Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

I was just working on the 2024-25 winter sports schedules.  Although the Gators’ swimming and diving team is still in action, it’s not too early to start looking ahead to the start of the winter sports season.

The girls basketball team is the first to get its season underway.  The Lakers are set to play at the Sauk Centre scrimmage, Saturday, Nov. 16 before opening up the season at home, Friday, Nov. 22 versus Lac qui Parle.

The Lakers have three-straight home games to open up the season, Nov. 22, Nov. 26 (EV-Watkins) and Dec. 3 (BBE) and also have a six-game homestand set for later in the year from Jan. 16-31.  

Overall, the Lakers, who will be playing under a new coach (Nick Danielson), have 14 home games out of 26 games scheduled during the regular-season.

•  The boys basketball team is set to open up the season, Tuesday, Dec. 3 at KMS, the first of three away games to begin the season.

The Lakers finally come home for the home opener, Tuesday, Dec. 10 against NLS.  It’s going to be a tough opening part of the season for the Lakers, who play KMS, BBE, Redwood Valley, NLS and Barnesville to begin the 2024-25 schedule.

Minnewaska Area, coached by Zach Traphagen, does have a three-game homestand from Dec. 10-13 and then has at least one home game each week from Jan. 9-Feb. 24.

•  In wrestling, the Lakers had only three home meets scheduled last year and none after Jan. 12.  This year, the Lakers are set to host triangulars Dec. 5, Dec. 19 and Jan. 14 and also host the Minnewaska Invitational, Friday, Jan. 10.

That’s a lot of early chances to see the Lakers, who should have a great team this year after sending five wrestlers to state last year, including three that are back this season (Chase Smith, Miles Wildman and Landon Schiffler).

•  And, the dance team is set to get its season officially underway at the Minnewaska Invitational, set for Friday, Dec. 6 in the high school auditorium.  The dance teams both came up just short of qualifying to state last winter and should be in the thick of things again this year.

•  There are three boys and girls basketball doubleheaders this year, including Jan. 10 (at Litchfield), Feb. 11 (boys against Benson and girls vs. Albany) and Feb. 14 (at West Central Area).  

Go Lakers!