Sports from the week of August 22, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Frisbee golf, anyone?

Sneak preview offered for new disc golf course near Walnut Grove

Plans for a new Frisbee golf course near Walnut Grove took flight last week.

Professional disc golfer Chuck Kennedy of Inver Grove Heights put on an aerial demonstration of disc golf at Upper Plum Creek Park, where Kennedy has been hired to design a new course.

“People are going to come from all over the country to play this course,” he said, as he looked over the park's rolling, lightly wooded terrain overlooking Lake Laura. “I see this as an ideal scenario.”

Frisbee golf is growing in popularity, Kennedy said. Avid players plan their vacations around the locations of disc courses.

The Upper Plum Creek Frisbee golf course is a project of Redwood County. Funding for the $5,000 project is coming from the Walnut Grove Lions, Meadowland Farmers Co-op, and Redwood County REA.

The goal, said Redwood County Commissioner Brian Kletscher, is to make a popular park even better.

“This is something the entire family can do,” said Brian Kletscher, Redwood County Commissioner. “Campers are always looking for something new to do.”

Gridders keep learning new system

The Panther football team begins two-a-day practices this week as they prepare for their opening game against Redwood Valley on Thursday, August 30 at Tracy. They will participate in a scrimmage at Sleepy Eye Saturday with Wabasso, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's and Windom.

"It is going very slowly right now," said Panther Head Coach Joe Kemp. "The offense is entirely new to these kids and it takes time to make progress."

"I have been impressed with our offensive line so far," said Assistant Coach Randy McIntire. "I don't think there will be a better offensive lineman around than Darin Wilking. However, I don't see any Derek Rignell out there. We will be smaller and slower on defense and we will lack depth. We have, right now, too many kids out because of injuries or disciplinary actions."

The squad includes 19 freshman.

Volleyball team seeks to improve passing consistency

The Panther volleyball team is busy preparing for their opening match next Tuesday with Minneota. Led by ten returning letter winners—Laura Zwach, Marcia and Maria Ankrum, Katie Lanoue, Jenny Otto, Jenny Tholen, Kristen Rokke, Kristina Anderson, Rhonda Bitker—good things are expected from the squad this season. Most of the girls played on the Junior Olympic team that competed in the national tournament in Salt Lake City this summer.

"It has come as a surprise to me that our strengths and weaknesses have reversed since last year," said third year coach Katie Gervais. Last season we were a very good passing team but did not excel at hitting. This year we seem to be much better at hitting but not as good at passing."

"One of our goals for this season is to improve on our passing," said Gervais. "We also have to learn to play with more consistency and to be able to maintain our intensity throughout the match."

The Panthers are excited to be back in the Apple Valley Tournament.

"That tournament gives us a chance to see some teams that we wouldn't ordinarily get a chance to play, such as Stewartville, the defending state champion in our class," commented Gervais.