Eagles to host Ada-Borup West in regular season opener

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Eagles are hoping to build on last season’s tremendous run through the section tournament that ended with them taking on the eventual section champion Parkers Prairie in the FargoDome. The second place finish came after the Eagles pulled off a pair of thrilling upsets in the opening two rounds of the tournament against West Central Area (by a score of 35-20) and Breckenridge (by a score of 26-18). 

The Eagles finished last season with a record of 4-7 overall, after going 2-1 in the postseason. Their regular season schedule will once again be a difficult one to navigate as tradition power schools like Ada-Borup West and Parkers Prairie are once again on the docket, as are Class 2A schools Pillager and Staples-Motley.

“We had a great run at end of season to get to FargoDome and our goals are there again.  We have a very tough schedule with Ada traditional power, Parkers defending champ, and Staples/Pillager 2A schools who are tough, but really our whole schedule every week is very competitive and no weeks are easy weeks,” said head coach Matt Radniecki. 

If the Eagles want to find themselves back in Fargo at the end of the season they will once again need to replace a number of seniors who were lost to graduation last year. In all, NY Mills lost six seniors who were a big part of last season’s success. However, with 11 returning letter winners, NY Mills will have a good base of players to lead the charge this season. 

Among the returning letter winners will be Blake Unger, Hunter Bosman, Braxton Ehnert, Ashton Lehmann, Carl Peterman, Ayden Muscha, Elijah Menze, Isaac Kawlewski, Cole Wilson, Joe Mann and Tyler Rousch.

Radniecki said Unger, Bosman, Kawlewski, Mann, Lehmann and Ehnert will bring back the most experience for NY Mills this year, but all of the seniors on this year’s team will be a major contributor on and off the field.

In addition to the seniors, Radniecki said a number of underclassmen will be making a big contribution on varsity this season. However, returning starter Grady Roberts injured his leg this summer and will leave a big loss on the line. 

“We have been working hard and getting better each and everyday some underclassman to watch for will be Finn Roder, Elijah Vaughn, Henry Oakes, Gage Brasel, Colson Keskitalo,” said Radniecki. “We had a big loss when Grady Roberts injured his leg this summer,  Grady was a starter for us last year and he will be missed.”

As far as the district action, Radniecki said Parkers Prairie, Pillager and Staples-Motley will all be tough match ups for the Eagles this season with Parkers Prairie among the favorites to compete for a section championship. 

The Eagles open their season on Thursday night when they host Ada-Borup West at 6 p.m. Next week the Eagles will travel to Pine River-Backus.