St. Thomas Academy didn’t waste any time hiring a new football coach, selecting assistant head coach Jason Sedlak.

He replaces Dave Ziebarth, who retired after 13 seasons earlier this month. Ziebarth’s record was 117-33 during that span.

“Dave has done a tremendous job with our program over the 26 years he was involved,” St. Thomas Academy athletic director Rick Johns said.

The Cadets were the Class 5A state tournament runner-up this past season.

“While I believe sports are about more than wins or losses, I am proud of the success of our program while I was offensive coordinator and then head coach,” Ziebarth said. “This was not an easy decision but I end my football career on a positive note, filled with wonderful memories of a career spent with tremendous people.”

Sedlak has been on the Cadets’ coaching staff since 2009. He has served as linebacker coach, safety coach and defensive coordinator.

“I learned so much from Dave Ziebarth as a player and assistant coach,” Sedlak said, “and I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me to coach for him the last seven years.”

 

Top performances

• South St. Paul senior forward Cameron Buhl opened the season with a hat trick, leading the Packers past Rochester Century 4-2 in a nonconference boys’ hockey game. He also scored their lone goal late in the third period of a 2-1 overtime loss to Duluth Denfeld. Buhl had 19 goals and 25 assists as a junior.

• Prior Lake junior goaltender Lindsay Lewison earned her first victory of the season in a 5-2 victory over Apple Valley in a South Suburban Conference girls’ hockey matchup. Lewison stopped 36 shots. It marked the fifth time she has made at least 30 saves in a game this season.

Ron Haggstrom