J.D. SPIELMAN
Eden Prairie • lacrosse
Almost two years ago, Spielman, now a junior, gave a verbal commitment to Ohio State to play lacrosse, joining older brother Ronnie.
Spielman's combination of speed, agility and toughness made him an object of desire for college lacrosse coaches. It showed through last week when he scored 12 goals and added three assists in victories over Blake, Minnetonka and Lakeville North. "He really was dominant in all three games," coach Ryan Ward said.
But Spielman's first love is football. His explosiveness and innate football sense were on display last fall when he helped Eden Prairie win its fourth consecutive state title. And with it, his future changed.
"Every single day, I get a reporter or coach asking me if I'm playing football or lacrosse," he said. "Right now, I'm 100 percent committed to football [in college]."
There. End of speculation.
"Lacrosse means a lot to me, and it's impact on me will always be there," Spielman said. "But I've always wanted to play Division I football."
DEREK BLOOMQUIST
Burnsville • baseball
Hitting in the leadoff position, Bloomquist, a senior leftfielder, spent plenty of time on base as the Blaze moved into second in the South Suburban Conference. In three games, he went 8-for-12 with three doubles, scored seven runs and stole six bases.
JESSICA BREN
Chanhassen • softball
The sophomore catcher hit three home runs last week, giving her the metro lead in home runs with four. Overall she had five hits in 10 at-bats, drove in seven runs and scored five times. She is hitting .625 for the season with a .657 on-base percentage.
JEDAH CALDWELL
Chanhassen • track
The former Centennial star, now at Chanhassen after a family move, was the only two-event winner at Friday's Hamline Elite Meet. She won the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.17 seconds and cruised to victory in the 200, winning by more than a half-second in a time of 25.76.
CHARLIE CALLAHAN
Mounds View • baseball
The two-time defending Class 3A champion Mustangs moved back into the No. 1 spot in the state rankings on the strength of a 3-1 week. Callahan, a senior pitcher/infielder, hit .500 for the week with six RBI and pitched five shutout innings.
CASSIDY MASON
Columbia Heights • softball
The sophomore outfielder/pitcher went 12-for-20 in six games, hitting two home runs, scoring nine times and driving in five runs. She also pitched her first complete-game victory, defeating Maranatha 14-13 by striking out seven and hitting a walk-off, two-run home run.
MEGAN THUROW
Minnehaha Academy • softball
The senior pitcher led the Redhawks to the championship of the Rochester Lourdes Invitational on Saturday, pitching 22 innings and striking out 30 batters. For the week, she was 5-0 with 47 strikeouts and went 8-for-20 with a home run and seven RBI.
JIM PAULSEN
After Wild miss playoffs, who will stay and who will go?
