Two standout Langdon athletes recently committed to continue their athletic careers at the college level.
The commitments highlight the latest bout of local sports notes.
Landon Schneider commits to UND football
After recently graduating Simon and Grant Romfo, the UND football program is getting another Langdon kid.
Schneider, who just finished his junior year, was an all-state selection on the Langdon Area/Munich football team that won a Division A state title last fall. He anchored the Cardinals’ offensive line.
Tom Miller of the Grand Forks Herald reported in a recent article that Schneider only got on UND’s radar after attending a prospect camp in late June. Within a period of few weeks, he received an offer and accepted.
Theo Romfo commits to Alexandria Tech baseball
Romfo and Schneider were the No. 3 and 4 hitters on the LA/M baseball team that lost in the Region 4 championship this spring.
But Romfo, unlike his cousins and teammate, won’t be taking the college football route — despite being an all-state defender and state champion in his own right. This Romfo’s future is on the baseball field. The Alexandria Technical & Community College baseball team announced his signing on June 24.
Romfo had a big senior season both at the plate and on the mound. He hit .511 with four home runs during the regular season, while pitching 22 scoreless innings with 36 strikeouts.
Romfo was the POWERade Outstanding Senior Athlete, an award from the North Dakota High School Coaches Association.
Alexandria Tech competes at the NJCAA Division III level in Alexandria, Minn. Romfo will be joining forces with rival Tucker Omdahl of Park River Area.
Local coaches take national honors
Benson County girls’ track and field coach Bobby Hoffner received a national award.
Hoffner was named the National Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Hoffner was recognized for a robust resume that includes 23 years of head coach at Maddock High School, eight years on the NDHSCA Advisory Committee, three state team championships and four state runner-up finishes.
Langdon Area/Munich volleyball coach Rich Olson was a finalist for National Volleyball Coach of the Year. Olson recently led the Cardinals to their second consecutive state championship. He has five state titles in nearly three decades of coaching.
Lucas Lyons to continue baseball career at Valley City State
Lyons, a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native, was a standout on the Lake Region State College baseball team over the last two years. He announced his commitment to play at Valley City State University on June 24.
A two-time Mon-Dak all-conference selection, Lyons hit .336 this spring with a .417 OBP and .516 slugging. The left-handed-hitting outfielder also stole 32 bases over his two seasons with the Royals.
Valley City State competes in the Frontier Conference of the NAIA.
Casey Brown racks up third offer
The offers are coming in for the Devils Lake lineman, who’s entering his senior year.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Brown was the starting center of the first state champion football team in Devils Lake history last fall. He was an all-state second team selection.
He announced on June 22 that he received an offer from Minnesota State University Moorhead. That follows previous offers from Jamestown and Valley City State.
While Valley City State is NAIA, Moorhead and Jamestown both compete at the NCAA Division II level.
Brown has also worked out with coaches from UND and NDSU and attended various camps, including a UND’s Junior Day.
He still has another fall of leading the Firebirds’ offensive line before he needs to make a decision.
Jenna Gerhardt becomes graduate assistant for Dickinson State women’s wrestling
The Dickinson State University wrestling program announced earlier this week that Gerhardt has been appointed a graduate assistant of the program.
Gerhardt is the most successful wrestler to come through the relatively young Devils Lake girls’ wrestling program.
“Jenna brings a wealth of wrestling experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level,” Dickinson State wrote in the post. “We are excited to have her transition into a coaching role after being one of the best to ever wear a Blue Hawk singlet. Her passion, knowledge, and commitment to the program will be a tremendous addition as we continue to build the future of Blue Hawk Women’s Wrestling.”
Gerhardt was the first women’s wrestler to graduate from Dickinson State.