Revamped Vikings expect another solid season

Despite graduating four of its top five scorers from last season's 15-12 team, Minneota brings back two starters, plus two others that missed all of last season.
Gone is top scorer and rebounder Logan Sussner, who graduated along with Nolan Boerboom (3rd in scoring), Alex Saltzer (4th in scoring) and Riley Buysse (5th in scoring).
"We graduated about 70 percent of our offense and 50 percent of our rebounding," said head coach Dave Busselman. "But the guys we have should fill in to become a very good ball team with goals of competing every night."
Jacob Citterman, a 6-4 senior, is a returning all-conference player who was second on the team in scoring with a 10.9 average. The other starter back from last year's is Cale Sorensen, a 6-2 junior, who was sixth on the team in scoring at 5.6 ppg.
Also back is Jacob Hennen, a 6-5 senior and two-time all-conference player who transferred last year. He scored the 1,00th point of his career in the season opener and is averaging over 20 points per game. Hennen is a threat to score inside or outside, including from three-point range.
AJ Josephson, a 6-2 junior, returns after being injured last season. He provides scoring ability and is a strong defender.
Joey Rybinski, a 6-0 senior letterwinner, saw action in every game last year and contributed 3 points per game off the bench. Braeden Panka, 6-2 senior, is another letterwinner who contributed off the bench and will be playing a bigger role this season.
"The players have all worked very hard, even with the pandemic limitations, to get into the gym and improve," said Busselman, now in his eighth season and is averaging 16.5 wins per season.
Others expected to contribute this season are: AJ Myhre, a 6-2 senior; Bishop Drietz, a 6-0 senior; Cole Myhre, 6-0 junior; Anthony Rybinski, a 5-11 sophomore; Isaac Pohlen a 5-11 sophomore; and Max Rost, a 5-11 freshman.
"We have nice size with several players at 6-2 and over," said Busselman. "We are hoping to always be a better defensive team. With the length and size we have, we have the tools to do so."
Busselman is assisted by Mitchell VanWesten, the B team coach, and Mike Hennen, the freshman coach.
"They have been here for four years now and give us some stability," said Busselman. "Both work very hard to improve are teams."