Prep athletes of the week: Cara Sajevic at sharp-shooting best for tourney-bound Gentry Academy

Gentry Academy • hockey

Big games with a lot on the line are often when the stars shine the brightest.

As it was last week for the sophomore forward.

After racking up a hat trick and an assist in Gentry Academy's 6-0 victory over Simley in the Class 1A, Section 4 semifinals, Sajevic was at her sharpshooting best in the final on Friday.

Facing South St. Paul, a program with a long state tournament résumé, Sajevic tallied twice in the first period, staking the Stars to a 2-1 lead. After the Packers tied it up, Sajevic set up teammate Riley Reeves for a go-ahead goal, making the score 3-2.

South St. Paul battled back to tie the game 4-4 after two periods, but Sajevic again lifted the Stars. Her third goal of the game broke the deadlock with a little more than four minutes left in the third period.

The Packers had no answer, giving Gentry Academy a 5-4 victory and sending the program to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Sajevic wrapped up a stellar week of postseason play with six goals and two assists. She leads Gentry Academy in scoring with 23 goals and 37 total points.

"It feels great to be a part of," Sajevic told the Minnesota Girls' Hockey Hub. "It's just awesome. We have a good coaching staff and great energy on the team."

Breck/Blake • swimming

For the second consecutive year, the junior won twice at the Class 1A state meet. He set a state record in the 50 freestyle in 19.87 seconds and won the 100 backstroke in 47.58. Crosby, committed to Texas, also swam on winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

St. Croix Lutheran • basketball

The sharpshooting freshman guard, who surpassed 1,000 career points this season, made 10 of 21 three-pointers in two Class 3A, Section 3 victories. In those games combined, she tallied 47 points, had nine steals and grabbed six rebounds.

Shakopee • wrestling

Ranked No. 1 in Class 3A at 220 pounds for much of the season, Johnson made himself the favorite at that weight in the state meet by improving to 27-0 at the Class 3A, Section 1 /2 state meet preliminaries. He won all three matches by pin.

Dassel-Cokato • wrestling

The junior 160-pounder won his weight class at the Class 2A, Section 5 /6 state meet preliminaries with a pin and two technical falls in three matches. He improved to 32-0 on the season and earned the 150th victory of his career.

Eagan • gymnastics

One of just two gymnasts in the metro to top 38.0 in the all-around this season, the junior led the Wildcats to a narrow victory over East Ridge for the Class 2A, Section 3 team title. She won the uneven bars and the vault and took first in the all-around.

Chisago Lakes • diving

The junior diver posted the best 11-dive score of the swimming and diving state meet en route to winning his second consecutive Class 1A title. He won with a score of 462.05, one of only two divers, along with teammate Jimmy Nord, to top 400.