Darwitz returns to her home ice

Posted under Eagan Sports, Sports on Thursday 10 December 2009 at 2:07 pm

by Andy Rogersehs-b-hock-4.jpg
Thisweek Newspapers

The Eagan Civic Arena was filled with hockey fans of all ages Tuesday to view something rarely seen on any ice rink.

It was boys versus women. Olympians versus high schoolers.

And one of Eagan’s favorite daughters was in the middle of it all.

The U.S. women’s national team defeated the Eagan boys varsity team 5-3 on a snowy Tuesday night, thanks in part to women’s team captain Natalie Darwitz, who grew up in Eagan. In many ways it seemed like both squads were the home team.

Darwitz made her presence felt almost immediately, helping put Team USA on the board with an assist 18 seconds into the game.

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Lightning seek to extend hot streak

Posted under Sports on Thursday 10 December 2009 at 2:01 pm

by Andy Rogers
Thisweek Newspapers

The Eastview Lightning wrestlers have high expectations again this season.

After finishing second last season in the Lake Conference with an 18-9 overall record and two tournament victories, coach Kurt Habeck and his crew feel they have a chance to be even better this season.

The Lightning have one state participant returning in Nels Peterson at 160 pounds.

They had several wrestlers come close to qualifying for state last season and are hungry for a spot.

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Irish wrestlers eye tourney wins

Posted under Sports on Thursday 10 December 2009 at 1:57 pm

by Andy Rogers
Thisweek Newspapers

The Rosemount wrestling team may not have all its weight classes filled, but the wrestlers on the roster are primed for any opponent.

During the early part of the season, the Irish are concentrating on what they can accomplish during various tournaments.

Last season, the Irish won the Tartan and Shakopee tournaments and finished third in the 12-team Eastview tournament.
Coach Brett Larson would like to see something similar happen again.

After finishing 2-2 at the Hastings duals last weekend, Larson feels good about reaching that goal. Rosemount defeated Prior Lake and Centennial, two recent state qualifiers, at Hastings.

While the Irish have more wrestlers in their lineup than in recent years, the weights aren’t evenly filled.

“I think we’ll have a pretty good year, but forfeiting a couple weights will make it a little difficult,” Larson said.

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Many new names on wrestling roster

Posted under Eagan Sports, Sports on Thursday 10 December 2009 at 1:51 pm

by Andy Rogers
Thisweek Newspapers

Eagan High School’s wrestling team has many new faces this season.

For starters, Timothy Hartung has taken over as head coach. He was a national champion with the University of Minnesota in the late 1990s, and he’s been coaching with the Gophers, Iowa and Iowa State since.

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Lakeville emphasizes team unity on mat

Posted under Sports on Thursday 10 December 2009 at 1:45 pm

by Andy Rogers
Thisweek Newspapers

A quick glance at a wrestling match and one may think it’s an individual sport.

There’s no statistic for assists. There’s no place in the record book for a double play. But every wrestling coach will say its a team sport.

“They are very unified,” Lakeville South coach Mike English said. “The guys have done a good job so far of supporting one another both on and off the mat.”

So when a wrestler steps on the mat, they are not alone. They bring hours of working together in the gym and hear encouragement from their teammates as matches unfold.

Many individuals from Lakeville North and South have high hopes for qualifying for state this season, but for now it’s about the team.

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