Random area sports notes as the fall seasons get underway

This upcoming year will be the first athletic year since 1981-82 that New London-Spicer won't be competing in the West Central Conference. NL-S will begin their new journey in the Wright County Conference this fall. Their football team, which went 6-3 last year, has 98 athletes on its 9th-12th grade varsity roster. Their head coach, Dan Essler (Brooten High School graduate), has a career record at NL-S of 68-50. His team won the 2009 Class AAA championship while finishing a perfect 14-0.

Prior to 1981, New London-Spicer was a member of the West Lake Conference along with the Belgrade Redmen, Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles, Atwater Panthers, K-M-S Fighting Saints and other local teams in central Minnesota.

NL-S has an MSHSL enrollment classification figure of 446. The largest Wright County Conference school, Waconia, has a figure of 996 for its MSHSL enrollment.

At Minnewaska, they have a mere 23 athletes suiting up for the football team in grades 10-12. Ouch.