Athletes of the week: Dvorak sparking St. Croix Lutheran

MATT DVORAK

St. Croix Lutheran, track

One thing is certain: no matter how fast Matt Dvorak is -- and the senior sprinter is very fast -- he cannot win the Class 1A True Team meet by himself. Which is exactly the way he wants it.

After winning the Section 4 meet last week, the Crusaders will attempt to defend their 2007 Class 1A True Team state championship Saturday at Stillwater High School, a feat that probably won't be possible without Dvorak.

He won four events at the section meet -- the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump and the anchoring the 4x100 meter relay -- to account for more than 100 of St. Croix Lutheran's 786.5 points.

But Dvorak and the rest of the Crusaders consider the state True Team meet, which measures overall team depth, to be the highlight of the track and field season.

"We're a very close bunch," Dvorak said. "We've got great chemistry. Winning last year was huge. Winning it again this year is our No. 1 goal."

And while his contributions on the track are vital to the team's success, coach Brent Schacht knows that Dvorak plays just as important a role as a team captain.

"He leads by example and he leads vocally," Schacht said.

DEVIN EERNISSE

Osseo, softball

With eight victories in five days, the Orioles extended their winning streak to 15 games. Eernisse, a junior third baseman, hit .500 (14-for-28) with a home run and 12 RBI and drove in the winning run three times.

NICK COLWELL

Irondale, baseball

Colwell is a quarterback on the football team and a point guard on the basketball team, but baseball might be his best sport. He showed as much last week, hitting .667 (12-for-18) with two home runs and 10 RBI.

LEAH HANSEN

Mounds View, track

The Mustangs are poised to repeat as Class 3A True Team state champions this week. Hansen, a junior sprinter, guided them to victory in the True Team Section 6 meet, winning the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters, all in personal-best times.

TRAVIS FISHER

St. Francis, baseball

The senior outfielder hit .571 (12-for-21) in five games last week with 13 runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI. He hit for the cycle in a 21-1 rout of Columbia Heights.

GRETCHEN HUHNERKOCH

Burnsville, golf

Huhnerkoch shot a 39 to win a Lake Conference triangular at Crystal Lake G.C. and shot a 38, including an eagle on the seventh hole, to win a conference meet at the Chaska Town Course.

LUCAS GELLERMAN

Cooper, lacrosse

The statistical contributions of the senior defender are not impressive, but his leadership and defense led the Hawks to victories in two of their three games, including a four-goal rally in the fourth quarter to beat Hopkins 7-6 and a 9-3 victory over Shattuck-St. Mary's.

CASSY OPITZ

Eden Prairie, track

Over the past two weeks, the junior has set the best time in the state in three different events. Last week, it was a 2:15.96 in the 800 meters at the Section 4 True Team Meet. She also hold the top time in the 1,600 and 3,200.

JIM PAULSEN