The golf season for the Foley boys team and a pair of girls ended at the Section 6AA tournament June 5 at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell. The Falcon boys shot a team score of 352 on the first day of the 36-hole event, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final round. Junior Tyler Smith led Foley with an 11-over-par 83 followed by senior Cam Evenson with an 85. “Unfortunately, the section tournament did not go as well as we hoped,” Foley coach Timm Smith said. “I think the boys wanted to play so well that they were way too tight. We have some young team members and I believe this experience will help them in future competition.”  

June 7 Early league standings Week 5 Total Ron Zillmer-Lyle Athman 10 40

Foley Lumberjacks pitcher Logan Winkelman has been dazzling hitters all the way to Division I collegiate baseball, and the lefthander brought a taste of his pitching talent to the amateur baseball scene against the Pierz Bulldogs June 10.  The dynamic athlete shined in the Victory League competition, throwing a seven-inning no-hitter in a 16-1 win in Pierz. “I got to see Logan be one of the best high school pitchers I’ve ever seen in the area, maybe ever,” said Mitch Keeler, manager. “He’s still trying to get back from his injury, but even not all the way back, he can still be almost unhittable when he’s commanding his pitches.”

It was not a state championship. But for the Foley boys tennis team, it was the next-best thing. With winning a state title being a monumental if not close-to-impossible task based on the strength of St. Paul Academy – which won its second straight championship – a quick glance of the draw left the Falcons thinking third place was attainable. When the final point was won in the third-place match of the Minnesota State High School League Class A Boys Tennis State Tournament, clinching a 4-3 victory over Rock Ridge (Virginia and Eveleth) June 7 at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis, it set off a championship-like celebration.

After her second attempt in the Class AA triple jump competition at the Minnesota State High School League track and field championships June 10, Foley High School junior Emily Novak approached the league official managing the event to check her distance. What she heard caused the student-athlete to cover her mouth with her hands in shock. Novak, who had exceeded 34 feet for the first time at the Section 5AA championships a week earlier, had outdone herself in a major way, reaching a new personal record with an incredulous 35-foot, 8 3/4-inch lunge and taking ninth place at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael, part of a wildly successful day for the Foley Falcons girls track and field program.

Ethan Novak’s clear-cut understanding of the fundamentals of pole vaulting would have one believing he has been doing the activity his entire high school career. However, the Foley High School senior has only been participating in the event for two seasons, making what he accomplished at the 2023 Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Track and Field State Tournament all the more impressive. The upperclassman cleared the bar at three heights, soaring to third place and reaching the podium June 9 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael.

The elimination bracket in a section baseball tournament can be a cruel place. Perhaps no program in the state knows that better than the Foley Falcons. Fighting back to the top requires several fresh pitching arms, timely hitting and maybe a bit of luck. Heavy favorites to win the last two Section 6AA tournaments, Foley stumbled in the early rounds and were unable to string together enough wins to reach the championship game. A deep pitching staff ensured that did not happen again.

Josiah Petersen, like many other students at Foley High School, is a three-sport athlete.

Late-inning nightmares have reared their ugly heads for the Foley Falcons baseball team in recent postseason appearances. Another tough turn of events arrived for the team against the Cathedral Crusaders in the Section 6AA quarterfinals June 1, as a seventh-inning wild pitch led the Crusaders to a 4-3 win.  “It was a tough way to lose,” said Mike Beier, Foley baseball head coach. “It’s difficult to end that way, but we played all right.”

Senior Jonah Wendt and junior Gavin Gross are going to be busy this week. Along with playing for the Foley varsity boys tennis team in the Minnesota State High School League Class A Team Tournament, the Falcons duo also qualified for state in doubles. Wendt and Gross won four matches over two days at the Section 6A Tournament May 26 and May 30 at the Pine City High School tennis courts. They will play in the state doubles tournament June 8-9 at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis. After winning their first two matches over Brooklyn Center without losing a game, Wendt and Gross found themselves trailing a set to their Pine City opponents before rallying for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory in the semifinals. They had an easier time in the championship, defeating their Mora opponents 6-1, 6-2.

The Foley boys golf team hopes their final regular-season meet is a precursor for what is to come. The Falcons finished fourth in the 16-team Cragun’s Invitational at The Legacy Golf Course in East Gull Lake. Foley finished with a score of 326, topping Granite Ridge Conference champion Albany by one shot. Tyler Smith shot 80 to lead Foley, while Dylan Dancer, Cam Evenson and Treydan Smith all shot 82 to complete Foley’s team score.

The last two weeks of the amateur baseball season have taken the Foley Lumberjacks in various directions. The latest stop was the Stearns County Classic tournament, where the team picked up a well-earned 6-4 win over the Starbuck Stars June 4 in Lake Henry. Michael Moulzolf completed five innings for the win, while Hunter Hamers came on for a timely two-inning save.

May 31

Foley’s senior class of boys track and field athletes put together a fantastic farewell at the Section 5AA finals June 2. Pole vaulter Ethan Novak clinched his spot at the 2023 Class AA Minnesota State High School League Track and Field State Meet, while fellow upperclassmen Teagan Duevel and Mitch Thell each found third-place finishes in a ninth-place finish for the Falcons at Monticello High School in Monticello. “It’s a great way to end everything,” said Dave Dahlstrom, head coach. “You always hope for the seniors to end their career with a personal best.”

Down the stretch, the Foley Falcons softball team were playing some of its best softball, moving runners around the bases with situational hitting and relying on a capable trio of pitchers to keep the team competitive against anyone.

As the regular track and field season comes to a close, the Foley girls team looks ahead to the Section 5AA meet with eager anticipation and hopes that their season will be extended beyond sections. 

Despite having greater expectations in production from his talented offensive lineup, Foley Falcons baseball head coach Mike Beier did not expect what the batting order brought to the table against Annandale May 23.

The Falcons boys track and field team traveled to Zimmerman May 23 to compete in the Last Chance meet with five other schools. This meet gives the athletes an opportunity to calibrate their mechanics before sections Wednesday, May 31. Not only did some calibrating happen but a school record went down and personal bests were achieved.

As the Foley High School clay target team prepared to bring its best shooters to the line for the Mid-Sota Champion Tournament, head coach Todd Kobenia was excited to get an opportunity to see how the Falcons stack up in an apples-to-apples comparison with other teams.  In windy conditions, the tournament took place May 24 at Del-Tone Shooting Range in St. Cloud.

The Foley boys golf team has one final tune-up before their chance to make a run for the state tournament.  The Falcons’ busy schedule continued last week with a Granite Ridge Conference meet in Becker and an invitational at Eagles Landing Golf Course in Fort Ripley. Their final regular season competition is the Staples-Motley Invitational Wednesday, May 31, at The Vintage Golf Course in Staples.