GIRLS Top 20 Preview: #20 White Bear Lake
We told you we were dusting off the keyboard. Uncle Ted wants content creation, that means its time to break out the old MN Lax Hub research. Of course, we are going to swerve a little from the boys side and do our countdown from 20, down to 1. Mostly to piss off Uncle Ted. As last year, our list is based off of the laxnumbers ranking list…here.
Before we jump into #20 (White Bear Lake), we’d be remiss if we didn’t give a shout out to laxnumbers ranked 32 squad…the Andover Huskies. Sure they’re not in the top 20, obviously, but they took their disrespect in the section seedings (a Section 7 #6 seed) and went to state. Absolutely remarkable…that the seedings were so wrong and that they proved them all wrong. Good on them.
Alright - on to #20, the White Bear Lake…checking our notes…BEARS!
What They Were
9-6, 73.15 Lax Number Rating against a 71.64 Lax Number Schedule.
#2 seed in Section 4. They lost to #3 Gentry 18-5 in the section semifinals.
What They Lost
Listen…they lost a lot (9 seniors). The straws that stirred the drink at WBL (their top 2 leaders scorers) are both at Detroit Mercy. Joining them in the adulting are the third and fourth leading scorers…and starting goalie.
Jaeda Jensen - A: 46g/18a/64 points
Bev Pederson - M: 38g/16a/54 points, 44 GB/40 FT/84 DC
Georgia Kodytek - A: 10g/11a/21 points
Zoe Timmons - M: 15g/5a/20 points, 22 GB/10 FT/69 DC
Quinn Denne - D: 24 GB/20 FT
Mesa McElmury - GK: Played 13/15 in goal
What They Have Coming Back
2025 Grace Castro - M: 15g/4a/19 points
2026 Kylee Lehman - M: 11g/8a/18 points
2029 Natalie Perry - GK
What They Have Looking Forward
Their full Suburban East Conference schedule, along with non conference games against Edina, Totino-Grace, and Hill-Murray
Our Take
With all due respect to the Bears, the seeding behind Gentry was pretty disrespectful. We all take our shots at Gentry (we invented “Diet Shattuck”), but we also still give credit, where credit is due. If the coaches are having issues with their seeding and ranking…we happen to know of a very well informed group that runs their own poll - reach out to mrspmacssource@gmail.com
Now, they lose a lot with 9/21 players lasts year as seniors. The good thing is that Pederson and Jensen sucked up so much of the oxygen in their offense, this allows room for their youngsters to grow this year. They also seem to have their goalie situation locked up for the next 5 years…growing pains now for gains later.
Feels like Stillwater, Gentry, Mahtomedi and Hill are all in position to leap frog WBL this season in Section 4.