tauffer second in Red Wing cross country invite

Park’s Gavin Stauffer ran second of 51 runners to lead Park Friday in the Winger Invite at the Red Wing Invitational.

Stauffer finished in 17:21.68 for the 5K run, just behind the winning time of 17:12.48.

Eli Firchau of Park finished 11^th in 17:51.52. Jack Weir was 30^th in 19:05.07, Jayden Rentz finished 33^rd in 19;09.05, Cooper Williams was 37^th in 19:15.16, Ben Paulsen 42^nd in 19:46.87, Brandon Carver 45^th in 20:03.27 and Sam Craig 47^th in 20:17.75.

Park was third in the seven-team competition with 108 points. Winona finished first with 26, followed by Hastings, 57; Park, 108; Raache, 109; East Ridge, 127; Rochester Century, 133 and Red Wing, 136.

Park’s girls competed in the junior varsity race and finished third. Ninth grader Allie Devine (25:20.38), senior Susan Mbu (25:30.28) and junior Hollen Thompson (25:44.16) were the top three Park runners.

Park battled host Hastings to a 2-all tie Saturday afternoon at McNamara Stadium.

It was Park’s fourth tie of the season as the Wolfpack went to 3-7-4 overall.

Visiting Park snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Forest Lake.

Fifth-ranked Stillwater (5-1-1, 10-2-1) won a 3-0 conference decision over the host Wolfpack Thursday at Cottage Grove.

Park (2-5 in the SEC, 3-7-4 overall) hosts Irondale (0-7-0, 3-11-0) Thursday in the final regular season game, starting at 7 p.m.

Boys soccer team wins third game in last four

Park won its third game in four tries Saturday, dropping the host Hastings Raiders 4-1 in a non-conference boys soccer contest at McNamara Stadium/Todd Field.

Park’s only loss in the last four games was a 2-0 loss to No. 8 Stillwater Thursday, Sept. 28.

Against Hastings (5-6-1), Park senior forward Ayub Mohamed scored twice for the Wolfpack. Devin Igl and Terry Garibay out across the other two Park tallies.

Carter Geisen and Joe Cison combined to get the win in the net.

Park won its second straight contest Tuesday, Sept. 26, blanking host Forest Lake 4-0 in the Wolfpack’s most decisive win of the season.

Brayden Kortus, Noah Haupt, Mohamed and Killian Krech all scored for the Wolfpack. Joe Cison got the shutout in goal.

Park battled eight-ranked Stillwater to a 0-0 tie for a half, but the visiting Ponies (5-1-1, 10-2-2) won the second half 2-0 for a Suburban East Conference victory at Cottage Grove Thursday.

Park (2-5, 7-6 overall) hosts Irondale (0-5-2, 3-6-3) Thursday in the final regular-season game, starting at 5 p.m.

Girls tennis drops two close matches

A hard-luck Park girls tennis team dropped a pair of matches last week, falling to White Bear Kaje 4-2 on Sept. 26, then losing to Forest Lake 4-3 Thursday.

Against Forest Lake, the Ranger swept the singles while Park won all three doubles matches. Winning for Park were Liv Evans and Becky Etten at No. 1 doubles, 7-6 (12-10) and 6-4; Madi Brinkman and Emery Lattner won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 doubles and Noelle Chapek-Lauren Osland won in three at No. 3 doubles, 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Chloe Newhouse won at No. 4 singles by a 6-3, 6-4 score against White Bear Lake.

The No,3 singles match was suspended because of darkness with Park’s Camilla Brooks trailing narrowly 6-3, 6-7, 4-5. 

Host Woodbury knocked out Park in the first round of girls tennis team sectionals Monday, winning 4-3.

“We lost 3-4 in a super close match,” said Park head tennis coach Tony Townsend. “We played outstanding but came up short. I was so proud of our effort and fight throughout the match. Outstanding season.”

Woodbury won three of four singles, while Park took two of three doubles matches.

Park’s winners Monday were Camilla Brooks at No. 3 singles,7-5, 3-6, 6-1; Becky Etten and Liv Evans at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 7-5; and Lauren Osland and Noelle Chapel at No. 3 doubles, 6-2, 6-2.

Woodbury earlier edged Park by the same 4-3 score during the regular season.