Monday, March 16, 2015

Dutchmen Welcome Back

The Melrose Dutchmen had two welcome backs from their state tournament champion.

On Saturday fans lined Fifth Avenue greeted the bus back from the state meet. They then came to the parking lot to greet and applaud the team.

This morning a welcome back was held in the Melrose Area Public Elementary auditorium. Besides the team, Melrose gymnast, Mady Brinkman was saluted at the event.

The coaches and captains addressed the well-wishers thanking all-of the students, players, fans, parents and community. A constant them of the speeches was that it was team work that won. Coach Ryan Dusha illustrated how the seniors illustrated that concept of teamwork in a variety of ways.

He told how Brian Thielen, a senior, had accepted the role of playing the scout team, even after he had been seen a game time early in the year.

“He came up to me and said “coach that was so much fun,” Dusha recalled.

‘Zak Luetmer did fantastic job, He didn’t got much playing time, but he never complained.’

 “Blake Gerads was one of the best players on the team and didn’t start and he was fine with that,” Dusha said.

“Anthony Welle he keeps everyone loose”

Isaac Herkenhoff talked to me early in the year and said he I love BB so much.

Cesar, Nobody knew how bad his ankle was. He never complained.  He just kept going I asked him one time this year if he was having fun. He said “coach all I want to do is get a banner.”

The celebration came 41 years after Melrose had last won a state boys basketball championship.  Activities Director Jonathan Ruoff tried to put some perspective on that.

“We estimated that in that time about  6,500 students graduated from Melrose. Let’s hope the next one comes after 115 have graduated.

Check the March 18 issue of the Beacon for photographs and stories of the team at state.

Hear Ryan Dusha talk about the team’s success at http://youtu.be/EtUU5-D7mjo

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Question: How many consecutive state basketball games has Melrose won? See answer below.
Dutchmen Basketball

State Champions

Even after their return to Melrose, with fans lining Fifth Avenue and filling the school parking lot, it was still a bit unreal to head coach Ryan Dusha what the team had done

But the fact is The Melrose Dutchmen are again a state basketball champion.

Never ranked among the top teams all year, and ranked fifth in the state tournament seeds, the Dutchmen came out of the Class AA championship with first place medals, trophy and nets.

"This is a bit surreal," Dusha said after Melrose clinched the championship with a 63-51 win over Caledoniain the State Class AA championship this afternoon in Minneapolis. "We don't know how to this, cutting down the nets. This is fun."

What Melrose did know how to do was prepare of its opponents, and execute it game plan.  The win came through a combination of being prepared and execution. Melrose's outside shooting was noticeable in the game as Drake Meyer, 24 points, and Cesar Cervantes, 10 points, combined for six three-point shots.  Another key element to Melrose's win was how it controlled the boards. Melrose outrebound Caledonia 43-35 and did not concede anything to the physical inside play of the Warriors.

The Dutchmen led for most of the them game and once its inside players, Blake Gerads, two points, Tyler Braegelmann, 15 points, and Colton Meyer, eight points, started to score the Dutchmen had established themselves inside and outside.

Dillon Haider's ability to complete no-look passes, resulted in buckets for the Dutchmen. He also had four points in the game.   Cervantes had seven assists in the game.

Caledonia came to play and Melrose could never really let up. For one of the few games this year, Melrose played primarily seven players, although all senior were able to play in the game.

Melrose finishes its year a 29-5. Dillon Haider, Tyler Braegelmann and Drake Meyer were named to the all-tournent team.

From the start of the year Dusha had coached the team to be balance, unselfish and work everyone into the game.  The goal was to constantly improve. He did admit to when he started thinking of state championship.

"With about minute left (in the championship game)  For us championship basketball is not a destination, it is a mind set. We never talk about getting to the state championship, We talked about improving every day and  playing champishp basketball." 
More photos can be found at http://youtu.be/vBpx2fI5Ekg

 Read about the game in the March 18 issue of the Melrose Beacon.
Answer: The Dutchmen have won their last seven consecutive state tournament playoff games.

 

 
 

 

 

 
 


 

Friday,March 13, 2015

Dutchmen Basketball

Melrose defeated St. Croix Lutheran 55-40 in the semi final. Melrose plays for the Class AA championship tomorrow afternoon.  Dillon Haider scored 19 for Melrose which had three players in double figuers. Inside Tyler Braegelmann scored 10 and Colton Meyer added 12 points. More photographs can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlIg6qiPJt4
Read about the game in the March 18 issue of  the Melrose Beacon.

  

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Dutchmen Basketball

Melrose defeated Redwood Valley 81-66 to advance to state class AA semi-finals. Tyler Braegelmann led the team in scoring with 17 points. Drake Meyer (15), Cesar Cervantes (13), Dillon Haider (14) and Blake Gerads (12) all reached double figures. More information will appear in the March 18 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Video from the game can be seen at http://youtu.be/YWvwGHcK8eI

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Fusion Swimming

The Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion 200MR team and 400FSR team competed in the state swimming and diving consolation round. A report of their meet appears in the March 11 issue of the Beacon. The 200MR team of Isaac Schreiner, Noah Glasener, Kenny Warzecha and Matthew Beste finished in 13th place.
MSC finished 22nd at the meet
Lady Dutchmen Basketball
Sauk Centre defeated Melrose  76-37.ending the Lady Dutchmen's season.  Justine Revermann had 19 points in the game. Emily Goerdt, who tore a ligament in the previous game, did not play.
Read more the these contests in the March 11 issue of the Beacon.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Section Champions

The Melrose Dutchmen claimed the 6AA championship defeating Eden Valley-Watkins 50-42this evening in St. Cloud. Melrose now advanced to the state tournament. Melrose (23-6)begins state play Wednesday, March 11 at 8.m. in the Target Center facing Redwood Valley (26-5) Video can be seen at
http://youtu.be/Uj1Uyk-7xAE



 



Fusion Swimming

The Melrose-Sauk Centre Swim team had one entry qualify for the consolation round in the Class A swimming and diving through the 12 prelimnary events. Qualifying for the consolation round were the 200MR team and the 400FSR team
To reach the championship heat a entry must finish in the top eight
To reach the consolation they must finish 9 to 16.

Preliminaries:

200 Medley Relay (MR):13-Isaac Schreiner, Noah Glasener, Kenny Warzecha, Matthew Beste 1:43.71

200 Freestyle (FS): 21-Justin Hoppe 1:51.73, 22-Ben Heller 1:52.06.

200 Individual Medley: 22-Warzecha 2:10.42
100 Butterfly: 19-Warzecha 56.63, 22-Schreiner 57.30.
500FS: 32-Heller 5:13.68
200 Freestyle Relay (FSR): 19-Beste, Jake Enneking, Hoppe, Heller 1:32.48.
100BK: 18-Schreiner 57.05.
400FSR: 11-Hoppe, Warzecha, Schreiner, Heller 3:21.71.

  

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Lady Dutchmen Basketball

The Lady Dutchmen, playing without Emily Goerdt for much of the second half, held off Pierz to win 55-46 in the Section 6AA-North Subsection playoffs.  Goerdt, scored 13 points before leaving the game with an injury.  Justine Revermann, 16 points, and Gabi Sawyer also reached double figures in the win.  Melrose next plays Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. John's, Collegeville. Read more of the game in the March 11 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Video of the game can be seen at http://youtu.be/tLDyHi87wdY

  

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Dutchmen Basketball

The Melrose Dutchmen Basketball team won the Section 6AA-North Sub-Section championship with a 56-47 win over Sauk Centre this evening. Melrose plays for the Section 6AA championship Friday, March 6 at St. Cloud State University. Video from the game can be seen at http://youtu.be/6-3TMwVq6_s