Tribune Notebook: Three Willmar Cardinals earn conference honors
Oct. 10—WILLMAR — Willmar boys soccer captain Isaac Zelaya Velasquez, girls diver Kylie Portiin and volleyball player Gretchen Volk all have received Central Lakes Conference Performer-of-the-Week honors.
Zelaya Velasquez, a senior midfielder, had two goals and six assists in three victories last week. He and the Cardinals also have a first-round playoff game at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Willmar High School against Detroit Lakes.
Portiin earned a personal-record score in a swimming and diving meet at St. Cloud Apollo with a score of 208.55.
Volk, a junior outside hitter, had 14 kills and 13 digs in one match for the volleyball team.
Other CLC winners include:
* From Alexandria — girls cross-country runner Citori Halbe;
* From Brainerd — girls soccer player Macy Castle;
* From Fergus Falls — boys soccer players Jose Rodriguez, girls tennis player Ruby Ellison and boys cross-country runner Henry Greenagel;
* From Rocori — girls swimmer Mayana Nguyen;
* From the St. Cloud Crush — Girls tennis players Abby Brown and Isabelle Anderson;
* From Sartell — girls soccer player Jenna Janski, boys cross-country runner Jay Weitgenant and volleyball player Brenna McClure;
* From Sauk Rapids — football player Shaun Walrath and girls cross-country runner Elka Sowada.
Former Willmar Stinger Brooks Lee has been named the 2023 Minnesota Twins Minor League Player of the Year. Lee, 22, split the season between Wichita in Class AA and St. Paul in AAA.
He batted .275 (138 of 501) with 39 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 84 RBIs, 83 runs and an .808 OPS in 125 games. A shortstop from San Luis Obispo, California, Lee was the Twins first-round pick in 2022 from Cal Poly.
He was with the Stingers of the Northwoods League in 2020. In 36 games in Willmar, Lee batted .345 with 35 RBIs, four home runs and seven doubles.
The Badlands Big Sticks of Dickinson, North Dakota, are set to join the Northwoods League for the 2024 season.
"We are delighted to welcome the Badlands Big Sticks to the Northwoods League," said Ryan Voz, co-owner of the Willmar Stingers and Northwoods League president and commissioner in a statement. "Their inclusion further strengthens the league's reputation for showcasing outstanding baseball talent while fostering a strong connection with local communities."
The team will play its games at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark.
The Willmar Stingers announced that they have raised $8,372.50 in a jersey auction for the Kandiyohi Food Shelf. It's the 14th straight year the Stingers have raised money for the food shelf, raising more than $83,000 in that time.
The food shelf helps an average of 650 households and 100 individuals in a month, according to a Stingers press release.
