Park swims to pair of SEC triumphs

Park’s swimmers and divers chalked up two more Suburban East Conference victories last week, sinking both White Bear Lake and Irondale.

The Wolfpack opened the week with a 96-75 win over White Bear Lake, then swam past Irondale Thursday, 9669.

Park’s swim and dive team is on roll, going 6-1 in dual meets so far this season, plus winning a team title at the South St. Paul Invitational.

Against Irondale, Park got individual wins from Ethan Anderson in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.13), Nathan Johnson in the 200-yard IM (2:14.49) and 100-yard freestyle (54.39), Mitchell Le-May in the 50-yard freestyle (23.53), John Jaso in diving (119.65) and Parker Jeseritz in the 500-yard freestyle (5:31.33), The Wolfpack also swam to victories in the 200-yard medley relay with the foursome of Parker Jeseritz, Matt Glenna, Anderson and Carter Sommerness (1:49.93) and the 200-yard freestyle relay with the quartet of Glenna, Sommerness, Jalen Kalinowski and Logan Schweigert (1:41.75).

Park swam the final three events for exhibition times only. Park 96, White Bear Lake 75 The Wolfpack had seven individual and two relay victories Tuesday against White Bear Lake.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Glenna, Nathan Johnson, Anderson and Mitchell LeMay won in 1:47.34. In the 200-yard freestyle relay it was the Park team of Glenna, LeMay, Mason Darling and Anderson swimming to first in 1:38.89.

Park secured individual victories from Glenna in the 200yard IM (2:10.67), Jeseritz in the 50-freestyle (25.87), Jaso in diving (118.05), Mason Darling in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.96), Mitchell Le-May in the 100-yard freestyle (53.12), Anderson in the 500yard freestyle (5:27.07) and Nathan Johnson in the 100yard backstroke (1:06.19).

Wolfpack gymnasts gain season’s best score Park’s gymnasts had their highest scoring meet of the season Saturday in the Lakeville Invitational.

Park finished with a best of 136.450 in the meet, bettering the score of 134.700 they scored a week earlier against Cretin-Derham Hall. The Wolfpack were 12th in the 15-team competition won by Stillwater with a score of 146.500.

The Wolfpack had season team bests in the vault (35.7500), bars (32.2000) and beam (33.300) Saturday. Their best in the floor was 35.3250 against Cretin.

Leah Smith led Park Saturday with a score of 34.700 in the all-around. Smith scored a 9.1 in the vault and an 8.85 on the bars.

Emily Dahlstrom had an 8.850 on the beam while Rainna Jameson scored an 8.600. Ashley Lentz nailed a 9.150 in the vault.

The Wolfpack team is ranked No. 20 in the latest Class AAA ranking conducted by the Minnesota Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association.

Park girls hockey battles but falls

Forest Lake edged the host Wolfpack 3-2 in Suburban East Conference girls hockey Monday afternoon.

Underdog Park (5-13, 2-8) gave the visiting Rangers (10- 9, 5-4) quite a battle before falling.

Forest Lake led 2-0 midway through the second period before Park’s Molly Villas scored a short-handed goal off an by assist from Sam Miller Forest Lake then scored late in the second period to regain a two-goal lead.

Taylar Nadler of the Wolfpack made it a 3-2 game late in the third period with Natalie Post assisting.

Aubree Laska got the call in the net and stopped 19 of Forest Lake’s 22 shots. Park attempted 26 scores.

It was Park’s ninth straight loss.

The Wolfpack plays rival East Ridge (10-9-1, 5-5) Tuesday at Health East Sports Center, starting at 7 p.m.

Woodbury 3, Park 0

Against Woodbury Friday it was déjà vu all over again for the Park girls hockey team.

The Wolfpack skated hard but couldn’t find the back of the net in a 3-0 loss to visiting Woodbury in Suburban East Conference girls hockey at Cottage Grove Ice Arena Friday.

It was the eighth straight loss for the Wolfpack and the fourth time in five games Park has gone scoreless.

“We couldn’t find a way to put the puck in the net today, but the girls played hard until the entire end too, so that’s all you can kind of ask and hopefully we’ll get some work in practice on how to score some goals,” said assistant coach Anna Keys.

“We’ve got to find a way to get a spark back in the team and hopefully start getting in the win column,” Keys continued. “It is frustrating. What we say is just keep working hard, that’s all you can do and hope for the best and we’ll get goals and things will bounce our way.”

Woodbury (11-8, 5-5) powered through two quick goals in the first period and that score held up until midway through the third when the Royals slipped another into the net.

Park sophomore goalie Tori Stepka stopped 32 if the 35 shots she faced.

The Wolfpack attempted 24 shots on goal.

Stillwater 12, Park 2

Stillwater (8-6-2, 6-1-2) skated past Park 12-2 Tuesday in Suburban East Conference hockey.

Ninth-grader Natalie Post and sophomore Maggie Jensen scored goals for the Wolfpack, both unassisted.

Stillwater jumped out to a 5-0 lead and led 6-1 after the first period and 10-2 after the second. The Ponies outshot the Wolfpack 29-11.

Freshman forward Natalie Post of the Wolfpack moves the puck down the ice in front of the Park bench against Woodbury Saturday. Photo by John Molene.