The Minot North Sentinels had a busy and productive week across multiple spring sports, with athletes stepping up on the golf course, the throwing circle, and the softball diamond. From state-qualifying marks in track and field to strong team finishes in golf, the Sentinels showed they are hitting their stride at the right time of year.
The Minot North Sentinels boys golf team has been one of the more consistent squads on the course this spring, producing strong results at back-to-back invitationals.
At the Jamestown Invite on April 28, the Sentinels fired a team score of 309 to claim second place in a competitive field. Leading the charge was junior Kyler Weishaar, who carded a 74 across 18 holes from the first seed to finish fifth individually – a steady, disciplined round that helped anchor Minot North’s runner-up finish.
Then on May 1, the Sentinels returned to action at the Minot High Invite at Souris Valley Golf Course. Minot North shot a 311 and placed fifth as a team. Despite the finish, the round produced a standout individual performance: Sophomore Teegan Dangle earned medalist honors, shooting a 76 to take first place overall. It was the kind of round that turns heads and signals big things ahead as the postseason approaches.
Minot North’s girls track and field program added two new state qualifiers to its roster last week, bringing some serious excitement to the throwing events.
On April 30, senior Peyton Dutenhafer punched her ticket to the state meet with a throw of 110 feet, 1 inch in the discus, a mark that reflects both her athleticism and the hard work she’s put in throughout her Sentinel career. Joining her is sophomore Kiarra Diaz, who qualified in the triple jump with a mark of 34 feet, 9 inches. For a second-year athlete to already be competing at the state level is a promising sign for the future of the program.
The throws crew showed out in a big way at Throwfest in Bismarck on May 2, as two Sentinel athletes earned state qualifying marks in the discus.
Junior Dane Voeller launched a massive throw of 158 feet, 8 inches — a qualifying mark that puts him among the top throwers in the state. He quotes, “Well I’d say freshman year was a bit scary, throwing with all of the older kids that I didn’t know at all, but I eventually just focused on myself and tried my best in practice,” Voeller said. “Looking back now, most practices freshman year I was just trying to survive and get done with practice, but towards the end of sophomore year and now my junior year, I try to get the most out of every rep. Pick something to focus on and take the time to figure it out so later on it takes less time when throwing in a competition.”
Not far behind, senior Ethan Howey also hit the qualifying standard with a throw of 145 feet, 5 inches. Two state qualifiers from the same event on the same day is a massive moment for the Sentinels’ track and field program.
“A bigger obstacle for me was always the weight room,” Voeller added. “Freshman and sophomore year I was never the biggest or strongest kid, but during last summer I went to the gym a lot and it really paid off. Now I can lift heavy in the weight room and throw far with ease, thanks to coaches and off-season training.”
Dane Voeller also emphasized the impact of his team environment, “I really enjoy track because of my peers and coaches,” he said. “The staff is amazing! Shout out to Coaches Kruger, Holmen, and Saint Pierre. And the other throwers, I’ve made some really good friends throwing and they are all great people. The community is amazing, and once you get a taste of throwing somewhat far, you just want to keep trying your best at this sport, because consistency matters.”
It’s been a tough stretch for the Minot North softball team, though the Sentinels closed the recent run on a high note. On April 22, Minot North dropped a doubleheader to the Mandan Braves, falling 7-15 and 6-11. The Sentinels also fell to the Stanley Blue Jays by a score of 8-11 in what has been a challenging portion of the schedule.
But on May 1, Minot North flipped the script, topping Stanley 9-5 for a confidence-boosting victory. With the postseason drawing closer, that win could be an important turning point for a squad looking to build some momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
With state qualifiers already secured in multiple events and the golf team continuing to compete near the top of the leaderboard around the state, the Minot North Sentinels are building momentum as the spring season enters its final stretch. The softball team’s bounce-back win over Stanley adds another positive note to a week that gave Sentinel fans plenty to be excited about. If this stretch of competition is any indication, the best may still be ahead for Minot North.
