When you're thrust into the No. 1 singles spot, every match is a battle against the best. That's the reality for Willmar senior Carter Newberg, who's been stepping up to face top-tier competition in the Central Lakes Conference all season. And he's not alone in earning recognition—Newberg and standout track athlete Isabela Engle have both been named CLC Performers of the Week.
Newberg's grit paid off last week with two wins, helping the Cardinals secure their first victory of the season. While Willmar entered Tuesday with a 1-11 overall record (0-6 in conference), there's optimism on the horizon. The Cardinals host Fergus Falls on Wednesday (3 p.m.), face Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd on Thursday (4:30 p.m.), and wrap up the week against Yellow Medicine East on Friday (4:30 p.m. in Granite Falls).
On the track, Engle has been making waves in the discus. She hit a state Class AAA qualifying mark last week with a throw of 112 feet, 3 inches—a testament to her hard work this season. Now, she and the Cardinals are set to host a crucial true team sectional at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hodapp Field. The top boys' and girls' teams advance to the state true-team championships on May 15-16 at Eden Prairie High School. Joining Willmar in the competition: New London-Spicer and Litchfield.
What makes true team competition unique? Unlike the traditional MSHSL state meet (June 4-8 at St. Michael-Albertville), where a single star can dominate scoring across four events, true team awards points for 16 places. That means depth matters—teams with multiple solid athletes have a real shot, rather than relying on one superstar. Last year's Class AA champions? Stewartville boys and St. Peter girls. Willmar, NLS, and Litchfield compete in Section 6AA alongside Dassel-Cokato, Delano, Eagle Ridge, Holy Family Catholic, Hutchinson, Mound Westonka, Orono, Providence Academy, Rockford, Southwest Christian, and Watertown-Mayer.
In other Willmar sports news, eighth-grade softball pitcher Claire Guennigsmann earned CLC Performer of the Week honors after batting .517 with a double, a triple, and six singles. And a nod to former Litchfield Dragons tennis standouts: Ryanna Steinhaus (St. Catherine University) and Alex Draeger (St. John's University) were both named to their respective all-conference doubles teams. Keep an eye on these rising stars—they're just getting started.