Basketball

     Aitkin Gobbler senior Abby Palm. who missed most of the past season with an ACL injury has committed to Bethel University for the 2025-26 year. Despite her injury she was still an integral part of the Gobblers successful season. Congratulations Abby!

     The Aitkin Gobbler boys basketball season came to an end Tuesday with a 75-67 opening round Section 7AA loss at Pierz. Aitkin trailed by eight at the half and the two teams played even up in the second half as the Gobblers finished the season at 10-17. Isaac Asmus scored 19 to lead the Gobblers while Noah Moss added 17, Caleb Smith had 15, Kody Kostick had 13 and Isaiah Baker had 4. The Gobblers were an impressive 16-21 from the free throw line while the Pioneers were 10-19. 

Gobblers  28 39 67

Pioneers   36 39 75

     The Aitkin Gobbler boy's basketball team gets the Section 7AA Tournament underway Tuesday night as they travel to #4 Pierz. It has been a tough year for the Gobblers and they take a record of 10-16 into the post-season. They have gone through a lot this season, but they have also had some success. The biggest game for them might have been the win over C-I on the home court back in January. They have worked very hard, gone through a coaching change and have never given up. They want to be the start of a new narrative for boys' basketball at Aitkin. This years team featured three seniors and although they will be ending their career most likely this week, they have been a force and are responsible for laying the foundation for change and for that their coaches, fans and the program is grateful. Daryl Smith, JV coach, took over as Head Coach with ten games remaining in the regular season and he has known this year's seniors for several years and he knows how important they have been this season. Let's hear what he has to say about them.
***Braxton Huse
      "It has been a privilege to know and coach Braxton over the years. He has an abundance of energy that's contagious. He's a great teammate and a very good defensive player. Braxton has no idea how much his energy in practice and games have given us a boost this season. He is one of our Captains. We will miss Braxton."
***Camden Visnovec
      Camden is one of the hardest working and most intense players I've had the privilege to coach in 30 years. He never backs down from a defensive challenge and has also provided valuable back up minutes for Isaac this season. You can always count on Camden to get rebounds, hustle, defend and never give up. He was named one of our Captains this season. He will also be missed, and we wish him the best."
***Kody Kostick
      Kody has been our emotional leader this season. He's always there for his teammates and has been our team leader from the start. He has had a very good year offensively for us. He had greatly improved his three-point shooting percentage and he also provides the team with rebounds, assists, steals and that much needed encouragement to his teammates. I have truly enjoyed coaching Kody over the years and seeing him develop into the player and teammate he has become for us. Kody is also a team Captain".
      I have been through five decades of Senior Nights at Aitkin High School and each one is a little different. This year I saw a lot of love expressed between the young players and the seniors that they were introducing. That tells me that they have done their job, they have created a new look for the boys basketball program. It has been a rough decade for the program, no argument there, but sometimes it takes just a little something extra to get things going in the right direction. This year's seniors might just have provided that little something extra. How do Kody, Camden and Braxton feel about that. Let's find out.
**Kody Kostick
      "I believe our senior year has been straight out of a movie. I think we've had a lot of changes and some of those changes were major, so it feels like our season has been rolling for about six games when other teams are hitting their 26th. It has been a lot of fun with a team I consider my family, and I hope to come watch many of them next season when they are seniors when I am able to come home from college. I plan on attending NDSU to major in nursing and specialize in pediatric oncology with the hopes of being a nurse at St. Jude's Hospital one day."
**Camden Visnovec
      "This season has been a fun one to be a part of. We have developed greatly and have had a pretty successful season that still continues to get even better. The team and players have grown dramatically in the last part of the season. It will be very interesting to see how well they do when I am off to college. I don't plan on playing sports at school due to my laminoplasty surgery last year, but I may play some intramural ball while I am at NDSU."
**Braxton Huse
     "My year has been good. I love my coaches. They care about more than just the game of basketball. They are great people to learn from. Next year I'm going to Wadena for Electrical Technology and plan to be an electrician." Why are you such a crowd favorite Brax, "The reason everyone is so hyped when I am on the floor is because I've never had a three in a game before and every shot might be my last, so they get fired up when I shoot. I had broken my nose the game before and was wearing a face mask and people liked that. When I finally made one, they went nuts. I loved it."
     Yes, the seniors of this year are quite a bunch, one of them doesn't know I have a first name, one is quiet but a tough guy on the court and one fires up the crowd like no other. They're something special and they just might have one more surprise this season. We'll find out Tuesday night!
 

      The season ended Saturday for the Aitkin Gobbler girls basketball team as they lost in the quarterfinals of the Section 7AA tournament to the #2 seed Proctor Rails 68-28. The Gobblers finish 19-9 on the season. Brita Westman led the Gobblers with 11 while Kate Palm had 10, Tika May and Adah Williams both had 3 and Ellie Hoppe had 1 point. Coach Kaija Davies after the game, "As the season comes to a close we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the entire community for their unwavering support. Whether it was cheering from the stands, volunteering your time or simply offering words of encouragement, your involvement made all the difference. A special thank you goes out to our senior athletes who have not only contributed their incredible talents but have also paved the way for the future of the program. Their leadership and commitment have set the bar high, leaving a lasting legacy for years to come. While it's always bittersweet to see the season end, we reflect on the many great accomplishments we've achieved as a team. From individual growth to collective triumphs, this season has been filed with moments of pride and determination. We are incredible proud of all the hard work, dedication and resilience shown by every player, coach and supporter. Though the season may have come to an end, the memories, lessons and successes will continue to inspire us as we move forward. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey. We look forward to what lies ahead."

Gobblers 16 12 28

Rails         41 27 68

      The Aitkin Gobblers second half comeback fell just short as they lost a 66-62 decision on the road Thursday at Moose Lake-Willow River. Isaac Asmus led the Gobbler balanced scoring with 23 while Kody Kostick had 16 and Noah Moss added 15. Cole Trotter had 4, Jack Jacobson had 3 and Isaiah Baker had 1 point. Coach Daryl Smith after the loss, "It was a great team effort, and we had a chance. We just need to stay out of foul trouble."

Gobblers   24 38 62

Rebels       37 29 66

      The Gobbler JV played a good game but also dropped a close game, 50-47. Tyler Boyd led the way with 14, Andy Hanson had 13, Tyce Jorgensen had 8, Max Hagel had 5, Jack Jacobson had 3 and Lenny Hughes and Bo Sanford each had 2 points.

Gobblers  28 19  47

Rebels       23 27 50

      Mason Williams hit a pair of late free throws giving the Gobbler "C" squad a 38-36 win over the Rebels. Jerry Franzen had 14 points while Evan Redepenning had 9, Jakob Bollum had 7, Teagan Vogtlin had 5, Williams had 2 and Langen Peterson had a free throw to complete the Gobbler scoring.

       One year ago this Saturday, the 29th of February the Aitkin Gobbler girls with their record of 3-23 prepared to take the court against the C-I Rangers. They would be defeated that day by the score of 99-22 ending their season. Heads were down and who could blame them, they lost their last seven games and twelve of their last thirteen. Since the Holiday Tournament they had only scored more than fifty points four times. But a fire burned in the underclassmen, and they decided that night that they were not going to suffer through another season like this. Whatever it took they would do it and turn a program that had won just 21 games in the previous four years into a winner, and they knew they had the right coach to do just that. They started this season with four seniors but lost one to injury and one to the wrestling program, but they never stopped supporting the basketball team. So that left just Brita Westman and Ellie Hoppe standing. Those two would lead a group of young, young players and the rest is history. How did it happen, let's ask Coach Kaija Davies, "This season's turnaround is a direct result of the hard work and dedication our athletes put in during the off-season. We spent countless hours in the gym, focusing on improving individual skills, team dynamics and over all fitness. But it wasn't just about the time spent working. Our players bought into the process, showing an unwavering commitment to getting better every day. Our senior players with their experience and maturity have set the tone for the entire team. They've not only worked hard themselves, but they have also mentored the younger players, holding everyone accountable and leading by example. Their work ethic, combined with a strong desire to improve, has been the driving force behind our success. This teams hunger to grow, their belief in the process and their relentless effort have made all the difference in turning our program around." Tuesday night the Gobblers will host a Section 7AA first round game for the first time in six years. It's a 6:00 start against the Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels. The two teams met in December and the Gobblers came away with a 58-53 overtime win. I'm looking for a big crowd to watch this team try to move on to the second round and I have faith that this program that has gone through so much the last four years, will be ready to go. A win or loss however will not define this team or this program. They have started something at Aitkin and will do their best to keep it going year after year. A coaching staff and players who are willing to run through walls for them can't be defeated.  

    The Gobblers celebrated last night, not only with a win but also that junior Isaac Asmus broke the school record for rebounds recently. He sits at 689 total rebounds going into tonight's game at Wadena-Deer Creek. He thanked Coaches Daryl Smith, Jordan Moss and Ryan Fowlds for helping him to the record. The previous record holder was Jase Hegman with 626. Asmus is also sneaking up on 1,000 career points.