With four games to go, two against its primary opponent for an automatic berth in the state tournament, the New Prague floor hockey team is preparing for a possible showdown game early next month.

At 6-0, the undefeated NP team faced Mankato yesterday, Jan. 21, at Franklin Elementary School. Mankato is likely New Prague’s top competition for an automatic state tournament berth. The top team in the southern division wins the automatic berth. The alternative route to state requires winning a berth via the playoffs.

New Prague’s archery team won its first meet of the season, finishing just shy of last year’s high-point total.

The New Prague Archery Club competed at the Concordia Academy Beacon Shootout in Roseville Saturday, Jan. 10, against teams from Becker, White Bear Lake, Champlin Park, Delano, Faribault, Minnesota New Country School (Henderson), Hastings, Mahtomedi, Princeton, Sartell, Sauk Centre, St. Croix Prep (Stillwater) and Zimmerman.

A week after a tough showing against some of the best high school dance teams around, the New Prague High School dance team showed it has impressive talent with a strong showing at its own invitational Saturday, Jan. 17.

The NP varsity kick team won its event and the jazz team finished third in a seven-team field.

The New Prague JV kick and jazz teams both finished second while the newly-formed B-squad kick team took fifth and the jazz team took third.

“They performed super well,” said NP coach Tiffany Sandhurst. “They were lockedin and ready to compete.”

It’s been a while, too long if you ask members of the New Prague boys’ ice hockey team, when they last won back-toback games. The effort is there but the results on the scoreboard haven’t been coming as easy as it did early in the season.

NP has dropped three of its last four games. The Tuesday, Jan. 6, setback at Dodge County, is one of those setbacks where the coaches and team would rather put the game in the rearview mirror and forget about it.

New Prague’s gymnasts view the season as a process, a journey where they aim to be at their best at the end of the season when the meets are the most important. Saturday (Jan. 3), NP took second at the Matt Shetka Invitational.

The second-place finish represents steady improvement by a young team working to be better each time out, said coach Darrell Christenson.

New Prague High School’s boys’ basketball team had two wins and a loss in the last week. At the Lakeville North Holiday Tournament, the Trojans lost to Lakeville North, 89-68, Monday, Dec. 29. The next day at the tourney, Tuesday, Dec. 30, New Prague defeated Rochester John Marshall, 65-54. The Trojans then won, 75-54, at Mankato West Friday, Jan. 2.

New Prague was at the Academy of Holy Angels, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. the Trojans host Rochester Century. New Prague will be at Chaska Tuesday, Jan. 13, for a 7 p.m. game.

During the halftime at the 66th annual Sno-Bowl game, members of the Ptarmigans reminded each other their namesake are birds of a feather that fly together. The message energized the team as the Ptarmigans rallied to a hard-fought 12-6 victory in the latest edition of the storied rivalry with the Polars.

With three upcoming non-conference games, the NP boys ice hockey team is looking to round into form in time for the MetroWest schedule starting next week.

The Trojans will face longtime rival Northfield tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 2, 7:15 p.m., in Northfield. Monday, Jan. 5, 7:15 p.m., New Prague will host Hutchinson followed by a trip to face Kasson-Mantorville Tuesday, Jan. Jan. 6, 7 p.m., at the Dodge County Ice Arena.

With six games remaining on its regular-season schedule, the New Prague High School floor hockey team is ready to get back to work on its drive for a return trip to the state tournament and a possible defense of its state championship.

At 4-0, New Prague will host Mankato Wednesday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m., at the Community Eucation Center. The game is the first of a three-game run at home. The Trojans will face Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Monday, Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., followed by a showdown game against an old rival, Dakota United Wednesday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m., in NP.

Had it not been for a slow start in the second half of the Trojans’ game against Stillwater Saturday, the NP girls’ basketball team would have enjoyed a far more relaxing victory, the final contest of a busy yet successful week on the hardwood.

The Trojans won all three of their games for the week, improving their record to 6-2 overall. But the road is expected to be a bit more challenging moving forward, NP coach Eric Specht said.

At the beginning of the season, New Prague’s gymnasts eyed their meet against Waconia as an important step in winning another MetroWest championship.

Mission accomplished.

The Trojans topped the Wildcats Dec. 16, 138.125 to 131.275. NP was led by its overall top talent with big contributions from its depth in the victory.

Hailey Proshek posted the top all-around score, 37.425. Karly Ophus was third at 34.35, less than a half-point out of second. Frankee Spicer took fourth at 33.4. Annie Hanzel was sixth at 24.1.

New Prague scored two wins on the hardwood as the boys’ basketball team defeated Simley, 72-53, Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Coon Rapids, 68-55, Friday, Dec. 12.

The Trojans are hosting Northfield tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. New Prague travels to Rochester Mayo Saturday, Dec. 20, for a 2:30 p.m. game., then the Trojans will be at the Lakeville North Holiday Tournament facing Lakeville North Monday, Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. then Rochester John Marshall, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4 p.m.

With three early wins, New Prague’s floor hockey team is off to a fast start in its effort to defend its state championship.

The Trojans have earned early wins over Shakopee-Chanhassen-Chaska-Prior Lake, Minnetonka-Wayzata and most recently an improved South Suburban squad. The Trojans were back in action Wednesday, Dec. 17, after the newspaper’s print deadline.

After the holiday break, the Trojans will host Mankato Wednesday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m., at the New Prague Community Education Center (the former intermediate school).

New Prague High School’s girls’ basketball team is continuing to work on improving its offensive output, an effort that paid off Monday, Dec. 1, in Shakopee.

The Trojans topped the Sabers, 56-47. Details of the contest were not available at the newspaper’s press deadline. The win was a step up from a tough loss Saturday in Northfield where a sub-par shooting day and turnovers hampered NP’s effort against a solid Raiders’ team.

New Prague High School’s wrestling team started its season Saturday, Nov. 29, in Minnetonka in the Tonka Turkey Tussle. The Trojans secured a second place finish behind the #1 ranked AA Simley High School team.

Eight teams competed with three southern Minnesota teams unable to attend due to weather. Simley had first with a score of 273, followed by New Prague scoring 249. Finishing third through eighth were Waconia, 214, Elk River, 180, Maple Grove, 121, White Bear Lake, 92, Hopkins, 77.5, and Minnetonka, 5.

After surviving a pair of early shootout wins, the New Prague boys’ ice team will get a solid test this week with a pair of important games against section oppositions from Rochester.

The Trojans faced Rochester Mayo Tuesday, Dec. 2, after the newspaper’s press deadline. Tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 5, 7:15 p.m., NP will host Rochester Century. Mayo arrived in New Prague at 1-1 overall. Century will bring a 2-1 mark to the friendly confines of the New Prague Community Center.