Darren Lukenbill

Minnesota

Father, educator, coach, hunter, and gatherer. The love for my children is rivaled only by my love of nature. And caramel corn.

Featured in: Favicon

moraminn.com

Articles

Local athletes wrap up State competition

1 week ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

Three high school athletes brought the spring sports season to a close in grand fashion, each competing in their respective sports’ state tournaments. Sophomore Joe Sampson competed at the state tennis tournament on June 5 and 6. He opened against Joshua Cook from Minnehaha Academy, the number two seed in Class A. After dropping a competitive opening set 4-6, Sampson was blanked 0-6 in the second; Cook would go on to finish third in the tournament.
Summer baseball - at a field near you

2 weeks ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

The Eastern Minnesota League’s regular season is in full swing, adding another summer of town baseball to its 100 year history. All three of Kanabec County’s league teams have put a tally in the win column, though all three are looking up at Princeton, who leads the North Division with a 4-0 league record. The Panthers have been dominant so far, outscoring opponents by an average of 13-2.
Lions are tamed after three section wins

3 weeks ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

Ogilvie’s baseball team carried the momentum of a strong regular season into the postseason, reeling off three straight wins before ending with a third place finish in section play. An 11-6 record was enough to earn the Lions Section 5A-East’s number one seed, and with that seed came home field advantage through the bracket’s early rounds. Deegan Birkaker tossed a shutout against eighth-seed McGregor on May 22, then nearly did it again against fifth-seed Hill City/Northland on May 27.
Mora district battling buckthorn in school forests

3 weeks ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

Mora Public Schools is joining the fight in battling a problem found in Minnesota forests — common buckthorn Purposely introduced to the state’s landscapes as an ornamental shrub, buckthorn is now classified as a restricted noxious weed in Minnesota. A non-native invasive species from Europe and Asia, buckthorn has the potential to significantly alter the diversity and health of woodlands throughout the state.
Mustangs reach 10-run rule in victory over Lions

1 month ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

It has been a spring of resurgence for the high school softball teams of Kanabec County, as both Ogilvie and Mora have put together winning campaigns for the first time in several seasons. The two clubs met last week in Mora for a Great River Conference showdown. The host Mustangs came into the matchup having won three of their previous five games, pushing their season record to 9-7, the program’s highest win total since 2021.
Lions lose to Mustangs in close contest

1 month ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

Two baseball teams familiar with close games added another one to their tallies last Tuesday, when Ogilvie and Mora locked up in a pitchers’ duel on the Mustangs’ home field. The Lions had played six one-run games this season; winning five of those boosted Ogilvie to a solid 10-4 record, including 8-2 in Great River Conference play. Mora took the field with a 9-5 record, winning three of four one-run games. The Mustangs sat in fourth place in GRC standings, one win behind Ogilvie.
Ogilvie hosts track meet on new facilities

1 month ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

For the first time in seven years, Ogilvie was the home squad at a track meet when the Lions hosted the Deb Brennan Lion Invite last Thursday, May 8. Teams from Rush City, Milaca, Braham and Mille Lacs joined Ogilvie to break in the Lions’ track facility that received a facelift over the last couple of years. Mother Nature, too, arrived for the festivities, delivering the bright sunshine and gentle breezes that had been in short supply for the first month of meets.
Mustang tennis team ready to make noise in Section play

1 month ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

A strong second half of the season propelled the Mora boys tennis team into the upper half of Section 6A standings, giving the Mustangs a home match to open team section play. “The team is really coming together as we end the regular season,” said head coach Pete Balmer earlier this week. At 12-7, Mora earned the section’s third seed behind Foley and top-ranked Pine City, who twice beat Mora this season by narrow 4-3 scores.
Mustang softball shuts out Barnum

2 months ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

When Mora’s softball coaching staff studied the tea leaves in their upcoming season’s cup, pitching and defense lined the path to success. “We are looking to improve our defense from last year, and not give up as many free bases due to walks and errors,” said co-head coach Chris Kelash after the first week of practice.
Mustang tennis team begins season 1-1

2 months ago | moraminn.com | Darren Lukenbill

While most spring sports were put on hold by last week’s winter weather, Mora’s boys tennis team hit the sun-dried asphalt for two outdoor matches on Thursday and Friday. The Mustangs were in Cambridge on Thursday to face a senior-heavy Bluejackets team that is hoping to be among the leaders of Section 7AA. The hosts flexed their upperclassmen strength early and often, sending the Mustangs home without a set or match victory.