Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

The difference between winning and losing in sports can be razor thin, but things seem to be even closer for the Lakers in high school sports this fall season.

The boys soccer team ended its season with a 6-6-4 overall record.  Every game seemed to come down to the wire, including the Section 8A opener at Minnewaska, Thursday night, where the Lakers fell in double-overtime to the Melrose Dutchmen, 1-0.

Minnewaska was 1-0-1 against Melrose this season and also had two ties against Hillcrest and Pelican Rapids this season and those teams played in the Section 8A semifinals this year (Hillcrest won) to see who would play St. Cloud for the title.

And, don’t think Hillcrest doesn’t has a chance because Hillcrest (lost 1-0) and Alexandria (lost 2-1) were the only teams to lose to SCC this season by one goal as the Crusaders are 18-0 going into the championship game.

Yes, the Lakers tied with Hillcrest, which lost to SCC by one goal; things were that close.

•  The Laker volleyball team lost a five-game match to Melrose and four-game decision to Sauk Centre last week to drop to 11-10 overall and 6-7 in the WCC.

Minnewaska Area has lost three matches by 3-2 scores this season and also lost in four games to Sauk Centre and BOLD in recent home matches where the Lakers seemingly had command.

If the Lakers could have won four of those five matches, they would be 15-6 overall and 10-3 and in second place in the WCC.  Instead, the Lakers are looking at a possible 10th seed in the Section 6AA Tourney and a possible first-round match at Melrose.  Volleyball matches can be that close.

•  The girls tennis team had a great season this year and went on to lose to NLS in the Section 6A semifinals, 5-2, in a match that included two three-set losses for the Lakers.  NLS went on to upset Osakis in the finals, 4-3, meaning the Lakers weren’t that far away from a possible section title.

In the individual tourney, Alia Randt and Megan Thorfinnson, the Lakers’ normal first and second singles players, respectively, are playing doubles and they’re in the “Final Four” and only one or two wins away from a state berth.  Yes, they’re that close.

•  The Minnewaska Area football team played its best game this fall against Howard Lake-WW (18-12 win) and during the first half of the season opener against Morris Area.  The Lakers will be favored this week against Melrose and if the Lakers win, they will finish 2-6 overall and will be the fifth seed and open up the Section 6AAA Tourney at fourth-seeded Sauk Centre.  That means despite going into the final week of the regular-season with only one win, the Lakers were only one victory short of having a chance to host a playoff game at home to open up the section playoffs.

And, if you think the win over HLWW was against a slouch, think again, as HLWW has defeated Montevideo (21-6), Melrose (28-14) and Sauk Centre (20-14) this year.  Yes, the Lakers were that close.

•  Swimming is another sport that comes down to fractions of a second and this year, it’s almost guaranteed it will definitely be that close when the state berths are decided during the Section 8A Swimming and Diving Meet, Nov. 10-11.

Having the best chances at state berths this year should be Soffia and Lyla Stadtherr, Melena Longtin, Becca Femrite, Mesa Kittelson, Clare Barnstuble and a couple of relays.  But, you have to know it’s going to be oh, so very close.

•  And, of course you also have to know the Section 6A Cross-Country Meet is going to come down to the wire.  All the teams know it so it’s just a matter of going out there and all the runners doing their best.

When everything is said and done, you have to figure the state berths will be decided not by minutes, but by only a few seconds here and there, and you have to know the Lakers will either be very excited or very disappointed because they know going in they’re going to be so very close.