Central Tournament Saturday before facing BOLD in Olivia Tuesday.

Adrian 30, Wabasso 28
A late pin by heavyweight Josh Winselman clinched Adrian’s two-point win in Wabasso Monday.

Trailing 28-24 after Wabasso’s Tyler Maertens pinned Cody Lutmer in 4:30 at 215 pounds, Adrian needed a big effort from Winselman and got it when the Dragon pinned Clayton Rudenick in 5:00 to keep his team undefeated.

The teams exchanged pins to start the match (Adrian’s Joey Bullerman covering A.J. Jenniges in 3:10, and Wabasso’s Brandon Schunk sticking Brandon Croat in 2:48) before Adrian moved in front 12-6 with Brandon Bullerman’s 8-5 win over Mitch Altermatt and Pete Jensen’s 4-2 overtime victory over Derek Guetter at 125.

Wabasso’s Justin Irlbeck (8-2 over Clint Metz at 130), Chad Altermatt (9-3 over Dusty Bullerman at 135) and Derrick Jenniges (6-4 over Cody Reverts at 140) posted decision wins to give the Rabbits their first lead of the night at 15-12, but Dragon Adam Voss knotted the team score with a 9-2 decision victory over Jesse Schroepfer at 145.

The teams exchanged wins between 152 and 189 pounds, which set up Maertens’ pin of Lutmer at 215.
Adrian’s Tony Sauer topped Dan Mathiowetz at 152, and Dragon Brandon Schettler pinned Tyler Kremer in 4:30 at 189.

Wabasso’s Cory Schunk handed Tom Slater a 16-5 major decision setback at 152, and Rabbit John Frericks bested Tyler Wolf 13-9 at 171.

Match wrap-up
103 (A) J.Bullerman pins Jenniges.
112 (W) Schunk pins Croat.
119 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Altermatt.
125 (A) Jensen dec. Guetter.
130 (W) Irlbeck dec. Metz.
135 (W) Altermatt dec. D.Bullerman.
140 (W) Jenniges dec. Reverts.
145 (A) Voss dec. Schroepfer.
152 (W) Schunk m.d. Slater.
160 (A) Sauer dec. Mathiowetz.
171 (W) Frericks dec. Wolf.
189 (A) Schettler pins Kremer.
215 (W) Maertens pins Lutmer.
275 (A) Winselman pins Rudenick.

F-MCC tourney
The Dragons dominated competition while going 3-0 to win the team championship at Saturday’s tournament in Slayton.

Adrian posted a 46-21 win over Harrisburg, S.D., in the first round, and that proved to be the closest match the Dragons would be in. AHS bested Red Rock Central-Westbrook-Walnut Grove 52-19 in the second round before pounding Fulda-Murray County Central 62-18 in the finale.

Six Dragons went 3-0 during the event, and two of them recorded three straight pins.

Brandon Bullerman recorded falls over Harrisburg’s Chism Fink (43 seconds), RRC-W-WG’s Wally Stern (44 seconds) and F-MCC’s Luke Giese (58 seconds) at 119. Cody Lutmer pinned Harrisburg’s Brice Hamberg (5:24), RRC-W-WG’s Al Bouman (2:23) and F-MCC’s Jeff Horne (37 seconds).

Dragon Dusty Bullerman had pins against RRC-W-WG’s Donavon Walz (5:41) and F-MCC’s Eric Zins (3:56) to go along with a forfeit from Harrisburg at 140. Heavyweight Josh Winselman pinned Harrisburg’s Pat Aleck (5:24) and RRC-W-WG’s Tobin Richards (5:45) before drawing a forfeit against F-MCC.

Adrian’s Tony Sauer posted a 10-2 major decision win over Harrisburg’s Scott Gackle before pinning RRC-W-WG’s Nick Coulter (2:31) and F-MCC’s Mike Einck (1:50) at 160.

Dragon Pete Jensen recorded consecutive major decision victories over Harrisburg’s Tyler Wright (14-2), RRC-W-WG’s Cory Schroeder (9-0) and F-MCC’s Mitch Clark (16-3) at 130 pounds.

Adrian’s Joey Bullerman (103), Brandon Croat (112), Cody Reverts (135) and Brandon Schettler (189) all went 2-1. Adam Voss (145), Nate Engelkes (152) and Tyler Wolf (171) went 1-2. Josh Croat was 0-3 at 125.

Match wrap-ups
Adrian 46, Harrisburg 21
103 (H) Fink dec. J.Bullerman.
112 (H) Harris dec. B.Croat.
119 (A) B.Bullerman pins Fink.
125 (H) Cawthorne pins J.Croat.
130 (A) Jensen pins Wright.
135 (A) Reverts pins Ballard.
140 (A) D.Bullerman by forfeit.
145 (A) Voss pins Hudson.
152 (H) Johnson pins Engelkes.
160 (A) Sauer m.d. Gackle.
171 (H) Cawthorne pins Wolf.
189 (A) Schettler dec. Enger.
215 (A) Lutmer pins Hamberg.
275 (A) Winselman pins Aleck.

Adrian 52, RRC-W-WG 19
103 (A) J.Bullerman pins Hubert.
112 (A) B.Croat pins Schroeder.
119 (A) B.Bullerman pins Stern.
125 (R) Berrie m.d J.Croat.
130 (A) Jensen pins Schroeder.
135 (R) Cooley dec. Reverts.
140 (A) D.Bullerman pins Walz.
145 (R) Altermatt pins Voss.
152 (A) Engelkes pins Harrington.
160 (A) Sauer pins Coulter.
171 (R) Goettig dec. Wolf.
189 (R) Nelson dec. Schettler.
215 (A) Lutmer pins Bouman.
275 (A) Winselman pins Richards.

Adrian 62, F-MCC 18
103 (A) J.Bullerman pins Kramer.
112 (A) B.Croat by forfeit.
119 (A) B.Bullerman pins Giese.
125 (F) Clarke pins J.Croat.
130 (A) Jensen m.d. Clarke.
135 (A) Reverts pins Anderson.
140 (A) D.Bullerman pins Zins.
145 (F) Olsem pins Voss.
152 (F) Henning pins Engelkes.
160 (A) Sauer pins Einck.
171 (A) Wolf dec. Meyeraan.
189 (A) Schettler pins Einck.
215 (A) Lutmer pins Horne.
275 (A) Winselman by forfeit.

Adrian 60, Pipestone 9
The Dragons opened the season by coasting to a 51-point home victory over the Arrows Thursday.

Adrian won the first three matches to take a 15-0 lead and closed the match by winning the final seven bouts.

Joey Bullerman pinned Taylor Evans in 40 seconds at 103, Brandon Croat drew a forfeit at 112 and Brandon Bullerman edged Zack Morgan 5-2 to give AHS a 15-0 lead.

Pins by Adam Voss (1:05 over Jesse Evans at 145), Tom Slater (1:44 over Mike Luftfield at 152), Tyler Wolf (51 seconds over Paul Peterson at 171), Levi Bullerman (25 seconds over Ryan Alfson at 189), Brandon Schettler (1:33 over Josh Olberding at 215) and Josh Winselman (Blake Klinsing at heavyweight) highlighted Adrian’s seven-match winning streak to end the duel. Tony Sauer added a 10-6 decision win over David Darveaux at 160 to the late run.

Adrian’s Cody Reverts pinned Travis Manderscheid in 2:22 at 135.

Pipestone’s wins came from Kyle Evans (5-0 over Josh Croat at 125), Steve Evans (4-3 over Pete Jensen at 130) and Justin Fruechte (9-2 over Dusty Bullerman at 140).

Match wrap-up
103 (A) J.Bullerman pins T.Evans.
112 (A) B.Croat by forfeit.
119 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Morgan.
125 (P) K.Evans dec. J.Croat.
130 (P) S.Evans dec. Jensen.
135 (A) Reverts pins Manderscheid.
140 (P) Fruechte dec. D.Bullerman.
145 (A) Voss pins J.Evans.
152 (A) Slater pins Luftfield.
160 (A) Sauer dec. Darveaux.
171 (A) Wolf pins Peterson.
189 (A) L.Bullerman pins Alfson.
215 (A) Schettler pins Olberding.
275 (A) Winselman pins Klinsing.

Luverne junior Callen Bosshart helped the Cardinal gymnastics team beat Pipestone Area in a Southwest Conference meet staged in Luverne Tuesday. Bosshart won the all-around, bars, vault and floor titles during the contest.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek gymnastics squad opened Southwest Conference competition by splitting a pair of home matches.

Marshall bested the Cardinals by 7.5 points Thursday, but L-H-BC bounced back to best Pipestone Area by 11.75 points Tuesday.

The 2-1 Cards compete in Redwood Falls Friday before hosting Worthington Tuesday.

Pipestone 110.75
Host L-H-BC dominated the Arrows during Tuesday’s meet at the Luverne Armory.

Cardinal athletes won all four individual events and the overall title while toppling Pipestone by 11.75 points.

Callen Bosshart, the overall champion with 32.65 points, led L-H-BC to victory by winning three individual crowns. Bosshart took top honors on the bars (7.9), floor (8.5) and vault (8.95).

Bosshart also placed second on the beam with a 7.55, an event which was won by L-H-BC’s Amanda Dooyema with a 7.8. Dooyema placed second on the bars with a 7.7.

Danielle Cook had a good night for the Cards which featured placing second on the vault (8.85) and floor (7.95) and third on the bars (7.1).

Brittany Mulder, who finished second all around with 28.65 points, placed fourth on the beam (6.9) and bars (6.6).

Cardinal Brittany Mulder placed fourth on the vault with a 6.9.

Individual scores
Bars: Bosshart, 7.9; Dooyema, 7.7; Cook, 7.1; Mulder, 6.6; Victoria Arends, 4.2.
Beam: Dooyema, 7.8; Bosshart, 7.55; Mulder, 6.9; Boeve, 5.85.
Floor: Bosshart, 8.25; Cook, 7.95; Dooyema, 7.5; Mulder, 6.8; Boeve, 6.55.
Vault: Bosshart, 8.95; Cook, 8.85; Boeve, 8.45; Mulder, 8.35; Arends, 8.0.

Marshall 126.15,
L-H-BC 119.15
The Cardinals dropped their first match of the season Thursday when they hosted the Tigers for a dual meet.

Bosshart had a great night individually for L-H-BC, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Cards from taking a 7.5-point setback.

Bosshart, who was third all around with 32.9 points, tied with Marshall’s Jessica Dolan for first place on the beam with identical 8.25 tallies. Bosshart also finished second on the vault with an 8.9, and was third on the bars and floor with respective 7.5 and 8.25 tallies.

L-H-BC’s Cook picked up a place by finishing third on the vault with an 8.7.

Marshall’s Greta Blom won the all-around (34.55), vault (9.1) and bar (8.8) competitions. Along with sharing the title with Bosshart on the beam, Dolan won the floor with a 9.0.

Individual scores
Bars: Bosshart, 7.5; Cook, 7.25, Amanda Dooyema, 7.25; Brittany Mulder, 6.1; Victoria Arends, 4.55.
Beam: Bosshart, 8.25; Mulder, 6.3; Dooyema, 5.9; Brittany Boeve, 5.5.
Floor: Bosshart, 8.25; Dooyema, 7.95; Cook, 7.4; Mulder, 7.4; Boeve, 7.2.
Vault: Bosshart, 8.9; Cook, 8.7; Boeve, 8.35; Mulder, 8.15; Arends, 7.65.

Ellsworth senior post Brant Deutsch attacks the basket during Thursday’s 57-49 home win over Southwest Christian. Deutsch pulled down 12 rebounds, scored eight points and passed for four assists to help EHS knock off the four-time defending state champions.

By John Rittenhouse
The Ellsworth boys came away with a big victory during an early-season clash against a pair of Southwest Minnesota basketball heavyweights Thursday in Ellsworth.

In a rematch of last March’s South Section 3A championship game, EHS entertained Southwest Christian in tilt between two state-ranked teams.

Ellsworth, ranked No. 2 in the latest Class A poll, defended its perception of being one of the state’s top teams by besting No. 10 SWC 57-49.

The game was played in an EHS gym packed with excited fans, and the teams didn’t disappoint their respective followers with their play.

It was Ellsworth, however, which made an early-season statement by beating the four-time defending state champions by eight points.

SWC got off to a fast start by scoring the game’s first four points before Ellsworth countered with a 9-2 run capped by Dylan Kvaale’s field goal with 3:32 remaining in the first period to take a 9-6 lead.

The Eagles regained the lead at 10-9, but a field goal by Ellsworth’s Curt Schilling gave the Panthers an 11-10 edge at period’s end.

After Ellsworth scored the first four points of the second quarter, SWC countered with five consecutive points to tie the game at 15.

The Eagles led 21-20 when Schilling, who led the Panthers with 22 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, drained a three-point shot to reach the 1,000-point barrier for his career (see related story elsewhere in the sports section) and give the Panthers a 23-21 lead with 2:45 left to play in the first half.

SWC battled back to knot the score at 25, but a three-point play by Schilling with 57 seconds left followed by a field goal from Travis Jenniges with 15 seconds remaining gave the Panthers a 30-25 halftime cushion.

Ellsworth dominated the play in the third quarter, building a 45-33 advantage when Brant Deutsch scored with 1:02 remaining in the stanza.

The Eagles, however, trimmed the difference to nine points (45-36) at period’s end.

Schilling scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to give the Panthers their biggest lead of the night (49-36) before SWC put together a 13-4 run to pull within four points (53-49) with 1:51 remaining.

That proved to be as close as the Eagles would come to catching EHS as the Panthers received field goals from Schilling and Blake Brommer in final two minutes to win by eight.

Jenniges scored 10 first-half points and finished the game with 12 counters. Deutsch snared 12 rebounds and passed for four assists. Kvaale finished with 10 rebounds and four assists.

Box score
Schilling 8 1 3-4 22, Jenniges 6 0 0-0 12, Janssen 1 0 0-0 2, Kvaale 3 1 0-0 9, Deutsch 4 0 0-2 8, Brommer 2 0 0-0 4.

Individual statistics
Ellsworth: 26 of 50 field goals (52 percent), six of 11 free throws (55 percent), 45 rebounds, 11 turnovers.