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It took more than the last week but the final notes of the local winter sports season were made in Bismarck and Fargo. The Davies girls & Sheyenne boys ended their seasons with the first championships in their histories while Kindred's boys came up short of adding another trophy to their case as Devils Lake ended a nearly century-old title drought in the Dome yesterday afternoon!
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The horn also sounded on the NDSU men as they were eliminated in the first round of the League tournament. The Bison women were able to extend the school's streak of being in the championship but also fell short of the automatic-qualifier.
As the tournaments continued to be announced they were chosen for a spot in the WNIT but the details won't be out until Monday.
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MSUM's men were firmly in the field prior to their early exit in Sioux Falls and made good on their chance to face a non-conference opponent, hammering Pittsburgh St. by 18 in the opening round Saturday. All five starters scored at least 9 points, with Ja'Kair Sanchez adding 12 rebounds to his 10 points. As the ritual goes, they got host Mankato Sunday and the table was turned on them, losing by 23. It was a disappointing end to another monumental season for that program.
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The last couple weeks for the best hockey team in the area were a rollercoaster, the heels of setting the franchise record for wins and securing the top spot in the Western Conference playoff they dropped two of three to fourth-place Tri-City.
It would be an overreaction to say they're taking their foot off the gas but the series in Nebraska was a dramatic departure from how they has been performing for most of this season. It could be a blip, hopefully it is, but it rises to the level of noteworthy.
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Wrestling is several rungs down on the ladder of priority but Concordia's Gabe Zierden broke through with a run to the national championship match. He wasn't able to match the defending champion's ability on the mat but is deserving of all the recognition coming his way!
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The wounded Wolves continue to hang around near the top of the Western Conference standings. The loss of two of their stalwarts, along with more key members of the rotation, has not done them in as badly as expected and for now they seem to be able to maintain their philosophies. It's a testament to the quality acquisition that Tim Connelly was for the franchise, as he has deftly amplified what Gerson Rosas began to put together.
The trouble is, that with a month to go in the regular season they won't be able to let down many more times and still hope to have any sort of home court in the postseason. It's a tough pill but that's the sort of labyrinth that the conference presents.
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It was also a massive week for the football team. In the wake of Kirk Cousins signing with Atlanta the team swung a trade for Houston's first round pick, after signing pass rusher Jonathon Greenard away from them. Those moves, in conjunction with several others, have continued the trend by the current brain-trust of overhauling the roster since they were hired. Gone are many familiar names but the reset was also going to eventually bring a period of uncomfortable unknown. If the GM & coach are to secure themselves second contracts then training camp and the ensuing season will begin to reveal what their long-term vision has been. But in the interim we are forced to wait for those pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. It's not ideal but it is necessary and in a twisted way, enjoyable!
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Another significant stretch for the Fargo area sports scene!