Comets Rising: A Spring Season of Records, Growth, and Gospel-Centered Grit
It’s been a spring to remember for Hillcrest Comet athletics.
From record-breaking relays to pitching shutouts, the Hillcrest Comets are not just collecting wins—they're building something deeper: unity, character, and Christ-centered courage.
Track and Field: Shattering Records, Building Legacy
At the Mike Anderson Invitational in Glyndon, Comet track and field made school history—twice in one event.
The Girls Discus record, untouched since 1996, was broken not once, but twice in the same meet. Paisley Peterson first launched an impressive 82' 7", only to have her newly earned record surpassed by Chloe Walkup’s 89' 4" throw just 30 minutes later. Paisley now holds the light-hearted distinction of being the shortest-tenured record holder in Hillcrest history.
The excitement didn’t stop there. In the 4x200 relay, Emme Berge, Ella Knutson, Maddie Miller, and Ruby Peterson sprinted to a time of 1:53.08, beating the previous school record from 1995. The moment was extra meaningful for Assistant Coach Jessica (Hanson) Knutson—she was on the 1995 team. This time, she got to celebrate with her daughter Ella, who ran the second leg in the record-breaking relay. A full-circle legacy, anchored in speed and family.
Other top finishes included:
Maddie Miller: 1st in 100m (13.19), 3rd in 200m (27.76)
4x400 team (Retzlaff, Berge, Peterson, Knutson): 3rd (4:27.90)
4x800 team (Holzner, Knutson, Retzlaff, Mia Miller): 3rd (11:08.85)
Drew Fischer, Maverick Peterson, and Vincent Nash added points and grit in the men’s competition, showing strong momentum despite team scores.
Baseball: Pitching Power and Bat-Cracking Confidence
Over on the diamond, the Comets baseball team is putting together a thrilling campaign.
In an 11-0 shutout over Lake Park-Audubon, ace Will Heggland pitched a five-inning masterpiece, striking out 10 and allowing only two hits. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate, racking up five stolen bases.
“What can I say about Will?” said Coach Zach Stich. “He was practically untouchable today and let the defense do its job.”
The Comets offense was electric, with Griffin Haus, Nate Bermel, and Isaac Iverson all contributing multi-hit, multi-RBI performances.
Later the next week, the Comets split a doubleheader with Hancock, winning the second game 11-4 after darkness called the game early. In a rally of resilience, Nate Bermel exploded at the plate going 3-for-4 with 6 RBIs. Ethan Swedberg pitched a steady five innings, and Will Heggland crossed the plate four times after reaching base in every at-bat.
Golf: Swinging with Confidence
The Comets girls golf team placed 3rd at Cragun’s Legacy Course in Brainerd this week. Alexa secured a 4th place medal, leading the team with calm precision and poise on one of Minnesota’s most scenic and challenging courses.
Girls Softball Growing Stronger
Hillcrest's softball team is showing that success isn’t always measured in wins—but in heart, hustle, and how a team grows together.
Though the scoreboard didn’t fall in their favor in their recent doubleheader, the Comets played with tenacity and took big strides forward—both as athletes and as teammates.
Gracie Gaines recently led the Comets from the circle, pitching five innings and recording three strikeouts. Despite giving up six earned runs, she showed resilience and poise under pressure. At the plate, she added an RBI to get Hillcrest on the board. Amelia Lindgren brought spark to the base paths, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and scoring the team’s lone run.
Game 2 saw the Comets’ offense come alive in an 18-10 slugfest. Alexis Hallberg made her mark, going 1-for-1 and picking up an RBI in her three trips to the plate. Ava Lindgren showed speed and patience, drawing two walks and swiping three bases. And it was Amelia Lindgren who lit up the stat sheet again—going 1-for-2 with a walk, a triple, three RBIs, and two runs scored, igniting Hillcrest’s late push.
What stood out beyond the numbers was the team’s resilience and togetherness. Even when the game got away, the girls didn’t fold. They encouraged each other, hustled for every play, and kept the energy up all the way to the final out.
Beyond the Stats: A Culture of Faith and Formation
While the scoreboard shows progress, the heart of Hillcrest’s success is found in the culture being cultivated by its coaches.
There’s a unique attribute in Hillcrest's coaching—an intentionality that’s rare in high school athletics. Wins are celebrated, but they're not the end goal. Coaches Andy Stender, Maddie Heiser, Zach Stich, Derrick Clark, Matt Hendricks, Allen Aase, Jessica Knutson, Chad Brown, Eric Ewan, and others model mentorship that stretches beyond sport. They disciple students to pursue excellence with humility, to lead with Christlike character, and to see their identity rooted in more than performance.
These teams are growing, not just in skill, but in spirit. They’re learning how to lose with grace, win with gratitude, and compete with courage. And as they build endurance, break records, and rally around each other, they’re not just preparing for the next meet or matchup—they’re preparing for life.
The Hillcrest Comets are rising this spring—and their success is more than seasonal. It’s foundational.