With a new year upon us I thought Iíd look back at 2005 and all the year had to offer us in the sports world.

Probably the biggest story for Forest Lake sports was the boys nordic ski team claiming its first state title, along with the girls having their best finish at the state meet with a third place finish. Having the individual state champion Ben Fick didnít hurt the boys team any in their quest for a state championship.

With the new season underway the nordic teams have picked up where they left off with the boys winning every race and a young girls team improving every week and finishing near the top if not at the top of the final standings.

A new era began for Forest Lake football as Matt Cleary took over as head football coach. Cleary came to Forest Lake after leading a Shell Lake, WI team to a state title. The Rangers went 2-7 in Clearyís inaugural campaign, but the future looks bright.

The football team wasnít the only team with a new coach. The girls hockey team has a new coaching staff in Paul Kendrick and Dan Forsythe, two longtime teachers in the school district and guys who have coached a little bit of everything over the years.

The girls basketball team also got a new coach as Jen Wagner has taken over the team and led them to an improved 3-5 record so far this season.

Angie Berg replaced Sue Stennes-Rogness as softball head coach and the boys and girls cross country teams got new coaches as Deno Johnson took over the boys program and Kristen Fairman and Mary LaBossiere took over the girls.

The wrestling team came out victorious in a nail bitter against Hastings to claim the Suburban East Conference title. In individual competition Jordan Kolbow placed second at the state tournament at 145 lbs., finishing the season with a 37-1 record.

In swimming and diving Dillon Hudalla placed third in the diving competition and Sam Gort placed 20th in the 200 yard freestyle in the swimming competition. On the girls side Janel Duffy placed fifth in the state diving competition and Amanda Nelson placed sixth in the 100 yard butterfly on the swimming side of the state meet. In golf Noah Lawson placed fifth at the state tournament with a two day score of 147.

The baseball team also claimed a share of an SEC title for the first time since 1998.

Paige Patchin made another trip to the state tennis tournament, but failed to advance to the finals. Patchinís overall record for the season was 26-6.

The volleyball team returned to dominance and came up one win short of advancing to the state tournament. The Rangers fell to Hibbing in the 7AAA championship game.

Itís safe to say that 2005 was good to Forest Lake sports. With the talented student athletes representing the community with maroon and gold on their chest in 2006 things should only get better.

What makes the success of Forest Lake athletics more enjoyable is the attitude of the student athletes. The student athletes I have had the privilege of meeting are all respectful, good students and care about winning with class.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605