Northern Star

High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Taya and Shaily Hakamaki

For this week's segment, meet cousins on the Cromwell-Wright girls basketball team who are hoping to make history in their final season.
Claudia Chakamian,

CROMWELL, Minn. – When you go to a Cromwell-Wright girls basketball game, you’re bound to hear the name Hakamaki blasting through the gym. But seniors Taya and Shaily are just two of many Hakamakis who have worn the red and white colors. “Long line of Hakamakis have gone through. I’m kind of the baby, we’re getting there. We have one…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Connor and Cooper McClure

For this week's segment, meet two Duluth Denfeld boys hockey players who are making big impacts in their first season on the team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Hockey is a family sport for Duluth Denfeld boys hockey forwards Cooper and Connor McClure. “Ever since we were little, our dad got us on skates around the age of three, and I think we always knew that hockey would be number one in our hearts,” Connor said. “They live next door to me so I’ve known…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Brooke Olson

For this week's segment, meet one of the young leaders on the UMD women's basketball team who has helped lead the Bulldogs to an undefeated NSIC record.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD women’s basketball team is coming off of its 11th overall NCAA Tournament appearance is picking up right where they left off. But after graduating two big pieces last year, the Bulldogs have very young leadership this season. “We’ve got to keep getting better. We have young point guards and we’re still fairly youthful, which is…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Grace Kirk

For this week's Northern Star, we hear from the captain of the Duluth Marshall girls basketball team.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – Back in March, the Duluth Marshall girls basketball team had their season end at the hands of Proctor in the Section 7AA title game. Nearly nine months later, that loss is still stuck in the minds of the Hilltoppers, even more so with senior guard Grace Kirk. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Braelyn Sathers

For this week's segment, meet a Proctor/Hermantown defender who isn't letting a slow start hold her back.
Claudia Chakamian,

PROCTOR, Minn. – While many of the pieces have changed, senior defender Braelyn Sathers has been a consistent part of the Proctor Hermantown Mirage blue line this season. “She’s a tall girl, she takes up a lot of space just with her size and her stick and her positioning. Every game she’s been bringing it and she’s really doing a…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Nate Pionk

For this week's segment, meet the St. Scholastica men's hockey captain who's creating his own legacy within the program.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Hermantown high school hockey is a program that will always stand out across the state of Minnesota. “It’s a hockey community. You see it all over the news in the state of Minnesota. Just growing up there and playing there, you always had a target on your back, teams would want to beat you being one of…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Eva Reinertsen

For this week's segment, meet a Wisconsin-Superior women's basketball player who's looking to leave one final mark on the program.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Eva Reinertsen is one of just four seniors on a very young Wisconsin-Superior women’s basketball team this season. “I think it’s surreal, it’s surreal for sure. I’ve been playing basketball for a little over a decade and it’s been such a big part of my life. It’s not over yet but it’s for sure a sense of…
Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Chikara Hanzawa

For this week's segment, meet a Minnesota Wilderness player who traveled halfway across the world to continue his hockey career.
Claudia Chakamian,

CLOQUET, Minn. – The Minnesota Wilderness are currently made up of eight local players. But for Japenese forward Chikara Hanzawa, he’s in America for the first time ever. “It’s good, I like it so far,” Hanzawa said of Minnesota. Hanzawa first came to the U.S. to play with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. After four games, he was traded to…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Tessa Lowry

For this week's segment, meet a St. Scholasitca women's hockey defenseman whose role on the team goes far beyond what shows up on the box score.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Like many of her teammates, St. Scholastica women’s hockey senior defenseman Tessa Lowry grew up around hockey. Her dad Dave played 19 seasons in the NHL, and has spent time coaching in the Western Hockey League, and her two brothers, Adam and Joel, currently play in the NHL. “I honestly, growing up, didn’t really realize how cool…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Cassie McClure

For this week's segment, meet a UWS women's hockey player who's just thankful she has the chance to go out and play hockey every day.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Duluth Northern Stars girls hockey alum Cassie McClure always knew she wanted to stay close to home for college. “It’s been pretty surreal so far. It’s a dream come true playing so close to home and having so much support here from my teammates and coaches, and having my family so close, it’s just been awesome,” McClure…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Cade Goggleye

For this week's segment, meet a former North Woods basketball star who made a late decision to stay close to home.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – After a third straight Class A state championship game appearance, former North Woods guard Cade Goggleye committed to the University of Jamestown. But just a few months later, Goggleye had a change of heart. “So Jamestown starts a little earlier, it starts a week earlier than St. Scholastica does. So I was there for a week, and…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Morgan and Nolan Friday

For this week's Northern Star, we talk with a brother/sister duo who share more than just a last name.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – When the st. Scholastica soccer teams take the field, any day could be a Friday. “Soccer was always big for me. Growing up, me and Morgan back when we were in elementary school, we had a little soccer field just outside our house with little hockey nets, not even soccer nets,” CSS men’s soccer midfielder Nolan Friday…
High School, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Peter Soumis

For this week's segment, meet the starting quarterback for the Hermantown football team and UMD men's basketball commit.
Claudia Chakamian,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown basketball standout Peter Soumis committed over the summer to play college ball right here at the Univeristy of Minnesota Duluth. “I just wanted to stay home, stay close to the family, so that was a big thing. The coaches, the coaching staff, they’re all super nice and I could relate to them a lot with our…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Emily (Torve) Balts

For this week's segment, we feature the setter of the UMD volleyball team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve been to a UMD volleyball game over the past few years, you probably heard Emily Torve’s name blast through the speakers. But this year, she’s got a new name, as she married former football standout Jason Balts over the summer. “We just met through athletes in action, which is a bible study on campus for…
Northern Star, Professional Sports, Sports

Northern Star: Amy “Hard Hands” Lemenager

For this week's segment, we talk with a local boxer who is making her pro debut next week.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – Amy “Hard Hands” Lemenager has always been a fighter. “My grandparents are always like, “OK so when are you going to be done fighting?” and I’ll always be like, “Just one more.” And of course after the one more, there’s always another. I just can’t stop,” said Lemenager. Growing up, Lemenager was a two–sport athlete. In high…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Alex Hanson

For this week's segment, we feature a Superior boys soccer captain who has big goals for his senior season.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Senior midfielder Alex Hanson never really thought about playing high school soccer. “I started in about sixth grade. My parents got me in it. I played a lot in latchkey and stuff, and everybody said I was pretty good. I’m not super outgoing so they kind of forced me into it,” Hanson said. But since then, Hanson…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Caden and Jaxon Edwards

For this week's segment, we feature two Duluth East football players who have been building a strong connection on and off the field since birth.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth East senior quarterback Caden Edwards has become the leader the Greyhounds need. “Caden’s an extremely gifted athlete and at quarterback he has all the tools, he’s big, he’s got a big arm,” Duluth East head coach Joe Hietala said. Through the first three weeks of the season, Edwards has completed 19 passes for 291 yards and…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Alaina Bennett

For this week's Northern Star, we talk with the heart and soul of the Carlton volleyball team.
Sam Ali,

CARLTON, Minn. – When Alaina Bennett first joined the Carlton volleyball team, she was one of three eighth graders to play on the varsity squad. “It was just crazy when you step on the court and you’re with seniors and juniors and you’re a little eighth grader. You listen to what everybody’s saying because you just want to make sure…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Zach Edwards

For this week's segment, we feature the quarterback on the St. Scholastica football team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. -St. Scholastica quarterback Zach Edwards entered Saturday’s season opener with high expectations, as he officially started his last first game. “You think about it’s the last of the end. I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited. Nothing like senior year, nothing like football, so I think it will be a good time,” Edwards said. In his junior season,…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Eric Watson

For this week's Northern Star, we highlight a UWS men's soccer player with high expectations for the upcoming season.
Sam Ali,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – For University of Wisconsin-Superior senior Eric Watson, this upcoming season will be a big one for the Yellowjackets men’s soccer team. “The publishings that come out or the stories that come out about us, it’s all extra on top of it. A little bit of the cherry on top. But I think really if we’re being truthful…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Markus Pokornowski

For this week's segment, we feature a running back on the Cloquet football team who's using his injury as motivation for his senior season.
Claudia Chakamian,

CLOQUET, Minn. – Last season, the Cloquet football team lost in the section 7AAAA final for the first time in three years. “It’s a team game and our team just didn’t do what we were supposed to do,” senior running back Markus Pokornowski said of that loss. But the Lumberjacks were missing a big piece in that game, as Pokornowski…
College, High School, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Reagan Ruffi and Brody Payton

For this week's segment, we feature two Northwestern alums and rookies on the UMD football team who are excited to go through this experience together.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD football team is officially one week into the 2019 season. “I am pumped to be here. I’ve been wishing away my summer to be here and I’m pretty excited,” freshman running back Reagan Ruffi said. Fall practice allows the whole team to come together and is crucial for the freshmen and newcomers to learn the…
Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Gabby Seyfer of the Duluth Figure Skating Club

She will be skating at a new national competition in Florida this June.
Katharine Huntley,

DULUTH, Minn. – Gabby Seyer, a rising sophomore at East High School, has made figure skating her life for the past ten years. Now, she’s one of only 18 girls in her level competing at the inaugural National Excel Festival in Coral Springs, Florida. “I’m excited about meeting new competitors from all over the country. So I’m kind of excited…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Ben Pedersen

For this week's segment, we feature the ace on the Duluth Marshall baseball team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – When you think of athletes in northern Minnesota, you think of all of the great hockey players and the kids who learned how to skate before they can walk. But baseball is growing in the Northland, and part of the reason for that is Hilltoppers senior pitcher Ben Pedersen. “I grew up wanting to play hockey. I…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Gabby Blomdahl

For this week's segment, we feature a Hermantown softball player who uses her coaches and hometown as inspiration for her future.
Claudia Chakamian,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Anyone from Hermantown can tell you how much the town means to them. “Hermantown, oh boy, it means a lot. It’s where you’ve grown up, it’s the tight community, it’s welcoming, it’s where you have all your friends. It’s definitely going to be hard to leave the small town feel of knowing everybody and having everyone know…
High School, Northern Star, Professional Sports, Sports

Northern Star: Andrew Standfield

For this week's Northern Star, we learn about a local powerlifter who was born with a rare genetic disorder.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – Next month, Andrew Standfield will be representing Team USA at the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden. But how we got to this point has put as much strain on his body as the weights he trains with. “They noticed during an ultrasound that his belly was bigger than his head. They were like, “OK…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Mady Stariha

For this week's segment, we feature a Superior softball player who's taking her talents across the bridge for college.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior softball is off to another strong season and a key reason for that is senior pitcher Mady Stariha. “She’s definitely one of the leaders and they all look up to her,” Superior head coach Mike Sather said. Stariha is 11–1 on the season, has allowed just 10 earned runs and has struck out 109 batters, which…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Aaron Weber

For this week's segment, we feature the captain on the St. Scholastica baseball team who's just grateful to be playing at the next level.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Scholastica baseball junior outfielder Aaron Weber is having a monster season, leading the Saints with a .400 batting average and has been a consistent glove in right field. “On the field he’s been our most consistent offensive player. We moved him to the outfield last year as well, and he’s adapted really well out there and…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Gabby Gidley

For this week's segment, we feature the senior catcher on the Wisconsin-Superior softball team who's thankful she made the choice to play in her hometown.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Senior catcher Gabby Gidley has been a key part in turning the Yellowjackets season around, leading the team to a perfect 8-0 home record in front of her hometown. “I have people that I don’t even know personally on a personal level come up and talk to me about my successes or they’ll say ‘Oh I’ve watched you…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: UMD Bulldogs Men’s Hockey

For this week's segment, we hear from the Bulldogs before they head out to Buffalo for the Frozen Four.
Katharine Huntley,

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD men’s hockey team is embarking on their third straight trip to the Frozen Four. For this week’s Northern Star, hear from the Bulldogs before they head out to Buffalo to try to defend their title. “Some people don’t get the opportunity obviously to even make a regional, in the four years that they go to college…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Jordyn Thomas

For this week's segment, we feature a Minnesota Duluth softball player who always knew she'd be a Bulldog.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Jordyn Thomas always knew she’d be a Bulldog. “Just being 15 minutes away from Hermantown, UMD has just been home and it’s always been that way so it feels right to be here,” Thomas said. The Hermantown native grew up playing basketball and softball for the Hawks and has always had deep ties to the Bulldogs. “With…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Brynne and Elise Hauer

For this week's segment, we feature sisters on the St. Scholastica women's tennis team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – A bond between sisters can’t be broken, and that’s exactly what St. Scholastica women’s tennis teammates Brynne and Elise Hauer have. The sisters are playing in their first and only season together with the Saints and are enjoying every moment. “It’s definitely a different bond being a sister, especially when you also wear that teammate hat and…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Parker Mackay

For this week's segment, we talk with the captain of the Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – After winning their second ever national championship, the UMD men’s hockey team needed a trusty captain this year. That’s when they looked to their assistant Parker Mackay and decided to give him the “C”. “It was special honestly. I was excited for the challenge but a little nervous maybe just with the high expectations that this group had…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Danielle Kohlwey

For this week's segment, we sit down with a UMD track senior who recently made program history at the NCAA Tournament.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Third time’s the charm for senior Danielle Kohlwey.  In her third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship, she finally came out on top. Kohlwey captured the 60-meter hurdle title on Saturday with a time of 8.24 seconds. But going into the weekend, Kohlwey just wanted to enjoy the moment. “With this being my…
Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Jacob Herter

For this week's segment, we feature a local hockey player who's taking the next step at the junior level.
Claudia Chakamian,

CLOQUET, Minn. – Jacob Herter has always called the Northland home. “This whole Twin Ports area, the hockey is so amazing. The completion around here is unbelievable,” Herter said. Herter spent three years playing with Hermantown and is now just down the road playing in the NAHL with the Minnesota Wilderness. “I always kind of wanted to play for the…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Josie Buckley

For this week's segment, we feature a senior on the UMD women's basketball team who's just thankful that she's able to play.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Duluth women’s basketball team is having one of their best seasons in program history. But for the seniors on the team, especially forward Josie Buckley, they’re not ready to think about the season winding down. “I just haven’t really been thinking about it much. We’ve been having such a great season and it’s been fun,…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Darian Gotz

For this week's segment, we feature the captain of the Hermantown hockey team.
Claudia Chakamian,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. -With talent up and down the lines, the Hermantown boys hockey team is once again one of the top powerhouses in the state. But with so much talent, a trusty captain is needed, and that’s what they have in senior Darian Gotz. “He’s our leader, hands down. And it’s not because he’s the rah-rah guy in the locker room….
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Sam Risley

For this week's segment, we feature a Northwestern boys basketball player who is leading the Tigers to success.
Claudia Chakamian,

MAPLE, Wis. – After going 12–12 last year, the Northwestern boys basketball team has been dominate this year. The Tigers are currently undefeated in conference play and ranked in the top 10 in division three within the state. “We’re about 10, 11 guys deep that I can play at any single time in any single game and that’s a luxury…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Pavel Mikhasenok and Artur Terchiyev

For this week's Northern Star, we highlight the relationship between two players from countries who are currently at war with each other.
Sam Ali,

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – This month marks five years since turmoil began between Russia and Ukraine. Two players on the UWS men’s hockey team know all about it: Russian Pavel Mikhasenok and Ukrainian Artur Terchiyev. “We’ve know each other for five years because we went to school together back at Everest Academy. And we room together also so we never talk…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Jayden Ruberg

For this week's segment, we talk with one Two Harbors basketball player who's joining his family members by leaving a legacy within the program.
Claudia Chakamian,

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Jayden Ruberg comes from a basketball family. His dad, aunt and older sister all played for Two Harbors and each left legacies within the program. “They were pretty much the reason I started playing basketball. They’re my role models. I wanted to play like them, be like them, that’s my motivation,” Ruberg said. Ruberg’s sister holds…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Caitlin Breen and Victoria Thorson

For this week's segment, we feature two Duluth Marshall girls hockey players whose chemistry on the ice goes far beyond the Northland.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – After birth, Caitlin Breen and Victoria Thorson were both in the same orphanage in Bogota, Colombia, but never met each other. Breen was adopted at two months old and her family moved throughout the US while Thorson was adopted at three months old and came straight to Duluth. When Breen’s family made the move to Duluth and…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Quinn Fischer

For this week's segment, we sit down with Esko native and current St. Scholastica freshman.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – Quinn Fischer has been playing basketball his whole life and is now finding success early at the collegiate level thanks to his St. Scholastica teammates. “It’s definitely different, going from high school to college, but with all of the upperclassmen showing us what it takes and them opening up a lot of things for me, offensively, defensively,…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Taylor Nelson and Kiana Bender

The duo has led Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in scoring for the past three seasons.
Claudia Chakamian,

CLOQUET, Minn. – Taylor Nelson and Kiana Bender have been key contributors to the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team this season, and their connection goes beyond being linemates. “We met when we were in boys hockey in like squirts or whatever. We were the only two girls on the team so we kind of just had to be friends and we’ve…
College, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Brandon Myer

For this week's segment, we talk with the UMD junior forward who takes his preparation very seriously.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – In the middle of the Northland’s first winter storm of the season, Brandon Myer is still at practice one hour early. “Like all the greats that play in the NBA, they say confidence comes with preparation. If you out-prepare the people you play against, then you’re more likely to do better,” said Myer. Myer says it’s just…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Ryan Gray

The Proctor/Hermantown goalie has been a key part of the program for the past six years.
Claudia Chakamian,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Ryan Gray has given Proctor/Hermantown a sense of security in net for the past six years, as she’s climbed from a middle school player on junior varsity to the senior starting goalie. “So she started out, I think in seventh grade, as a JV goalie and played for a few years there and then slowly moved her…
College, High School, Northern Star, Sports, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Northern Star: Cole Koepke & Jesse Jacques

This week's segment features two former Hermantown teammates who now take the ice for UMD.
Sam Ali,

DULUTH, Minn. – Seems like it was just yesterday that we saw Cole Koepke and Jesse Jacques bring state titles to Hermantown. Now their mission is to do the same not too far from home with the UMD bulldogs. “When I saw that he was coming to Duluth, I was excited. And I didn’t even know it was initially this…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Mac Reykdal

For this week's segment, we sit down with one Wisconsin-Superior basketball player who aims to make a difference on and off the court.
Claudia Chakamian,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Mac Reykdal is having a breakout year on the court this season; he scored a career–high 27 points in the Yellowjackets loss on Saturday at Minnesota Morris. But Reykdal’s work off the court is standing out more. “Really takes a lot of pride in what he does, both on the court and off the court. It’s something he’s…
College, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Alexia Klaas

For this week's segment, we talk to the St. Scholastica women's hockey senior captain who said her family on and off the ice has made her the player she is.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – After transferring from Minnesota Duluth after her freshman year, Alexia Klaas has been a key part of the St. Scholastica women’s hockey program for the past three years. The senior is currently tied for the most goals on the team and is second with 12 points, and has helped lead the Saints to a 7-3-1 record. But…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Makayla Suominen

The senior swimmer signed her National Letter of Intent on Monday for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Claudia Chakamian,

CLOQUET, Minn. – Makayla Suominen has been a standout on the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton high school swim team for six years, swimming in five state meets, earning eight medals, countless top–five finishes, and even a state title her sophomore year. “Coming in, I knew it was my senior year and taking all of the other years into account and I was pretty…
High School, Northern Star, Sports

Northern Star: Duluth East Cheerleading

For this week's segment, we take a look at the Duluth East Cheer team, who is going to nationals for the first time in program history.
Claudia Chakamian,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth East Cheer team has spent most of the year on the sidelines of Friday night lights, cheering on the Greyhounds each week. But over the past month, they’ve been putting in the work for competition season. “We do a lot more performances for our school and then we work on competitions so they only had about…

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