Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

The postseason begins this week for Minnewaska Area Laker fall sports teams.  The Lakers are having a great fall season with the volleyball team 10-3 overall, the football team 3-2, the girls tennis team 17-3 and the cross-country teams among the top teams in the area.  In addition, the boys soccer team is fighting for a home playoff game and the Gators hope to send multiple entries to the state tourney.

Yes, we’re nearing the time of year where the games and meets are a little more important and the accompanying stress and pressure begins to mount.

Embrace it Lakers!  Yes, enjoy the moment and the stress.  Take it in.  This is what you want.  This is why you’re playing sports.

The girls tennis team moved up to third in the state Class A rankings and is set to open up the section tourney, Thursday at home.  Coming up could be a couple of big, tough matches against Osakis and/or Litchfield.

I remember my daughter playing in three section girls tennis team championship matches in four years and winning them all.  They were tough.  Two were at Gustavus and another was in St. Cloud somewhere, I think.  It wasn’t easy and the stress was intense, but when the season began, that was where the team wanted to be (playing for a section title) . . . the alternative was to be playing a piggyback match, lose, and be done.  That would have been the easy way out, but it’s nothing anyone wants.

The volleyball team is also having a great season and still has a chance to earn the WCC title.  The Lakers fell to WCA in five games last week, but WCA also beat Sauk Centre in four games, Tuesday, so if Minnewaska Area can beat the Mainstreeters this week and win all their other WCC matches, the Lakers can earn at least a share of the title.

It will be a pressure-filled match, but that’s exactly what the Lakers were hoping for when the season began. Yes, success is all around at Minnewaska Area High School this fall and a lot of great things can still happen in the next month as the section tournaments begin in all sports over the next few weeks.

Good luck Lakers.  Embrace the pressure and enjoy the moment.  This is where you wanted to be!