By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Five letter winners are gearing up to return to the hard court for the New York Mills Eagles this winter. Following last year’s 20-win season in which the Eagles finished 21-7 overall and as runner ups in the Park Region Conference, there will be quite a few familiar faces on the court for the Eagles this season.

Back for Bryan Dunrud’s team this winter will be letter winners Annika Dunrud, Rosemary Laudenbach, Gabi Vaden and Alise Schornack. 

Even though a strong group of letter winners are returning to the line up this winter, the Eagles will need to fill some big shoes that will no longer will be around due to graduation. Among their key losses from last year’s team include: Ayla Olson, Alayna Baune, Violet Radniecki, Kylee Lehmann and Dixie Dykhoff.

Dunrud identified a number of non-letter winners who could make an important impact at the varsity level this season including: Taya Koljonen, Addyson Johnson, Abigail Berndt, Morgan Brunko, Ellyana Ruther, Julie Seim, Hazel Dykhoff and Addy Wilhelmi.

As the team gears up for its opening games of the season this week, Dunrud said in order to find success this season the Eagles will need to rely on a solid defensive presence and limit turnovers on the offensive end of the court. 

“Our key to success this year revolves around our team defense. We must pressure the ball well and rebound well as a team,” said Dunrud. “Offensively if we limit turnovers, we will give ourselves a chance to win.”

In an always competitive Park Region Conference, Dunrud said Menahga and Wadena-Deer Creek will be among the favorites, while Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Breckenridge and Underwood will be among the favorites in Section 6A. 

Even though the ultimate goal may be to win the game, Dunrud said the Eagles are focusing on playing hard and looking to improve every day. 

“The goal for our team is to play hard as a team, play as a team, never settle and get better each and every day,” said Dunrud. “My goal as a coach is to make basketball fun, teach what it takes for each individual to be successful, explain individuals roles, and challenge the girls to be playing their best basketball at the end of the season.”

While their regular season opener was delayed last week due to inclement weather, the Eagles are excited to get the season underway this week when they host Verndale on Tuesday and Sebeka on Friday night. 

“We have a good group of girls that are working hard and enjoying the game of basketball. It has been a fun start to the season and will only get better through hard work, experience and an understanding offensively and defensively of our concepts,” said Dunrud. “We look forward to playing an exciting style of basketball and look forward to improving throughout the course of the season.”

In addition to Dunrud, the Eagles coaching staff includes assistants JJ Weller and Creedan Dunrud.