The WEM football team improved to 6-3 overall after a 34-8 win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Section 2A Quarterfinals in Waterville. Nolan Wetzel, Jaden Taylor, and Brant Melchert each scored rushing touchdowns. Matthew Van Houdt scored a touchdown on an interception return. GFW is 7-2 overall, with losses this season to Martin County West (31-20) and Maple River (32-20). The seven teams they defeated have a combined 11-52 record. WEM has lost three times. The losses are to undefeated USC, undefeated Lewiston-Altura, and one-loss Mayer Lutheran.
With one Gopher Conference match to play, the WEM volleyball team has already clinched at least a tie for the title.
WEM was the 2018 conference champions. After a sweep of United South Central Thursday, Oct. 10, the Bucs improved to 6-0 in league play and earned at least a share of the 2019 championship.
Medford is 5-1 and their lone loss is to WEM. Faribault BA, WEM’s final regular season opponent Tuesday, Oct. 15, has two conference losses.
WEM has now won 11 straight matches and has not lost a set since Sept. 21.
The WEM football defense has been outstanding over the course of their current four-game win streak.
Friday, Oct. 11 was no exception.
The Bucs limited JWP to 136 total yards in a 20-8 District win over the Bulldogs.
JWP senior running back Jagger Ignaszewski gained 126 yards rushing on 31 carries and caught a pass for six yards.
Throw out his performance and the Bulldogs gained four total yards.
There were a number of top-notch performances from the WEM defense. Seniors Theo Miska, Dylan Androli, Nolan Wetzel, and Brant Melchert combined for 35 tackles.
The WEM volleyball team is currently 25-2 this season after sweeping five opponents at the Cannon Falls Tournament Saturday, Oct. 5. The Bucs defeated Hastings, Immanuel Lutheran, Lake City, Tartan, and downed Medford in the Championship. This was the third time WEM has defeated Medford, the 2018 Class A runners-up. The Bucs will end their regular season scheduled Thursday, Oct. 10 at home against USC and Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Faribault BA.
For the first time this season the WEM/JWP boys and girls cross country teams each finished first in an invitational.
Both Grizzly teams won their respective races in the Grizzly Pie Run Invitational held Thursday, Sept. 26 at Prairie Ridge Golf Course in Janesville.
The girls just missed a perfect score of 15, winning the race with a very impressive score of 18. NRHEG placed second (68), United South Central third (77), and Maple River fourth (81). Blue Earth Area and Blooming Prairie had runners, but did not field a complete team.
A strong second half by Lewiston-Altura proved to be too much for the WEM football team Friday, Aug. 30 in their season opener.
The Cardinals scored four second half touchdowns and limited the Bucs to one in picking up a 27-20 non-district victory in Waterville.
Cardinal senior running back Cole Mundt rushed for 129 yards on 14 carries and scored on runs of 1, 22, 30, and 45 yards.
WEM senior Nick LeMieux gave the Bucs a lead when he caught a tipped pass and scored from 20 yards out less than two minutes into the second quarter. The extra point failed.
The Prior Lake Mudcats were the only one of three Dakota-Rice-Scott League teams to win their first-round game at the Minnesota Class C Amateur Baseball Tournament over opening weekend.
The Mudcats claimed a 4-1 win over Foley to advance to the tournament’s second round.
Meanwhile, St. Patrick’s bats were silenced in a 4-0 loss to Cold Spring and St. Benedict lost a heart-breaker on a walk-off home run in a 3-2 loss to Waterville.
The Waterville Indians Amateur Baseball team improved its record to 32-2 with a 3-2 come from behind win over St. Benedict Sunday, Aug. 18 in the first round of the Class C State Tournament. Nolan Grose hit a solo home run and Riley Schultz hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning for the game-winner. The Indians will play Saturday, aug. 24 at 4:30 p.m. in Maple Lake against Bluffton. Check out the Aug. 22 edition of the Life/Enterprise for more on the win.
For the ninth time, the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team has reached the State Tournament.
The Indians defeated Belle Plaine, 4-0 Sunday, August 4 in the game which clinched their second straight State appearance.
The other years the Indians advanced to State were in 1933, 1994, 1999, 2000 (placing 5th), 2001, 2007, 2012, and 2018.
Waterville will play Jordan for the Region 6C Championship at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 10 at Jordan.
The winner will be the No. 1 seed and the loser the No. 2 seed from the Region in the Class C State Tourney.
The Waterville Indians Amateur baseball Team will start Region 6C Playoff action Sunday, July 28 in Waterville at 2 p.m. The Indians are 26-1 this season, losing their opener to Class B State-rated Northfield. They have won 26 straight games, including 18 straight in the 13-60 League. They are the No. 1 seed in the Region 6C Tournament. For more on the Indians and the other teams in the Region 6C Tournament check out the July 25 edition of the Life/Enterprise.
The Waterville Indians amateur baseball team won three games last week to win the Wet Willy Tournament June 29 and 30 in Waterville. The Indians, winners of 19 straight games after a season opening loss to Northfield, defeated Cannon Falls (2-0), Baseball 365 (7-6), and Union Hill (6-1) to claim the title. Waterville will play at Eagle Lake Saturday, July 6 and return home for a Sunday, July 7 game against the Cleveland Spiders. Game time Sunday is 2 p.m. For more on the Indians check out the July 4 edition of the Life/Enterprise.
All eight of the WEM track and field contingent have advanced to Saturday's Class A Championship Finals. MaeLea Harmon advanced to the 100-meter final. The 4 x 100-meter relay team of Harmon, Toryn Richards, Alexis Morsching and Riley Sammon advanced to the finals. The 4 x 100-meter boys relay team of Isaac Pratt, Levi Wolter, Tanner Ranslow, and Tyler Hermel advanced to the finals. Richards tied for third in the high jump Friday afternoon, which was won by Maple River senior Madi Schirmir. Richards will compete Saturday in the pole vault finals.
Six WEM students will have one more chance to represent their school. Two others will have a few years remaining to do the same.
A total of eight WEM track and field athletes will compete this weekend in the Class A State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul.
The athletes advanced after competing in the Section 2A Meet Saturday, June 2 at Mankato West. They either finished in the top two in their respective events or exceeded the state standard height, distance, or time.
There is a banner which signifies the Buccaneer volleyball team not only advancing to State, but winning the Class A State Championship in the WEM High School.
Now a second banner will be featured on the gymnasium wall.
The WEM softball team has advanced to its first ever Class A State Tournament after rolling through the Section 1A Tournament the last two weeks.
The Bucs outscored four opponents 31-1 on their way to the Section Championship. This included back-to back shutouts of Mabel-Canton, 7-0 and 10-0 in five innings.
The fourth seeded.....
There will be a community send-off for the Buccaneer softball team Thursday, June 6 at 11 a.m.. Please join the WEM pep band and line the sidewalk at the high school entrance and road out of town to wish our Lady Bucs good luck at the 2019 Class A State Tournament. The Bucs will open State Tourney action Thursday at 1 p.m. against Badger-Greenbush/Middle River. Regardless of the outcome of this game, WEM will play at 7 p.m. at Caswell Park in North Mankato, where all State Tournament games will be played.
For the first time in school history, the WEM softball team will be playing in the Class A State Tournament. The undefeated Buccaneers steamrolled through the Section 1A Tournament, outscoring their four opponents 31-1 to win the championship. Thursday, May 30 they defeated Mabel-Canton, 10-0 in five innings, to claim the Section 1A crown. The Bucs will find out early Saturday, June 1 who they will play in the Class A State Tourney. They do know they will play two games Thursday, June 6 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. The opening contest will be at 1 p.m.