Zach Sanderswas one of two University of Minnesota wrestlers to compete this past week at the World University Wrestling Championships in Kourtane, Finland, as members of the USA men’s freestyle team.
Sanders, a Wabasha-Kellogg grad, finished his Gophers career after the 2011-12 season and he was a four-time All-American. He was joined in Finland by current Gophers heavyweight and reigning NCAA national champion Tony Nelsonof Cambridge. The pair qualified for the USA team at the University Trials in Colorado Springs in late August.
Sanders, who finished eighth in the 2008 Junior World Championships, had a stellar meet to finish second at 121 pounds in Finland. He posted three straight wins to reach the finals, where he then suffered a 1-0, 6-2 loss toRussia’s K. Donduk-Ool in the match for the gold medal.
Sanders was one of 11 wrestlers in his weight division.
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Rochester's Dan Lyonsplayed a major role on Thursday as the Long Island Ducks rallied past Lancaster in Game 2 of the Atlantic League Championship Series in minor league baseball.
Lyons hit a three-run double with two outs in the top of the ninth to snap a 4-4 tie. The Ducks, who trailed 4-3 going into the ninth, scored two more runs and went on to win 9-4 to even the best-of-5 series at 1-1.
The Ducks produced the six-run ninth inning as they were on the verge of trailing 2-0 in the series.
"Personally it's great," Lyons said to Newsday following the game. "But from a team standpoint, we really needed that. It would be tough to win three in a row against these guys. We really wanted to go home with a split."
The Ducks were scheduled to host Lancaster in the third game of the series on Friday night.
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John Marshall senior Jackson Wilsonhas committed to the U.S. Air Force Academy where he hopes to continue his football career. Wilson is an offensive tackle for the Rockets.
Wilson is a team captain this year at JM and was all-conference in the Big Nine a year ago. He is 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. In the classroom he carries a 3.59 grade-point average.
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"I want to be a part of a program that has an exciting game day, while placing high expectations on players both on and off the field," Wilson said in a personal goal statement. "I will excel in such an environment."
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Minnesota Vikings cornerback/punt returner Marcus Sherelsof Rochester is on the injury report this week. Sherels has been battling a strained quadriceps heading into Sunday's home game against the Tennessee Titans.
Sherels is coming off a big game against the Lions in Detroit. He returned a punt for 77 yards for his first NFL touchdown early in the third quarter. The play proved to be the margin of victory as the Vikings held on to win 20-13.
Sherels is fourth in the NFL with an 18.8 average on eight punt returns. He is No. 1 in the NFC.
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Nicole Verdoornand Kristin Poeof Rochester are members of the Hamline University women's soccer team.
Verdoorn, a Century grad, is a sophomore defender. She has been a two-year starter for the Pipers who has played in all 11 of the team's games this season. In the past two seasons she had led the team in playing time, averaging 85 minutes a game.
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Hamline had its first 10-win season in 2011, going 10-5-3 while 0.90 goals a game. The Pipers are currently 7-2-1 this year with seven shutouts and a 0.71 goals-against average.
Poe, a freshman forward, is a John Marshall grad. She has appeared in four games as a reserve and has played a total of 75 minutes.
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With the coaching shakeup by the Minnesota Twins, there is a good chance that Waseca native Gene Glynnwill be coaching in the big leagues next season.
The Twins fired three coaches on Thursday. Glynn, a 1975 Waseca grad, was the Twins' AAA manager for the Rochester (N.Y.) Redbirds during the 2012 season. He might be in line to be the first or third base coach in Minnesota in 2013.
