Raider football team wins

The Central Lakes College football team advanced to the Sunday, Nov. 4 MCAC championship, 39-7, over Northland Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Findorff Athletic Complex, avenging the Raiders' lone loss of the 2012 season (30-28 in the season opener in August at Thief River Falls). All five Raider touchdowns were on pass plays, with Anthony Shelman (shown) scoring three. Other receptions for TDs were by Matthew Scott and Brandon Kiel. Andrew Johnson threw four and Skyler Shearer one. The passing attack totaled 257 yards and there were nine different receivers. Shelman finished with 119 yards on 7 catches. CLC outgained the Pioneers, 376-236. Sean Nokken rushed 16 times for 69 hard-earned yards to lead the ground game. Beau Bellmore carried 10 times for 37 yards. CLC intercepted four Pioneer passes. Calvin Belfrey returned his theft 36 yards. Other interceptors were Austin Manzey, Tre Deadwiler, and Joshua Orr. Celestino White led the defense with 2.5 quarterback sacks. Nathaniel Rutz had 8 tackles, Erik Chouinard and Manzey each had 7, and Marion Lambright and Jordan Bialke were in on five tackles apiece. CLC led, 19-7, at halftime. CLC is now 9-1 and will play Rochester (9-1), which defeated Fond du Lac, 31-24, in the other semifinal. The game is at Husky Stadium on the campus of St. Cloud State University at 1 p.m. CLC moved up from No. 14 to No. 12 and RCTC rose from 16th to 14th in this week's NJCAA football ranking.
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/

CLC volleyball season ends

The great season for Central Lakes College volleyball ended today in the Region 13B tournament on the Brainerd campus. Northland defeated CLC, 14-25, 19-25, 15-25 to earn the national championship berth (The Elite Eight) for 2012. It is the second straight season that Northland has been the regional champion. One of the many things the Pioneers did was keep the ball away from CLC’s big boppers, Lindsay Monson (shown) and Alanna Hansen, as much as possible. The two combined for just 11 kills. Combined, they were averaging 5.55 per game. The Raiders did not play nearly as well as they had most of the season while building a Northern Division mark of 13 wins, 1 loss, said Coach Jane Peterson, who credited the Pioneers with showing why they deserve the regional trophy, “It’s too bad it has to end like this because people will forget we were almost 14-0,” she said. “We lost to (Northland) 15-13 (in the fifth game Oct. 17). We played good volleyball a lot of the season.” “It was an awesome season,” sophomore Carlie Sweet said. “I’m so glad that I got to be part of it. We all worked hard, we became a team.” The Raiders finish with a record of 22 wins, 7 losses. Northland is 24-7. CLC’s Sarah Miller and Lindsay Monson made the 6-player all-tournament team along with Ashley Lindgren and Bailee Walker of Northland, Morgan Hanson of Mesabi and Gabriella Feldt of Itasca.
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/

Raiders in championship

The Central Lakes College Raiders volleyball team escaped a strong challenge from Mesabi Range to advance to the Region 13B championship. Fourth-ranked CLC defeated the Lady Norse, 25-17, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25, 15-4 Friday in the Brainerd campus gym. Lindsay Monson led the power game at the net with 19 kills and Tiffany Hartung was a tipping machine with 44 total set assists. Sarah Miller scooped 26 digs. Hornick and Crysta Christensen also finished in double figures in digs with 14 each. Monson led the way with four ace serves. Crysta Christensen, Carlie Sweet, Tiffany Hartung and Tatum Hall each collected three. The Raiders take a 22-6 record into today's title match vs. Northland (23-7) that sarts at noon. The Pioneers needed four games to dispatch Itasa in the other semifinal match Friday. The regional champion moves on to the national tournament in Rochester Nov.  and 10.

NJCAA football poll Oct. 23

1. Iowa Western 8-0, 2. Butler (KS) 8-0, 3. East Mississippi 8-0, 4. Arizona Western 6-0, 5. Nassau (NY) 8-0, 6. ASA College (NY) 8-0, 7. Navarro College (TX) 7-1, 8. Northeastern Oklahoma A & M 7-1, 9. Mississippi Gulf Coast 7-1, 10. Snow College (UT) 7-1, 11. Northwestern Mississippi 6-1, 12. Kilgore College (TX) 7-1, 13. Hutchinson (KS) 7-1, 14. Central Lakes College (8-1), 15. Louisberg (NC) 6-1, 16. Rochester (MN) 8-1, 17. Copiah-Lincoln (MS) 6-2, 18. Jones County (MS) 6-2, 19. College of DuPage (IL) 6-2, 20. Ellsworth (IA) 5-2.

Ex-Raider returns

Central Lakes College men's basketball has a new coaching assistant: He is 6-6 Scott Savor, a Deerwood native,  former Crosby-Ironton High School standout, and former Raider during Coach Jim Russell's first season at CLC. Scott created Secrets in Sports, a sports training business in Brainerd dedicated to personal development of athletes on and off the court or field. After 2 years at CLC, Scott played basketball at Moorhead State University and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Sports Psychology. While a graduate student at Tennessee, he was the strength coach for all sports. Scott has read over 4,000 books in the last nine years, all about sports performance and coaching. Savor also has an extensive video collection; he claims that he has seen almost everything on the topic of sports performance. Younger sister Krista was a 1999 All-American volleyball standout at CLC. Photo courtesy The Concordian

Regional volleyball

The Central Lakes College Raiders (21-6), winners of the MCAC Northern Division during the regular season, will play fourth-place finisher Mesabi Range (15-11, with regular-season match to play Oct. 24 vs. Hibbing), in the first of two Region 13B volleyball matches Friday, Oct. 26 at CLC in Brainerd. The match starts at 6 p.m. and will be followed by the match between Northland (22-7) and Itasca (17-4) at 8 p.m. The winners of Friday's matches will play in the Brainerd campus gymnasium Saturday, Oct. 27 at noon for the right to advance to the 2012 NJCAA Division III championship tournament in Rochester Nov. 9 and 10.

Raiders defeat Mn West

The 15th-ranked Central Lakes College football team won its first-round playoff game, 21-0, Saturday at Findorff Athletic Complex by dominating Minnesota West. The Raiders advance to the semifinals of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference championship run with an 8-1 record. QB Andrew Johnson threw 2 touchdown passes to Anthony Shelman (15 and 43 yards) and Matt Mogere scored the other TD on a 45-yard pick six from his defensive backfield domain.

Raiders ready for post-season

The Central Lakes College volleyball team on Wednesday night prepared to host the region tournament (Oct. 26-27) by splitting its final two regular-season matches on the home court. The Raiders now have a record of 21-6. CLC lost to a formidable Northland unit in five games to finish at 13-1 as champions of  the Northern Division. Sami Knott collected 16 kills and Lindsay Monson knocked down 14. Tiffany Hartung tallied 45 set assists and CLC's outstanding liberos, sophomore Hayley Hornick (shown) and freshman Sarah Miller each had 17 digs. The Raiders put the loss behind them vs. Division II independent Dakota County Technical College in the nightcap to win, 3-2.  “We came out strong in the second match and played well,” said Coach Jane Peterson. “We had to start using more shots and going to more hitters and it took a while for us to adjust. It was a good time to play good teams and we may be able to use a loss to our advantage.” The Region 13B tournament schedule has not been announced. Division: CLC 13-1. Overall: CLC 21-6. CLC hosts Region 13B championship Oct. 26-27.

Raiders fourth in nation

The Central Lakes College volleyball team has risen to No. 4 in the Division III poll released today by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The 20-5 Raiders had been ranked fifth last week. Ridgewater (18-5) is still No. 1 as has been the case all season. Rochester (16-8) is ninth. Northland (20-7) is among Others Receiving Votes.

Raiders up to 15th

The CLC football team has moved up from 17th to No. 15 in the Oct. 16 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll. The 7-1 Raiders play host to Minnesota West (5-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference playoffs. Rochester (7-1), which moved up from 18th to 17th this week, hosts Ridgewater (5-4) Saturday in another playoff. The winner of Thursday's playoff between Itasca (2-6) at Northland (5-3), plays the winner of the Mn West-CLC game on Oct. 27. The winner of the Vermilion (1-8) at Fond du Lac (5-3) game on Friday plays the Ridgewater-Rochester winner Oct. 27. A Raider win this Saturday would ensure home field advantage on Oct. 27. As the higher seed, a Fond du Lac win this week would give the Thunder home field at Cloquet vs. either Ridgewater or Rochester Oct. 27.

Two matches Wednesday

The Central Lakes College volleyball team plays two teams Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the Brainerd campus gymnasium. At 4 p.m., the Raiders (20-5, 13-0) host Northern Division foe Northland (20-7, 11-2). CLC defeated Northland, 3-2, at Thief River Falls Sept. 19, when the Pioneers were ranked sixth in the NJCAA Division III poll. CLC has since replaced Northland in the Top 10 and last week climbed to No. 5. The Raiders will play Dakota County Technical College, a NJCAA DII team, at 7 p.m., after the DCTC Blue Knights square off vs. the Pioneers at 5:30 p.m. DCTC is 14-5 this season and has won 10 of its last 11 matches. CLC has two players who earned Division honors for their play last week (see VB page). http://www.clcmn.edu/athletics/volleyball.html

Raiders host Bluejays

Central Lakes College (7-1) will host Minnesota West (5-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 in the quarterfinal round of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference football playoffs. CLC defeated Mn West at Worthington, 21-20, on Sept. 29. The Bluejays average 269.5 yards of offense per game (through 8) and yield 219 per game. CLC is averaging 332 yards offensively, 171 on defense (second to Rochester in both stats). Mn West QB Logan Massop has completed 38 of 70 passes (54.3%) for 582 yards, throwing for 5 TDs and getting picked 6 times during his four games of action. Teammate Greag Gainey has played in six games at QB, completing 38 of 106 passes (35.8%) for 422 yards and 4 TDs while being intercepted 9 times. Raider QB Andrew Johnson (shown) leads the Southern Division with 1,294 passing yards, 11 TDs. He is the Division Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 15 (see FB page).
http://www.clcmn.edu/athletics/football.html

'On a mission'

The Central Lakes College volleyball team ran its record to 20-5 in a sweep of Hibbing Saturday. Coach jane Peterson said her team showed offensive power and "looked like a team on a mssion." The fifth-ranked Raiders got 13 kills from Brainerd sophomore Alanna Hansen (shown) and 31 set assists from Little Falls freshman Tiffany Hartung, while CLC annexed the Northern Division regular-season crown in Minnesota College Athletic Conference play, unbeaten ahead of a showdown with once nationally ranked Northland at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Sarah Miller had 15 digs and two ace serves in another steady effort for the Crosslake freshman. Lindsay Monson, a Pierz freshman, nailed nine kills.

Raiders clinch

The Central Lakes College football team clinched the Minnesota College Athletic Conference outright Southern Division championship Saturday at Willmar, defeating Ridgewater, 27-7. "It was one of our better, more complete games," said Coach Greg Medeck. "We really played well on offense and defense." The win secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs, which begin this Saturday, Oct. 20 vs. Minnesota West at 1 p.m. at CLC's Findorff Athletic Complex in Brainerd. Beau Bellmore rushed for 62 yards and one TD, and Andrew Johnson passed to Matthew Scott (49 yds), Paul Lake (28 yds), and Anthony Shelman (15 yds) for TDs. Johnson hit Scott for a two-point conversion, and Andrew Leonhardt kicked another.

Raiders sweep Rainy River

The fifth-ranked Central Lakes College volleyball team swept Rainy River Friday night for the 12th Northern Division win of the season and 19th conquest in 24 matches. Scores were 25-14, 25-13, 25-20. Keinna Wurtinger made her first start and shared the team win. Lindsay Monson slapped 15 kills. Alanna Hansen punched out 9. Hayley Hornick and Sarah Miller totaled 13 and 12 digs respectively. Tiffany Hartung set the table 37 times. The Raiders hosted Hibbing today and take on two teams next Wednesday night in a triangular affair.

National Player of Week

NJCAA Football Defensive Player of Week - Week ending Oct. 6, 2012

Matt Mogere – Central Lakes College, Minn.
Strong Safety – Monticello, Minn. – Monticello High School

In a 53-7 thumping of Vermilion, Mogere personally scored more points than the Raiders defense gave up. Intercepting two passes, the sophomore took them back – 45 and 80 yards respectively – for touchdowns. Mogere also recorded three tackles and deflected a pass. The No. 17 Raiders and Mogere close out their regular season Saturday at Ridgewater.

http://www.njcaa.org/newsArticle.cfm?articleId=17777

Win No. 18

The Central Lakes College volleyball team scored its second win over MCAC Northern Division rival Itasca, 3-1, Wednesday, for win No. 18 in 23 matches this season. Pine River sophomore Crysta Christensen's (shown) early spikes and overall hustle provided some notable punch to the attack. Alanna Hansen pounded out 17 kills and Lindsay Monson collected 15, while Tiffany Hartung collected 48 set assists. CLC, ranked fifth in the nation, was also very strong on defense with a blocking presence at the net. Sarah Miller also scooped 30 digs and Haley Hornick collected nine to provide solid play from the back row. The Raiders won the first game 25-23, but then let Itasca go on a seven point run and take game two by a 25-22 score. CLC rebounded with a 25-18 win in game three and a 25-19 clinching score in the fourth game. Next: Friday, 6:30 p.m., Rainy River at CLC.

Nationally ranked

The Central Lakes College women's volleyball team is ranked fifth in this week's NJCAA Division III poll, up from last week's No. 6 spot. CLC takes a 17-5 record into tonight's home match vs. Itasca, which had been nationally ranked as high as No. 3 when the Raiders defeated the Vikings on Sept. 26. Defending champion Ridgewater remains No. 1, and other regional competitors are in the Top 10: Madison No. 6 and Rochester No. 9. Itasca is among others recceiving votes. In football, the Raiders of CLC remain ranked 17th in the NJCAA poll as they had been last week. CLC takes a 6-1 record to Ridgewater Saturday for a showdown with playoff implications. Rochester (6-1) is ranked 18th.

Volleyball tradition

When Jane Peterson reached the 500-win milestone as Central Lakes College volleyball coach this season, she celebrated the success of a women’s athletic program that stands high among the nation’s best. Helping to commemorate 43 years of collegiate women’s sports in Brainerd recently were retired Raider coaches Nancy Smith (center) and Darlene Palmer. Smith followed Palmer in 1987 and handed off her duties four years later to the rookie Peterson. Twenty-two seasons later, with three national championships and 17 All-Americans in the legacy, Raider volleyball rallies community pride.

Players of Week

Central Lakes College freshmen volleyball players Lindsay Monson of Pierz (shown), Tiffany Hartung of Little Falls, and Sarah Miller of Crosslake are Northern Division honorees this week in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. Lindsay, a six-foot middle hitter, had 13 kills vs. Fond du Lac and a stellar .452 attack percentage for the week. She collected 37 kills during an outstanding, 3-win week (3.7 per game). Lindsay also had 12 blocks and 5 ace serves. One of the Setters of the Week was Tiffany, who handedout 90 assists, including a high of 43 vs. Mesabi Range. Sarah was Libero of the Week for 42 digs (4.66 per game), including 22 in the win over Mesabi. She served 94 percent for the week.

Player of Week

Sophomore defensive back Matt Mogere of Central Lakes College was named the MCAC Southern Division Defensive Player of Week. Mogere, a sophomore from Monticello, had two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns of 45 and 80 yards for the Raiders, who are ranked No. 1 in the state and 17th in the NJCAA (as of Oct. 2). Image by Jeff Collins, Collins Photography

CLC coasts to 53-7 win

The Central Lakes College football team, ranked 17th in the nation, jumped to a 46-7 halftime lead over Vermilion Saturday and coasted to a 53-7 win, their sixth in seven starts and fourth Southern Division win in Minnesota College Athletic Conference competition. Monticello sophomore defensive back Matt Mogere (shown) started the scoring with a pick six of 44 yards, and he went 82 yards near the end of the half with another interception.  DePere, Wis. sophomore running back Beau Bellmore sprinted 53 yards for the second TD. After a long pass from St. Paul freshman Andrew Johnson to Indianapolis freshman Anthony Shelman, Johnson flipped an 8-yard strike to Staples freshman Blake Petrich for the third TD six minues into the game. Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/

CLC sweeps Vermilion

The Raiders continued their volleyball success at Ely Saturday, sweeping Vermilion, 3-0, behind strong team blocking that had been evident the night before at Virginia. Coach Jane Peterson reported that the team compiled 12 ace serves in a good effort. Brainerd sophomore Alanna Hansen and Pierz freshman Lindsay Monson each pounded seven kills in a match dominated by the Division leaders., who ran their record to 17-5 and are ready for a homestand that should attract lots of fans to see the sixth-ranked unit from CLC. One of the biggest matches of the season is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at home vs. nationally-ranked Itasca, whom CLC narrowly defeated at Grand Rapids on Sept. 26.

CLC        25 25 25
Vermilion 13 14 14

CLC over Mesabi

VIRGINIA — Lindsey Monson pounded 17 kills and Tiffany Hartung notched 43 set assists as Central Lakes College defeated Mesabi Range, 3-1, in Northern Northern Division Minnesota College Athletic Conference volleyball Friday. “For the first time in a long time we struggled offensively,” said Raider Head Coach Jane Peterson. “It wasn’t a beautiful win, but by the end our energy came through.” Carlie Sweet led the team in blocks with 10, while Sarah Miller contributed 22 digs for the Raiders. The Raiders are ranked sixth in NJCAA Division III.
Mesabi Range 22 25 24 18
Central Lakes 25 14 26 25

Win No. 500

Jane Peterson, Central Lakes College volleyball coach, won her 500th match last night, as the sixth-ranked Raiders swept Fond du Lac, 25-8, 25-11, 25-14 in the Brainerd campus gymnasium. It took CLC less than one hour to notch win No. 15 in 20 starts and solidify Jane's stature as the winningest collegiate volleyball coach in the state and one of the most successful in the National Junior College Athletic Association. She was presented a plaque by CLC President LarryLundblad and an autographed ball from volleyball alumni and her 2012 team that currently has the Northern Division lead with an 8-0 record in Minnesota College Athletic Conference play. Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/

Raiders jump to sixth

Central Lakes College moved up from 10th to sixth in this week's NJCAA Division III volleyball poll. CLC is one of four Minnesota College Athletic Conference teams in the Top 10. Ridgewater (15-5) continues to hold the top spot it has held from the start as defending national champion. Itasca (12-2), which had been third until losing to CLC (14-5), is now ranked fifth, and Rochester (13-5) has held its No. 9 ranking. Itasca and CLC are in the Northern Division of the MCAC. Ridgewater and Rochester are in the Southern Division. All are in Region 13 of the national distribution for post-season play. Madison (Wis.) College (14-4) is another Region 13 competitor in the Top 10 at No. 8.

Zach Rickers to national

Zach Rickers of Bemidji (shown), Central Lakes College golfer, finished in a tie for second place among men's competitors at the state/regional tournament Oct. 2 to earn a berth in the national individual tournament next spring in New York. Zach's two-day, 36-hole stroke count was 158 (77 and 81). Earning alternate designation for national golf were Raiders Chris Thielen of Moorhead (82, 89=171) and Jake Hoffman of Bemidji (84, 91=175). CLC finished in a tie for fifth with Hibbing in the eight-team tournament. M State of Fergus Falls was the state and regional champion. The fourth player in the CLC unit was Alec Larson of Nisswa (103, 90= 193).

Coach one win from 500

Jane Peterson, Central Lakes College volleyball head coach, is one win away from achieving a milestone: 500 wins. She now has a career record of 499-224. She said of approaching milestone: "People ask me all the time, 'How much longer are you going to coach?' because so many other women stop coaching when their families are young or when they get tired. But I feel like I am at the peak of curiosity in my craft - not just the coaching of volleyball skills, but of sports psychology, motivation, group dynamics, motor learning, how teenage brains work, how talent is developed. All these things I am still very curious about." Jane will be honored following the home match Wednesday vs. Fond Du Lac in a ceremony to include a plaque presentation, volleyball alumni, and reception. The match starts at 6:30 p.m.

Win streak ends

The win streak ends a 13 with two losses by the Central Lakes College volleyball team on Saturday at Wahpeton, N.D., where the Raiders droppeda pair of contests to Division II scholarship teams from Bismarck State, N.D. (3-0) and Williston, N.D. (3-1). The opponents are much better units than those CLC had been facing in recent outings, according to Coach Jane Peterson. Nevertheless, there were some good efforts. Sami Knott (shown)had eight kills and seven digs against Bismarck State. Sarah Miller totaled 16 digs. Tiffany Hartung had 23 set assists, and Lindsay Monson provided six kills. Against Williston, the Raiders won the first game, 25-21, before losing the next three. Alanna Hansen had 12 kills and two blocks. Tiffany added 32 set assists and 12 digs in a strong effort. Lindsay had 10 kills, five aces serves, five digs, and four blocks to her credit. The Raiders (14-5) were tougher against Williston than Bismarck, losing by 23-25, 18-25, 21-25. Against Bismarck they lost, 14-25, 19-25, 16-25.

Raiders win 2 more

WAHPETON, N.D. — The Central Lakes Raiders pushed head coach Jane Peterson’s win total closer to the 500 mark as they swept a pair of matches from Dakota Bottineau and Dawson in Wahpeton, N. D., reports the Brainerd Dispatch. Alanna Hansen finished with 10 kills and Tiffany Hartung (shown) recorded 18 set assists in a win over Dakota Bottineau, 25-9, 25-12, 25-13. In game one the Raiders finished with a hitting percentage of .380. CLC, ranked in 10th in NJCAA Division III last week, knocked off Dawson, Mont., 25-10, 25-12, 25-16. The Raiders (12-3) increased their hitting percentage to .406 in that game.

Raiders win a squeaker

The NJCAA Division III 17th-ranked Cental Lakes College football team edged Minnesota West, 21-20, on Saturday at Worthington. It was CLC's fifth straight win against a single loss (at Northland). The difference: a failed extra point attempt by the hosts after their final TD of a mistake-filled contest. CLC scored 21 straight points to claim a 21-7 lead in the third quarter. But Mn West’s Michael Knight returned a kickoff 78 yards to make it 21-14. In the fourth quarter, Mn West's Kevin Harris scored on a 3-yard burst to set up what could have been a game-tying extra point. Tyler Smith's kick failed and the Raiders made the long trip home with their third Division win while previously unbeaten and 20th-ranked Ridgewater was losing, 20-12, to the surprising Fond du Lac unit out of Cloquet, now the Northern Division favorite. Other MCAC scores: Rochester 40, M State 0; Northland 41, Vermilion 14; Mesabi Range 35, Itasca 15.