HERMANTOWN, Minn.- Martin Sleen had his fair share of touchdowns in 2024. That trend continued in Week 1 when the junior running back found the end zone three times in Hermantown’s 52 to 7 win over Duluth Denfeld. “When I’m on the field and I’m gone for a big touchdown, I don’t really have much going through my head. It’s…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Harbor Monsters are coming off a spectacular first season in the arena league. Reaching the top of the mountain as they won the ArenaMania championship last season, defeating the Iowa Woo 46-to-44. The Harbor Monster return key pieces from their championship roster. Including quarterback Hassan Brockman, who is ready to hit the ground running in year…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.-There’s always something special about seeing an athlete reach a century mark. It was no different on May 6th, when Hermantown/Proctor attacker Kale Smith tallied his 100th career point. “I actually still have my first goal ball in my bedroom on my dresser. So I kind of still see that everyday to day and now I have my 100th…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The competitive nature of sports is an aspect that athletes use as motivation during their careers. For UWS senior catcher Ellie Macal, that competitive nature helped her fall in love with softball. “I chose softball because my brother played baseball when I was younger and he was a catcher, and I wanted to be better than him,” said…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Former Athletics GM Billy Beane once said “You get on base, we win. You don’t, we lose.” Superior senior infielder Melania Luostari has done a lot of hitting in her four years. Which of course, leads to plenty of victories. “Softball is a large part of my life, but it’s not everything. When I don’t go 3 for…
DULUTH, Minn.- The game of Lacrosse has been described as a mix of soccer and hockey. That takes many different athletic skills. For Duluth Wolfpack Senior Brett Kurth, he has worked all off-season on his lacrosse craft. “He’s really put in some effort this off-season and kind of taken his work ethic and putting in focus into his athleticism, said…
DULUTH, Minn.- UMD offensive lineman Aiden Williams has dreamed of this moment his whole life. No, it wasn’t when he scored a touchdown this past September against Southwest Minnesota State. It’s the upcoming NFL Draft in Green Bay. “Just kind of looking forward to what’s next. I’ve just been working out and lifting every day, doing drills, stuff like that,…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The UWS baseball team has been building a successful program in the last several seasons with head coach TJ Oakes at the helm. Over the years the foundation of the program has been built off of the team’s ability to make plays in the field. “Pitching and defense has been kind of our program the last couple of…
DULUTH, Minn.-Spring ball is usually a time for team’s to freshen up their skills and focus on the fundamentals. But for St. Scholastica quarterback Donald West and his teammates, they’re also adjusting to a new head coach in Matt Bremer. “They’ve been smoothly. The guys took the change and ran with it. It wasn’t as much change, it was just…
DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD softball team enters the 2025 season with a young squad, with only two seniors on the team. One of the two seniors is infielder Nicole Schmitt who has been making plays in the field and at the plate for the Bulldogs. ” She’s fantastic, just a gifted hitter. Very high standards for herself. There is an…
DULUTH, Minn.- For the fourth straight year, the Cherry boys basketball team has made it to the big dance. As a repeat attendee, the Tigers know there’s not much time to celebrate beforehand. “Obviously the goal is to take care of business one step at a time. Win the section and this team has big goals. We’ve been at the…
DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD women’s hockey program continues to compete at a high level in the WCHA and the NCAA. All under a new head coach at the helm in Laura Schuler. But this isn’t the first time Schuler has been apart of the UMD coaching staff. As she was an assistant coach from 2008 to 2015 and helped the…
SUPERIOR, Wis.-The UW-Superior women’s basketball team ended a lengthy drought on March 1st, clinching the UMAC title and a securing a spot in the national tournament. So just how long has it been? “I think coach said it was maybe her sophomore year was the last time they made the tournament. She reminded us, guys I’m old that’s a while…
DULUTH, Minn.-The CSS senior thrower Trent Beseth has made his mark in the national standings. As he is currently ranked second in the nation for division III indoor shot put with a distance of 17.57 meters. During Beseth’s time at CSS, Track and Field wasn’t the initial sport he was recruited for. “He didn’t originally join the track and field…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- Experience can often be hard to come by at the quarterback position in high school football, but Alex Schott is a rare exception for the Hermantown Hawks. “You got your Peyton Mannings of the world, you got your Tom Bradys, and that was always kind of who I looked up to, and kind of wanted to always be…
CLOQUET, Minn.- As the Cloquet/Carlton girls soccer team hunts for its fourth-straight Section 7AA title, Addison Sandman has become a critical part of the Lumberjackets’ success at midfield. “In my opinion, without the midfield, there wouldn’t be a soccer team,” says Sandman, who’s a co-captain in her senior season. “(Addison)’s the best, my favorite person to play with,” says junior…
TWO HARBORS, Minn.- As a high school senior at Two Harbors, Tate Nelson will soon achieve his dreams of playing for the UMD football team. “It’s a place that I’ve been cheering for all my life, going to games almost every weekend, just growing up around the team,” says Nelson. “It’s kind of been a spot that I’ve always been…
ESKO, Minn.- As the Esko baseball team defends its 2023 section and state titles, Finn Furcht will no doubt do his part on the mound. “I’ve been pitching probably since about third grade. I got into it, then I just loved it ever since,” smiled Furcht. “The fastball is my go-to pitch, but I overlay it with the curveball a…
HIBBING, Minn.- In her five years of pitching for the Hibbing Bluejackets, Aune Boben has proven to be a problem for opposing batters. “I’d say sometimes I like to mess with people. That sounds weird.” Boben smiled as she described her strategy on the mound. “I start it off something kind of strong, try to get a strike. And then…
PROCTOR, Minn.- After being a key contributor to Proctor’s 2023 Section 7AA title, Anika Burke has only gotten better this year as a senior leader with the Rails. With six home runs on the season, Burke has proven to be the strongest hitter in Proctor’s lineup. She also has a strong opinion on Bigfoot, of all things, which stems from…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- From the perspective of Isaac Fugere, time has flown by in the last four years playing baseball at UW-Superior. “It’s definitely different being an older guy that people kind of look at as just the older guy that has been there.” However, the First-Team All-UMAC selection is taking things in stride as a senior leader for the Yellowjackets….
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Marshall baseball is getting the most they’ve ever gotten from Carter Boos, who’s in his sixth year playing for the high school team. “I think just the vibes in the dugout have been ‘We’re one unit,’ and we(‘ve) got to go win games together.” Boos has developed into a dependable hitter, a dangerous pitcher, and a…
DULUTH, Minn.- On a team full of general newcomers to the sport of lacrosse, Ella Brisbois brings some uncommon experience to the Duluth Wolfpack. “She’s a really good shooter,” says teammate Grace Karakas. “She’s really confident on the field so it helps a lot. She’s a good passer and she just knows what she’s doing out there.” For Karakas, lacrosse…
DULUTH, Minn.- As UMD’s women’s tennis season came to a close on Saturday, so did Shay Callaway’s four-year run on the court with the Bulldogs. “I think that these four years have been some of the best years of my life,” Callaway said during her final practice with UMD. “And the people that I’ve met on this team are some…
DULUTH, Minn- Duluth East’s baseball team is chock full of returning starters in their lineup, including Augustana-commit and versatile defender Bjorn Lind. “I’m definitely a lot stronger, faster, more physical and (I’ve) grown a couple inches.” says Lind, who has a lot of reasons to why he loves baseball. “I would say going into the field every day with your…
DULUTH, Minn.- After suffering a torn meniscus and a partial ACL tear in December, Duluth Denfeld’s Aidan Altona returned to the court in last week’s Iron Range Senior All-Star Game. Altona was set to have an earth-shaking season with the Hunters in 2023-24. But after going up for a shot block in their season opener, everything changed when he landed…
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…
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.- 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…
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…
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…
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.- Entering this season, the UMD women had some huge skates to fill following the departure of their three captains. With the postseason in sight, it’s now clear that Mannon McMahon was the right woman for the job. “It definitely was a little daunting, just knowing that it is such a big role and such a big opportunity,” says…
PROCTOR, Minn.- Last week, Proctor’s AJ Reyelts put himself in rare company for high school goaltenders when he recorded his 1,000th save. “Ever since the Christmas tournament, we’ve been firing,” says Reyelts. “The team feels great. I mean, we’ve been winning a lot, so that’s always fun.” When Reyelts is in front of the net, life is good for the…
ASHLAND, Wis.- Madison Burns may get pre-match jitters, but once the clock begins to tick, her opponents are the ones who start to get nervous. “She gets mad at me because sometimes I don’t let her pin girls right away…I make her wrestle a little bit.” Ashland Wrestling Head Coach Joe Hasskamp has mentored Burns throughout her burgeoning career, including…
CHERRY, Minn.- The Cherry boys basketball team always seems to amass large crowds whenever they play on the road. Even if those fans aren’t Tigers fans, it’s clear they’re there to see Isaac Asuma. “It’s just a blessing,” says Asuma. “I’m thankful for it. I know it’s a big weight to carry but it’s just a great experience.” As he…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- On Monday, the Superior boys basketball team put on a show in their 54-40 win over Hudson. However, the play of the game didn’t happen on the hardwood. The Spartans’ “Shoot Out Childhood Cancer” night raised money for the St. Luke’s Foundation, as well as for Amelia, who’s a student at Cooper Elementary School currently battling acute Lymphoblastic…
PORT WING, Wis.- The South Shore girls basketball team has produced some of the best players to ever come out of the state of Wisconsin. Emily Montgomery may soon join that list. Last season, Montgomery etched herself in South Shore basketball history when she scored her 1,000th point. “It was surreal, honestly. The energy was insane.” Five years before that…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Boys’ Swim & Dive team has faced adversity this season following the graduation of All-American Grant Wodny. “Very big shoes to fill…Impossible shoes to fill, really.” smiles Travis Elling, a senior with the swim team. “With all the previous seniors leaving, it feels like it’s my time to shine and step up. I try and set…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior girls hockey team is well on their way to returning to the state tournament. Team captain Autumn Cooper has had an immeasurable impact on the Spartans’ success, and she’s hoping to do a little bit more before she heads to Bemidji State. On a Saturday afternoon, the Spartans took the ice on the same day as…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Anyone who’s been to a UW-Superior women’s basketball game this season is well aware that Elise Besonen has been given the green light to shoot the ball. “I know that if she doesn’t pass it to me, she’s making it for sure,” smiled Katie Dobson, both a teammate and roommate of Elise’s. “She’s one that’s not selfish, but…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- The Grand Rapids boys’ hockey team is undergoing some changes with Grant Clafton as their new head coach. One thing that hasn’t changed: Bauer Murphy imposing his will on the defensive side of the puck. The Thunderhawks’ season got off to an electric start in their home-opening win against Hibbing-Chisholm. “That was really awesome,” recalls Murphy. “It…
DULUTH, Minn.- On a team full of playmakers, sharpshooters, and athletic specimens, Duluth Denfeld’s Dashawn Moore has found a way to make his presence known. “I bring the energy and it just feeds off,” says Moore. “We’re going to ball out, we’re going to do what we’re supposed to do.” As a football player at heart, Moore brings the same kind…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Marshall girls hockey team will once again be in contention for the Section 7A championship with senior Ilsa Lindaman leading the Hilltoppers onto the ice. “Obviously as a senior captain, you have to take on a little bit of responsibility, provide for those points, and then also you have to be sure that it’s definitely a…
MOUNTAIN BUHL, Minn.- After winning their first-ever Class A State Championship, Jordan Zubich and her Mountain Iron-Buhl teammates are now in title defense mode. “Just going out the way we did last season, I think it added like extra motivation to come back this year,” says Zubich, who averaged a team-high 26.5 points per game in 2022-23. “(Winning state is)…
ESKO, Minn.- The Esko football team is likely still feeling the pain of Saturday’s state quarterfinals loss to Annandale, but with Jacion Owens returning as their starting quarterback, they should once again be contenders in 2024. “I feel like coming out here and having a good mood helps everyone get through practice,” says Owens, who started practice sharing his Aaron Rodgers…
DULUTH, Minn.- This Saturday will mark the end of St. Scholastica’s football season. Standing at 2-7 overall, things haven’t gone the Saints’ way this fall, but one of their defensive captains is committed to turning CSS around in 2024. “After each week, we’ve gotta take a look in the mirror and make sure we’re getting better and fixing the mistakes…
ESKO, Minn.- Esko’s class of 2024 has produced several students who will go on to play college athletics. That includes Kyra Johnson, who will play volleyball for Gustavus Adolphus next fall. Johnson hasn’t been shy of sharing her admiration for both volleyball and her Esko teammates. “This season has been so much fun with all of them,” she says while…
CLOQUET, Minn.- The Minnesota Wilderness have been nearly unstoppable in the last three weeks, and that has a lot to do with Ashton Dahms and his knack for getting to the net. “I came in here knowing that I was going to have to produce, and I think I just stepped up to the plate and everything’s gone well so…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The UWS men’s soccer recently went on a seven-game win streak — six of which ended in shutouts. On a team full of playmakers, it may be difficult for one single player to stand out from the crowd. Enter Alex Hanson. Countless athletes from around the world have played at Superior’s NBC Spartan Sports Complex, but few share…
