One look at Minot High School libero Jessie Kongelf doesn't suggest an intimidating force of athleticism.
When the 5-foot-3 senior steps onto the field of play, that changes - in multiple sports.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the hockey, softball and volleyball star hates to lose. That was on full display after her team lost a three-game match to Jamestown last Friday. Kongelf appeared heartbroken, shocked her team - at that point winners of two West Region matches in a row - could fall so hard.
"We don't like losing," she said. "We were all upset after that loss. We could have done so much better because, yeah, they're beatable."
Kongelf is in her second season as starting libero. Her main responsibilities include directing the defense and diving on the floor to dig the ball.
With those dives come scrapes and bruises, something she's quite familiar with from her time as a hockey forward.
"She's just a tough kid," MHS coach Ellen Jebens said. "She takes a knock in the back row. She has to throw her body around, which she's fine with. She's a very good hockey and softball player."
Kongelf, also a starting shortstop, said that playing multiple sports helps her stay intense for all of them.
"I try to get the mentality, 'either I'm going to go my hardest this game or I'm not going to play,' " she said. "I'm not going to let a ball hit the floor. I'm going to do all the little things that I can."
Kongelf leads her team with 264 digs and is averaging 4.1 per game this season.
She is the state's top returning hockey scorer, responsible for 26 goals and 32 assists in 25 games. She said she'd like to play collegiately and has looked at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., as a possible option.
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Junior goalkeeper getting hot at right time
Garrett Weishaar is hard to miss on the soccer pitch.
The Minot High School junior goalkeeper wears a number - 99 - rarely seen in any sport.
The reason: "Just to be different," he said.
There may not be a more apt adjective for Weishaar's hairstyle than different. He started sporting a mohawk a few years ago when friends from his church decided it'd be a good idea to cut their own hair. The look has stuck over the years.
On the field, Weishaar is excelling in his first year as a starter. He got his opportunity after junior Ben Love told MHS coach Cody Saunders that he'd rather play defense.
Weishaar is playing his best as the season winds down, allowing just one goal in his team's last three regular season games.
"He's peaking at the right time," Saunders said. "He's very focused right now, which has kind of been his downfall. When he has one, he's not very focused. But right now he's extremely focused."
The No. 3-seeded Magicians face No. 6 Mandan at the West Region tournament in Mandan on Friday.
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Jacob Holmen breaks out
Early in the first quarter of Minot High School's football game against Bismarck Century last week, junior Jacob Holmen found himself in unfamiliar territory.
The tight end/wide receiver found himself all alone down the sideline, completely separated from the defender tasked with covering him. It was, according to Holmen, the most open he's ever been. As junior quarterback Alex Yanosko's play-action pass came toward him, one thing entered Holmen's mind.
"My first thought was ,'Catch the ball first and then run,' " he said. "It's fun having some open space and being able to run."
Holmen was finally pushed out of bounds 40 yards from the line of scrimmage. He finished with three catches for 52 yards, both season-highs. His dad, coach Barry Holmen, had a front-row seat for the whole thing. For years prior, it was the opposite.
Jacob Holmen has been to every Barry Holmen-coached game except for the coach's first one, a long road trip when Jacob was in 4th grade.
"He's been at every single game, mostly as a young spectator, but always on the sideline," the elder Holmen said. "Now is his time to be a player."
Jacob's older brother Micah Holmen, a redshirt freshman third baseman at Minot State University, helps the coaching staff when he has time. Jacob said when his playing time is done, he'd also like to enter the family business.
"It definitely runs in our family," Jacob said. "Since I've been around it, I definitely want to do it, as well."