Hermantown High School's fall sports teams enter this week with postseason opportunities taking center stage, highlighted by a Wednesday night football regular-season game against Rock Ridge, the Lake Superior Conference cross-country championships and the beginning of section tournament competition for the Hawks' soccer programs.
The football team brings a 5-1 record into its final two games after surviving a 21-20 victory over Esko on Friday night. Both soccer teams have completed their regular seasons, while volleyball, girls tennis and the Proctor/Hermantown swimming and diving cooperative program are moving toward their own postseason competitions.
Hawks' girls and boys soccer teams will begin postseason play (tourney pairings pending). The girls finished the regular season 8-7-1, including a 5-3-1 Lake Superior Conference record. Their victories included a 9-0 decision over Hibbing/Chisholm, a 1-0 shutout of Grand Rapids and a 2-1 victory at Proctor on Oct. 6. The Hawks will compete in Section 7AA, where Cloquet/Carlton, Grand Rapids and Duluth Denfeld are among their familiar opponents.
Bryden Giesen and Vienna Kolenda have been important offensive contributors throughout the season, supported by Kaija Markovich, Kaitlyn Patterson and Kaitlyn Glanville. Kolenda demonstrated her scoring and playmaking ability with two goals and three assists against Hibbing/Chisholm. Hermantown's ability to generate scoring opportunities while limiting defensive mistakes will be particularly important against opponents that have already demonstrated their ability to challenge the Hawks.
The boys are preparing for the Section 7A tournament behind an experienced group featuring Quinn Raukar, Trevor Arnston, Parker Clennon, Kestan Bradley and goalkeeper Ethan Aysta. Raukar scored three goals in a 4-0 victory over Hibbing, while Clennon contributed three assists. Earlier victories over Duluth Marshall and Bemidji provided evidence that the Hawks can win competitive games against regional opponents.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Football: Rock Ridge at Hermantown, 7 p.m. Coach Mike Zagelmeyer's Hawks return to Centricity Stadium for an important Northeast Red Conference and Section 7AAAA matchup against the Wolverines, looking to strengthen their postseason position and build on Friday's narrow victory over Esko.
Hermantown fell behind Esko 14-7 after the first quarter before scoring touchdowns in the second and third quarters to take a 21-14 lead. The Eskomos added a fourth-quarter touchdown but failed to overcome the Hawks, who finished with 196 rushing yards and 255 yards of total offense.
Senior running back Martin Sleen, who was held out of the Esko game with a lower-body injury, has been Hermantown's leading offensive weapon, combining explosive rushing performances with dangerous kickoff returns. Quarterback Sawyer Senst provides experience and leadership in an offense that scored at least 35 points in each of its first four victories before encountering tougher resistance against Grand Rapids and Esko.
The Hawks opened the season with victories over Duluth Denfeld, Proctor, Duluth East and Cloquet before suffering their only defeat, 24-15, at Grand Rapids. Friday's win over Esko restored momentum, although Hermantown will need greater consistency against Rock Ridge as section tournament seeding approaches.
Following Wednesday's game, Hermantown is scheduled to close the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 21, at North Branch.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Cross-country: Lake Superior Conference championships. Hermantown's boys and girls cross-country teams are scheduled to compete in the conference championships in Duluth, where several Hawks have an opportunity to challenge for individual honors while contributing to team finishes.
Seventh-grader Josie Niksich has emerged as one of the girls team's leading runners. She placed fifth in 19 minutes, 43.1 seconds at the Hibbing Rotary Invitational, helping Hermantown finish second in the team competition with 115 points.
Senior Cooper Lucarelli has led the boys, including a 17:19.4 performance at Hibbing. Freshman Cody Carlson followed in 17:27.3 as the Hawks finished third in the team standings. Their ability to run near the front of the field, along with contributions from Hermantown's other scoring runners, will be important in the conference race.
Volleyball — Hawks continue building toward section competition. Hermantown's volleyball team enters the second half of October looking to establish consistency after a difficult four-set loss to Grand Rapids on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Hawks have demonstrated the ability to compete against quality opponents but must improve their execution against the region's stronger programs.
Audra Schott has been one of Hermantown's principal offensive threats, while setter Kylee Stokke directs the attack. Schott recorded 16 kills and Stokke delivered 41 assists in an earlier four-set victory over Superior. Lilah Conley and Evie Nelson have also made important contributions.
Hermantown's next conference match is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Cloquet at 7 p.m.
Girls tennis — Section tournament competition. Hermantown's girls tennis program has completed its regular-season schedule and is focused on Section 7AA postseason competition following victories over Princeton, Duluth Marshall, Duluth Denfeld, Cloquet and Stella Maris Academy.
Coach Jessica Worden's lineup has received contributions from both experienced seniors and developing underclassmen. Riley Knight has been a versatile doubles performer, while Mia Line and Calista Rother have developed into an effective pairing. Clara Patullo and Abby Grzbowski have contributed in singles, with seniors Alee DeVlieger, Jillian Ritsche and Chloe Gustafson providing additional experience and leadership.
Hermantown's ability to win matches throughout its lineup could be particularly important in postseason competition, where depth often determines the outcome of closely contested team matches.
Girls swimming and diving —The Proctor/Hermantown cooperative team continues preparing for the final portion of its competitive season, with several swimmers already demonstrating the ability to win individual events.
In a 99-69 victory over Duluth Denfeld, Raya Trigas won the 50-yard freestyle, Harper Opacich captured the 100 butterfly, Samantha Herron won the 100 freestyle and Berkley Kolquist prevailed in the 500 freestyle.
The cooperative program's developing depth will be important as the postseason approaches, particularly in relay events where consistent performances across the lineup can make a significant difference in team scoring. A meet for Oct. 12-17 could not be independently confirmed.
For Hermantown, the coming week represents an important transition from regular-season competition to postseason results. The soccer teams must translate their season-long improvement into tournament victories, the cross-country programs have opportunities to earn conference recognition, and volleyball and tennis are working toward their final competitive goals.
The most immediate opportunity belongs to Zagelmeyer's football team. A victory Wednesday would improve Hermantown to 6-1, strengthen its position entering the regular-season finale and provide another indication that the Hawks can contend for a Section 7AAAA championship.