ARLINGTON — For the first time since 1998, the Sibley East Wolverines will return to the State Baseball Tournament.

That 1998 state tournament run for the Wolverines ended up in a Class A championship after they beat Melrose 3-2.

Now 24 years later and in Class AA, the Wolverines will be looking to recreate some of that 1998 magic in hopes of bringing home another state title.

The road ahead won’t be easy to navigate for the unseeded Wolverines, who were named top-seeded Fairmont’s random-draw opponent for the first round at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud.

But Wolverines head coach Brian Jenneke and his team are up for any and all challenges ahead.

“[Fairmont] has been ranked in the top three the entire year,” he said. “We know it will be an extremely tough game, but if we play like we know we can, we can beat anybody.”

Fairmont is led this season by pitchers Jacob Crissinger, Eli Anderson and Nate Soelter.

Crissinger has an 8-1 record with a 1.46 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 18 walks allowed in 62 1/3 innings pitched, while Anderson has a 4-1 record with a 0.99 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 12 walks allowed in 35 1/3 innings of work. Soelter is 4-2 with a 2.02 ERA, 25 strikeouts and eight walks allowed in 27 2/3 innings.

At the plate, the Cardinals are led by Anderson, who has the team’s top batting average (.422). The power-and-speed threat also has 38 hits, 28 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, 20 runs scored, six triples and two homers. Zach Jorgensen (.343 BA), Soelter (.346 BA), Landen Meyerdirk (.342 BA) and Gavin Rodning (.342 BA) are other threats at the plate for Fairmont.

Sibley East has his own share of talent to go around.

On the mound, senior Jake Schmidt has been the team’s go-to pitcher this year. He is 6-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 45 innings of work.

Seniors Brody Serbus (4-2, 2.94 ERA) and Hunter Stearns (3-3, 2.05 ERA) and junior Devon Jenneke (4-0, 1.61 ERA) complete the Wolverines’ rotation.

Schmidt has also been the Wolverines’ biggest weapon at the plate with an eye-popping .586 batting average to go along with eight doubles, three triples, 30 runs scored, 17 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Stearns (.325 BA), senior Sam Ebert (.300 BA) and freshman Caden Willmsen (.294 BA) are a few other top hitters for Sibley East.

Coach Jenneke said that his seniors have carried the Wolverines to this point.

“Our group of seniors has been the biggest driving factor,” he said. “Their leadership on and off the field, along with the examples they have set with their work ethic has been exceptional.”

Coach Jenneke also said his team’s run back to state is years of hard work paying off.

“I think it’s a huge accomplishment that has been earned with the team’s continued dedication and hard work over the years,” he said. “It is so exciting for both the team and the community. Hopefully it will spark some new excitement with the youth in our communities.”