2010-11 Fall Sports Preview: New Life on a mission this season

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NEW LIFE ACADEMY FOOTBALL

New Life gridders continue to build program

After the team was forced to forfeit the final contest of its 2008 season for lack of players, the 2009 Eagles footballers were able to complete their entire schedule of games last fall. New Life was only able to win one contest last year, a 33-14 Homecoming victory against St. John’s Preparatory at the Woodbury High School field, en route to a 1-8 record.

Coach Paul Mork returns for a third season as the leader of the Eagles football team, which this year plays as a co-operative program with St. Croix Preparatory Academy and Bethany Academy/Lion’s Gate.

On the field, New Life will re-group after the losses of several graduates, including tackle Adam Krause, who signed to play collegiately for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

New Life returns Cody Linton who caught six touchdowns in 2009, as well as leading ground-gainer Matt Michaud, who rushed for 261 yards and logged 156 yard receiving last season.

The Eagles are scheduled to play their season opener against Kimball on Friday, Sept. 3 at East Ridge High School and play their next two Fridays at Woodbury High School on Sept. 10 and 24, respectively.

— Tom Carothers

NEW LIFE ACADEMY BOYS SOCCER

Shooting for .500

Following a 6-12-1 campaign in 2009, the New Life Academy boys soccer team returns to the pitch this fall after the graduation of starting goalkeeper Korey Kiekhofer as well his classmate forwards Josh Park and Travis Taylor.

Coach Robb Rupp’s team was set to return a number of seniors in 2010, including James Housworth, Terry Chung, Jason Anderson, Austin Baar and Allesandro Lira.

The backbone of the Eagles is their junior class a grouping that included the likes of then-sophomores Erik Lee, Daniel Otto and Daniel Sleper.

— Tom Carothers

NEW LIFE ACADEMY GIRLS SOCCER

An eye for the goal

After coming up just one game short of the .500 mark last season, the New Life Academy girls soccer team returns in 2010 under the direction of coach Lynn Atkinson after graduating five seniors in the spring.

However, the Eagles boast a balance of both upper-class experience and newcomer’s determination as senior Ana Zdechlik returns along with juniors Kaitlyn Hawn and TAylor Paulson.

Freshman Emily Bolduan figures to get a crack at succeeding now-graduated Sarah Stenson in the Eagles’ net.

— Tom Carothers

NEW LIFE ACADEMY GIRLS TENNIS

Eagles seek solid finish after super start

The New Life Academy girls tennis team kicked off the 2010 season in fine form, topping Trinity at River Ridge by a score of 4-3 on Aug. 21.

That victory began a short regular season campaign that will wrap up by the end of September when the Eagles play St. Paul Como Park in their final pre-sectional match on Sept. 28.

Coach Kathy Lutes’ team features a trio of seniors this season, including her daughter, Cara, as well as Aliss Wen and Wendy Ho. New Life also counts among its ranks Atu Atgonbat, Laurel Baar, Katie Zinke, Greta Lehn, Joelle Kamp, Maddie Gesell, Shelby Derrick, Caroline Carter and Kylie Falteisek.

— Tom Carothers

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