Cheering on the KOMETS as they head to state

Southerly winds were whipping up the crowds at Mayo High School’s stadium as Kasson-Mantorville’s KOMETS squared-off against the Byron Bears in a decisive game that would decide the champion of Section 1AAAA.

No, I’m not going to relive the game blow-by- blow, but I’ll try to convey the enthusiasm from the first series of downs until the clinching of the title by the KOMETS.

Senior Anthony Moe-Tucker was on fire! He scored three touchdowns in the first period of action. Three! He was running as though his life depended on scoring. That sent the Kasson-Mantorville fans into frenzy.

Between the wild, hurdling legs of Moe-Tucker and the sprinting quarter- back, Matt Donovan, the Bears were left grasping at winds whipping through Mayo field.

KOMETS were leading at half time 35-0.

It had all the makings of a blow out. However, the score ended up 42-14.

While all of that was happening at Mayo High School, our lady KOMETS were handing Stewartville crushing defeat in volleyball action.

That means that Kasson-Mantorville will be sending a volleyball team and football team into Minnesota State High School League completion this week.

Most schools would be ecstatic to be represented by one team. Not here at K-M.

These young athletes are great representatives of our communities and take their talents on the road to face other teams from the Gopher state.

While we have had the opportunity to cover the football team, one of our volunteer photographers, Brooke Distad has taken the wheel in photographically covering our team. She’s all geared up to cover the volleyball team. In fact, she asked for credentials last week in anticipation of the KOMETS victory.

Credentials are handed out by the Minnesota State High School League to communities with news- papers and schools in their circulation area that will be covering the games.

Brooke is our person on the sidelines at K-M along with Julianne Fix, an RN at Mayo, Heather Vanderpool has been great in submitting shots of Byron Bears football and volleyball, along with Hayfield’s Mary Nelson, our shooter for Vikings football and other sports.

Why are sports such a big deal?

Well, it’s about our kids. They are able to show off their talents on the field, on the volleyball court or as members of the cheer squad that gets the crowds revved up to cheer for the participants.

Beside, it’s community pride that benefits. Who is not proud of our K-M, Bears, Vikings or Cobras?

Let’s cheer on the gridiron and volleyball teams as they move into the quarterfinals of state tournaments.

TOTAL EFFORT

“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.”

Arnold Palmer