Conrad Engstrom

Brainerd

Sports Reporter at Brainerd Dispatch

Sports Reporter, Brainerd Dispatch. email: [email protected] BU ‘19 🏀

Articles

Boys Lacrosse: Fourth quarter rally sinks Warriors

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — Brainerd head coach Adam Extrand knew a high-scoring game was in order for the Section 8 play-in game against No. 10-seeded Becker Tuesday, May 27, at Adamson Field. The No. 7-seeded Warriors beat the Bulldogs 16-13 April 13. Tuesday night, it was Becker beating Brainerd 16-14 after outscoring the Warriors 6-2 in the fourth quarter to advance to the Section 8 Quarterfinals Tuesday, May 29.
Girls Lacrosse: Warriors hold off Huskies to advance

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — The No. 7-seeded Brainerd Warriors almost got too comfortable in the Section 8 play-in Tuesday, May 27, at Adamson Field. With a 9-3 lead at halftime, the Warriors saw the No. 10-seeded Big Lake/Princeton Huskies score three straight goals to open the third quarter and cut the lead to three. Brainerd head coach Mata Agre called a timeout and her team responded with a goal to end the third quarter and three goals in the fourth quarter to escape with a 13-9 win.
Female Area Athlete of the Week: Birkeland continues to stack wins for Pequot

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PEQUOT LAKES — What else does Genevieve Birkeland have to prove? The Pequot Lakes senior is a state champion, committed to play college golf at the University of St. Thomas, but she is still winning on the course. Birkeland shot a 3-over, 39 to win the Granite Ridge Conference meet May 19 at Little Falls Golf Course. She tied for second with a 1-over, 73 May 14 in the Brainerd Warrior Invite at the Classic at Madden’s.
Male Area Athlete of the Week: Pierz’s Cekalla showing consistency

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PIERZ — Nathan Cekalla is on fire. The Pierz junior recorded a win May 14 in the Granite Ridge Conference meet at Wapicada Golf Club and a top-10 finish May 12 in the Presection 6-2A meet at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club. Cekalla carded two birdies in a 6-over, 78 to win at Wapicada Golf Club by one stroke against Albany’s Blake Silbernick. Cekalla started his round with a birdie on the first hole.
Boys Lacrosse: Spuds handle the Warriors

2 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — It’s been a tough couple of games for the Brainerd Warriors. The Moorhead Spuds handed Brainerd its fourth-straight loss, 16-2, Tuesday, May 20, at a rainy Adamson Field. Brainerd lost two tight games to Grand Rapids/Greenway and Monticello. It lost to Rocori, in the rain, Friday, May 16, after beating the Spartans earlier in the season 8-4 at home. “We can’t play very well in the rain,” Warriors’ head coach Adam Extrand said.
Male Area Athlete of the Week: Younger Tappe hitting stride for Cardinals

2 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

STAPLES — Leading the Staples-Motley Cardinals in hitting through 17 games is an eighth-grader. Cooper Tappe posts a .459 batting average with 28 hits in 70 plate appearances and 61 at-bats. Since April 22, Tappe is currently on a 10-game hitting streak. Last week, he recorded 11 hits, 10 RBIs and seven runs in four games. “He’s been putting a lot of extra time in,” S-M head coach and Cooper’s father, Shane Tappe, said.
Boys Basketball: Stumpf takes the reins at Pequot Lakes

2 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PEQUOT LAKES — The Pequot Lakes Patriots have found their new coach. Current Pequot Lakes superintendent Kurt Stumpf takes over as the boys’ basketball head coach after approval from the school board Monday, May 5. Stumpf fills the position left open when Rich Spiczka, who spent the last nine seasons as the Patriots coach racking up 195 wins and four straight state tournament appearances, resigned. Stumpf is no stranger to the sidelines.
Female Area Athlete of the Week: Pillager’s Blais hitting and pitching machine

2 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PILLAGER — Briana Blais is the total package. The Pillager senior is second on the team in hitting and holds down the pitching circle as the Huskies’ top pitcher. In five games last week, Blais recorded 10 hits, eight RBIs and two runs. One of the hits included her first career home run. In the circle, she recorded two wins and struck out 32. It started with three hits and two RBIs in a doubleheader against Parkers Prairie May 6. Blais also struck out 11 across the two games.
Girls Lacrosse: Warriors stonewall Spartans for win

2 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — After trailing in the first quarter 3-2, it was all Brainerd Warriors Friday, May 16, at a rainy Adamson Field. Brainerd’s defense allowed one goal in the final three quarters to collect a 10-4 win over the Rocori Spartans. The swing happened in the second quarter when the Warriors netted four goals, while holding Rocori scoreless. Olivia Robertson tied the score on an assist from Avery Vagts two minutes into the second quarter.
College Track and Field: Lelwica wins MIAC decathlon title

3 weeks ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

COLLEGEVILLE — Max Lelwica is a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion. The St. John’s University senior and 2021 Brainerd graduate showed out at the MIAC Championship May 1-2 and placed first in the decathlon with 6,905 points at Carleton’s Laird Stadium. Lelwica finished just 27 points off the St. John's record set by Maguire Peterson at the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships.