Spring Sports Expectations are High
     Mount Michael is looking forward to a productive, fun-filled spring sports season. The Knights look strongest in track because of their all-around athleticism and experienced coaching staff. The other spring sports, golf and soccer, have most athletic minds at the Mount guessing as to how the teams will perform. Heading into the spring, the Knights have quite a few unanswered questions.
     Can the Knights’ track team compete at the high level it did last season? The team finished high in its district, with senior Abiola Kosoko setting a school record in the high jump, an achievement he hopes to repeat. Head coach John Gathje expects junior shot-putter Cole Bunner to be strong in his event as well.
        Distance running should also prove a key asset of the Knights’ success in track. Sophomore John DeWald ran the mile for varsity his freshman year. Junior Skutt transfer Steve Dunning was a force for the Cross Country team this fall, as were junior Tom Murphy and senior Lance Villenueve. All three are expected to reiterate their long-distance success this spring.
     Other spots on the track team are pretty wide open. Mount Michael track has a tradition of competitive relay teams and sophomore RJ Lebbert, Pat Pick, Drew Deras, and Pat Witt hope to keep the trend alive in the 400 as they did last year. With many freshmen new to the track team this year, Gathje is excited for the future.
     “We just want to keep improving as the season goes on,” he said.

      The 2005 Mount Michael golfers are ready to hit the greens as the spring season tees off. Juniors Grant Mathey and James Kritenbrink had break out years in 2004 and are excited to take to the course once again. Newcomer Seeon Lee, a sophomore, should be a nice addition as well.
     As to the Knights’ success on the course, questions remain. With a small number of spots available, Coach Jason Mackeprang has no enviable task in deciding who gets to golf at tournaments and meets.

     In soccer, long-time head coach Terrence Buschelman has his “gentlemen” read to tear up fields around Nebraska and even Iowa this season. The Knights will take on two formidable out-of-state opponents in Oakland-Riverside and Lewis Central.
     “I always schedule an Iowa team or two, we compete at the highest level,” said Buschelman. Games against Roncalli and Lincoln Pius X, teams that gave the Mount trouble last season, head the bill for the ’05 campaign.
     “We want to knock out the big ones first,” Buschelman told players in a team meeting. With his personnel this year, he just might be satisfied. Seniors Zach Casey, Matt Haas, and twins Adam and Joe Michaelsen will lead the scoring attack, with more experience on defense in seniors Josh Vinduska and Al McKnight. The lethal addition of seniors Ben and Blake Suing will make the Knights even more potent, with Ben being the preseason favorite for manning the pipes as goalie. The junior varsity is also fairly stacked, with a strong underclassman core.
     Buschelman has lofty expectations: “Our goal is state.”
     It will be interesting to see if the Knights can meet Buschelman’s standards on the pitch.

-by Phil Ervin