WCA Knights football battles through four quarters in a very competitive game with Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa but falls 13-0

The West Central Area Knights football team lost its season opener last night, losing 13-0 to visiting Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in head coach David Drexler's coaching debut.

The WCA Knights now prepare for a second straight home game, as they host Heart O' Lakes Classic Conference rival Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton next Friday, Sept. 10, at 7:00pm at the WCA High School athletic complex.

Area football scores:
Pelican Rapids 31, Perham 7 (a nice win for the Vikings)
New London-Spicer 20, Morris Area 14 (NL-S is the defending Class AAA champion)
Breckenridge 33, Wahpeton, N.D. 7
Barnesville 45, Lake Park-Audubon 14
Melrose Area 32, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 0
St.Cloud Cathedral 22, Montevideo 14
Eden Valley-Watkins 33, Pipestone Area 0

Big news for West Central Area schools - the Knights' athletic program is accepted into the Prairie Conference beginning in 2011

The West Central Area Knights' athletic program was recently accepted into the Prairie Conference beginning in the fall of 2011.

The following sports will switch to the Prairie from the Heart O' Lakes Conference: football, volleyball, girls tennis, boys/girls basketball, baseball, fastpitch softball, and track and field.

Beginning in the fall of 2011, the closest trip for the Knights to play a conference game is Osakis, approximately 37 miles from the high school in Barrett. Currently, the nearest conference competitor is Breckenridge, which is 48 miles from Barrett.

The furthest drive for WCA in the Prairie Conference will be Royalton, which is about 85 miles from Barrett.

Other Prairie Conference teams, including distance from Barrett:
1 - Browerville is about a one-hour drive from Barrett, 60 miles.
2 - Upsala (70 miles)
3 - Swanville (66 miles)
4 - St.John's Prep in Collegeville (82 miles)
5 - Eagle Valley (high school in Eagle Bend, 56 miles)

I'll explain more over the weekend.

Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors' baseball is the #1 seed in Sub-Section 6A-South

The WHN Warriors, who are the 2010 Pheasant Conference champions, earned the #1 playoff seed this week in Sub-Section 6A-South. They take a 15-3 overall record into the playoffs, beginning next Tuesday, June 1.

At 3pm in Wheaton, the West Central Area Knights (#8-seed) take on #9-seeded Ashby in a play-in game for the sub-section. The winner of that games faces the host WHN Warriors at 5:00pm at the same site.

Complete Sub-Section 6A-South seedings:
1 - Wheaton/Herman-Norcross
2 - Hancock
3 - Chokio-Alberta
4 - Brandon/Evansville
5 - Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
6 - Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley
7 - Parkers Prairie
8 - West Central Area
9 - Ashby

Also in area playoff action...

Sub-Section 6A track and field action is at the University of Minnesota-Morris campus today, beginning at 4:00pm. From Herman-Norcross school, Evan Ellison, Katlyn Hilbrand, and Amber Sperr will be competing. West Central Area has a number of athletes competing as well. Hope to see some of you there cheering them on!

More information will follow as I get it.

West Central Area Knights' baseball team picks up first win of the season, taking first game of an HOL double-header at Breckenridge 7-2

The West Central Area Knights' baseball team earned its first win of the season today at Breckenridge/Campbell-Tintah, defeating the Cowboys 7-2 in the first game of a Heart O' Lakes Conference double-header. They won despite having only four hits in the game.

In the nightcap, they did not fare as well, however, losing 13-0 in five innings.

Up next for the WCA Knights' baseball team: a home double-header at the WCA High School in Barrett on Thursday (May 6) beginning at 4:00pm against state-ranked Hawley.

Here's a summary of the WCA Knights' track and field team's trip to Osakis on Monday this week...
Track and Field athletes from West Central Area high school competed at the Osakis Invitational on Monday. The Knights' girls team scored 45 points, placing fourth in the team competition, which was won by Ashby/Brandon/Evansville. The WCA boys took third place, scoring 72.50 points. Osakis won the boys' event with Ottertail Central placing second.

Kylee Fernholz led the lady Knight with a first place finish in the 1600 meter run (5:45) and a runner-up finish in the 800 meter run (2:38.70). She also ran on the third place 4 x 400 meter relay team (4:28.47) with Abby Peterson, Jen Froemming and Tee Rudnitski. Froemming, Peterson and Rudnitski were joined by Holly VanKempen on the first place 4 x 800 meter relay team (10:50.40). Rudnitski was runner-up in the 400 meter dash (1:02.20) and placed fifth in the long jump (14-01). Froemming was second in the triple jump (30-06) and fourth in the long jump (14-05).

The boys had four individuals win a total of five championships with John Olhoft winning the 800 (2:12.30), Kyle Toms the 1600 (4:48), Beau Kashmark the triple jump (38-11.50) and the high jump (5-08) and Brian Oachs the discus (120-00). Kashmark also placed second in the long jump (18-10) and Dakota Kashmark was third in the long jump (17-08.25) and the triple jump (33-09.50), while Bryan Barrera placed third in the shot put (38-00). The 4 x 400 meter relay team of Tyler Schill, Kyle Toms, Brandon Quick and John Olhoft was third (4:00) and the 4 x 800 meter relay team of Toms, Olhoft, Royal Crow and Schill was also third (9:35.40). Denny Schack was fourth in the high jump (4-00) and fifth in both the long jump (17-04) and the triple jump (33-03). Quick was fifth in the discus (102-05) and the 4 x 100 meter relay team of Schack, Schill, Oachs and Dakota Kashmark placed sixth (53.40).

West Central Area track and field will compete at the Pelican Rapids meet on Thursday.