Sports scoop

Vangsness freshman of the year

St. John’s University freshman and Alexandria graduate Casey Vangsness was recently selected as the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Central Region Freshman of the Year after being named the MIAC men’s golf athlete of the week for the second consecutive week and the third time this season.

Vangsness leads his team with three tournament wins and is the sixth Johnnie in school history to be named the region’s freshman of the year.

He entered the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Greensboro, North Carolina last Thursday tied for fifth with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. He slipped a little bit in his final two rounds, finishing with an 80 on Friday to tie for 36th individually with a 13-over par 301.

He helped St. John’s to a tie for third out of 40 teams at the tournament. The Johnnies shot a team score of 1,180 over the four-day event, 13 shots behind Division III title winner Greensboro.

Leland, Ostrander earn season awards

Alexandria’s Maggie Leland and Glenwood’s Allie Ostrander were recognized for their play with the Augustana women’s golf team when they were honored with season-ending awards handed out by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Leland was named All-America honorable mention, while Ostrander joined her on the All-Central Region team.

Leland wrapped up a spectacular freshman season with the Vikings by finishing tied for 52nd at the Division II NCAA Championship last week. She carded a four-day total of 321. Leland was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Newcomer of the Year and was All-NSIC first team and an NSIC All-Tournament team performer. She led the Vikings with a 77.8 stroke average.

Ostrander was this year’s Central Region medalist and tied for 56th at the NCAA Championship. She carded a 35-over par 323. Ostrander averaged 80.0 strokes per round and had four top-10 finishes this season.

Ronning MIAC All-conference

Alexandria graduate Reggie Ronning completed his second season of tennis at Bethel University in St. Paul. Ronning played first doubles and third singles, and was a Midwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) all conference player in singles.

Alex boys’ basketball league

The Alexandria boys’ basketball program will hold a boys’ basketball league for players in grades 4-7 from June 27 through July 20 at Discovery Middle School.

Grades 4-5 will play from 8-9:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, with grades 6-7 playing from 9:30-11 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.

For more information call (320) 762-2868 or visit www.lakesarearecreation.com.

Card boys’ basketball camp

The Cardinal boys’ basketball camp will be held June 20-23 at Discovery Middle School for players in kindergarten through 7th grade.

Kindergarten through grade 1 will meet from 8-9 a.m., with grades 2-3 meeting from 9-10:30 a.m. Grades 4-5 will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and grades 6-7 will meet from 1-3 p.m.

Camp directors will include the Alexandria basketball coaches and former and current Cardinal boys’ basketball players.

For more information, call (320) 762-2868 or visit www.lakesarearecreation.com.

FCA sports camps

All area student-athletes are invited to attend a summer Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) camp.

Sports camps include football, basketball, tennis, cross country, soccer and volleyball, and are held June 27-30 in Decorah, Iowa. A charter bus will be organized so all area student-athletes can travel together.

Golf camp will be July 10-13 in Becker.

The Alexandria FCA will pay half of the camp fee.

For more information, contact Dee Novotny at (320) 762-5154 prior to June 13 to register.

Hoelscher baseball camp

Nate Hoelscher, former professional pitcher, will teach and help develop the basic fundamentals in fielding, hitting, pitching and more during the Lakes Area Recreation’s Hoelscher baseball camp.

The camp runs June 13-17 and is for those in grades 3-4, while camp for those in grades 5-6 will be held June 20-24.

Both camps are from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information call (320) 762-2868 or register online at www.lakesarearecreation.com.

Optimists Junior Golf Championship

Registration for the Optimists Junior Golf Championship international qualifier on Sunday, June 19, at Cragun’s Legacy Courses is now open to players ages 9-18.

Qualifiers will advance to the International Championship in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

For more information or to register, visit https://sites.google.com/a/lajogolf.org/main/.

St. Mary’s golf tourney

St. Mary’s will hold its fourth annual scholarship golf tournament on Wednesday, May 25 at the Geneva Golf Club.

Registration is at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

There will be a social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner.

The tournament is a four-person team scramble suitable for all skill levels.

To register, contact Troy Sladek at (320) 763-5861.

Starz of Tomorrow Baseball Academy

Starz of Tomorrow Baseball Academy will hold its summer camp June 12-15. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at St. Cloud State University.

The Starz of Tomorrow summer clinics offers baseball players a chance to increase their baseball knowledge, work with experienced coaches, and gain fundamental skills.

Coaches are from the SCSU coaching staff and numerous other central Minnesota coaches and college players.

For more information, go to www.startzbaseballcamp.com.

FCA men’s night

The monthly Fellowship of Christian Athletes gathering for all men will be on Thursday, May 26 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Knute Nelson Memorial Park.

All men are welcome to play the game Swedish baseball.

Dave Holtz, director of Luther Crest Bible Camp, will be sharing a part of his faith story that evening.

Cost is $2 and no baseball gloves are needed.

Contact Tim Urness at (320) 808-8033 with questions.

Summer Slam VB camp

Lakes Area Recreation is accepting registrations for Summer Slam volleyball camp Wednesday evenings from May 25 through July 13.

For more information or to register, call Lakes Area Recreation at (320) 762-2868 or go to www.lakesarearecreation.com.

Special Olympics sports

The Alexandria Special Olympics spring sports will hold several events.

SO golf begins Tuesday, June 7 and will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Nordic Trails Golf Club. Call Karyn at (218) 639-5347 with questions.

SO bocce begins Thursday, June 16 from 3-4:15 p.m. on the fields at the YMCA. Call Betty at (320) 491-5823 with questions.

Geneva Junior Golf Academy, Ladies, spring tune-up clinics

The Geneva Golf Club’s Junior Golf Academy for youth ages 5-16 will begin June 15.

There will also be ladies golf clinics and spring tune-up clinics beginning in May.

For more information, stop by the Geneva Golf Club or call Lisa at (320) 762-7088.

Awake the Grapes races

Carlos Creek Winery will hold a 5K, 10K and one-mile fun run on Sunday, May 29, hosted by the Alexandria Figure Skating Club.

For more information or to register online, go to www.awakethegrapes.com or register in person at the Bike & Fitness Company in Alexandria.

Email questions to afscmn@hotmail.com or call Jeff at (320) 815-9727 or Nicole at (320) 760-4165.

LAR summer activities

Lakes Area Recreation is accepting registrations for various youth programs, including baseball/softball, swim lessons, track, summer gymnastics, youth volleyball camps, Cardinal Soccer Camp and tennis lessons.

Call Lakes Area Recreation at (320) 762-2868 for more information.

Gopher Goal Line golf outing

The annual University of Minnesota Goal Line Club outing will be at the Alexandria Golf Club on June 27.

This is a 128-player scramble and will take place rain or shine.

Cost includes 18 holes of golf, use of the driving range, putting green and an electric cart, as well as a dinner buffet featuring hamburgers, hot dogs and accompaniments.

Prizes will be awarded and teams will have the opportunity to purchase a celebrity as a fourth player for their teams. Celebrities will include Gopher assistant coaches and former and current Gopher football players.

Proceeds will go to the Golden Gopher Goal Line Club.

To register, go online at www.goallineclub.com, mail your payment to Dave Vagle, 3418 Pawnee Dr. SE, Alexandria, MN 56308.

For more information, call or text Dave Vagle at (320) 760-4922 or e-mail dvagle@kikvfm.com.

Summer basketball tournaments

The Minnewaska Boys’ Basketball Association will hold round robin summer tournaments for varsity teams.

Tournaments will take place on weekday afternoons or mornings at Minnewaska Area High School.

The goal is to provide tournament play that doesn’t interfere with summer activities and each tournament includes three games officiated by high school officials.

Total team cost is due on the day of the tournament.

Dates for tournaments are Tuesday, June 14, noon-3:30 p.m.; Friday, June 17, 9 a.m.-noon; Thursday, June 21, noon-3:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 30, 9 a.m.-noon; and Thursday, July 21, 9 a.m.-noon.

If interested, contact Minnewaska head coach Phil Johnsrud as soon as possible at (320) 766-7256.

Baseball officials needed

The Alexandria Area Baseball Association (AABA) is seeking applicants for umpiring positions for the 2011 baseball season.

The season runs from May through August.

For information and an application, log on to www.aababaseball.org.

Greg Schwartz Memorial wrestling camp

The 20th annual Greg Schwartz Memorial wrestling camp will be held June 20-23 at Morris Area High School for wrestlers in grades 3-12.

Clinicians will include U of M All-Americans Zach Sanders and Sonny Yohn, National NCAA Division III champ Jared Massey of Augsburg and Kyle Massey of the University of Wisconsin (Division I), and college coaches Tim Nueman, Tom Beyer and Dave Mitchell.

For more information, contact Spencer Yohe at syhe@acegroup.cc or (320) 766-1934.

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