All-Americans

Congratulations to Central Lakes College sophomores Jordan Bialke of Foley (top) and Jared Hoemberg of Bertha, who have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American second team defense for 2012. The pair led a defensive unit that was among the best in the nation during a 10-1, state championship season that featured a 10-game win streak and No. 10 national ranking at the end of an outstanding season. Both were two-year starters for Coach Greg Medeck’s Raiders and integral leaders who helped CLC win 17 of 21 games in that span. They were chosen for their leadership qualities to be captains of the 2012 team. Bialke, a middle linebacker, was a first-team All-Region pick as well as first team All-Southern Division selection in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. He had 98 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three interceptions during the 2012 campaign. Jordan concluded studies at the Brainerd campus with the fall semester and earned his Associate in Arts degree. He will transfer this spring to St. Cloud State University, where he will receive a football scholarship to play for the Division 2 Huskies. Jared, a safety, was also named to the first team of Region 13 and the MCAC Southern Division. He finished second in the NJCAA with eight interceptions and had 64 tackles. Jared will graduate from CLC this spring and holds a 3.56 grade-point average. He intends to play baseball for the Raiders this spring before making a decision about next season.

300th Win for Coach Russell

CLC Raider men's basketball coach Jim Russell earned his 300th victory on Saturday as his team beat MnState-Fergus Falls 79-75 at the CLC Invitational Tournament in Brainerd.

Russell, who began coaching at Central Lakes College in 1997 entered the 2012-13 campaign with a record of 295-120 over his career.

The CLC men's team won the Friday evening tournament match over Ridgewater-Willmar 76-70 for win number 299.

The Raiders men's team improved their record to 5-5 with the tournament victories over the weekend.

Women's Basketball

The Raider women's team lost both games in the CLC Invitational Tournament over the weekend. On Friday evening the women's team lost to Ridgewater 70-56.  They fell to MNState on Saturday by a score of 77-73. The Raider are now 1-9 on the season.

Both teams will be in action on January 4-5 for the CLC Winter Classic Tournament at the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College.

Tough weekend

The Central Lakes College men's and women's basketball teams lost at Ridgewater and Minnesota West over the weekend. Men -- At Worthington Sunday  Andre Thomas (shown) scored 21 points but the Raider men (3-5) lost to Mn West, 79-74 . Kevin Kueffler added 19 points and Nathan Holm  9.  John Jedneak hit three three-pointers and scored 21, with eight rebounds in Saturday's 70-69 loss to Ridgewater at Willmar in a game in which the winners went to the free throw line much more than CLC. Brandon Davis has 13 and Tyler Flugum 11. Women -- Lindsay Monson scored 18 points and hit the Raiders' only three pointer in a 75-59 loss Sunday to Minnesota West.  Ashley Arenson, Sierra Benning and Jaylnn Lamb each had 10 points . CLC (1-7) made 8 of 8 from the free throw line. Taalyr Egeness hit 16 points and had two three-pointers in the Saturday loss to Ridgewater, 77-53, Saturday. Lindsay added 13 points.

Football team ranked 10th

The Central Lakes College Raiders state championship football team was ranked No. 10 in the last National Junior College Athletic Association poll announced Dec. 3. CLC had a record of 10 wins and 1 loss and had been ranked as high as eighth in the poll this season. The only loss was in the first game of the year at Thief River Falls, 30-28, on Aug. 23. The Raiders avenged that in the state semi-final, 39-7. The final victory was a 33-23 triumph over defending state champion Rochester, on Nov. 4. CLC also earned a state title in 2009, going 10-2, captured the 2010 Southern Division title of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference in a 10-2 season, and in 2011 went 7-3.Under Head Coach and CLC alumnus Greg Medeck, Raider football has a record of 51-15. In his six years, Medeck has led the Raiders to four state championship games. According to Mike Bialka, sports editor of the Brainerd Dispatch, CLC "has become one of the state's destination community college programs."

Vs. Riverland

Women win

The CLC women's basketball notched its first win of the season, 63-57, today (Sat., Dec. 1) over Riverland. Lindsay Monson (shown) with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals led the way, while Taalyr Egeness put up 19 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists. Sierra Benning pushed the ball for the aggressive Raiders and had 8 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. CLC overcame a 31-24 halftime deficit with 44% shooting in the second half to outscore Riverland, 39-26, over the last 20 minutes. The biggest lead was 59-45. CLC shot 66.7% from the free throw line (14-21). CLC is now 1-5 on the year.

Men win

Tyler Flugum (24 pts.) and Andre Thomas (22) fueled the CLC men, 83-77, over Riverland after the Raiders lost a 14-point halftime lead. Thomas put up five three-pointers, including the deadliest with under a minute to play. Fugum was even hotter, making 7 of 11 from beyond the arc. The team shot 59% from three-point land 13-22) and 54% for the game (31-57). Flugu, had 7 assists and Brandon Davis 5.  Thomas had 6 steals. Kevin Kuefler scored 15 and had 9 rebounds.The Raiders are now 3-3.

Vs. Anoka-Ramsey

Men win

The CLC men's basketball team edged Anoka-Ramsey, 81-79, Friday, Nov. 30, for their second straight win, using nearly every athlete on the team. Sophs Brandon Davis (shown, 18 pts.) and Kevin Kuefler (15) led the scoring. CLC Coach Jim Russell called it a team effort, as 10 players got into the scoring column before halftime. The Raiders have had their troubles in the past meetings with A-R but found the winning combination to run their record to 2-3 on the strength of 52 % shooting and handed the Rams their first loss in five games.

Women lose

The CLC women's team lost its  fifth straight to always-tough A-R, 83-47.  Jalynn Lamb led the Raiders with 13 points.  She added three rebounds and a steal.  Lindsay Monson scored 9 and Sierra Benning 8. The Raiders were held to 34% shooting. The winners shot 45% and held a 40-25 rebounding edge. CLC teams host Riverland today (Sat., Dec. 1) with the women playing at 1 and the men at 3 in the Brainerd campus gym.