Luverne’s Chris Vickery helped the Luverne tennis team advance to the semifinals of the Section 3A Team Tournament Tuesday. Vickery and John Kreuch posted a win at No. 2 doubles to help the Cardinals beat Redwood Valley 6-1 during a quarterfinal-round match played in Luverne.By John RittenhouseLuverne advanced to the semifinal round of the Section 3A Team Tennis Tournament by recording a 6-1 victory over Redwood Valley in Luverne Tuesday.The third-seeded Cardinals swept RWV in singles play and won two of three doubles tests to best their Southwest Conference rivals by five points.Luverne, 10-10 overall, completes section team play in Redwood Falls Wednesday. Look for complete results in next week’s Star Herald.All of Luverne’s singles players won in straight sets against RWV.Dusty Antoine secured 6-1 and 6-0 wins over Drew Tribble at No. 1. Patrick Bennett notched 6-2 and 6-3 victories over Mike Alexander at No. 2. Kyle Fletcher recorded 6-1 and 6-3 wins over Devan Blaine at No. 3. Derek Boeve saddled Josh Okins with a pair of 6-2 setbacks at No. 4.Luverne’s No. 2 doubles team of John Kreuch and Chris Vickery topped Justin Thiel and Dan Stephens by 6-4 and 6-1 tallies. Cardinals’ David Nelson and Weston Sawtelle recorded 6-4 and 6-2 wins over Dave Sandvold and Sean Ferguson at No. 3.RWV avoided being swept when Laron Schottenbauer and Reed Larson posted a 7-6 (7-2 in the tie-breaker), 6-2 victory over Steven Althoff and Trevor Maine at No. 1 doubles.

Adrian baseball coach Kevin Nowotny congratulates Brandon Wolf after the Dragon center fielder drilled a three-run homer during Tuesday’s home game against Southwest United. Wolf’s blast accounted for Adrian’s first three runs of an 8-0 victory that clinched the team’s second-straight Red Rock Conference championship.By John RittenhouseA rally in the final week of the regular season gave the Adrian baseball team its second consecutive Red Rock Conference championship.The Dragons posted a seven-run win over Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin in Mountain Lake Thursday to tie the Wolverines for first place. AHS then beat Southwest United by eight runs in Adrian Tuesday, which was proceeded by a ML-B-O loss to Murray County Central Monday.Adrian also lost a four-run non-conference decision in Pipestone Friday.The 14-5 Dragons will play MCC or Lakeview to open the Section 3A Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday in Adrian.Adrian 8, SWU 0The Dragons clinched the RRC title with Tuesday’s eight-run home win over the Quasars.David Hoffer pitched a four-hit shutout for seven innings to set the stage for victory defensively. Five Dragon batters slapped two hits each to pace AHS offensively.The teams battled to a scoreless draw through two and one-half innings before Adrian broke through with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth.Brandon Wolf supplied the key blow with a three-run homer to center field. Tyler Wolf added an RBI single as the inning progressed.Tyler Wolf picked up his second RBI of the game with a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fifth. A second run scored on a throwing error by SWU.Joe Kruger singled home a run and Levi Bullerman walked and scored on a passed ball when AHS capped the scoring in the sixth inning.Brandon and Tyler Wolf, Kruger, Bullerman and Pete Hohn had two hits each for the winners.Pipestone 4, Adrian 0A three-game winning streak came to an end for the Dragons when they lost a four-run decision in Pipestone Friday.Arrow pitcher Tom Stotz controlled the game for the hosts. Stotz blanked the Dragons for seven innings, limiting AHS to one hit.Matt Eickhoff notched an infield single to account for Adrian’s safety.Pipestone scored one run in the third inning and three in the fourth against Adrian starting pitcher Tyler Wolf, who took the loss. Brandon Wolf blanked the Arrows in their final two frames.Adrian 10, ML-B-O 3The Dragons moved into a first-place tie with ML-B-O when they rolled to a seven-run win over the Wolverines in Mountain Lake Thursday.ML-B-O sported a one-game edge over AHS in the RRC standings heading into the game, but the Dragons pulled even with the Wolverines by day’s end.The score was tied at two after two innings of play. Adrian, however, dominated the final five frames by outscoring the hosts 7-1.Pete Hohn, who drove in three runs in the game, chased home a counter with a fielder’s choice in the top of the third to give Adrian the lead for keeps. Joe Kruger produced a sacrifice fly and Brandon Diekmann singled home another run before the third inning was complete, giving the Dragons a 5-2 advantage.Hohn hit a solo homer to highlight a two-run fourth inning, but the Wolverines countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 7-3 game.Hohn recorded a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and Diekmann capped a three-RBI effort with a two-run single in the seventh to pad the lead for AHS.David Hoffer pitched the first four innings to pick up the win for AHS. He allowed three runs, three walks and five hits while recording three strikeouts.Hohn pitched the three scoreless innings in relief of Hoffer. He fanned four batters while walking four and allowing two hits.

By John RittenhouseMore than a decade’s worth of disappointment came to an end Thursday for the Luverne girls’ track team at the Southwest Conference Championships in Windom.The Cardinals ended a 12-year drought of not winning a team title by emerging as co-champion with host Windom.LHS, which last won the SWC title in 1991, matched Windom’s scoring output of 124.5 points."We were very happy to win a co-championship," said Cardinal coach Craig Nelson. "We knew it was going to be a close meet going in, and we talked about that all week. Looking at the final scores, with the top four teams being seven points apart, it proved to be true. Every single person who placed helped make the difference for us."The Cardinals battled Windom to a draw without winning an event title.Luverne, however, did place second in five events to help overcome the field.Lexi Heitkamp, Danielle Cook and Kelsey Dooyema finished second individually. Heitkamp ran 3,200 meters in 12:14.48, Dooyema covered 1,600 meters in 5:43.99 and Cook cleared the 300-meter hurdles and reset her school record in the event with a time of 47.63.The Luverne girls placed second in the 800- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 1:50.55 and 10:13.33 times.Callen Bosshart, Amanda Dooyema, Cook and Jenni Christensen ran the 800. Sadie Dietrich, Tera Boomgaarden, Victoria Arends and Heitkamp teamed up in the 3200.The Luverne boys were unable to repeat as SWC team champions during Thursday’s meet.Marshall and Redwood Valley knocked off the third-place finishing Cardinals."The boys did a nice job, too," Nelson said. "We figured it would be a three team race between Marshall, RWV and us. I was surprised by the numbers Marshall put up to win the championship."Unlike the girls, the Luverne boys won five SWC championships during the meet.Marcus Walgrave, who placed second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.43, won the 110-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash with respective 15.02 and 23.33 times.Tyler Elbers cleared 6-0 to win the high jump, and Tim Rust cleared the bar at 11-6 to win the pole vault.Luverne also won the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:38.89. Jake Hendricks, Justin Van Wyhe, Scott Goebel and Ruston Aaker formed the team.Van Wyhe placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 40-7, and Hulstein cleared 5-10 to place second in the high jump.Luverne finished second in the 400-, 800- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 45.84, 1:35.45 and 8:59.3 times.Elbers, Rust, Chris Morgan and Hulstein ran the 400, Elbers, Cody Gehrke, Morgan and Hulstein teamed up in the 800, and Hendricks, Kyle Bitterman, Nick Otten and Aaker formed the 3,200-meter squad.Luverne did emerge as the SWC meet overall champion for the second straight year. The overall title goes to the school that produces the highest combined (girls and boys) team score.Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of Luverne’s top eight finishers during the SWC meet.Girls’ standings: Luverne 124.5, Windom 124.5, Jackson County Central 120, Pipestone 117.5, Worthington 93.5, Marshall 73, RWV 45.Boys’ standings: Marshall 176.5, RWV 165, Luverne 138.5, JCC 70.5, Worthington 55.5, Windom 47, Pipestone 38.Luverne girlsThird place: Cook, 100 hurdles, 16.65; Heitkamp, 400, 1:01.85; Arends, 800, 2:32.63; Marissa Stewart, shot, 32-9.Fourth place: Boomgaarden, 1,600, 5:51.98; 400 relay (Bosshart, Cassie Pap, Erin Hoiland and Nicole Willers), 53.39; Christensen, 200, 28.41; Stewart, discus, 103-4; Hietkamp and Maggie Kuhlman tied for fourth place by clearing 4-6 in the high jump.Fifth place: Serena Franken, discus, 102-3; Willers, 100, 13.85; Dietrich, 800, 2:36.7; 1,600 relay (Christensen, A.Dooyema, Dietrich and Arends), 4:15.12.Sixth place: Kuhlman, 300 hurdles, 53.02; Willers, 200, 28.86; Kuhlman, triple jump, 31-4 1/2.Seventh place: Pap, triple jump, 31-1; K.Dooyema, 3,200, 13:17.78.Eighth place: Bosshart, 100, 14.02; Franken, shot, 28-8; Arends, pole vault, 6-9.Luverne boysThird place: Elbers, 100, 11.9; Aaker, 400, 54.08.Fourth place: Hendricks, 400, 54.46.Fifth place: Hulstein, 110 hurdles, 17.01; Goebel, 800, 2:09.98; Goebel, 1,600, 4:44.49; Van Wyhe, long jump, 18-6 1/2.Sixth place: Otten, 3,200, 10:47.Seventh place: Rust, 100, 12.15; Aaker, pole vault, 8-6.Eighth place: Bitterman, 800, 2:12.93.

The Luverne boys’ golf team won the Sub-Section 3A team title during Monday’s meet in Tyler. Team members include (from left) Tony Smedsrud, coach John Oksness, Steven Berghorst, Andy Haakenson, Austin Hoiland, Jesson Vogt and Colby Anderson.By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys’ golf team earned its first berth in the Section 3A Golf Championships in four years during the Sub-Section 10 meet in Tyler Monday.The Cardinals were able to wrestle the team title away from defending champion Pipestone on a cold, wet and windy day in Tyler.Luverne posted a 337-stroke total during the 18-hole event, besting Pipestone (353) by 16 strokes and the other three teams in a five-squad field.Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (367), Southwest Christian (388) and Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth (398) capped the boys’ field.Luverne’s win ended a four-year drought of not advancing to the section meet as a team. The last time LHS advanced to the section tournament in team competition was 1999.Colby Anderson played a key role in Luverne’s victory by winning the Sub-Section 10 individual championship. Anderson shot a nine-over-par 80 to lead all players at the event.Andy Haakenson finished tied for third place individually with an 85, and Tony Smedsrud and Jesson Vogt were in a three-way tie for fifth place with 86s.Anderson, Haakenson, Vogt and Smedsrud produced scores that counted toward Luverne’s effort as a team.Steven Berghorst and Austin Hoiland turned in 88- and 90-stroke efforts without influencing the scoring.Luverne will take a 21-21 record into the Section 3A Championships at the Marshall Country Club Friday.H-BC-E’s 9-10 boys’ season came to an end Monday.The Patriots finished fifth as a team (the top team advances) and no H-BC-E players were able to lock up one of the five individual qualifying positions for the section tournament.Tom Janssen carded a 96 to lead the Patriots. He needed to shoot a 90 to enter a playoff for the fifth individual qualifying position for the section field.Kyle Sammons carded a 98 for H-BC-E, while Clint Roozenboom and Dustin Bonnema contributed 102-stroke efforts to the team tally. Dusty Seachris and Travis Broesder carded 115 and 126-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.While the Cardinal boys ended a drought at the sub-section meet, the Luverne girls had an extended run of being the team champion snapped during Monday’s competition.Murray County Central nipped the Cards 381-382 to win the sub-section team title, keeping the Cardinals from winning the event for the first time in 10 years (1993).Fulda (387), Adrian (418), Pipestone (437), T-M-B (441) and SWC (548) finished behind MCC and Luverne in the team standings.Luverne did gain some representation for the section event as seniors Gabe Van Dyke and Kim Bennett locked up two of the five individual berths up for grabs in Tyler.Van Dyk tied for second place individually with Fulda’s Erin Oakland MCC’s Alix Bergman by shooting a 19-over-par 90. Fulda’s Abby Oakland won the individual title with an 84.Bennett placed fifth individually with a 92.Mindy Lysne and Nikki Van Dyk added 96- and 104-stroke efforts to Luverne’s team effort. Lysne needed to shoot a 95 to enter a playoff for the fifth individual qualifying position for the section event.Luverne, which finishes the team season with a 34-6 record, received 106- and 121-stroke rounds from Jessica Klein and Brittany Boeve that didn’t contribute to the team scoring.Adrian ends a 10-13 season after placing fourth overall as a team. No Dragons earned individual qualifying positions at the event.Carmen Erlandson shot a 29-over-par 100 to pace AHS.Chantel Cook, Kristi Lonneman and Gina Wolf added 103-, 104- and 111-stroke scores to the team tally.Kelly Banck and Trista Honermann turned in 121- and 125-stroke efforts without impacting the scoring.

By Jim FlemingAs we approach another Memorial Day and honor those who served and died for our country, I can't help but recall memories when I was a youngster living in Hills. Memorial Day was a part of those memories.Memorial Day in my young time was always on May 30. It didn't matter what day of the week that was, that was Memorial Day. The last Monday of May was made effective many years later. Somehow the former date was more important and hopefully some of the following comments will explain why so far as I am concerned. Memorial Day was sort of the end and beginning each spring. The end of the school year and graduation. That frequently occurred just before or after Memorial Day. It marked the beginning of a summer "vacation" for students who would not have to come back to school until the day after Labor Day. Three full months, WOW!Depending on the weather, spring planting was done and frequently the corn had been cultivated at least once. Knee-high by the 4th of July, well, Madam Weather would determine that!Of course the ice had been long gone from the Rez. There were those young men who prided themselves on being the first swimmer in the Rez. The earliest I recall came about as a result of a very warm March and Ward Swenson swam in the Rez in late March. Usually that occurred in April and Ward usually was the first in the Rez. There were others but that was my memory. Of course by mid-to-late July the Rez was covered with a green algae and no one swam. The dressing room consisted of a willow clump on the southwest corner of the Rez. Even a few daring young women used the clump as well.Those were my memories but it wasn't intended to detract from the importance of Memorial Day. To honor those who went before us and served our country, was and is what that day is about. I hope we never forget that. We have been recently reminded that our men and women were and are in harm’s way. Let's make certain that we do not forget those who perform so magnificently for this country and will continue to do so when called upon.I wish to thank you all again for the great reception I received last Memorial Day. I am keenly aware that it was out of respect to my parents, Dana and Irene Fleming!

By Jolene FarleyAnyone interested in building in Hills has many lots to choose from to locate a house. The Hills Economic Development Authority (EDA) has five lots south of the city park for sale and United Enterprises, owned by Gerald Haak, Wilmer Elbers and Tony Bosch, has another 24 lots to the east of the EDA property for sale. The EDA lots, called Parkview 4th Addition, differ in size and are priced accordingly from $8,000 to $15,900. Whoever buys the lots is required to build within one year, according to EDA President Dana Dahlquist. A special incentive for building on the EDA lots is available for buyers. One-tenth of the price will be refunded every year the owner continues to live on the purchased lot. After ten years, the purchase price is totally forgiven. Officials opted to develop the lots after deciding not to build more city owned apartments on the land. "We were thinking about eventually doing apartments down there," Dahlquist said. "But we decided not to do that." The largest lot in the development is sold and a different buyer has expressed interest in a second lot.The property is listed with All States Realty agent, Keith Elbers. United Enterprises has priced their lots in Parkview Addition 1st, 2nd and 3rd from $9,000 to $11,000. "They are developed and they have the sewer and water all in them," said partner Gerald Haak. Fourteen lots, in addition to the 24 lots, have already sold. Only new construction is allowed in the developments. "If anybody wants a map they are available," Haak said. For more information on the United Enterprises lots call Gerald Haak at 962-3710 or Wilmer Elbers at 962-3653.

By Jolene FarleyHills, Beaver Creek and Steen residents will remember fallen comrades and local heroes during two memorial services on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. Legion Commander Robert Sandbulte encourages residents to attend."A lot of people have sacrificed for the freedoms we have. I think it’s important we remember that," Sandbulte said.The Hills-Beaver Creek High School band opens a 9 a.m. Memorial Day service at the Hills American Legion Hall.After the Presentation of the Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "America," Pastor Fred Wilgenberg will offer the invocation.Lee Walraven will read the poem "Freedom’s Never Free" in remembrance of prisoners of war and those missing in action.Fritz Nuffer will speak about how fortunate he was to be raised in Hills and Rock County because "people in the area care about each other". Nuffer, a Hills High School graduate, retired after 26 years in the Army. He served two tours in the Vietnam War. "They have values, and have a respect for God, country and community," Nuffer said. He will touch on the sacrifices of those called to active duty in the National Guard and Reserve units.Nuffer said these heroes "give up a lot of money and time much more than expected when they signed on."After Nuffers’ speech, the memorial service moves to Bethlehem Cemetery where the deceased American Legion and Auxiliary members from the past year will be honored. After the firing squad salute, Shanna Tilstra will play Taps. Lunch will be served at the Legion Hall. The Hills service is sponsored by the Hills American Legion Post 399.Beaver Creek’s social hour begins at 9:15 a.m., before 10:30 a.m. memorial services at Driver’s Restaurant. The Hills-Beaver Creek High School band is also scheduled to play for the Beaver Creek ceremony.Luverne teacher Jim Sanden, Sioux Falls, will speak. Sanden was in the Army infantry and served one tour in the Vietnam War. More information about his speech was unavailable at press time.Beaver Creek Cemetery Graveside Services begin at approximately 12:15 p.m. with the honor guard, Taps and a gun salute.The Beaver Creek graveside service is sponsored by the Luverne American Legion Post 123 and Auxiliary and V.F.W. Post 2757 and Auxiliary.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills Thunder opened the 2003 amateur baseball season with a victory Sunday in Hills.The Thunder entertained Truman, and more importantly, their fans as they cruised to a 16-1 victory in the opener.Hills’ rout featured an 11-run eruption in the sixth inning, which turned a 5-0 advantage into a commanding 16-0 lead.The hosts plated one run in the bottom of the first inning before adding two counters in the second and third frames to open a 5-0 cushion.Cade Lange scored the first run of the season for the Thunder when he drew a walk and scored on a wild pitch in the first.Justin Van Maanen and Eric Harnack slapped run-scoring singles in the second inning, and Wade Jellema and Eric Harnack added RBI singles in the third to make it 5-0.Any chances of Truman putting together a rally to win the game were erased when the Thunder scored 11 runs in the sixth.Matt Funke, David Top, Derek Sammons and Matt Carroll came up with two-run singles to highlight the big inning. Keith Forshey added an RBI single to the rally, and Carroll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home another run.Chad Rauk blanked Truman through the first five innings to pick up the win. He fanned seven batters, walked one and allowed two hits.Top pitched the final two frames, allowing one run and two walks while recording three strikeouts.Eric Harnack and Top led Hills at the plate with two hits each.The Thunder played in Wilmont Wednesday and will host Fairmont Sunday.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton track teams placed third in six-team fields at the Camden Conference meet staged in Tracy Friday.The Patriot boys compiled 116 points during the meet, finishing four points behind team champion Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (120) and two points behind runner up Dawson-Boyd-Lac qui Parle Valley (118).Canby-Minneota-Lincoln HI (145) won the girls’ team crown. R-T-R (115) and H-BC-E-E (105) placed second and third respectively.Considering the Patriots competed at the Red Rock Conference meet in Slayton the day before, placing third in team competition at the CC meet came as a nice surprise to Patriot coach Tom Goehle."We really were not trying to win the meet," Goehle said. "I was happy our kids ran so well coming off another conference meet the day before."The H-BC-E-E boys secured six conference championships and placed second in three events during the meet.Tyler Bush turned in a couple of record-setting performances for the Patriots.Bush ran a 4:33.58 while winning the 1,600-meter run. His time bettered the H-BC-E-E set by Brad Haak last season.Bush, Todd Alberty, Chris Reid and Kale Wiertzema won the 1,600-meter relay in 3:34.66, which also stands as a new cooperative program record.H-BC-E-E also won the 400-, 800- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 46.9, 1:39.96 and 9:01.45 times. Cody Scholten, Bush, Curt Schilling and Reid ran the 400. Alberty, Lee Jackson, Schilling and Brad Van Dyke teamed up in the 800. Jackson, Kerry Fink, Derek Haak and Alberty formed the 3,200-meter team.Reid, who placed second in the long jump with a distance of 18-1, won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.18.Scholten cleared 5-8 to place second in the high jump, and Derek Haak placed second in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:31.9.The H-BC-E-E girls won four events and placed second four times at the CC meet.Cassi Tilstra set an H-BC school record by running 800 meters in 2:27.51 to win the event. Her time bettered the old H-BC mark of 2:27.6 set by Lisa Conger in 1987.Erin Boeve, who placed second in the 100-meter dash in 13.18, won an individual crown by crossing the finish line first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.6.The Patriots won the 400- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 55.87 and 10:29.98 efforts.Chelsea Fink, Rosie Lewis, Mya Mann and Kelly Mulder joined forces in the 400. Amanda and Cassi Tilstra, Mann and Rachel Kvaale won the 3,200.Cassi Tilstra, Amber Poppen, Mann and Boeve finished second in the 800-meter relay in 1:54.67.Poppen cleared 4-6 to place second in the high jump, and Ashley Bucher finished second in the 800 with a time of 2:39.08.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s Top-six finishers from the CC meet.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: Wiertzema, 800, 2:13.71.Fourth place: Schilling, shot, 44-2; Alberty, triple jump, 37-8; Wiertzema, 1,600, 5:06.46.Fifth place: Bush, 5-6, high jump; Adam Finke, 3,200, 13:14.Sixth place: Jackson, 400, 56.67; John Sandbulte, 300 hurdles, 50.29; Fink, 800, 2:20.13; Jared Drenth, 3,200, 13:28.H-BC-E-E girlsThird place: Poppen, long jump, 13-8 1/4.Fourth place: A.Tilstra, 400, 1:08.4; Jocelyn Bucher, 800, 2:42.85; Erika Fransen, 3,200, 13:29.03; 1,600 relay (A.Bucher, J.Bucher, Brittney Helgeson and Tyra Hinrichs), 4:40.26.Fifth place: C.Tilstra, high jump, 4-4; Kari Roozenboom, 100 hurdles, 18.79; Jill Weitgenant, 1,600, 6:05.19.Sixth place: Lewis, discus, 84-6; Mulder, shot, 27-9 1/2; Poppen, 200, 29.54; Kvaale, 3,200, 13:56.66.