The Big South Conference announced its All-Conference teams for boys’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ golf, softball and baseball.
 
Baseball
The Luverne Cardinals finished the 2021 season with a 20-5 overall record. They finished first overall in the Big South All-Conference small school standings.
The Cardinals’ season came to an end in the section semifinals when they lost to Paynesville 14-5.
The Cardinals had five players earn first-team All-Conference honors and one named to All-Conference honorable mention.
Casey Sehr, Bailey Cowell, Cade Wenninger, Connor Connell and Ethan Beyer were all named All-Conference, while Braydon Ripka earned honorable mention.
“It’s about the team,” Luverne coach Mike Wenninger said.
“That team game gets you the accolades at the end of the season. We’re not going to get all those all-conference honors if we’re .500. Us putting it together as a group gave us the opportunity to have that many all-conference players. Deservedly so, you don’t get 20 wins without having good baseball players. You can’t just have one good kid to get you there, you have to have a good team.”
 
Tennis
The Luverne tennis team reached the Class A State Tournament for an 11th straight season in 2021.
Pierce Cunningham qualified as an individual and the doubles team of Ben Jarchow and Blake Frahm qualified for the doubles state tournament.
Cunningham, Blake Frahm, Ben Jarchow and Griffen Jarchow all received All-Conference honors for the Cardinals.
 
Softball
The Cardinals’ softball team had four members of the team receive all-conference recognition.
Roz Oye and Billie Connell earned all-conference honors, while Ainslie Robinson and Carly Olson both received honorable mention honors.
 
Golf
The Luverne golf team had three athletes earn all-conference honors.
For the girls’ team, Morgan Gonnerman and Lauren Hansen both received all-conference recognition.
On the boys’ side of things, Henry Hartquist earned all-conference honors.

The Luverne Legion team went 2-1 this past week, including a 1-1 performance in a Marshall tournament.
Luverne started the week with a 7-5 loss against Marshall and then bounced back to defeat Albany 6-5.
Luverne wrapped up the week by defeating Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3-2 on Monday, June 21.
 
Marshall 7, Luverne 5
Marshall jumped on Luverne early by scoring five runs in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead.
Luverne got on the board by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to trim Marshall’s lead to 5-3.
Marshall got one run back in the bottom of the fourth to push their lead back to 6-3.
Luverne inched closer by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth to trim Marshall’s lead to 6-5.
Marshall added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-5 game.
Unfortunately, Luverne was unable to mount a seventh inning rally and fell to Marshall 7-5.
 
Luverne 0 0 0 3 2 0 0
Marshall 2 3 0 1 0 1 x
 
Hitting: Beyer 1-3; Wenninger 2-4; Crabtree 2-4; Overgaard 1-4; Ripka 2-4; Halverson 1-3;
 
Luverne 6, Albany 5
With the game deadlocked at 0-0, Luverne struck first by scoring one run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
Albany scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead.
Luverne tied the game by scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Albany broke the tie by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Luverne tied the game back up at 5-5 when they scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
After holding Albany off the board in the top of the seventh inning, Luverne walked it off by scoring a run in the final inning to win 6-5.
 
Albany 0 0 0 0 3 2 0
Luverne 0 0 1 0 2 3 1
 
Hitting: Beyer 2-4; Wenninger 2-4; Crabtree 1-3; Overgaard 2-4; Halverson 1-3
 
Luverne 3, RTR 2
Luverne scored one run in each of the first three innings to claim an early 3-0 lead after three innings.
RTR scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to trim Luverne’s lead to 3-2.
That would be the final movement on the scoreboard as the two teams failed to push across any runs in the final three innings.
With the win, Luverne now owns a 2-2 record on the young season.
 
RTR 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Luverne 1 1 1 0 0 0 x
Hitting: Cowell 2-3; Wenninger 2-3; Anderson 2-3

For a third straight season, the Luverne Cardinal girls’ 4-by-800 relay team raced their way to a state championship in the event.
On Friday, June 18, at St. Michael-Albertville High School, the quartet of Regan Feit, Tiana Lais, Jenna DeBates and Tenley Nelson took home first place with a time of 9:34.65.
“It’s special,” Luverne track coach Pete Janiszeski said. “Anytime you can win a state title, it’s a special feeling. To do it three years in a row is something else.”
Feit, Lais, DeBates and Nelson saved their best for last. The 9:34.65 time was the best mark that the team posted all season.
“We raced really well,” Janiszeski said.
“For us to get the best time of the year out there was important. There were other teams in the mix of things.
He said the runners stepped up and had great races.
“Tiana had a great race with her personal best (PR) split,” the coach said. “Jenna had a great PR split. Tenley had a great time and Regan was close to a PR split.”
The 2021 season marked the first year that Lais and DeBates were members of the state championship relay team. Nelson and Feit have been members of each relay team that took home the state championship.
 “Those two have been a part of each one of them,” Janiszeski said. “It’s extra special for them. It’s a testament to them. They take a lot of pride in it. We’ve established that tradition in that event.”
The only thing that could slow down Luverne’s 4-by-800 relay team was the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the outbreak last season, there was no spring sports season in the state of Minnesota in 2020.
That pause in action didn’t allow the Cardinals to go for the three-peat in the event. Janiszeski believes that if there had been a season last year, that the Cardinals would be celebrating their fourth straight title.
“I think we could have done it four years in a row if we had a season,” Janiszeski said. “They take a lot of pride in that event. They want to be a part of that tradition. I thought this was probably the most balance we’ve had in the event.”
The 4-by-800 relay team will lose Feit to graduation, but will return Nelson, Lais and DeBates. Along with those three, the Cardinals will get Brooklynn Ver Steeg back from a torn ACL injury that forced her to miss the 2021 track season.
With a strong group returning in 2022, the Cardinals will have a good chance of winning their fourth straight state championship in the 4-by-800 relay.

A dynasty is defined as a line of hereditary rulers of a country.
The Luverne boys’ tennis team is not the Ming Dynasty, but the Cardinals have ruled over the Big South Conference and Section 3A for the past 11 years.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Lucas Larson, the Cardinals made their 11th straight Class A State Tournament appearance in 2021.
The Cardinals were ousted in the opening round of the state tournament by Mounds Park Academy 5-2.
Pierce Cunningham qualified for the individual state tournament for the Cardinals after winning the individual Section 3A Tournament.
Cunningham lost in the opening round of the state tournament to Minnehaha Academy’s Lincoln Reichenau 2-1.
Cunningham lost the opening set 7-5. The Luverne junior answered back to win the second set 7-5. In the third set it was Reichenau defeating Cunningham 6-1.
The Luverne doubles team of Ben Jarchow and Blake Frahm qualified for the Doubles State Tournament after winning the Section 3A Doubles Tournament.
In the doubles state tournament, the Luverne duo of Jarchow and Frahm fell in the first round to Hermantown’s team of Zam Plante and Aaron Evjen in straight sets.
The Hermantown duo won the first set 6-1 and then knocked the Luverne duo out of the tournament by defeating them in the second set 6-2.
 
Road to state tourney
The Luverne tennis team opened the season on Friday, April 9, in Luverne with a 6-1 win, setting the stage for a successful season that led to the state tournament.
 
LHS 6, Fairmont 1
Luverne’s No. 1 singles player Pierce Cunningham kicked off his season in impressive fashion on April 9.
Cunningham defeated Ameya Komaragiri 6-0 in the first set and 6-0 in the second set.
Griffen Jarchow won his match in three sets. Jarchow won the first set 6-3, and then dropped the second set 6-3. Jarchow won the third set 10-3 to pick up the victory.
Chance Tunnissen won his match in two sets. Tunnissen won the first set 6-4, and then won the second set 6-1 to pick up the victory for the Cardinals.
Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow, Luverrne’s top doubles team, won their opening match of the season.
The duo won the first set 6-4 and then took the second set 6-2 to pick up the victory.
Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen won their match 2-0. They won the first set 6-0 and then took the second set 6-1.
Jayson Rops and Kyle Ferguson won their match in straight sets. The duo won the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-0.
 
LHS 3, St. James 2
Griffen Jarchow and Cunningham defeated their opponents in straight sets April 10. The duo won the first set 6-0 and the second set by the same score.
Ben Jarchow and Frahm won their match 2-0. They won the first set 7-5 and the second set 6-3.
Rops and Miller won a back-and-forth match 2-1. The Cardinals duo dropped the first set of the match 6-4.
Rops and Miller bounced back to win the second set 6-2, and it was Rops and Miller coming out on top, winning the pivotal third set 10-7.
 
LHS 7, Blue Earth 2
Pierce Cunningham won the first set of his match 6-1. He then picked up the win with a 6-1 second set victory.
Griffen Jarchow won the first set of his match 6-2. He then won the second set 6-0.
Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow won the first set of their match 6-3. The duo then won the second set 6-4.
Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen won a back and forth first set 7-5. They then won the second set 6-2.
Jayson Rops and John Miller won their match in straight sets. The duo won the first set 6-0. They then took the second set 6-3 to pick up the 2-0 victory.
 
LHS 4, YME 3
The Cardinals edged the Sting tennis team 4-3.
Griffen Jarchow won his match in straight sets. Jarchow won the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-0 to pick up the victory.
Miller won his match in straight sets. Miller won his first set 6-0 and the second set 6-2.
Frahm and Ben Jarchow won the first set of their match 6-4. The Luverne duo won the second set 6-0 to pick up the victory for the Cardinals.
Nath and Ommen won the first set of their match 6-0. The duo won the second set 6-2 to pick up the victory.
 
LHS 7, Montevideo 0
The Cardinals didn’t lose a match against Montevideo on Saturday.
Cunningham won his match 2-0. Cunningham won the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-0.
Griffen Jarchow won his match in straight sets. Jarchow won the first set 6-0 and the second set 6-1.
Miller won the first set of his match 6-3 and the second set 6-4.
Ferguson won his match in straight sets. Ferguson won the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-0.
Frahm and Ben Jarchow won their doubles match in straight sets. They won the first set 6-2 and the second set 6-2.
 Nath and Ommen won their match in straight sets. They won the first set 6-2 and the second set 6-2.
Spencer and Caleb Kracht won the first set of their match 6-4. They then took the second set 6-3.
 
LHS 5, Worthington 2
Cunningham, Luverne’s No. 1 singles player didn’t lose a set in his match. He defeated Alec Langerud 6-0, and 6-0.
Griffen Jarchow defeated Benjamin Schrieber 6-1 in the first set. Jarchow won the second set 6-0 to pick up the match victory.
In doubles action Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow defeated David Sternke and  Devin Kaddee in straight sets.
The duo of Jayson Rops and John Miller defeated Tyson Henkels and Quinten Burns. Rops and Miller won the first set 7-5 and then won the second set 6-0 to pick up the match victory.
Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen defeated Alex Mazariegos and Kevin Le in the first set 6-0. The duo then won the second set 7-6.
 
LHS 7, RV 0
In singles competition, Pierce Cunningham defeated Redwood Valley’s Andrew Muetzel in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set of the match 6-1 and then took the second set 6-2.
Griffen Jarchow also won his match in straight sets for the Cardinals. Jarchow won the first set in convincing fashion, 6-0. He then won the second set 6-1.
Chance Tunnissen won a competitive match 2-0. Tunnissen defeated Laiten Goodthunder 6-2 in the first set and 7-5 in the second set.
Kyle Ferguson won the first set of his match over Cole Johnson, 6-4. Ferguson then won the second set 6-2 to pick up the match victory for the Cardinals.
The only doubles match that wasn’t a forfeit was between Luverne’s Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow and Redwood Valley’s Levi Stoneberg and Noah U'Ren. Luverne’s duo defeated Redwood’s 6-0 and 6-2.
 
LHS 6, DB 1
It was all Cunningham, all the time in his match against Dawson Boyd’s Gavin Stulz on Saturday, May 1.
Luverne’s No. 1 singles competitor defeated Stulz 6-0 and 6-0 to pick up the match victory for the Cardinals.
It was the same result in the No. 2 singles matchup. Griffen Jarchow defeated his counterpart, 6-0 and 6-0.
Ferguson also made quick work of Jordon Perkins in singles competition. Ferguson won the first set 6-0 and the second set 6-0.
No. 4 Kyle Ferguson, Ben Jarchow and Blake Frahm were pushed to the brink against Wylie Wiebe and Jackson Buer.
The Cardinals duo dropped the first set 6-4. They bounced back to win the second set 6-4 to force a third and final set.
In the final set it was Ben Jarchow and Frahm coming out on top with a 10-7 set victory.
Jayson Rops and John Miller defeated Dawson-Boyd’s team of Matthew Martinson and Wyatt Wiebe 6-0 in the first set and 6-0 in the second set.
Luverne’s Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen defeated Dawson-Boyd’s Justin Perkins and Nate Gruwell 6-0 and 6-0.
 
LHS 4, PAS 3
The Luverne Cardinals’ tennis team improved to 9-0 with a 4-3 victory over Pipestone Area on Thursday, May 6, in Pipestone.
Luverne’s top singles player, Pierce Cunningham, defeated Tony Wacker in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set 6-0 and then picked up a 6-1 second-set victory to win the match.
Griffen Jarchow defeated Will Rops in a back and forth first set 6-4. The second set was all Jarchow, who picked up a 6-0 victory to win the match for the Cardinals.
Luverne’s Chance Tunnissen and Lucas Zupp played a competitive three-set match.
Tunnissen won the first set 7-6. Zupp answered back by winning the second set 6-2. Zupp edged Tunnissen in the third set 11-9.
In doubles action, the duo of Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow defeated Pipestone’s Cole Paulson and Issac Stilas 6-4 and 6-1.
Luverne’s Jayson Rops and John Miller won their match in straight sets. The Cardinal duo defeated Pipestone’s Cody Norberg and Chase Wilson 6-1 and 6-2 to help the Cardinals pick up the 4-3 victory.
 
LHS 4, St. James 3
The Luverne Cardinals’ tennis team continued its dominance on Monday, May 10. The Cardinals defeated St. James 4-3 in Luverne to remain undefeated and improve to 10-0 overall.
Luverne’s Pierce Cunningham defeated Marco Hernandez in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set 6-0 and took the second set 6-2 to pick up the match victory.
Griffen Jarchow won his match in straight sets for the Cardinals. Jarchow defeated Payton Brown in the first set 6-0. Jarchow then took the second set 6-1 to pick up the victory.
Kyle Ferguson lost a hard-fought match to St. James’ Preston Wegner.
Wegner won the first set 7-5 and then took the second set 6-0.
Brennan Kern defeated Luverne’s Chance Tunnissen in straight sets. Kern won the first set 7-6 and took the second set 6-2.
Luverne’s Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow defeated the duo of Caleb Rivera and James Gutierrez in a thrilling three-set match.
The Cardinal duo won the first set 6-1. Rivera and Gutierrez bounced back to win the second set 6-3. The Cardinal duo won the third set 6-4 to pick up the 2-1 victory.
Luverne’s Jayson Rops and John Miller won a back and forth match over Rudolfo Arreola and Andrel Rivera. Rops and Miller won the first set 7-5 and then took the second set 7-6.
 
New Ulm 4, LHS 3
It took until the end of the season, but the Luverne Cardinals’ tennis team suffered its first match loss of the season on Tuesday, May 18.
Playing for the Big South Conference Championship, the Cardinals fell to New Ulm 4-3 in Luverne.
New Ulm’s Isaac Bluemhoefer defeated Luverne’s Pierce Cunningham in a three-set match.
Bluemhoefer bested Cunningham in the first set 6-0. Cunningham answered back to win the second set 6-2. In the third and final set, Bluemhoefer edged Cunningham 6-4.
Luverne’s Griffen Jarchow defeated New Ulm’s Max Gieske in a thrilling three set match.
Jarchow took the first set in convincing fashion 6-0.
Gieske battled back to win the second set 7-6 to force a third set. In the third set it was Jarchow coming out on top with a 6-3 set victory.
Luverne’s Chance Tunnissen and Kyle Ferguson both lost their respective matches in straight sets.
The duo of Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow picked up the match victory for the Cardinals over Nathaniel Janssen and Leo Waloch. Frahm and Jarchow won both sets by the score of 6-1.
The doubles team of Jayson Rops and John Miller defeated New Ulm’s duo of Cody Gilman and Tate Trullinger in straight sets. The Luverne duo won both sets by the score of 6-3.
Luverne’s Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen lost their doubles match to Isaac Davis and Dylen Carreon in three sets.
Ommen and Nath took the first set by the score of 6-2.
Davis and Carreon answered back by winning the second set 6-3. In the third set it was Davis and Carreon coming out on the winning end 7-6.
 
LHS 6, RV 1
The Cardinals opened the section tournament on Monday, May 24, with a 6-1 victory over Redwood Valley in Luverne.
With the win the Cardinals advanced to the semifinals where they’ll play either Pipestone Area or Lac Qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd on Tuesday, May 25, in Redwood Falls.
Cunningham defeated Redwood Valley’s Andrew Muetzel in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set 6-1 and then took the second set 6-0.
Griffen Jarchow won his match against Jacob Zollner in quick fashion. Jarchow won both sets by the score of 6-0 to pick up the victory for Luverne.
Tunnissen won his match against Laiten Goodthunder in straight sets. Tunnissen won the first set of the match 6-2 and took the second set 6-0.
Frahm and Ben Jarchow won their match against Levi Stoneberg and Noah U’Ren in straight sets. The Cardinal duo won the first and second set by the score of 6-0.
 
Section Championship
For the 11th straight season the Cardinals won the right to participate at the state tournament after winning the Class 3A Section Championship on Tuesday, May 25, in Redwood Falls.
 
LHS 4, Pipestone 3
Luverne’s Pierce Cunningham defeated Pipestone’s Tony Wacker in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set of the match 6-0. Cunningham then won the second set 6-2 to pick up the match point for the Cardinals.
Griffen Jarchow won his individual match against Pipestone’s Will Rops. Jarchow won the first set 6-0 and the second set 6-1.
Chance Tunnissen won a three-set match over Pipestone’s Lucas Zupp.
Tunnissen lost the first set of the match 6-2. He then bounced back to win the second set 6-4 and the third set 6-2 to pick up the victory for the Cardinals.
The Luverne duo of Jayson Rops and John Miller defeated Pipestone’s team of Cody Norberg and Chase Wilson in straight sets. Rops and Miller won both sets of the match by the score of 6-0.
 
LHS 6, YME 1
The duo of Rops and Miller kept chugging along against Granite Falls Yellow Medicine East (YME). The Luverne tandem defeated YME’s Mason Rhode and Gage Corner by the score of 6-0 in both sets.
The team of Logan Ommen and Ethan Nath won a three-set match over YME’s Austin Canatsey and Ryan Syring.
Canatsey and Syring won the first set of the match 6-3. Nath and Ommen bounced back to win the second set 6-1. The Luverne duo won the third set 6-2 to pick up the match point victory for the Cardinals.
Luverne’s Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow defeated YME’s Derrick Lien and Isaac Olveson in straight sets. Frahm and Jarchow won both sets by the score of 6-1.
Tunnissen defeated YME’s Brandon Beyer in a thrilling three-set match.
Beyer won the first set 6-4. Tunnissen answered back by winning the second set 7-5. In the third set it was Tunnissen coming out on top with a 10-1 victory.
YME’s Jackson Torgerson defeated Kyle Ferguson in a back and forth three-set match.
Torgerson defeated Ferguson in the first set 6-3. Ferguson forced a third set by winning the second set 7-5. In the third set Torgerson came out on top with a 11-9 victory.
Griffen Jarchow defeated YME’s Tyler Syring in straight sets. Jarchow won the first set 6-3 and the second set 6-1.
Cunningham won his match against YME’s Ean Clark in straight sets. Cunningham won the first set 6-3 and the second set 6-1.

Regan Feit has been a mainstay on three Luverne Cardinals’ varsity teams since she was a seventh-grader.
“I started running cross country and track when I was a seventh-grader and also started playing varsity hockey when I was in seventh grade,” Feit said.
“I’ve been playing hockey since I was a third-grader though and have run in road races for as long as I can remember.”
The Luverne senior has been a member of six cross country teams that made the state tournament.
“We went to state every year as a team since I’ve been in cross country,” Feit said.
“We always came pretty close to being on the podium as a team, but just barely came short of placing third many times. When I was a junior, we placed second as a team at the state meet, which was very exciting.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota State High School League did not hold a Cross Country State Meet this fall. If there had been a state meet, the Cardinals would have been one of the favorites to win the whole thing.
“I think that we had a very good chance of winning the team title at state this year,” Feit said.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to have a formal state meet through MSHSL. We did place first as a team at the ‘state’ meet we had which was put on through the coaches association this year.”
On the ice, Feit has been a member of three teams that made the Class A State Hockey Tournament.
In the spring, Feit has qualified for the state tournament every season since she was a seventh-grader.
All those individual accolades and team success makes her one of the most decorated athletes in Luverne school history.
“Regan is just a pure athlete,” said Luverne track and cross country coach Pete Janiszeski. “She’s very explosive and versatile.”
At the Class A State Track Meet on Friday, June 18, Feit competed in her final events for the Luverne Cardinals.
Feit placed 10th in the 300-meter hurdles and was a member of the 4-by-800 relay team that won its third straight state championship.
She was a member of all three of those relay teams that won the event at the state tournament.
“Not many can say that they are track state champions, but to be able to say that I am a three-time state champion in the 4-by-800 is something very special,” Feit said.
“It’s unfortunate that there was no state track last year due to COVID-19, but it gave us another year to improve ourselves and be as fast as we possibly can. I am so grateful for the girls that I got to run with in my senior year.”
As a seventh-grader, Feit qualified for the state meet in the 1,600.
The following year, she was a member of the 4-by-800 relay team.
As a freshman, she reached the state meet in the 1,600 and in the 300-meter hurdles. The following year, she placed seventh overall at the state meet in the 300-meter hurdles.
“She’s versatile,” Janiszeski said. “She can pretty much can do a lot of different distances and events. She’s pole vaulted for us in the past. She works hard at it. She’s very athletic. She’s very good at a lot of things. She has great leadership qualities and is willing to sacrifice individual things for relays and team things. She’s always been team-oriented.”
On the ice, Feit was a member of three hockey teams that reached the state tournament in 2016, 2020 and 2021.
“She’s just a very hard worker,” Luverne hockey coach Tony Sandbulte said.
“She’s very strong and athletic.”
One of Feit’s favorite memories during her time on the Luverne hockey team was when the Cardinals defeated Mankato West in the 2019-2020 section championship to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
“The game was really close and intense the entire time,” Feit said. “We had to work hard to try and win, which made winning the game that much better. Being able to make it to state in hockey three times has really been a blessing and was so much fun every time.”
Feit may be done competing for the Luverne Cardinals, but she’ll get a chance to become a decorated collegiate athlete at Winona State University.
“At Winona State University I will be running mainly the 400 hurdles and the open 400 as well,” Feit said.
“The hurdle race will be a little different at college than it is right now because at the high school level in Minnesota it is a 300-meter race with hurdles, but once you go to college it changes to a 400-meter race with hurdles. The 400 is brutal without hurdles so adding hurdles is going to be a challenge, but it is a challenge that I am willing to take and put the work into being the best I can be at it.”
There are people who are addicted to running, and it’s safe to say that Feit may be one of those individuals.
It’s something that she fell in love with from an early age, and she’s thankful that she’ll get the opportunity to continue to do something she’s passionate about for the next four years.
“I have been running ever since I was little, and I knew that I didn’t want to give up my love for running competitively after my high school career was done,” Feit said.
“Running in college was a must for me. … To be able to continue to run in college is so exciting for me and I am very anxious to get started and meet everyone on the track team.”
One thing that she said she loves about running is the camaraderie built with teammates and competitors. 
“Being able to create more bonds with new people is something I look forward to doing at Winona this fall,” Feit said.
“I have found that you make some of the best and closest bonds with your teammates, and being able to continue to make those bonds with the track girls at Winona is something that I’m really looking forward to this fall.”
Feit said that it was her mother, Amy Feit, who got her started on the path of long-distance running.
“I have always watched my mom run as I was growing up and would always want to run in the races with her,” Feit said.
“My mom has definitely influenced me in becoming a distance runner. She runs a lot of marathons and she would always get up early to train and run before work. I grew up watching her put a lot of work into something she really loves. I think that is what influenced me to join cross country as a little seventh-grader.”
Feit said she is looking forward to forging bonds at Winona State but noted that she will miss the relationships that she built during her time as a Cardinal.
“Luverne has so many good people and I’ve always had such great teammates in all of my sports. We always support each other and try to help each other in any way we can,” she said.
“As a Cardinal you always know that someone is there to have your back for you when you need a little help. That is something that I will most definitely miss from the groups of people that I have had the opportunity to be with at Luverne.”

Rock County Commissioners meet May 4
Herreid Board Room          9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse May 4, 2021
The meeting was called to order by the Chair with all Commissioners present; also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness and County Attorney Jeff Haubrich.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the May 04, 2021,
County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Burger, to approve the April 20, 2021,
County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Thompson, seconded Reisch, to approve the consent agenda, declared
carried on a voice vote.
1. Resolution No. 14-21, Authorizing EMPG Supplemental Grant
Agreement - $9,256.00
Michelle Baumhoefner, A.C.E. Executive Director and Linda Wenzel, Local A.C.E. Director together presented a 2020 activity recap and program updates.  A.C.E. of Southwest MN has 2,205 volunteers who have recorded 193,659 hours of service at 357 active volunteer stations. This is the equivalent to just over 93 full-time employees. The cumulative cost per hour of volunteer service of all A.C.E. volunteers was $2.26. Locally, Wenzel stated that Rock County has 494 volunteers that donated 33,810 hours of service at 60 active volunteer stations. Both Baumhoefner and Wenzel thanked the County Board for the continued support.
Calla Jarvie, Rock County Community Library Director informed the County Board that she has completed the 12-week Leadership Training through NACO.  Training expenses were waived as Jarvie was Rock County’s first participant.  Jarvie the acknowledged the program had an aggressive syllabus, but all participants gained a valuable network of cohorts that will continue well into the future.  The County Board congratulated Jarvie in completing the leadership program.
Jarvie also informed the County Board of a Small Cities/Rural Libraries grant award of $3,000 from the American Library Association. Jarvie intends to utilize the funds to initiate a community conversation to explore a library endeavor that offers a resource beyond the walls and service hours at the library. 
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer presented the claims; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Burger, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available upon request at the Auditor/Treasurer's office.
MAY 4, 2021 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
A & B BUSINESS INC $2,647.47 
FIALA/ERNEST G   3,000.00
FLEET SERVICES DIVISION-ADMIN FMR   6,613.10
HEIMAN INC   2,573.00
LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC   2,564.08
LIBERTY TIRE RECYCLING LLC   2,360.30
LUVERNE/CITY OF   2,880.00
MVTL LABORATORIES INC   2,091.30
NOBLES COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER   5,620.00
STREICHER'S 12,758.40
SUBSURFACE INC 10,340.00
TOLLEFSON PUBLISHING   2,500.00
53 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 13,781.11
     TOTAL                 $69,728.76 
 
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report; motion by 
Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented the bid results for SAP 067-604-032, a curb and gutter/sidewalk repair project on Luverne’s Main Street from TH75 to Blue Mound Ave:
•Musch Construction $274,597.89
•Ideal Landscape   284,621.00
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to accept the low bid from Musch Construction for $274,597.89, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Engineer requested approval of Resolution No. 12-21MnDOT/Rock County Detour Agreement 1046604 to utilize CSAH 4 and CSAH 3 as detour routes for I-90; motion by Burger, seconded Williamson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Engineer presented another resolution for approval, Resolution No. 13-21, a MnDOT/Rock County Detour Agreement 1046611 to utilize CSAH 4 and CSAH 3 as detour routes for I-90; motion by Overgaard, 
seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he had attended the following meetings:
City/County Liaison, Budget Committee.
  Commissioner Thompson stated that she had attended the following meetings: SWHHS, A.C.E. Public Utilities Commission Public Hearing Walleye Wind.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he had attended the following meetings: City/County Liaison, Public Utilities Commission Public Hearing Walleye Wind, Walleye Wind informational meeting.  Commissioner Overgaard posed the question of reinstating the County Employee Appreciation picnic; no action was taken at this time.
  Commissioner Burger stated that he had attended the following meetings:  Southwest Health & Human Services, Public Utilities Commission Public Hearing Walleye Wind, Budget Committee, Supporting Hands Nursing Family Partnership.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he had attended the following meetings: Prairie Rose Community Fund and Public Utilities Commission Public Hearing Walleye Wind. 
With no further business to come before the County Board, motion by Reisch, 
seconded by Overgaard to adjourn, declared carried on a voice vote.
(06-17)

Rock County Commissioners meet April 20
Herreid Board Room          9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse April 20, 2021
The meeting was called to order by the Chair with all Commissioners present; also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy 
Administrator Susan Skattum and County Attorney Jeff Haubrich.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the April 20, 
2021 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the April 06, 
2021 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the consent 
agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
1. Resolution No. 11-21, 2020 EMPG Grant - $17,737.00
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, presented (6) conditional use permits (CUP); the CUPs were presented a Public Hearing on April 12 , 2021 of which there was no opposition. The following CUPs were approved as follows:
1. Reker Construction, for gravel extraction, stockpiling, and associated 
processing located in the NE 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 26 of Clinton 
Township; motion by Burger, seconded by Thompson, to approve as per 
conditions listed on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
2. Central Specialties, for placement and operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt 
plant located in NW 1/4 of Section 13 of Vienna Township; motion 
by Overgaard, seconded by Burger, to approve as per conditions 
listed on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
3. Central Specialties, for placement and operation of a temporary hot 
mix asphalt plant located in the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 35 of Mound 
Township; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve as per 
conditions listed on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
4. Central Specialties for placement and operation of a temporary 
hot mix asphalt plant located in the W 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 23 
of Denver Township; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to 
approve as per conditions listed on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
5. Duininck, Inc. for placement and operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt
plant located in the N 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Section 14 and the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of 
Section 11 of Denver Township; to approve as per conditions listed 
on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
6. Duininck Inc. for placement and operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt
plant located in SW 1/4 Section 21 of Battle Plain Township; motion
by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve as per conditions
listed on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator informed the County Board that there is a vacancy for a township official on the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and that Peter Bakken is submitting an application.  Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to submit a letter of support on behalf of the Rock County Board of 
Commissioners, declared carried on a voice vote.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims and per diems of $2,000; motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a unanimous vote.  A complete listing of the claims is available upon request at the Auditor/Treasurer's office.
APRIL 20, 2021 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
CHS $6,851.78 
CMRS-FP   2,000.00
COUNTIES PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY   6,709.00
ERICKSON ENGINEERING   3,830.00
FIDLAR TECHNOLOGIES INC   2,671.20
KETTERLING SERVICES INC 10,222.03
LUVERNE/CITY OF   7,643.94
LYON COUNTY LANDFILL 14,616.36
PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP 17,957.40
ROCK MOTOR SPORTS LLC 14,699.00
SANFORD HEALTH   3,519.00
STAPLES ENTERPRISES INC   2,355.73
WEX BANK   3,167.67
72 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 30,405.52
     TOTAL               $126,648.63 
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report; motion by 
Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator and Auditor/Treasurer led a discussion regarding updating the county’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)with the potential of long term funding for some of those projects. After discussion, it was the consensus of the County Board to continue with the development of a county CIP document.
The Administrator requested authorization to move forward with a fiber install project at the Law Enforcement Center and the Land Management Office locations totaling $31,700. The project creates a fiber redundancy between the State of Minnesota network and the Alliance/SDN network; the Administrator also stated that the project is eligible expenditure for the Federal American Rescue/Recovery Act funding. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Burger, to approve 
the fiber install project for $31,700.00, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board briefly discussed the Next Era Open House scheduled for April 27th from 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. at SpringBrooke Events in Beaver Creek, Minnesota.
The Administrator led a discussion regarding the status of COVID-19 vaccinations for county employees stating that all employees have had the opportunity to get their vaccination; it was determined that all county functions and services will resume to pre-COVID effective May 1, 2021.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he had attended the following 
meetings: Southwestern MN Opportunities Council.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she had attended the following meetings: no meetings to report, stated that Mark Sehr, Rock County Engineer will be presenting the RCHD 5-yr Construction Plan to the Rotary organization.  
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he had attended the following 
meetings: Planning & Zoning, Land Use and Hardwick City Council.
Commissioner Burger stated that he had attended the following meetings: 
Luverne Township and Sharing Hand Nursing Partnership. 
Commissioner Williamson stated that he had attended the following
meetings: Rural Water and One Water On Plan.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting 
was declared adjourned by order of the chair.
(06-17)