In this week’s installment of Lots O’ Stuff, the Jackson County Central gymnastics team will finally compete at home this week, we have some information on a few local graduates and we’ll continue the Vikings game notes newsletters even though their season is over.
JCC gymnasts
While the postseason is only five weeks away, the JCC gymnastics team has yet to compete at home this season.
And the Huskies won’t be at home until Saturday when they host the Sweetheart Invitational. The Section 3A meet is Feb. 12 at Worthington.
JCC won a five-team meet hosted by Martin County Area Saturday evening at Live Fit in Fairmont with a team score of 133.45.
Waseca was second (133.025), followed by Luverne (131.175), Blue Earth Area (129.425) and the host Magic (127.025).
Before hosting the Sweetheart meet, Jackson County Central is at New Ulm for a dual meet Tuesday. Look for a newsletter with details on the Sweetheart meet sometime this week.
Augustana wrestling
Six former area wrestlers competed in the Hastings College Open in Hastings, Neb. Saturday, with four placing.
Two Martin County West graduates placed second.
Connor Simmonds was the runner-up at 157 pounds, going 3-1 after a first-round bye. He won two matches by fall and one by decision.
Also placing second was Miles Fitzgerald at 165. Fitzgerald went 3-1, with two wins by decision and one by technical fall.
Two more local grads were third in their weight class.
MCW graduate Payton Anderson was third in the same 157-pound weight class where Connor Simmonds was second. They did meet in the tourney. Anderson went 5-1, recording two wins by decision and one by fall. He won the third-place match 11-9 in sudden-victory overtime.
Jackson County Central grad Jacob Tvinnereim placed third at 165 pounds, going 5-1 as he won two matches by major decision, two by decision and one by medical forfeit.
Windom grad Kade Sammons was 1-2 at 141 and MCW graduate Nathan Simmonds was 1-2 at 174.
Another MCW graduate, Jaxson Rohman, is rated fifth in the country at 125 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
The Vikings return to dual action on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. when they travel to Aberdeen to face Northern State.
Katie Lange
Martin County West graduate Katie Lange, a freshman with the Augsburg University women’s wrestling team, went 5-1 for the Auggies at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Duals at Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.
Lange, ranked first in the country at 143 pounds, won two matches by pin and three by technical fall including one win wrestling up at 155. Her loss was 4-2 to 143-pound No. 2 Ashlynn Ortega of King University.
She’s 13-1 on the season with five pins and eight technical falls.
Augsburg had a 4-2 record as a team in the tournament and placed fifth.
The Auggies, 5-2 overall, are idle from competition until hosting Jamestown and Iowa Wesleyan in a triangular on Jan. 29.
Alyssa Williamson
Martin County West graduate Alyssa Williamson, a 5-6 sophomore guard with the Hamline University women’s basketball team, had nine points, three rebounds and one assist for the Pipers in a 68-59 MIAC win over St. Scholastica Wednesday.
Hamline's game at Gustavus Adolphus scheduled for Saturday was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Pipers were credited with a 2-0 victory by forfeit for purposes of the MIAC standings only. The NCAA declares the game a no-contest.
Hamline is 8-2 overall, 7-1 in the conference. The Pipers are scheduled to host Carleton Monday and Macalaster Wednesday.
Taylor Crissinger
Fairmont grad Taylor Crissinger, a 6-foot junior forward with the Wisconsin-River Falls women’s basketball team, had four points and three rebounds for the Falcons in a 73-61 nonconference win over Concordia-Moorhead last Sunday. She then had four points and six rebounds in a 64-58 loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point Wednesday.
A game scheduled for Saturday vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. UWRF (7-5) is slated to host Wisconsin-La Crosse Wednesday.
Hanna Geistfeld
Hanna Geistfeld of Truman, a 6-foot senior with the Bethany Lutheran College women’s basketball team, leads NCAA Division III in double doubles this season with nine and narrowly missed getting into double digits Saturday.
She led all scorers with 32 points and had a team-high nine rebounds and six assists as the Vikings defeated Martin Luther 97-75 in New Ulm.
Geistfeld also leads the country in field goals, points, free throws and rebounds.
Augustana is 8-6 overall, 3-0 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
The Vikings are scheduled to play at home in Mankato twice next weekend, hosting North Central Friday and Northwestern Saturday.
Vikings game notes
The Minnesota Vikings season may be over, but we’ll be continuing our Game Notes newsletters.
It may be a little painful at times, but look for newsletters the next four Sundays highlighting each of the Purple’s trips to the big game.