WILL SWANSON

Mahtomedi, Hockey

Sitting over an omelet and hash browns at a team breakfast Saturday morning, the topic of conversation was that evening's matchup against Hill-Murray. Mahtomedi had lost 11 in a row to the powerful Pioneers, dating to 2009.

"We were pretty fired up," said the junior goaltender. "Our seniors had never beaten Hill. We saw this as an opportunity to prove how good of a team we are."

Prove it they did, blanking Hill-Murray 4-0. Swanson played perhaps the best game of his high school career, making 29 saves, including a wow-moment with a blind pad save in the second period that fired up the whole team.

"Those saves are big because they can change the whole outcome," Swanson said. "My teammate played lights out after that. They blocked shots, cleared bodies from in front of the net. There weren't many times when I couldn't see a shot from the point."

With Hill-Murray and St. Thomas Academy to deal with in the Metro East Conference, Swanson feels that the Zephyrs' performance Saturday was the type of signature victory a team can build upon.

"Coming out and beating Hill-Murray keeps us on the map," he said. "We have confidence that we can compete with that caliber of opponent."

Keaton Anderson, Glencoe-Silver Lake basketball, sr., 2015

KEATON ANDERSON

Glencoe-Silver Lake, Basketball

The 6-3 senior guard totaled 71 points in victories over Holy Family (26 points), Jordan (20) and Mound Westonka (25) as the Panthers continued their hot streak with seven victories in their past eight games. Anderson became the leading scorer in school history in the process and currently has 1,297 career points.

BOBBI BRENDEFUR

St. Michael-Albertville, Basketball

The senior guard and University of St. Thomas recruit had 48 points, 16 rebounds, 17 steals and 11 assists in three victories, but it was her work ethic that stood out. "The energy she brings is contagious," coach Kent Hamre said. "She leads by example."

ABBY COOPER

Lakeville North, Hockey

The senior goalie posted her ninth shutout of the season, beating Burnsville 3-0 and held Benilde-St. Margaret's and Apple Valley to one goal apiece in back-to-back victories. She has a .953 save percentage and a 0.99 goals-against average.

JOHNNY ERICKSON

Hope Academy, Basketball

The sophomore point guard became our first honoree from Hope Academy in south Minneapolis. He had a superb week in victories over Christian Life and Shattuck-St. Mary's with 59 points, 15 rebounds, 12 steals and nine assists.

ABBY HALUSKA

Buffalo, Hockey

Haluska, a junior who attends Delano (part of the Buffalo co-op team), scored five goals and added an assist in an 11-1 romp over Chisago Lakes. She added a goal in a 4-2 victory over Princeton that clinched the Mississippi 8 title.

MICHAEL MODICA

Simley, Swimming

It would be hard to have a better week than the junior had last week. He won all eight of his individual events in dual meets against Orono and St. Thomas Academy and set meet records in the 200 freestyle (1:43.96) and 500 freestyle (4:48.98) at the Class 1A True Team State Meet.

JIM PAULSEN