Fall sports delayed until spring by MSHSL

RTR Head Volleyball Coach Daynica Brown

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

 
The Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors, at its meeting on Aug. 4, approved moving football and volleyball to a modified spring season, with boys and girls cross country remaining in the fall for now. In a statement, MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens said the board tried to balance the need for activities while keeping students healthy…

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

Volleyball camp

RTR Volleyball Camp was held earlier this week for 4-6 grade. Pictured in the foreground are Laken Baartman and Payton Johansen practicing their volleyball skills.

Local fire squad comes out on top

The Ruthton/Holland Fire Department Team won the Woodstock Fire/EMS Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 8, defeating Woodstock Fire/EMS, Woodstock Non-Fire, and Pipestone. Pictured from left to right in front are Andy Schelhaas, Merle Zeinstra, Matt Schelhaas, Devin Schulze, Nathan McConnell and Chris Schulze; in back are Nathan Boeve, Jared Dagel, Casey Fritz, Collin Moeller, Cody Fritz, Brent Dagel and Nick Schulze.

Royals’ season ends vs Windom

Aiden Wichmann scores during Friday’s season-ending loss to Windom.

Cody Wichmann throws a pitch during Friday’s playoff game in Ruthton.

Royals head into playoffs

The Ruthton Royals head into playoff action tonight in Windom at 7:30 p.m. Game two is slated for Friday at 7:30 in Ruthton.

Royal return

Managers and umpires met at home plate before the game to exchange lineup cards as baseball returned to Ruthton when the Royals faced the Tracy Engineers last Thursday.

For more photos, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

RTR grad featured on ESPN segment

RTR graduate Alex Schwing was featured in a nationally televised ESPN story last week.

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

Many a young sports-mind­ed person over the years has watched their heroes covered on ESPN and dreamed of a day when he or she might show up on the popular sports network. For most, that never moves past the dream stage—especially for a young person growing up in small town America. This week, Alex Schwing is still fumbling through the reality that an ESPN crew showed up in Storm Lake, Iowa—much less that they were there to interview him. Schwing was featured in a story by ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill on the reopen­ing of high school baseball in Iowa, where the baseball season plays out during the summer months.
“I was actually spending a night with my parents in Lake Benton as I had some doctor ap­pointments to attend at Avera Tyler,” Schwing recalled. “I had to rush back down to Storm Lake to get to baseball practice. On my way home, I noticed an email notification on my smart­watch from someone at ESPN. I just had to check it right away. It was one of their analysts looking to interview me.”

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

Free throw finesse

Laken Baartman received her third place trophy for this year’s Knights of Columbus State Free Throw Competition, which had to be canceled due to COVID-19. Her trophy was delivered by Mark Peters, head of the Knights of Columbus in Minnesota.

Seniors left without final spring sports season

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

Among the many disap­pointments involved in the collateral damage from the pandemic, is depriving the 2020 seniors of their final season participating in spring sports. We reached out to seniors on their feelings about the sports that they have played in their high school careers and will share here the remainder of the athletes responding to our ques­tions.
Kylea Baartman – RTR softball – pitcher
“I started playing soft­ball when I was in seventh grade,” Baartman said…

For the full story and photos, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

2020 Seniors left without final spring sports season

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

Among the many disap­pointments involved in the collateral damage from the pandemic, is depriving the 2020 seniors of their final season participating in spring sports. We reached out to seniors on their feelings about the sports that they have played in their high school careers and will share that with our readers this week and next.
Payton Hess – RTR Baseball – shortstop/ pitcher
“I started playing competitive baseball in 3rd grade,” Payton said. “I have played varsity base­ball since freshman year and was looking forward to again this year. I was really looking forward to playing my final year of baseball. I was very proud of my success throughout the years but I knew I was not at my full potential. This year was going to be the year where I could re­ally show people what I could do…

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.