New Prague High School’s baseball team’s expectations for this season is to be competitive in all aspects on the field.
The Trojans began their season at Rochester Mayo, Friday, April 5, with a close 2-1 loss. (See separate story.) New Prague’s home game against Rochester Century Monday, April 8, was postponed due to the weather. The Trojans are home tonight hosting Chaska at 4:30 p.m. then Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. New Prague is at Lakeville North and back home Tuesday, April 16, 6 p.m. against Waconia.
When it comes to playing competitive ice hockey, Braeden Woitas isn’t ready to put his skates away. Not yet.
Woitas, the son of Marisa and Kevin Woitas, has accepted a tender to play junior hockey in Mason City Iowa in the North American Tier III Hockey League. His long-term goal is to play college hockey. Where and at what level is yet to be determined, he said.
New Prague has joined a growing number of schools offering boys’ volleyball as an emerging activity sport. Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m., the Trojans will make a little bit of history when they host their first match.
The Trojans opened formal practices Monday, April 1. Players have been working together during open gym sessions and camp for several weeks, said coach Greg Sayuk. The NPHS coach expected about 28 players out for the new team, enough to meet the requirement to have a varsity and junior varsity teams.
When he’s had a tough day in the classroom, Jeremy Biermaier always has basketball as an activity more often than not will end the day on a positive note.
Other than an actor whose movies her grandpa cherished, she doesn’t know who John Wayne was. That’s all Jenna Hlavac needed to know before creating a drawing of the famed American icon.
The following New Prague High School student-athletes were named to the all-Metro West Conference teams for their performances during the winter season.
Boys’ Basketball
All-conference: Evan Weichert; honorable mention: George Songe, Jonny Connelly.
Girls’ Basketball
All-conference: Katie Boulanger, Taylor Hemann; honorable mention: Maya Kilian, Lily Schoenecker.
Gymnastics
All-conference: Hannah Kraft, Karly Ophus, Brooklyn Carter, Vayda Spicer, Maura Erickson; honorable mention: Maria Schoenbauer, Susie Dalsin.
Boys’ hockey
She’s a two-year starter on an NCAA Division II womens’ basketball team headed to the Elite Eight Monday night in St. Joseph, Mo. New Prague’s Emily Russo is enjoying quite a ride with the Mavericks.
New Prague High School wrestler, senior Destney Lofton is headed for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) girls’ state championships Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2. Lofton qualified when she took second at 118 pounds during the section 2 and 4 tournament Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10, in Redwood Valley.
Fellow New Prague wrestler, junior Teva Feit placed fourth at 106 pounds after battling her way back into the top at the tourney.
“Both girls came to battle and wrestled to their seeds,” said New Prague head coach Dan Wagner.
After an early-season setback to the defending state champion, the Trojans’ floor hockey team are continuing to improve their overall game. “Overall, I like where we are at and I feel confident this team can make a push down the stretch to compete for another state tournament berth and hopefully compete for another state title, said coach Jeremy Kalal.
At 5-1, the Trojans travel to East Ridge High School today, Thursday, Feb. 8, to face South Washington County. Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Trojans will host Stillwater at 4:30 p.m. in the New Prague Community Center gym.
Heading into the section dance competition, New Prague High School’s dance team members knew everything had to fall just right for them to have an outside chance at making the state meet.
While the Trojans didn’t make the state field, they left the floor at Shakopee High School emotionally and physically exhausted knowing they offered their best. In a 12-team field, New Prague finished seventh in jazz and eighth in kick.
New Prague High School’s wrestlers had a busy few days as they won both the Highway 13 Rumble at home, Friday, Feb. 2, and the Takedown on 22 tournament in Mapleton, Saturday, Feb. 3.
Triangular The Trojans started by traveling to Farmington High School Thursday, Feb. 1, where they defeated Lakeville South, 47-18, and lost to Farmington, 31-30.
“This was a great event as both these teams are in our new section,” said head coach Dan Wagner.
New Prague’s swimmers have reason to enjoy growing confidence as the schedule turns the final leg of the regular season.
The Trojans earned their first-ever dual meet win over Benilde-St. Margaret’s Thursday, Jan. 25. With two meets left before a 20-day layoff before the section meet Feb. 21-22 in Lakeville, coach Dakota Becerra said the team’s hard work and talent are coming together to pay dividends.
With two regular-season games left to play before the section playoffs commence, the New Prague High School girls’ ice hockey team is working to build as much momentum and confidence as possible before the section playoffs open.
At 3-18-2 overall, the Trojans expect to play a top-seeded team in the section playoffs. Their aim is to enter the section playoffs playing at the top of their game regardless of their opponent.
After splitting its first two games, the New Prague floor hockey team has enjoyed surge, overwhelming opponents with plenty of offensive and solid defensive play as well.
The Trojans have scored 29 goals in three games. The most recent, a 13-goal effort against Owatonna, is a sign the Trojans’ offense is rounding into form. The win improved the Trojans’ record to 3-1.
New Prague played Chaska/Chanhassen/Shakopee/ Prior Lake co-operative team Tuesday, Jan. 30, after The New Prague Times went to press. Today,Thursday, Feb. 1, New Prague will host South Suburban at 4:30 p.m.
New Prague High School’s wrestlers split a triangular in Jordan, Friday, Jan. 26. The Trojans beat Glencoe-Silver Lake, 58-9, and then lost to Scott West, 40-14.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, New Prague was on the road for a 16-team individual tournament in Orono. The Trojans tied for third in the competitive tourney.
Triangular
Monday was a hard night on the hardwood for the New Prague Trojans.
On a night where Katie Boulanger was honored for eclipsing 1,000 points in scoring, Chanhassen topped NP, 77-52.
New Prague Trojans will host Bloomington Jefferson Thursday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.
The NPHS boys fell to the Storm, 63-62, Monday in Chanhassen.
The New Prague Trojans will be at Bloomington Jefferson Thursday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.