Athletics and Activities Update March 12th Posted on March 12, 2018 in Activities, Press Releases Pictured from left to right are: James Liu, Christine Xu, Ally Wang, Tina Chen, Henry Chen, Zander Haws, Toto Chen, Emily Huang, David Feng. Math Team Coach Mary Rueter The Math Team is competing in the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League State Tournament today. The nine competitors on the Prep team; are Henry Chen ’21, Tina Chen ’19, Toto Chen ’18, David Feng ’18, Zander Haws ‘ 18, Emily Huang ’20, James Liu ’20, Ally Wang ’19 and Christine Xu ’19. This is the third year in a row that Tina, Toto and David have made it to the state tournament. This is Ally’s second year at state and the others are making their state tournament debut. During the regular season Prep finished in 4th place in the state of Minnesota small school division. We hope to move up a bit at the state tournament and win a medal. Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach Mike Moen For the past 12 seasons Saint John’s Prep has competed in Class AA in basketball against schools with 2 or 3 times our enrollment. This season the Johnnies returned to Class A. The Section 5A tournament began Thursday with the boys’ traveling to Swanville. Offensively the Johnnies started out on fire-using their size advantage in scoring 40 first half points and taking a 6-point lead into the locker room. The home Bulldogs fought back in the second half and was able to cut into the deficit and then build a 6-point lead of their own with just over 6 minutes left. But the boys’ would not be denied and fought back. They regained the lead and then hung on down the stretch for the 73-68 victory. This was the first section win since the Johnnies were last in Class A. In fact, the win meant the Johnnies were 3-1 in the last 4 Class A section games. Unfortunately, 12 years separated the victories. The semi-final game against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa was equally exciting. Again, the Johnnies played well early breaking the Jaguar pressure defense while building a 3 point half time lead. The action was back and forth, but the Johnnies maintained the lead with under 4 minutes to go. BBE finally gained controlled at that point and was able to convert free throws preventing the Johnnies from cutting into the deficit with the final ending up 53-47. The Johnnies played great as a team in both games, moving the ball well and executing the game plans both offensively and defensively. Nordic Ski Team Coach Bob Ellenbecker Polar Plunge Thirteen members of the Prep Nordic Ski team participated in Saturday’s Polar Bear Plunge to support Special Olympics Minnesota. The team plunged at Sturges Park in Buffalo, MN beginning at 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon. In total our Nordic Ski Team raised over $4,000 for Special Olympics. Participating team members are: Sabella Akre, Kane Bauman, Clare Duffy, Sawyer Engholm, Holly Hansen, Nick Hansen, Sam Hoover, Sam Meyer, Beca Muntifering, Luke Pittelko, Catie Sikes, Sabrina Wuolu and Mr. E. Congratulations Skiers! Knowledge Bowl Coaches Charles Miller and Jen Daiker The Knowledge Bowl team began the playoffs on Friday with a trip to the Small Schools Sub-Regional Tournament in Sartell. Our two teams started the meet tied for 1st and battled back and forth all day. In the end, they finished tied for 2nd and move on to the regional tournament on Monday, March 19, where the top two teams in the A division advance to State at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in April. Good luck! Team 1: Tina Chen ’19, Gabriel Curnutt ’18, Alexander Haws ’18, Regan Mies, ’18, Caitlin Skahen ’19 Team 2: Christian Brenny ’18, Cullin Egge ’18, Lizzy Kolb ’19, Jack Rogers ’18, Gabe Woodard ’18 Boys’ Baseball Coach Dan Stark As the Johnnies prepare for the upcoming baseball season, some exciting news about Joey Stock ’15 who is playing college baseball for Saint John’s University. In the Johnnies opening game, Joey cracked a double and 2 home runs knocking in 5 total runs. Tough to top that, but two days later Joey did something few players in the history of baseball have ever done; he hit two GRAND SLAM home runs in a game against US Merchant Marine. Joey ended the spring trip with 13 total hits; 6 extra base and 16 runs batted in. Joey also pitched in one of the games on the trip going 6 innings and striking out 3 in the outing. Joey did not get a decision in the game. Congratulations Joey and to his parents Tom and Lori. Tom is on the Board of Regents. Congratulations also to Tom Grandy and Dan Stark – Joey’s coaches here at SJP.
