Relieved. Happy. Frustrated.

Coon Rapids football coach Jon Young felt the emotions swirl last Friday as his Cardinals ended an 11-game losing streak that spanned three seasons.

Young felt relieved for the seniors he worked with all summer, a group on a mission to earn respect for the slumping program. Happiness came from watching parents and community members basking in the boys' effort. As for frustration, Young thought his team struggled at times throughout a 23-7 victory against Park Center.

And, of course, he doesn't want Friday's victory to be the last one this season.

"It was a big win for a number of reasons," Young said. "But we got them together after the game and said, 'Raise your hand if you thought you could have played better.' Pretty much every hand went up.

"But hey," Young added, "you can't win two unless you win one, right?"

A positive streak would be a welcome change. Coon Rapids' last previous victory came in the regular-season finale against Andover in 2011. A playoff loss to Blaine, coupled with a 0-9 season last fall and a season-opening loss to Totino-Grace ran the futility streak to 11.

"We have an unselfish group of guys who have stayed together," Young said. "Sometimes winning is just a reward in itself."

Coon Rapids will have its hands full this week against Andover, which has scored 42 points in each of its first two games this season.

Local rider on national stage

Mounds View High School senior Kelly Catlin was selected to represent the United States in the 2013 Road Cycling World Championships on Tuesday.

She was nominated as a discretionary selection for her stellar 2013 road season, in particular her silver medal at the U.S. Nationals.

Cooper will 'Tie it Teal'

Cooper's football team will play host to a "Tie it Teal" event Friday to create awareness of ovarian cancer.

Football players, cheerleaders and the dance team will wear the Tie it Teal shoelaces. Coaches and others will wear special teal T-shirts. The Hawks took part last season and raised several thousand dollars to support the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance's research funding and programming.

The Hawks' football stadium is named after former athletic director Barb Lehman, who died from ovarian cancer.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574