Tribune notebook: CMCS Bluejays dominate All-Camden Conference honorees

[ASFN Admin]

Mar. 17—It was an historic year for the Central Minnesota Christian School girls basketball team and a really fine season for the Bluejays' boys basketball squad.

It's no surprise that the two programs dominant the All-Camden Conference squads released this week.

And, it was another excellent season for MACCRAY's Brielle Janssen, who was named the Camden Conference North's MVP, and Renville County West's Jonathan Driggs, who took South Division MVP honors.

The CMCS girls just wrapped up the best season in school history, finishing third in the state Class A tournament. The Bluejays were 16-0 in Camden games and 28-4 overall.

Junior Sienna Duininck and seniors Emmi Braem, Addie Taatjes and Carrie Mulder all earned all-conference honors in the North. Brian Nelson was named coach of the year and junior Maddie Vander Ark received honorable-mention honors.

The CMCS boys also went 16-0 in the Camden and were 28-2 overall. The Bluejays lost in the Section 3A championship game to Hills-Beaver Creek, 77-70. Asher Wieberdink, a 6-foot-7 junior, was named the Camden North's most valuable player. Joining him on the all-conference team are fellow Bluejays Logan Roelofs, Eli Gerdes and Carter Taatjes. Roelofs is a senior. The rest are juniors. Senior Micah Asake earned honorable mention.

CMCS' Ted Taatjes was named the North Division coach of the year. Matt Huhnerkoch of RCW was the South Division coach of the year.

Here's a look at the rest of the all-conference teams:

North Division girls:

* Dawson-Boyd — Claire Stratmoen (so.). Honorable mention: Alyssa Swedzinski (sr.).

* Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg — Acelynn Hacker (sr.), Leah Wagner (jr.) and Madison Silas (so.).

* Lac qui Parle Valley — Caleigh Conn (sr.).

* MACCRAY — Janssen (sr.), Emma Thein (sr.), Sam Hultgren (sr.). Honorable mention: Nora Hultgren (sr.).

* Ortonville — none. Honorable mention: Sarah Neu (sr.).

South Division girls:

* Canby — Brynn Kockelman (sr., co-MVP) and Ava Danielson (jr.).

* Lakeview — Brook Gunlogson (sr.), Brynn Strensrud (sr., co-MVP), Anah Schmidt (sr.). Honorable mention: Aubrey Nething (sr.).

* Minneota — Autumn Anderson (so.) and Jaylyn Coequyt . Honorable mention: Sara Gruenes (sr.).

* RCW — Holly Hinderks (sr.). Honorable mention: Mackenna Hinderks (jr.).

* Tracy-Milroy-Balaton — Gretchen Lanoue (so.) and Melaina Ankrum (jr.).

* Yellow Medicine East — Bailey Mortenson (so.) and Bayli Sneller (sr.).

Coach of the year — Mike Imes, Lakeview.

North Division boys:

* Dawson-Boyd — Gunner Liebl (sr.), Jaxton Hastad (jr.) and Carson Stratmoen (jr.). Honorable mention: Landon Malecek (jr.).

* KMS — Gavin Mulder (sr.) and Teagen Diederich (sr.). Honorable mention: Hunter Engelke (sr.).

* LQPV — Tanner Tilbury (so.). Honorable mention: Nolan Smith (sr.).

* MACCRAY — Jonah Janssen (jr.). Honorable mention: Jaden Dirksen (sr.).

* Ortonville — Ellis Longnecker (sr.). Honorable mention: Cadyn Vanderwal (sr.).

South Division boys:

* Canby — Owen Peterson (so.). Honorable mention: Hunter Kack (so.).

* Lakeview — Braylon Breyfogle (sr.), Cody Heimke (sr.) and Ian Taylor (sr.). Honorable mention: Trevor Tusberg (sr.).

* Minneota — Easton Johnston (sr.). Honorable mention: Jase Sorensen (so.).

* RCW — Driggs (jr., MVP); Brayden Klaassen (jr.), Humberto Ramirez (so.) and Grant Novotny (fr.).

* TMB — Griffin Zick (sr.) and Connor Lanoue (sr.). Honorable mention: Sy Sanders (sr.).

* YME — Gunnar Fagen (so.). Honorable mention: Kia Greycloud (sr.).

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