Throughout the last few years, the WEM volleyball team always tries to bolster their regular season schedule with topnotch teams.

This year has been no different.

Last week the Bucs battled two state-rated teams and despite losing both matches, there were some very positive things which came from these matches.

Bucs pick up big win over Cobras

The WEM volleyball team had a perfect week last week which included a key win over one of the Gopher Conference favorites, Triton.

The Buccaneers notched three straight wins between Sept. 15 and Sept. 18, with two of those against Gopher Conference opponents. The biggest of those was a four-set victory over Triton, handing the Cobras their first conference loss.

WEM/JWP junior Wyatt Jans had the top performance for the Grizzly boys cross country team during the NRHEG Invitational which was held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Riverview Golf Course in New Richland.

Jans covered the 5,000-meter course in 17:51, placing 6th overall among the 70_ runners.

Mankato Loyola/Cleveland senior Soren Kelly won the race in 16:29. He was followed by Austin Pacelli sophomore Isaac Johnson in 17:08 and Tri-City United (TCU) senior Grant Fitterer in 17:21.

The WEM/JWP girls cross country team had their top five runners finish in the top 25 of the Maple River Invitational Thursday, Sept. 11.

The Grizzlies placed fourth among the five full teams with 72 points. Springfield/ Cedar Mountain won the meet with 38 points. They were followed by Jackson County Central (51), Minnesota Valley Lutheran (66), WEM/JWP, and Medford (142).

WEM/JWP competed without their top runner McKenzie Westphal and with her they probably would have finished second overall.

The WEM/JWP boys cross country team put together their best team performance of the season Thursday, Sept. 11, placing second in the Maple River Invitational.

The Grizzlies scored 57 points top finish as runners-up to Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) for the team championship. MVL scored 29 points and had five runners in the top 11. Placing third through sixth were Springfield/Cedar Mountain (64), Medford (112), Jackson County Central (120), and Blue Earth Area (135).

With six letterwinners, two of whom were All-Gopher Conference First Team selections, returning, the WEM volleyball team is ready to contend for a Gopher Conference Championship this fall.

The Buccaneers are looking to improve on their 2024 season in which they finished 7-3 in the conference (3rd overall) and 18-13 overall.

Seniors Liza Baker, Addison Condon, Alenka Jans, and Robynn Schwichtenberg along with juniors Bryella Pope and Alix Velzke return to the varsity.

Pitching and mistakes are huge in post season play.

Just ask the Waterville Indians and the Litchfield Blues, who faced off Sunday, August 17 in the opening round of the Class C State Tournament at Hutchinson.

The Indians allowed only one earned run and took advantage of some timely hitting to edge the Blue, 2-1, in 11 innings.

Dallas McBroom pitched eight outstanding innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.

Friday night’s Waterville Indians game had a number of very special moments which will be remembered for years.

Before the game there was a tribute to long-time Waterville Indians Board of Director Tom McBroom, who passed away earlier that morning.

There was the presentation of the second annual Shane Sellner Memorial 13-60 League Player of the Year, which went to Indians shortstop Ben Boran. Rick and Luke Sellner presented the award to Boran.

The WEM girls flag football team opened up some eyes this past summer with their performance during their first season.

Their efforts have given them a chance to do something players would only dream of.

They get to play during halftime of the Saturday, August 16 Minnesota Vikings preseason game which starts at noon.

“The girls are ecstatic,” Jon Bakken, who coaches the team, said. “It is going to blow us away to be at the Bank.”

Last year it was an even dozen for the Waterville Indians Amateur Baseball Team. After last weekend they increased that total to a baker’s dozen.

The Indians will be making their 13th Class C State Tournament appearance after winning two straight games in the Region 5C Tournament played Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 in Cannon Falls.

Waterville defeated Veseli, 7-5, Saturday afternoon and downed Waseca, 9-4, Sunday afternoon to advance to the Region 5C Championship.

13th State Tournament appearance - 4th straight

The 4th straight Class C State Tournament for the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team was much different than the last few times they have advanced.

This year the Indians, rated No. 5 in Class C, will be heading to State as the No. 1 seed out of Region 5C, after defeating Pine Island, 12-2, in seven innings Friday, August 8 in Waterville.

With three games to play in the regular season, the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team clinched the 13-60 League title and a bye in the Region Tournament, which starts the last weekend in July.

The Indians won two of three games last week, with the two wins both against 13- 60 League opponents. They defeated Minnesota Lake, 6-2, Wednesday, July 9 and routed Waseca, 14-3, in seven innings Sunday, July 13. Eagle Lake edged the Indians, 6-5, Friday, July 11 in a non-league game.

The Waterville Indians and Morristown Morries combined for 29 runs and 32 hits in an 18-11 win by the Indians Sunday, June 1 in amateur baseball.
There were a ton of hitting stars for both teams. Waterville had seven players with multi-hit games, led by Josh Cook with five hits. Nolan Wetzel reached base six times, and Nolan Grose hit three doubles.
Doug Harmon had two hits and three RBI while Kolin Rients and Ben Lamont each had two hits and two RBI for the Morries. Brent Vollbrecht walked three times.

Seven WEM track and field standouts will be representing the school district at the 2025 Class A State Meet Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Three of these Buccaneers will be making their third appearance at State. One is making his second trip. Three are making their first trip. All athletes advanced after placing either first or second at the Section 2A Meet held Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West.

Two WEM boys track and field athletes won Section 2A, North Sub-Section Championships Thursday, May 22 at Central Public Schools in Norwood.
Sophomore Griffin Atherton won the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash, and junior Grady Grohman won the shot put.
These two along with junior Talen Taylor and sophomore Wyatt Jans will represent the Buccaneers at the Section 2A Track and Field Championships Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West.

Senior Ashlyn Pelant won two titles and junior Addison Condon won one at the Section 2A North Sub-Section Track and Field Meet held Thursday, May 22 at Central Public School in Norwood.
These three along with seniors Loryn Caldwell, McKenna Schuster, and Tatum Richards, and seventh grader Rachel Mielke will represent the Buccaneers at the Section 2A Meet Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West High School.
Pelant picked up wins in the shot put with a distance of 38-feet, 1-inch, one of her top efforts of the year and the discus, with a distance of 112-feet, 1-inch.