A balanced attack will help the Goessel Bluebirds as they try to follow up last year’s fourth-place finish in the state tournament with another solid season. “Our scoring will be spread out and our five seniors will be counted on,” coach Justin Coup said The team’s seniors are: back row (from left), Seth Ott, Sam Lehrman, Nathan Ensz, Cameron Voth and Kurtis Duerksen. The Bluebirds also expect big contributions from junior lettermen: front row (from left) Travis Fensky, Austin Unruh, Kendall Voth and Craig Banman. Andrew Ottoson / Free Press
The Goessel High School boys’ basketball team returns one starter from the squad that went 23-5, won the Heart of America league with a 10-1 record and placed fourth at the Class 1A state tournament a year ago.
Experienced players Jennifer Raymond (left) and Aspen Frey will feature prominently for the Goessel girls this season. The same is true to a lesser extent of every player on the Bluebird roster of 11 players. First-year coach Ryan Hoopes said, “They are a hard-working group of girls and very coachable.”
In the wake of a 10-13 season that saw the Bluebirds post a 5-6 Heart of America league record, the Goessel High School girls’ basketball team lost its top five scorers.
Having graduated four major contributors from a 14-9 team, the Canton-Galva boys will lean heavily on returning starters Ted Regehr (left) and Andrew Westbrook (not pictured). The team also has a strong group of players stepping into larger roles, including junior Destin Nightingale (right).
Success breeds success, and the Canton-Galva boys’ basketball team knows the saying is true from recent experience. For consecutive seasons, the Eagles reached the sub-state finals. The 2007 season begins with that achievement in full view—even though it will be difficult to repeat.
The core of the Canton-Galva girls basketball team is seven members deep. Avoiding injuries and foul trouble are keys for the Eagles. The team’s rotation is: (from left) back row Kaitlyn Bressie, Kaitlin Dailey, Kaycie Shearer; front row Shannon Williams, Kylie Haines, Allie Enns, Ashley Vogts.
The good news for fans of the Canton-Galva High School girls’ basketball team is that the Eagles’ core of players remains largely intact after a 14-win season.
With seven members of last year’s team ready to play again this season, coach Barry Fritz enters his fourth year at CGHS with a group that showed a knack for winning close games last year.
With six returning letterwinners, the Marion boys have a mix of experienced players and new players from last season’s 11-10 squad. The six letterwinners include three juniors and three seniors: back row, Luke Gordon, senior Justin Heidebrecht, Elliott Hett, senior Chase Carlson; front row, Mitchell Leppke and senior Calvin Jeffrey. Andrew Ottoson / Free Press
After posting an 11-10 record on their way to fifth place in the Mid-Central Activities Association in 2006, the Marion boys come into 2007 with two very large holes to fill at the top of their roster.
Gone is Travis Hett, whose propensity for creating open looks off the dribble and knocking down difficult shots generated open chances for teammates.
