Tangen to coach final season as head coach

By Robert Williams

Editor

Brian Tangen will complete a three-decade run as head coach of the Frazee track and field team this spring in his 31st year at the helm.

Tangen and his coaching staff will be looking to develop younger talent behind a group of five experienced seniors to fill plenty of open spots up and down the roster.

“After having record numbers the last few years and losing many to graduation the last three years, our numbers are down this year, so many events will be open to some of the youngsters and everyone will get a good chance to compete in the meets. We always look forward to seeing what the guys can do early in the season and who surprises us. We are already seeing some good things from many of the guys.”

Brian Tangen, Frazee track and field head coach

Seniors Nathan Johannsen and Ian Cottrell have been named captains of the team and will be counted upon for leadership with four graduating classmates including Jayden Keeping, Skylure Lehman, and Jonathon Parsons.

“All five of these seniors have been in the track program for six years and all will be counted on greatly this year,” said Tangen.

Danny Putnam is also a senior and is out for track for the first time in his athletic career.

Tangen’s farewell season as head coach will be spent with the experienced coaching group of girls head coach Jim Jacobson and assistants Russ Hackel and Jim Rader. Todd Larson will coach the junior high teams and Jeff Johannsen is in his 11th year as a volunteer coach.

“Our goal is always to develop athletes through the year and get as many to sections and state as possible,” Tangen said. “We have already had one meet at Bemidji and I was very pleased with the results.”

Frazee placed just outside the top 10 of a 20-team field at the Little Amik Invitational at Bemidji State University Tuesday, March 29 with an 11th place team score of 19. Park Rapids Area scored 83 points to claim victory.

Four individuals and a relay team placed in the top 10 of their respective events.

Parsons has a productive day in jumps and picked up the Hornets’ best finish of the meet placing fourth in the high jump at five-feet, eight-inches. He cleared 37-08 to finish seventh in the triple jump. Keeping put two Hornets in the top 10 of the triple jump finishing 10th overall at 35-07.

Johannsen finished eighth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.83.

Brady Crabtree cleared eight-feet for a 10th place pole vault mark.

The 4x400m relay team of Johannsen, Keeping, Lehman and Parsons (4:04.58) finished 10th.

Frazee will compete at the second indoor meet back in Bemidji Tuesday, April 5, before a scheduled opening of the outdoor season in Barnesville Tuesday, April 12. 

Little Amik Invite, Bemidji State University

Boys Team scores (top 11 of 20):

Park Rapids Area 83, Grand Rapids 74, Pillager 56, Wadena-Deer Creek 50, Bemidji 47, Hibbing 44, Pequot Lakes 42, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale 41, Greenway/Nashwauk/Keewatin 27, Fertile-Beltrami 20, Frazee 19.

Frazee top 10 individual finishes:

60 meter hurdles

8. Nathan Johannsen 9.83

4x400m relay 

10. Frazee (Nathan Johannsen, Jayden Keeping, Lehman, Jonathon Parsons) 4:04.58

High jump

4. Jonathon Parsons 5-08

Triple jump

7. Jonathon Parsons 37-08

10. Jayden Keeping 35-07

Pole Vault

10. Brady Crabtree 8-00