Katie Wants a Fast One

The Steve Wariner and Garth Brooks hit is perfect for this week, as I do not have time to dawdle. I have my eighth game in three days this afternoon, and my fourth Christmas of the year tonight, so here are the photos from the week:

Flyers forward Lucas Sowada is checked by Cathedral's Jake Bastien.

Sophomore Hunter Swanson corrals a puck against Cathedral in St. Cloud, Dec. 18.

Senior Connor Jorgensen hits it past Crusaders forward Jake Van Halbeck.

Gunner Boser focuses on the puck held by Cathedral's Trevor Cornelius.

Daniel Marod carries the puck.

Royalton's Amy Hoover (No. 30) gets off a shot despite the effort of Upsala's Jessie Evoniuk.

Upsala senior Sara Herzog looks to pass.

Senior Brooke Westrich collects a rebound Dec. 19 against Royalton.

Royalton's Beth Cimenski brings the ball up the court.

Kristin Wuebkers fires a shot.

Hoover looks for an open teammate.

Jordan Schuett, a junior, keeps her eyes by the hoop while being guarded by a Storm defender.

Junior Sarah Gold rifles a pass to a teammate Dec. 23 in Sauk Rapids.

Flyers senior Kristin Stewart delivers a pass.

All Things Go

Nicki Minaj continues to reinvent herself on her latest effort, "The Pinkprint." The title track "All Things Go" explains the fragility of celebrity and life in general. It is perhaps the deepest Minaj track I've ever heard. It is also the most like the previous Nicki on the album.

For the week of Dec. 11-16, I covered a Pierz/Royalton-Upsala wrestling match, a Little Falls Hockey game and a Pierz boys basketball game. For next week I'll have another Flyers hockey game, an Upsala/Royalton girls basketball game and a doubleheader of Little Falls boys and girls basketball.

The fantasy football season closed this past week. I am sorry to say that I took third and fourth place respectively. I might post a some sort of season wrap-up column either on here or in the paper sometime soon.

I have several photos to share from last week (I apologize for the lack of cutlines, on the wrestling photos, but I couldn't identify them, and I don't want to be wrong):

The Flyers' Mack Anez tries to get around Northern Lakes' Nick Reed to get the puck Dec. 12 at the Exchange Arena.

Little Falls' Riley Scanlon stops to go after a loose puck as he tangles with Jared Sewall.

Sewall hits the Flyers' Landon Atkinson up against the boards behind the net.

Little Falls junior Thomas Miller tracks down a loose puck as Reed chases him.

I believe that is Little Falls senior Connor Jorgensen  fighting with the Lighting forward Brett Gontarek.

Alec Stark (No. 2) slides to a stop with Joshua Maucieri right with him. 

Austin Fenske, a Little Falls senior, prepares for a face off against Lightning center Nick Olson.

Jorgensen flips the puck up to an official.

Little Falls forward Bryce DeDomines looks to pass down by the net.

Senior Nik Himley crashes into Northern Lakes defenseman Derrek French as they both go for a loose puck.

Pierz senior Robbie Skiba about to try for the opening tip against Eden Valley-Watkins' Jared Streit.

Nick Herold drives toward the baseline.

Pierz junior Jonny Kasper absorbs contact from Reese Jansen (right) on his way to the hoop Dec. 16.

Herold guards Jansen on a bit of full court press.

Kasper calls out a play as Jansen guards him.

Herold blows by Bret Mattice of the Eagles.

Caught in the Middle

"Caught in the Middle" is one of several surefire pop hits from British breakout artist Charli XCX. Much like her American contemporary, Ke$ha, Charlie XCX brings an album with catchy, dance-worthy songs to her latest effort "Sucker." I'm all in as both a pop fan, and a supporter of innovation in music.

For the week of Dec. 4-9, I have several events to share photos from, including Royalton/Upsala boys basketball and Little Falls wrestling. I also have photos from a Holdingford/Upsala girls basketball contest. Next week expect some Little Falls hockey photos, Pierz/Royalton-Upsala wrestling and both Pierz boys basketball and dance.

Fantasy playoffs continued this week, and I lost in both of my leagues. It was a disappointing effort for both of my teams, and I move on to play in a pair of third-place matches next week. The New York Giants running back fiasco really hurt me, and injuries finally took their tole.

Anyhow, several photos to share, and as always purchase them at ecmpublishers.smugmug.com. Thanks for reading.

Holdingford's Haily Koopmeiners and Upsala's Mariah Prokott fight toward a loose ball, Dec. 4 in Holdingford.

Upsala's Alyssa Kulla fights for a rebound.

Prokott gets trapped by Husker defenders Elizabeth Solarz (No. 14) and Courtney Thielen (No. 32).

Cardinals senior Brooke Westrich is fouled by the Huskers' Kailee Heinen.

Kulla attempts to corral a ball with Holdingford's Corrie Ethen (No. 21) defending.

Huskers sophomore Jo Merten drives up the court, as Cardinals senior Sara Herzog defends.

Heinen drives past Upsala's Katlin Welinski.

Prokott is in the center of a scrum of players fighting for control of a rebound.

Sorry, can't identify these two.

Little Falls' 285-pound wrestler Dustin Tabatt fights with Milaca's Jake Merten.

Tabatt and Merten go to the ground.

Milaca's Colton Sailor grapples with Flyers junior Gage Blechinger Friday, Dec. 5.

Royalton's Matt Fountain goes up over Upsala's Adam Ripplinger (No. 55) and Jeffrey Halverson.

Royals senior Nick Popp chases down Upsala's Keith Ripplinger Dec. 9 in Royalton.

Upsala senior guard Kyle Soltis drives baseline against Royalton's Shane Vannurden.

Cardinals senior Aidan Guthrie goes up with Parker Brezinka (No. 34) and Popp defending.

Guthrie puts a jump shot up over Fountain.

Fountain goes up against Halverson.