A metro player of the year. An undefeated regular season. State championships in Class 1A and 3A.
Veteran softball coach Sean Hall has seen a thing or three in 17 years. Yet Mia Schmidtke found a way to impress him.
Schmidtke, a senior second baseman at Forest Lake, hit three home runs in a 13-8 victory over Blaine in the Class 4A, Section 7 semifinals. She finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk.
“I have never had a high school player have that great of an offensive game in 17 years as a high school coach,” Rangers coach Hall posted on Facebook.
Schmidtke will play at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse next season.
Bergeland honored
Centennial senior Jakob Bergeland was named to the Wrestling USA Scholastic All-America team. Bergeland joins Jared Massey as the only two wrestlers in Centennial history to be awarded this honor. Recognition is based on overall high school record and accomplishments at the state high school championships, national junior freestyle and Greco-Roman championships, Cadet National Championships and Super 32 Challenge, and academic excellence and citizenship.
Coon Rapids coach leaves
Greg Malling has stepped down as Coon Rapids football coach after one season. Malling left Wisconsin powerhouse Hartland Arrowhead to try to rebuild the Coon Rapids program. The Cardinals went 0-9 last fall. Malling will return to Wisconsin, this time to coach at Oconomowoc High School.
David La Vaque