Local Sports | Zeke Fuhrman

By Zeke Fuhrman |

Perham XC Sweeps a Soggy Detroit Lakes Rotary Invite

Connor malecka matt jorgenson
Detroit Lakes sophomore Connor Malecka (left) beats out Perham senior Matt Jorgenson to win the Detoit Lakes Rotary Invite at Lakeview Golf Course on September 4, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Hero’s Timing)

DETROIT LAKES, MINN (KWAD) — Rain jackets, stocking caps and mud-spattered spikes were the uniform of the day at Lakeview Golf Course on Thursday afternoon, where steady drizzle and a chill breeze turned the Detroit Lakes Rotary Invitational into an early-September grit test that saw both Perham Yellowjackets atop the podium with a pair of first place team finishes.

In the boys race, Detroit Lakes sophomore Connor Malecka thrilled the home crowd with a wire-tight victory, breaking the tape in 16:10.6—four-tenths ahead of Perham senior Matt Jorgenson (16:11.0). After Jorgenson, Perham flooded the chute: Bryce Brown (5th, 16:38), Dylan Guck (6th, 16:52), Brody Freeland (7th, 16:56) and Reid Wokasch (8th, 16:57), with Henry Mathiason (9th, 16:59) right behind. The five-in-the-top-nine blitz delivered the Yellowjackets, ranked #1 in Class AA, a runaway team title with 28 points.

Alexandria showed balance to take 3rd with 119 points, led by junior Kyle Jahner (13th, 17:16) and a tight pack: Jakin Miller (23rd), Tyler Jahner (25th), Matty Soderholm (31st) and Cedric Soderholm (36th). Detroit Lakes used Malecka’s win and steady depth to place 7th (201), with Garrett Moen (47th), Andrew Barberg (55th) and freshman Emmett Stuewe (69th) factoring.

On the girls’ side, Perham looked every inch a contender in a rematch with the Alexandria Cardinals. Last year, Perham won the 8AA title with Alexandria finishing second. However, the Cardinals edged out the Yellowjackets to take runner-up at the State meet with Perham placing third.

Perham stacked five scorers in the top 10 and won the meet with 35 points. Freshman Julianna Scraper (3rd, 19:49), senior Gracie Morris (5th, 20:09), senior Chayla Sweere (8th, 20:09), senior Caidyn Breid (9th, 20:19) and junior Tessa Starzl (10th, 20:22) formed a formidable scoring wall, with Rory Kaldor (13th) and Addison Toedter (17th) close behind.

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Perham senior Gracie Morris (left) crosses the finish line for a fifth place finish at the Detroit Lakes Rotary Invite, edging out Fergus Falls freshman Carsyn Lill, Bemidji senior Blaire Story and teammate Chayla Sweere by less than a second. (Photo and meet results courtesy of Hero’s Timing)

Alexandria answered with veteran poise to finish 2nd with 59 points. Senior Quinn Hills led in 4th (20:01), followed by Johanna Kjolhaug (11th), Emma Bassen (12th), Izzy Nei (16th) and Ainsleigh Lehmann (18th) to close the door on third-place Shanley. Detroit Lakes senior Hannah Barberg was the top Laker, 21st in 21:07, as DL placed ninth.

VIEW COMPLETE MEET RESULTS AND PHOTOS HERE

BOYS TEAM SCORES — Lakeview GC Invitational

1) Perham 2-5-6-7-8 (9,17) = 28
2) Shanley 3-15-16-18-48 (52,74) = 100
3) Alexandria 13-21-23-29-33 (35,36) = 119
4) Bemidji 14-19-30-31-37 (46,49) = 131
5) Kindred 10-12-27-56-73 (76,82) = 178
6) Fergus Falls 22-26-34-50-55 (61,68) = 187
7) Detroit Lakes 1-41-47-54-58 (77,81) = 201
8) Willmar 11-24-51-53-64 (84,86) = 203
9) Thief River Falls 4-40-57-63-71 (79,83) = 235
10) St. Cloud Tech 28-44-45-59-60 (62,66) = 236
11) Fargo North 25-39-43-65-69 (75,78) = 241
12) Horace 32-38-70-72-80 (85,87) = 292
13) St. Cloud Apollo 20-42-67-88-89 (90) = 306

BOYS VARSITY —Individual (Top 10)

1) Connor Malecka, Detroit Lakes — 16:10.6 (SO)
2) Matt Jorgenson, Perham — 16:11.0 (SR)
3) Ethan Erickson, Shanley — 16:28.2 (JR)
4) Curtis Griffin, Thief River Falls — 16:33.8 (SO)
5) Bryce Brown, Perham — 16:38.3 (SO)
6) Dylan Guck, Perham — 16:52.1 (SR)
7) Brody Freeland, Perham — 16:55.8 (FR)
8) Reid Wokasch, Perham — 16:57.3 (SR)
9) Henry Mathiason, Perham — 16:59.8 (SR)
10) Tyler Gronwold, Kindred — 17:04.0 (JR)

GIRLS TEAM SCORES — Lakeview GC Invitational

1) Perham 3-5-8-9-10 (13,16) = 35
2) Alexandria 4-11-12-15-17 (20,24) = 59
3) Shanley 1-14-23-26-30 (38,40) = 94
4) Horace 18-21-27-29-31 (32,57) = 126
5) Fergus Falls 2-6-33-48-49 (60,67) = 138
6) Bemidji 7-22-35-44-45 (46,47) = 153
7) Thief River Falls 25-28-34-43-63 (64,70) = 193
8) Fargo North 36-37-39-41-50 (54,62) = 203
9) Detroit Lakes 19-51-52-58-59 (68,69) = 239
10) Kindred 42-53-55-56-61 (65,66) = 267

GIRLS VARSITY — Individual (Top 10)

1) Mykenna Johnson, Shanley — 18:55.5 (JR)
2) Cassie Wellman, Fergus Falls — 19:05.5 (JR)
3) Julianna Scraper, Perham — 19:49.4 (FR)
4) Quinn Hills, Alexandria — 20:01.5 (SR)
5) Gracie Morris, Perham — 20:08.9 (SR)
6) Carsyn Lill, Fergus Falls — 20:09.0 (FR)
7) Claire Story, Bemidji — 20:09.8 (SR)
8) Chayla Sweere, Perham — 20:09.9 (SR)
9) Caidyn Breid, Perham — 20:19.1 (SR)
10) Tessa Starzl, Perham — 20:21.9 (JR)