SUPERIOR, Wis.- As the snow from this week’s winter storm begins to melt, high school track and field teams competed indoors at the 43rd annual Dennis Simpson Invitational at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. For the girls, Hayward won the Simpson Invitational for the third straight year while Northwestern took 2nd place. For the boys, Moose Lake/Willow River captured their first…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior girls basketball team know they have two giant holes to fill next season with Kloe Zentkowski and Eva Peterson graduating in May. It’s now been over one month since Superior had their season come to an end in WIAA Regionals on their home court. Since then, Zentkowski and Peterson have gained some perspective on their last…
VIRGINIA, Minn.- Though their high school hoops careers are officially over, seniors were able to enjoy another game on the court at the Iron Range Engineering Senior All-Star Game at Minnesota North College- Mesabi Range. In the girls’ all-star game, the home team won 86-79. Members of the winning team included Mountain Iron-Buhl’s Hali Savela and Suzy Aubrey, Cloquet’s Leilani…
DULUTH, Minn.- Superior’s Adrian Gledhill knows better than most that keeping a healthy lifestyle is easier said than done. Now, she’s hoping to instill that knowledge onto her kids and other families with children. “I’ve been overweight my entire life,” says Gledhill, who competed on season three of the hit weight loss competition show “The Biggest Loser.” “One thing that…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- The Cherry boys basketball team has ended their 2023-24 season with the ultimate prize, defeating Fertile-Beltrami 78-40 in the Class A State Championship Game. The Tigers started the game on an 11-0 run, which included a Noah Asuma three-pointer and a Noah Sundquist steal-turned-layup. Defensively, Cherry kept Fertile-Beltrami off the scoreboard for the first five minutes and 25…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Following two weeks of high school track and field practices, teams in Minnesota’s Polar League got their first taste of competition in an indoor exhibition meet at UW-Superior. Below is a list of some of the top finishers in Friday’s first track events: Girls 4×800 Meter Relay: Moose Lake/Willow River (Olivia Jutila, Amelia Olson, Nia Petry, Shannon Granquist)-…
VIRGINIA, Minn.- In this week’s Coaches Corner, we’re joined by Jamie Lindseth, the head coach of Rock Ridge Baseball. In our conversation, Coach Lindseth discussed the challenges of practicing indoors, the Wolverines’ progress as they enter their third year as a program, and how he’s grown as a head coach over the years. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High…
DULUTH, Minn.- With the first round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament complete, there’s a good chance your bracket may already be busted. According to the NCAA, around 60-100 million brackets are filled out every year. With those kinds of numbers, somebody must have completed a perfect bracket out of sheer luck, right? Not exactly. If someone were…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The high school track and field season hasn’t officially started just yet, but Esko has already proven to be a team to watch this spring. At Friday’s Polar League Indoor Meet at UW-Superior, Senior Gwendolyn Lilly won the girls 60-meter hurdle race with a time of 10.93 seconds. In the following girls’ event, Kaitlyn McConnell won the 60…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- Will Esterbrooks of the Hermantown truly put it all on the line in his three years playing for the Hawks’ boys hockey team. It’s now been over a week since Hermantown suffered a 3-1 loss to St. Cloud Cathedral in the 3-1 Class A State Championship. Following the game, Head Coach Patrick Andrew acknowledged they wouldn’t have made…
DULUTH, Minn.- As was the case in the WCHA Tournament, the UMD women’s hockey team’s time in the NCAA Tournament ended with a shutout loss to Ohio State. On Saturday, the Buckeyes defeated the Bulldogs 9-0 in what was Ohio State’s seventh-straight win over UMD. Following the loss, Head Coach Maura Crowell reflected on the season-ending loss, along with what…
MANKATO, Minn.- The No. 10 UMD men’s basketball team had their season come to an end Sunday night as No. 4 Northwest Missouri State defeated the Bulldogs 71-62 in the NCAA Central Region Semifinals. In his final collegiate game, Drew Blair led UMD with 21 points. Austin Andrews was the only other Bulldog to score in double digits, recording 14…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- The Mountain-Iron Buhl girls basketball team’s road to their second-straight state title fell one win short, losing to Goodhue 70-65 in the Class A State Championship. The Rangers got off to a rocky start as they trailed 9-0 with 15:18 remaining in the first half. What’s more is Jordan Zubich was called for a pair of quick fouls,…
DULUTH, Minn.- After a thrilling double overtime victory on Thursday, the UMD women’s hockey team is quickly turning its attention to the top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State. After finding out their place in the bracket during Sunday’s selection show, UMD Head Coach Maura Crowell and her players had their eyes on a potential rematch against Ohio State….
DULUTH, Minn.- For the third straight season, Esko’s boys basketball team fell short of the State Tournament, losing to Pequot Lakes in the Section 7AA Championship Game. The Patriots had all the momentum from the opening tipoff, going on a 14-0 run before Esko could even score. To their credit, Esko was able to do a lot of catching up…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Hermantown boys’ basketball team was unable to defend their Section 7AAA title Thursday night as Chisago Lakes defeated the Hawks 95-82 in the Section Championship. Hermantown defeated Chisago Lakes 104-101 on February 26, but Patrick Rowe and the Wildcats came out the gates hot, leading by 7 at halftime and keeping their lead throughout the second half….
DULUTH, Minn.- 5 seasons, 141 games, and 4,719 minutes. Entering the NCAA Division II Tournament, that’s how long Drew Blair has played in a UMD uniform. “Hopefully, I still have a little bit more left in the tank here as we go on the stretch and can keep playing better,” says Blair, who recently turned 24 years old. After proving…
DULUTH, Minn.- Only two days removed from their WCHA semifinal loss to Ohio State, the UMD women’s hockey team is now focused on their first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament. On Sunday, the Bulldogs learned they’ll be facing the University of Connecticut on Thursday at Columbus, Ohio. While it’s UMD’s fourth-straight NCAA Tournament, it’s UConn’s first-ever appearance. “They had a…
DULUTH, Minn.- As the UMD men’s basketball team prepare for the NCAA Tournament, they’ll likely depend on senior Josh Brown to play a significant role on both sides of the ball. This season, Brown has averaged 9.5 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds per game. What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is his tenacity high-speed motor….
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- With the Hermantown boys basketball team one win away from the State Tournament, Nate Hill and his fellow seniors are ready to deliver on their final section playoff game of their high school careers. With an increased role this season, Hill has provided athleticism and leadership for the Hawks, according to Head Coach Andy Fenske. ” He’s always…
St. Paul, Minn.- After two victories in the Class A State Tournament, the Hermantown Hawks were unable to win their final game, falling to St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1 in Saturday’s State Championship. In the first period, St. Cloud Cathedral wasted no time in finding the back of the net with Andrew Gwinnell scoring with 13:12 on the clock. Hermantown’s offense…
DULUTH, Minn.- It only took a half of a century, but the Minnesota High School Curling Championship has returned in full force. “We felt it was very important to try to bring this back after 50 years,” says Kerry Hadiaris, the general manager of the Duluth Curling Club. “The group started last spring trying to figure out how we could…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Mountain Iron-Buhl girls basketball team will have a chance to defend their state title next week following Friday’s 77-35 Section 7A Championship win over Cromwell-Wright. This marks the Lady Rangers’ fourth-straight section title and their third-consecutive title win over the Cardinals. “It was fun to watch our kids compete today,” said Jeff Buffetta, the head coach of…
DULUTH, Minn.- This week’s top plays come from both on the ice and on the hardwood. At number two, U-M-D’S Kyle Bettens gets the shot off before he falls to the ground for his 5th goal of the season. And at number one, Esko’s Koi Perich intercepts the pass and take it all the way back for the one-handed slam….
SUPERIOR, Wis.- In this week’s Coaches Corner, we were joined by former Superior High School Boys Basketball Coach Jacob Smith, who’s now coaching Superior’s 7th grade boys. Coach Smith talked about his team winning the McDonald’s Classic, along with the differences between coaching high school boys and 7th grade boys. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, Sports
DULUTH, Minn.- In only their second season as a program, the Rock Ridge girls basketball team has claimed the Section 7AAA Championship, defeating Cloquet 58-41. After leading 27-26 at halftime, the Wolverines outscored the Lumberjacks 31-15 in an electric second half for Rock Ridge. After the game, Rock Ridge Head Coach Byron Negen explained what has made his team special…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wis.- The Solon Springs boys basketball team is fueled by a senior class that have run up the ranks sharing the rock. “We’ve been playing together since like fifth grade, so chemistry probably for sure would be our strong suit,” says Dylan Taggart, who recently scored his 1,000th career point. “Since they’ve been little kids, they’ve been on…
ESKO, Minn.- In round one of the Section 7AA Playoffs, both Esko and Duluth Marshall were able to secure victories on their home courts. Esko — who is the top seed in the tournament — defeated International Falls 93-46. The game was especially memorable for Koi Perich, who scored his 2,000th point on a steal-turned-dunk in the first half. Meanwhile,…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- History continues to repeat itself for the Hermantown Hawks, who are once again getting ready for the Class A Boys Hockey Tournament. As the top seed in this year’s tournament, the Hawks will face Alexandria on Wednesday. After suffering eight losses during the regular season, Hermantown’s road to state was a little bumpier than in previous years. However,…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wis.- With only two games standing between them and the WIAA State Tournament, the Solon Springs boys basketball team is ready for the challenge that awaits them in sectionals. On Saturday, Solon Springs claimed their second-straight Regional Championship as they defeated Luck 84-40. As the top seed in the Division 5 bracket, the Eagles only suffered two losses…
DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD women’s hockey team took care of business in the WCHA Quarterfinals, defeating St. Cloud State 2-0 in game two to complete the sweep. As was the case in game tone between UMD and St. Cloud State, the first period in game two turned into a defensive showdown. Former Bulldog and current Husky goaltender Jojo Chobak gave…
PROCTOR, Minn.- Friends, family and fans of Proctor-Hermantown wrestler Zak McPhee celebrated his return home following his state championship victory on Saturday. McPhee won the 189-Pound Championship round in overtime, solidifying a perfect 53-0 season and his first-ever state championship. “I pretty much knew the match was over as soon as I grabbed his ankle underneath, and it was two…
DULUTH, Minn.- With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the UMD women’s hockey team entered the WCHA Playoffs with authority, shutting down St. Cloud State 5-0 for the game one victory. This marks the second-straight time the Bulldogs opened the WCHA playoffs with a shutout victory (defeated St. Cloud State 1-0 in 2023). After a scoreless first period, UMD…
DULUTH, Minn.- Nina Jobst-Smith has done a lot of growing up in the last four years. It all stemmed from her life-changing decision to leave her home country for the United States. “I had intended to go to a school up in Canada. So, after kind of having a change-of-heart in my 12th grade year, I decided to decommit and…
TWO HARBORS, Minn.- A pair of big-time blocks are featured in this week’s Top Plays. At number two, Calvin Anderson of Superior sends back a shot in the Spartans’ playoff game against Hortonville. At number one, Barnum’s Brock Hurst delivers a denial in the Bombers’ road matchup against Two Harbors. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Plays of the Week,…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior boys basketball team opened up postseason play on Friday night against Hortonville. Sadly, the Spartans would see their season come to a close as the Polar Bears pulled off the first round upset, 66 to 64. Superior finishes the season with a 18-7 overall record. Over in Minnesota, Duluth East would snap Hermantown’s nine-game winning streak,…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- On Monday, Abe Soumis broke the all-time scoring record for the Hermantown boys’ basketball team when he put up 48 points against Chisago Lakes. For anyone who has watched the Hawks in the last two seasons, this didn’t come as a surprise. “You know, the thing about Abe is that he’s that kind of kid that every coach…
WRENSHALL, Minn.- The Carlton/Wrenshall boys basketball team was once again victorius on Monday, defeating Proctor 82 to 79. The Raptors (18-7) have now won seven straight games and will close out the regular season on Thursday at Fond du Lac Ojibwe. Proctor falls to 5-20 and will host Cloquet on Thursday in their regular season finale. In other boys basketball…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- This week, Minnesota’s top high school wrestlers will compete in St. Paul at the MSHSL State Tournament. That will include senior Ayden Schauer of Grand Rapids, who’s coming off her section-winning run, where she pinned all three of her opponents. “I remember stepping on the mat for the first time,” says Ayden. “I was like, ‘Oh, crap….
DULUTH, Minn.- The MSHSL 7AAA Girls Basketball Tournament bracket is set, with eight teams vying for a section title and a spot at state. Rock Ridge earned this year’s top seed, going 23-3 during the regular season. The Wolverines will face Duluth Denfeld in the first round. On the other side of the bracket, Cloquet is the #2 seed. The…
DULUTH, Minn.- A busy Saturday at Amsoil Arena saw four teams advance through the MSHSL Sectional Semifinals. In the 7AA semis, Grand Rapids defeated Rock Ridge 6-2. The Thunderhawks earned three goals in the first period, which were scored by Nathan Garski, Kyler Miller and Gavin Forrest. Grand Rapids will move on to face Andover, who beat Duluth East 4-1….
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior girls basketball team opened up postseason play on Friday, taking on Appleton East in the Division one region semifinals. Sadly, it didn’t go the Spartans way as they fell to the Patriots 63 to 49. Superior finishes the season with a 15-9 overall record. In other girls action, Duluth Marshall saw their nine game win streak…
HAYWARD, Wis.- The 50th American Birkebeiner almost looked like a lost cause due to a lack of February snowfall, but somehow, they were able to make it happen. However, that’s not to say there were some major changes. Take the Birkebeiner, for example. The children’s pre-race companion to the Birkebeiner set for Thursday was converted into a fun run. “At…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- In this week’s Coaches Corner, Hermantown Boys Basketball Coach Andy Fenske discussed the Hawks’ regular season, preparing for sectionals, and how he’s grown as a head coach over the years. This is Fenske’s eighth season as the Hawks’ head coach. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- “Pull the rope” is a mantra often used by the Grand Rapids’ high school wrestlers. It’s part of the reason why Justin Jobe treats wrestling as a team sport. “Just because it sucks so much,” Jobe smiles, alluding to the hard work required to be great on the mats. “You know, it sucks, but it’s awesome at…
DULUTH, Minn.- High scores and blowouts were the norm on Tuesday as boys hockey teams faced off in the first round of sectionals. In 7A, top-seeded Hermantown dominated in their 14-0 shutout over International Falls. The Hawks — who are seeking their fifth-straight section championship — outshot the Broncos 65-9. Meanwhile, Proctor survived their first sectional test, defeating North Shore…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The WIAA has revealed the brackets for Wisconsin’s 2024 Boys Basketball Tournament. In Division 1, Superior has been chosen as a three seed and will host #14 Hortonville on Friday, March 1 on their home court. If they win, they’re guaranteed another home game in the next round, either against #6 Neenah or #11 Eau Claire North. In…
CLOQUET, Minn.- With the postseason quickly approaching, the Cloquet girls’ basketball team knows they’ll be leaning on their five seniors to carry them through sectionals. After winning their first eight games of the season, the Lumberjacks spiraled, losing seven in a row. “We started off really strong and just kind of, like, lost what we’re good at,” said Quinn Danielson….
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Marshall’s Brooks Johnson once again makes an appearance in our Top Plays segment! On Monday against Hibbing, Johnson ripped the ball out of a Bluejackets player’s hands before throwing down a high-flying dunk in the final seconds of the first half. Despite trailing by two at halftime, the Hilltoppers would rally for the 69-56 win. Categories: Friday…
DULUTH, Minn.- Despite overcoming a pair of two-goal deficits, the UMD men’s hockey team wasn’t able to finish on top in Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss against #5 Denver at Amsoil Arena. The Bulldogs trailed 2-0 after the first period, but they were quickly able to re-tie the game in the second period with goals from Aiden Dubinsky and Quinn Olson….
