Prep athletes of the week: From playmaker to goal scorer, Dakota United's Samuel Gerten in championship zone

A look at the top metro high school athletes and their outstanding performances from last week:

November 26, 2019 at 2:35AM
Dakota United's Samuel Gerten (15) battled St. Paul Humboldt's Liban Farah (10) for the ball.
Dakota United's Samuel Gerten (15) battled St. Paul Humboldt's Liban Farah (10) for the ball. (Brian Wicker — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

SAMUEL GERTEN • Dakota United adapted soccer

Samuel Gerten, Dakota United adapted soccer, soph., 2019-20
(Brian Wicker/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

All it took was a few words from Hawks coach Lorrie Buecksler to set Gerten, a sophomore forward, on a path to dominance.

Prior to the physically impaired division championship match against St. Paul Humboldt on Saturday, Buecksler told Gerten, "Let's see how fast you can get three on the board," reported staff writer Joe Gunther.

Gerten did the rest, scoring all five goals to lead Dakota United to a 5-2 victory. In the quarterfinals, Gerten was the playmaker, chalking up a goal and seven assists. In the finals, he was the goal scorer.

"I don't think I've had a kid who can be so much in a zone — in a good way," Buecksler said.

MIA CURTIS • Minnehaha Academy basketball

Mia Curtis, Minnehaha Academy, sr., 2019-20
(Brian Wicker/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The senior guard has more than picked up where she left off last March. She scored 28 points in a 68-22 rout of St. Paul Central, then had a career-high 42 to lead the Redhawks past Sauk Centre 89-86 in three overtimes in the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic.

LUKE LEVANDOWSKI • Rosemount hockey

Luke Levandowski, Rosemount hockey, jr., 2019-20
(Brian Wicker/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The junior forward was the spark who ignited the Class 2A, No. 5-ranked Irish offense, scoring four goals — two in the first period, two in the third — in a season-opening 5-2 victory over Class 2A, No. 7 Minnetonka. Levandowski has committed to play at Wisconsin.

BRIDGET MCGUIRE • Holy Angels hockey

Bridget McGuire, Holy Angels hockey, 2019-20
(Brian Wicker/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The senior captain helped the Stars break a three-game, season-opening losing streak with consecutive multiple-goal games. She had a hat trick and assisted on a fourth goal in a 4-1 victory over Henry Sibley and followed with a two-goal, one-assist game in a 5-0 victory over Waconia.

MOLLY MOGENSEN • Farmington basketball

Molly Mogensen, Farmington basketball, sr.,2019-20 (Submitted photo)
(Brian Wicker — Terriann Rice/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The senior point guard broke a record Saturday that was more than just a school mark. She scored 25 points in a 92-79 victory over St. Michael-Albertville, passing her mother Julie's school record for career points. Julie had 1,438 career points. Molly now has 1,443 and counting.

JIM PAULSEN

To nominate an athlete: Send an e-mail with supporting information to preps@startribune.com. Include a photo and a link to video of the athlete in action (if possible).

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