Vern Johnson

FAIRMONT — Excellence in the classroom and on the prep gridiron.

The football programs under the tutelage of both Blue Earth Area head coach Randy Kuechenmeister and Martin County West mentor Tommy Elliott doubled up their academic all-state accolades, while Jacob Moeller earned individual scholastic success for Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman head coach Alex Roorda’s football program this fall.

Blue Earth Area offensive/defensive lineman Vern Johnson was one of only 15 seniors meriting a spot on the Minnesota Football Coaches Association’s Class 2A academic all-state roster. Johnson and the Bucs (3.22 grade point average) also achieved the silver team award for compiling a GPA between 3.00-3.25.

Martin County West tight end/defensive end Tanner Sinn proved one of just 14 seniors earning a place on the Class 1A academic all-state list. Sinn and the Mavericks also generated a 3.1 GPA to earn silver team status.

Moeller, a wide receiver, netted one of only 13 individual selections to the 9-Man academic all-state team for the Jaguars this season.

According to the MFCA’s qualifying criteria, players must be a senior varsity letterman who is a starter on either offense, defensive and/or special teams attaining a GPA of at least 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale.

Players cannot have any Minnesota State High School League eligibility penalties or infractions during their high school career.

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Spiking Success

Two area volleyball players earned selection to the 2021 Big South Conference East Division’s first team, while two more netted honorable mention.

Fairmont senior middle hitter Cassidy Schultz and Blue Earth Area junior outside hitter Eloise Blair spiked their way onto the league’s first team, while Cardinals’ senior middle hitter Brittney Mosloski and Bucs’ junior middle spiker Alicia Machacek merited honorable mention status for their efforts this fall.

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Opening Win

The Carlson Dental Bantam hockey team opened the season by posting a 4-1 victory over the Lakes Area Blizzards on Sunday at Martin County Arena in Fairmont.

Gavin Kester got Fairmont off to a quick start by tallying an unassisted goal 16 seconds in the game before chipping home his second goal in the second period.

Klay Beemer converted Eric Determan’s assist into a goal for Carlson Dental, while teammate Tyler Kurt added an unassisted goal.

Carlson Dental Bantams (1-0) play host to Albert Lea at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at Martin County Arena in Fairmont.

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Icy Split

The Day Plumbing and Heating PeeWee ‘B’ hockey squad kicked off the season by netting a split decision last weekend.

Preston Cepress erupted for four goals and one assist for Fairmont during an 11-8 loss to Worthington last Saturday.

Caden Wickert generated two goals and one assist for Day Plumbing and Heating, Noah Meixell contributed one goal and one helper, Dayton Draper tallied a solo goal, while Hunter Olson and Axel Chapman doled out one assist apiece.

Fairmont netminder Kaden Olson turned away 23 shots on goal in the opener.

Meixell produced four goals and Cepress collected two goals and two helpers to steer Day Plumbing and Heating to a 10-4 win over Windom last Sunday.

Olson earned a playmaker by dealing out three assists for Fairmont, Draper netted two goals, Preston Geerdes and Chapman each scored once, while Wickert dished out one helper.

Olson made 28 saves for Day Plumbing and Heating (1-1), which opens the Northfield tournament against Mahtomedi at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Northfield.

Fairmont plays another game later Saturday and concludes the tourney with a contest on Sunday.