Firle poised to score 1,000th; outlook for soccer at New Ulm High School not good

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Minnesota Valley Lutheran's Jake Firle is poised to become the 23rd basketball player in the City of New Ulm history to score 1,000 career points.

The senior post player, who needs 25 points for 1,000, is at 975 points for his career. He may hit that mark tonight against Sleepy Eye Public or Friday night at home against Wabasso.

Firle would become the tenth MVL basketball player to hit the 1,000 career point total.

Another MVL player, Jessica Merseth needs 24 points to pass New Ulm Cathedral's Mike Wilfhart (1978) total of 1480 which is fifth on the City of New Ulm career scoring list.

STARTING HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER NOW NOT GOOD: New Ulm High School Activities Director Mark Woodbury said that the chances of getting a high school soccer team started up next year "are slim. And the chances are a little bit better the year after."

Woodbury said that right now the issue is the cost.

"State aid declining to us because of the budget deficit could put a lot of pressure on even existing activities," he said. "What I am hearing is that we should first adequately fund the existing activities before we look at adding additional activities."

He said that the Activities Committee at NUHS has developed a set of criteria for use when they add an activity or eliminate an activity.

"We have a tentative set of criteria for both and we will use that when we decide to add or eliminate an activity," Woodbury said. "One of the criteria is the funding part -- when you add an activity to have to have a long term pool of participants, adequate facilities available for the activity, along with qualified coaches and advisors. I think that is very important to have a feeder program in place."

He said that a survey was conducted for grades 9, 10 and 11 at New Ulm High School asking if students would drop the fall activity that they were currently participating in for soccer.

"We found out that there were only eight that would drop a fall school activity to play soccer," he said.

"But I think that what the other issue is that you have to look long-term," Woodbury said. "I don't care if it is soccer or another activity. If you have a group of kids that participate at a young age, it will have an effect on other programs that the high school currently offers."

He did say that he could not pin-point when, or if, a high school soccer program would begin at New Ulm High School.

"I don't think that anyone knows, and I think that it would only be someone's opinion that, yes, we will have soccer in five years," Woodbury said. "We have looked at the cost, the interest -- we did an interest survey," he said. "I just think that with the state budget deficit and how that will affect funding for schools that that will have an impact on all the activities and on trying to add new ones. I would hate to make a guess if and when we have soccer. There are just too many unknowns right now."

He said that the Activities Committee "may after gathering some more information come out with a recommendation whether to continue to pursue soccer or whether they decide soccer is not possible. I expect that decision to come before the end of this year."

BURGAU LEADS IN GOALS FOR EAGLES: Brett Burgau leads the New Ulm High School hockey team with nine goals, followed by Chris Reinarts with eight. Jeff Schnobrich and Jay Geisthardt each have seven goals.

The Eagles have out-shot opponents 526-487 and have a slim 59-57 scoring edge.

New Ulm, 10-7 on the season, will try and win their seventh straight game Thursday night when they host Mound-West Tonka at Vogel Arena.

BERG WINS AT SDSU: Jake Berg a graduate of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School claimed first place in the 50-meter freestyle for the South Dakota State University swimming team recently.

Berg swam the 50 meters in 25.41 seconds. He later teamed with the 200-meter relay team to win that event.