Ertl's soccer career ends with awards

Senior forward Bayley Ertl capped off her Viking soccer career by being named to the 2012 Class A All State Honorable Mention team at the State Tournament Banquet on Sunday, October 21 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Ertl has been the face of the Viking girls’ soccer program for so long, it’s hard to believe she’s a senior. The Vikings’ all-time leading scorer has been a varsity starter since the 2008 season, when she was in eighth grade. Peter Grand was the team’s head coach in 2008. Doug Larson took over head coaching duties in 2009 and remains the team’s head coach to this day. The energetic, hard-working Ertl helped lead the Vikings to the best season in the history of the North Branch girls’ soccer program.

The Vikings finished above .500 for the first time, with an 8-7-2 overall record. In their final year in the North Suburban conference, they finished 4-5-1, good for sixth place. One of the season’s highlights was beating Class AA Spring Lake Park in front of the home crowd. “We were tied at the end of regulation and scored a couple goals in overtime to win 4-2,” said Ertl. “After that game, I remember how good it felt to be a part of such a big win for the team.” When asked about her best soccer memories, Ertl didn’t talk about her statistics or any of the many awards she received over her career. She said “I like to go back and watch films of when I just started playing varsity soccer and see the growth of not just me, but the whole team. I’ve played with most of the seniors since I can remember. Playing with them all through high school was a fun thing. I will miss all of my teammates the most.” Ertl plans to continue her soccer career in college. She will most likely attend Division II Bemidji State University on a near full ride soccer scholarship next spring (Division II schools are not allowed to offer full ride sports scholarships). She plans to study nursing while at Bemidji State.

“They have a really good nursing program,” she said. “And I will most likely go into OB nursing.” Ertl will get ready for the college soccer season by playing for the Minnesota Thunder Academy’s Premier U18 team. The Premier level is the highest level of youth soccer in Minnesota, and it is Ertl’s first year playing Premier. “I found out about the Premier tryouts from some friends at a Hamline soccer camp last summer,” she said. “I went online to find out more about it, tried out and made the team.” And Ertl isn’t done with her sports career at North Branch High School just yet. She will compete in gymnastics again this winter, with captain’s practices already beginning. In the spring, she plans to compete in track – something she hasn’t done for two years.

She said “I have been so busy with soccer I didn’t have time to compete in track. But I liked track a lot in the past and since it’s my senior year, I decided I might as well go out for it.” Her favorite event is the triple jump, and in the past the speedy Ertl has also run in the 4 x 100 relay and the 200 meter dash. Ertl is also a member of the National Honor Society and participates on the student council. Ertl didn’t hesitate when asked which sport she liked the best. “Soccer is definitely my favorite sport,” said Ertl. “I’ve been playing it since I was four years old. I started in gymnastics at the same age. All along, I knew soccer was something I liked doing more. My parents know how much I love it and how much I want to play in college. They’ve been to so many of my games and have always helped me out and been so supportive.”