Blaine football comes back to life

BLAINE FOOTBALL: BACK TO LIFE

At the conclusion of each football season, Blaine coach Shannon Gerrety gives his team a nickname. He dubbed the 2008 squad The AEDs, which is an acronym for automated external defibrillator, a device used to deliver an electrical shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest, thereby helping the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm of its own.

"These kids revived the program," he said. "They were electrifying."

What else can you say? Blaine slumped to a 3-7 record last season -- its first losing season since 1987 -- prompting Gerrety to change his offensive scheme from the outdated Wing-T to the popular spread formation. Quarterback James Peterson and company took it from there, finishing 11-2 and going all the way to the Class 5A championship game.

The final loss to Wayzata stung, but back-to-back playoff victories against two-time defending state champion Eden Prairie and traditional power Cretin-Derham Hall re-established Blaine's place among the state's top programs.

DUNCAN'S SURPRISE DOUBLE VICTORY

Champlin Park sophomore Abby Duncan surprised no one by repeating as champion in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Class 2A girls' swimming and diving championships. Her victory in the 200 individual medley was another matter. Seeded seventh in the finals, she won in a time of 2 minutes, 3.59 seconds after finishing 10th last season.

IRONDALE ICES ITS PLAYOFF MONKEY

Irondale girls' hockey players exited their locker room after their Class 2A, Section 5 championship game victory against Mounds View to rousing cheers, lugging their equipment bags but free from the weight of past playoff failures.

Reaching the state tournament for the first time eased the pain of just one playoff victory in the past three postseasons. After struggling in a quarterfinal loss to Hopkins, Irondale recovered to win two state tournament games and the consolation title.

PIRATES, ORIOLES COMBINE FOR TWO TITLES

Two out of three ain't bad.

The Brooklyn Center/Maple Grove/Osseo/Park Center CI (cognitive impairment) Division co-op won state titles in soccer and softball and lost in the championship game in floor hockey.

The team goes by different nicknames in different seasons. So whether you're talking about the Pirates ending their soccer season with a perfect 14-0 record and a state championship or the Orioles trouncing previously undefeated Dakota United 12-1 to win their third consecutive state softball title (eighth this decade), it is pretty much the same group of athletes responsible for the success.

RAIHLE RISES ABOVE

Spring Lake Park diver sophomore Tori Raihle won the Class 1A 1-meter diving title this season after placing fifth as a freshman.

She hones her skills in the offseason, working with her father, Lee, at ABC Diving Club. He also coaches the boys' divers at Fridley and the girls' divers at Andover.

CENTENNIAL CRASHES THE PARTY

June 5 marked commencement ceremonies for Centennial High School's Class of 2009. But one day before donning caps and gowns, seniors on the Cougars' baseball team reveled in wearing caps and gloves.

Centennial qualified for its first state tournament ever this season, allowing players to compete longer into June than had any previous Cougars team.

Despite eight players who have committed to play college baseball or plan to walk-on, Centennial's lineup was a collection of solid yet relatively unknown contributors who came through when it mattered. The Cougars ended up finishing third at state.

ELKS CREDIT DA BEARS

At the start of section playoffs, a solid but unheralded Elk River softball team began placing handmade teddy bears on the bench. The Elks went on a 9-0 run that ended with a Class 3A state championship.

"It must be the bears," coach Stacey Sheetz said.

Timely hitting and pitching didn't hurt, either.

Moriah Bruns posted two game-winning RBI in three state tournament games. Kelsey Roche fired a one-hit shutout in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Mankato West. And in the championship game, Roche pitched another gem and scored the winning run.

ANDOVER A GO ON THE SNOW

Andover senior Blake Gust and Hayley Gerster joined their respective Nordic skiing teams as seventh-graders. Both experienced success on the snow, but nothing like the most recent season.

Gust led the Joe Dubay-less Huskies' boys' team to its first Northwest Suburban Conference and section titles in the seven-year history of the school.

Gerster, meanwhile, became the first Huskies girl to win an individual Nordic skiing section title.

Gust placed 19th at state, the best finish among skiers for fifth-place Andover.

Gerster, who reached the state meet for the fourth time in her career, placed 24th at state.

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM

Brooklyn Center's Justin Nelson came to the plate with the score tied 10-10, bases loaded and nobody out. Looking for a pitch to hit, he allowed a pitch to hit him instead, resulting in a bruised left thigh and the Centaurs' first victory after a 0-4 start.

"I was going to jump out of the way, but then I was like, 'I need to take this to get the win,'" said Nelson, a sophomore playing his first season of varsity baseball. "One of my teammates said, 'I've never been so happy to see my friend get injured.'"

ROBINSON SWEEPS HURDLES

Trading a little pain for great gain was a theme at Brooklyn Center this spring.

Despite battling a hamstring torn during wrestling season, Centaurs senior Laquone Robinson swept the Class 1A 110- and 300-meter hurdles and also placed second in the triple jump. Robinson scored all 34 team points for the second-place Centaurs.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574