Our focus group was too busy to meet this week, so for the second week in a row, here's Lots O' Stuff.
This week there's college cross country, football, volleyball and women's soccer, plus some baseball.
With no further ado, here we go.
Cross country
Two area graduates with the South Dakota State women's cross country team established new PRs Friday at the SDSU Classic at Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings.
A week after shaving 18 seconds off of her 5K PR at Augustana, Jackson County Central graduate Jessica Christoffer took another 24 seconds off with a time of 18:28.
A junior for the Jackrabbits, she placed sixth out of 51 runners.
Fairmont grad Hannah Neusch, a freshman at SDSU, placed 41st in 20:48. That's her PR by a minute in just her second college race.
Next meet for the Jackrabbits is the Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights on Sept. 24.
Football
JCC graduate Rudy Voss, a redshirt freshman quarterback at South Dakota State, saw his first playing time for the FCS second-ranked Jackrabbits in their 52-7 win over Division II Lindenwood Saturday night in Brookings. The Lions had been 21st in the first Division II ratings.
Voss entered the game with 4:25 to play in the third quarter.
He completed his only pass for five yards and ran the ball three times for 14 yards with a long gain of seven yards for a first down on a third-and-four play.
Another JCC graduate, Haley Tvinnereim, is a sophomore captain on the SDSU cheerleading squad.
The Jackrabbits, 2-0 on the season, are off next week and then play at Indiana State on Sept. 25.
Volleyball
JCC grad Alaina Wolff is a 5-5 freshman libero for 17th-ranked Wayne State College, which went 3-1 and placed second at the Colorado Premier Tournament, losing 3-2 to 20th-ranked and host Metro University in the championship match Saturday.
Wolff had 17 digs and two set assists in the championship match. Earlier Saturday, she had nine digs, two set assists and one service ace in a 3-0 win over second-ranked Angelo State.
On Friday, she had seven digs and one set assist in a 3-0 win over No. 5 Lewis, Ill. and 11 digs, two set assists and one service ace in a 3-0 win over No. 9 Western Washington.
The Wildcats (6-1) open their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule in Minnesota next weekend, playing at Minnesota-Duluth Friday and St. Cloud State Saturday.
JCC graduate Megan Gallagher is a 5-6 freshman setter at Bethany Lutheran College.
On Friday, she had 21 set assists, two digs and one service ace vs. Concordia-Moorhead and 16 set assists, eight digs and one ace vs. Macalaster at the UW-Superior tournament. The Vikings lost both matches.
Saturday, she recorded eight set assists and nine digs in a loss to Nebraska Wesleyan and 27 set assists and five digs in a 3-0 win over Northland College.
BLC (2-7) is at home twice next weekend, hosting Buena Vista Friday and Macalaster Saturday. It will be the Vikings' third meeting with the Scots this season.
JCC grad Molly Brinkman is a 5-5 defensive specialist at Mount Marty College, which was at the Peru State triangular Friday and opened its Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule Saturday.
On Friday at Peru, she had nine digs and three set assists in a loss to Dakota State and then had 13 digs, six service aces and two set assists in a 3-2 win over the host team.
Saturday, Brinkman posted seven digs and three set assists in a loss to Hastings College.
The Lancers are at York College Tuesday and College of Saint Mary Wednesday.
Also, some area grads are coaching volleyball on the college level.
Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield graduate Lindsey Wilber is the head coach at Dakota Wesleyan, which is 10-1 overall. The Tigers won twice at Peru State Friday and then opened their GPAC schedule with a 3-1 win at Briar Cliff Saturday night.
Wesleyan hosts Northwestern Wednesday.
JCC grad Michelle Aggen is an assistant coach at Augustana University. The Vikings are 5-3 and open NSIC play on the road next weekend, playing at St. Cloud State Friday and Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.
JCC graduate Megan Bezdicek is a volunteer assistant coach at Minnesota State, which is 5-3. The Mavericks open their NSIC schedule at home next weekend vs. University of Mary and Minot State.
Martin County West graduate Alyssa Taylor is an assistant at Gustavus. The Gusties went 4-0 at the Cornell tournament and are 8-1 on the season. Gustavus is at the UW-Eau Claire tournament next weekend.
Women's soccer
Two Fairmont grads are members of the Bethany Lutheran College women's soccer team that is 3-0, which is the best start in school history. The Vikings have outscored their opponents 6-0.
Sophomore Lexi Kaufman has stated all three matches as a midfielder. She has seven shots, three on goal.
Senior defender Mikayla Stradtman has started in two of Bethany's three matches.
The Vikings had a game scheduled today vs. Alverno College that was canceled. They'll host Viterbo University on Monday.
Baseball
Fairmont graduate Luke Becker's Schaumburg Boomers have won the Central Division title in the independent Frontier League and will open the playoffs at home Tuesday. The regular season ends today.
Becker is hitting .237 (61-257) with 10 doubles, 5 triples and 2 home runs. He 29 runs batted in, has walked 33 times and has been hit by a pitch three times. His on-base percentage is .328.
BTW, the weekend after Labor Day is my favorite weekend of the year.