Sports

The Saints are off and running!

The KMS volleyball team opened up the season with a 3-0 victory over Benson last Monday night in Kerkhoven, and then came back three nights later to sweep Minnewaska Area in another home match, 25-15, 25-7, 25-23.

The 2-0 start should give the Saints confidence as they head into a busy second-week of action this week.

“Against Minnewaska Area, the girls came out a little more relaxed with a match under their belts,” coach Joquel Molenaar said.  “We took advantage of a lot of mistakes by Minnewaska Area in the first two games, and then, after struggling a bit in game three, the girls were able to play disciplined and finish off the match win.”

KMS was set to open up the Camden Conference schedule with a home match against Renville County West, Tuesday (yesterday) followed by a match at Lac qui Parle, Thursday (tomorrow), and the Browerville Tourney, Saturday...

The Benson volleyball team opened up the 2016 season with a pair of 3-0 losses at KMS, last Monday night and at BOLD, Thursday.

The Braves are coming off a 5-19 season from a year ago and lost four key players from last year’s team, but do return a good nucleus of talent for the upcoming season.

This week, Benson is set to host Morris Area-CA, Tuesday (yesterday) before playing at Minnewaska Area, Thursday (tomorrow).

The complete Benson varsity volleyball roster for 2016 includes seniors Sophie Ascheman, Nicole Berens, Presley Gonnerman, Amanda Nissen, Megan Amundson, Victoria Pagel, Dana Rud, Kaitlyn Knutson, and Danielle Himley; and juniors Courtney McNeill and Anna Gosson...

The Benson-KMS girls tennis team kept its perfect season alive with a pair of conference wins last week.  Benson, now 9-0 overall and 2-0 in the WCC, edged Melrose Area in a home match last Tuesday night and then traveled to Sauk Centre, Thursday, beating the Mainstreeters 5-2.

This week will be another big test for the team as Benson was set to host MACCRAY, Tuesday (yesterday) followed by a match at the league favorites, Minnewaska Area, Thursday (tomorrow).

All 11 players that have seen action this year for Benson have winning records, including Grade Ricard (9-0), Olivia Hoffman (9-0), Sophia Curriel (5-0), and Gracie Lenz (4-0), who are all undefeated.

The Benson-KMS girls tennis program has six WCC titles under its belt in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and has also qualified to state three times in 2006, 2008, and 2009....

The Benson football team opened up the season with a 49-0 loss to Eden Valley-Watkins, Friday night on Brock Field.  The Braves ran 59 plays  compared to 37 for EVW, and also had nine first downs compared to eight for the Eagles.

However, EVW gained over 10 yards per offensive play from scrimmage and held the Braves to just 125 total yards on the way to the lopsided win.

“We knew they’d be very good, especially at the specialty positions, and their line play was very good as well,” Benson head coach Scott Gonnerman said.  “Most of their players on the line had one year of experience from last season.  They weren’t as big (heavy) as we were on the line, but they were very athletic and moved well, and they did a very good job of controlling the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.”

The Benson-KMS boys and girls cross-country teams opened up the 2016 season at the Morris Area Invitational last Monday night at the Pomme de Terre Golf Course in Morris.

The boys team finished 10th in a meet won by West Central Area, while the Benson-KMS girls did not field a complete team during the race won by Lac qui Parle/Dawson-Boyd.

The Benson-KMS teams were also set to compete at the LQP Invitational, Thursday, but results of that meet were not available by presstime.

Next up for the teams is the Long Prairie-GE Invitational, set for Monday, Sept. 12....

The Benson-KMS cross-country teams competed at the Morris Area-CA Invitational last Monday at the Pomme de Terre Golf Club in Morris, but both teams are struggling with early-season injuries and Fair commitments.

The Benson volleyball team was set to open up the season Monday, Aug. 29 at KMS, followed by a match at BOLD, Thursday, Sept. 1, and a home match with Morris Area-CA, Tuesday, Sept. 6, which is the first of seven-straight Tuesday nights the Braves have scheduled at home.

“We have approximately 45 girls out for 9-12 volleyball, and practices are going well,” Schmidt said.  “With only two nets in the main gym to practice (auxiliary gym is being worked on), we have been staggering the practice times, which means the coaches are in the gym for 10-plus hour a day.”

The complete Benson varsity volleyball roster for 2016 includes seniors Sophie Ascheman, Nicole Berens, Presley Gonnerman, Amanda Nissen, Megan Amundson, Victoria Pagel, Dana Rud, Kaitlyn Knutson, and Danielle Himley; and juniors Courtney McNeill and Anna Gosson.

The Benson football team is set to open up the 2016 season at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 at home against Eden Valley-Watkins, followed by a game YME, Friday, Sept. 9.  

The Benson football team, coached for the 16th-straight season by Scott Gonnerman, lost eight key players from last year’s team, including Josh Manzke, Adam Lindahl, Connor Staton, Mitchell Koosmann, Grant Ascheman, Andrew Lindahl, Everett Lee, and Max McDonald.

However, the team does return a good nucleus of talent, including starting quarterback Layton Connelly, fullback Brett Sulier, wide receiver Max Peterson, linemen Shawn Aarhus, Zack Sonnabend, and Devin Vergin, and linebacker Aaron Zosel.

Head coach Scott Gonnerman lists 13 seniors, seven juniors, 10 sophomores, and 10 freshmen out for football this season.

The KMS football team is set to get the 2016 season underway at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 at home against Yellow Medicine East, followed by a game at Upsala-Swanville Area, Friday, Sept. 9.  

KMS is also set to take part in a four-team scrimmage in Benson at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27.

The Saints are coming off an 1-8 season from a year ago and also lost nine players from last season.  However, the team does return a good nucleus of talent, giving coach Eric Kauffmann and his team a great chance to move up in the standings this year.

Among the returning players is senior runningback/linebacker Brandin Dahl, who earned the KMS Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP honors, and was also an All-District and All-Area selection.

KMS and Benson will be playing in the Mid-State District again this year with Benson a member of the Mid-State Sub-District 2, and KMS a member of Sub-District 3.

The Benson girls tennis team opened up the 2016 season with a pair of dominant wins at a home triangular, Monday.  The Braves beat Parkers Prairie in their first match, 6-1, and followed it up with a 7-0 shutout of Wadena-Deer Creek in the second match.

Benson, coming off a 15-6 season from a year ago, return eight seniors from last year’s team.  Benson was also set to compete at the NLS triangular, Tuesday, Aug. 23, host another triangular in Benson, Thursday, Aug. 25, and host a match with Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Friday...

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The Benson football team is set to host a four-team scrimmage with Lac qui Parle, KMS, and Ortonville at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27.  The Braves are set to open up the 2016 season at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 at home against Eden Valley-Watkins, followed by a game at YME, Friday, Sept. 9. 

The Benson football team, coached for the 16th-straight season by Scott Gonnerman, began practices Monday, Aug. 15.  The Braves lost eight key players from last year’s team, including Josh Manzke, Adam Lindahl, Connor Staton, Mitchell Koosmann, Grant Ascheman, Andrew Lindahl, Everett Lee, and Max McDonald.

However, the team does return a good nucleus of talent, including starting quarterback Layton Connelly, fullback Brett Sulier, wide receiver Max Peterson, linemen Shawn Aarhus, Zack Sonnabend, and Devin Vergin, and linebacker Aaron Zosel.

Head coach Scott Gonnerman lists 14 seniors, nine juniors, 11 sophomores, and 10 freshmen out for football this season...