DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD volleyball team is once again ranked nationally in the first preseason poll of the season. The Bulldogs come in at #6 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. UMD has been ranked in every AVCA poll since September 10th, 2002, a stretch of 233 consecutive polls, the longest active streak in Division II. The…
ESKO, Minn. – The annual Polar League Volleyball Jamboree took place Tuesday at Esko High School. Among the teams taking part were the Carlton volleyball team, fresh off being ranked ninth in Class A. These scrimmages will be important as the Bulldogs will open their season next week. “They’re important to see. The kids get a little opportunity to have…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The UMAC football preseason coaches poll was released Tuesday and the Saints come in at the number four spot. Most notable from the list is that CSS did receive one first-place vote. Defending conference champs Martin Luther occupy the top spot in the poll. The Saints will open their season with a non-conference game Saturday September…
DULUTH, Minn. – Last week, St. Scholastica announced their new director of athletics would be Franco Bari, who spent over a decade at St. Lawrence University in New York. Tuesday, he spoke with the media for the first time and talked about how the Saints were able to lure him away from his alma mater. “I just think that overall…
DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD volleyball team is officially back on the court getting ready for the 2019 season. The Bulldogs had another successful season last year and while they only lost two players, those will be two big holes to fill. The Bulldogs are returning four of their starters and 14 total players from last year, where they won…
PROCTOR, Minn. – Proctor girls basketball guard Sam Pogatchnik announced on twitter Monday that she has committed to Bemidji State University. Pogatchnik was one of the standouts on Proctor last season, scoring 21 points in the section final that helped lead the Rails to the state tournament for the first time since 2002. Pogatchnik is the second Rail to commit…
DULUTH, Minn. – Superior native and CSS alum Kevin Ritsche has been named the new head coach of the Saints baseball team. Ritsche takes over for his former teammate Corey Kemp, who led the Saints for the past 10 seasons and stepped down at the end of May. Ritsche played for the saints from 2001 to 2004, overlapping with Kemp…
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…
DULUTH, Minn. -The St. Scholastica soccer team opened fall practice on Saturday and are having two practices a day to start the 2019 season. The Saints lost six seniors last year but are bringing in a recruiting class of over 20 players this season, so these early days of practice consists of a lot of the basics, bonding and getting…
PROCTOR, Minn. – Proctor girls basketball center Katelyn Marunich announced on Twitter over the weekend that she has verbally committed to Southwest Minnesota State. On a team that did not feature a senior on the roster, Marunich started most games for the Rails last season, and was one of the top scorers during the regular season. The rising senior also…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The UWS women’s soccer team finished last season on an impressive run in the UMAC Tournament. Now, as the Yellowjackets held their first day of practice on Saturday, they are hoping to build on that success and are ready to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. “We’re no longer the underdogs. People know who we are now…
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team ended 2018 with a 6–4 record under an interim head coach. In December, then-Athletic Director Brian Jamros promoted offensive coordinator Mike Heffernan to head coach. “I’m not sure if it’s hit me yet that I’m actually the head coach, it doesn’t feel that way, but I’m sure there’s plenty more to come,”…
DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth has announced a two-year contract extension for head football coach Curt Wiese. The deal will keep him on the sidelines through the 2022–2023 season. Wiese is in his 12th year with the UMD football program and seventh as the head coach. In that time, he has led the Bulldogs to a 63–12…
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Wisconsin-Superior women’s hockey standout Ashley Birdsall has signed a deal with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League. The Duluth native, who is about to complete her ninth year of service with the Minnesota Army National Guard, also spent time with the Minnesota Whitecaps for three seasons before they joined the NWHL. Birdsall had…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The NSIC released their preseason coaches poll for women’s soccer Wednesday morning and UMD locks down the #8 spot on the list. Minnesota State-Mankato, who are ranked #25 in the country, were picked to win the conference. The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2018 that saw them win just seven matches. Among the…
DULUTH, Minn. – Four months ago, then-CSS athletic director Brian Jamros stepped down from his position after two years with the Saints. And today, CSS announced who will be taking over. Franco Bari will take over effective August 19th. Bari comes from his alma mater St. Lawrence University in New York where he was director of athletics since 2012. He…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown’s Peter Soumis announced on his Twitter account Monday that he has committed to playing college basketball at UMD. The Hawks point guard averaged just over 19 points per game during his junior year last season, helping Hermantown finish with a 16–10 record, including 7–3 within Section 7AAA. Two years ago as a sophomore, Soumis scored 15…
DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD football team held their first official practice for the upcoming fall season Monday at Malosky Stadium. And coming off an undefeated regular season, the Bulldogs are extra hype for 2019. “It couldn’t have come sooner. We busted our butts all summer and I know the guys were itching to get our here. I was itching…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The UMD volleyball team is getting high praise from the NSIC. The Bulldogs are tied for second in the preseason coaches poll. UMD shares the #2 spot with Concordia St.-Paul, while Northern State comes in at the top spot. Emily Balts was named to the list of NSIC Players to Watch for the 2019 season which will…
DULUTH, Minn. – Max Guzman came to Duluth a month into the Northwoods League season, looking forward to getting this opportunity. “I got a call from Marcus telling me to come play summer ball. I thought it was a good opportunity, better than staying home, and could come out here, get some live at–bats and just getting ready for the…
DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and UMD hockey star and current Boston Bruins forward Karson Kuhlman. The Esko native talked about his last year of playing hockey that saw him win an NCAA championship with the Bulldogs, as well as score a goal for the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Categories:…
DULUTH, Minn. – Football season is upon us, but don’t forget that soccer action is right around the corner as well. And some of the best local high school players spent this week with some of the best in the college game. The St. Scholastica men’s soccer team held a special high school prep camp this week up at Saints…
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The NSIC preseason football coaches poll was released Wednesday and UMD was picked to win the North Division once again. Since the NSIC began divisional play back in 2008, the Bulldogs have won at least a share of all 11 North Division championships. However, the top overall spot went to Minnesota State-Mankato, who shared the conference title…
CLOQUET, Minn. – The Minnesota Wilderness have announced that assistant coach Jon Vaillancourt has been promoted to head coach of the team. General manager Dave Boitz, who served as head coach this past season, will remain in his role saying in a press release that the team decide “it was best for the organization and our players to have a…
DULUTH, Minn. – As a Duluth native and Duluth East grad, joining the huskies was a surreal moment for infielder Joey Zwak. “It’s always in the back of your mind, when you come here as a little kid, when you’re 5 or 6 years old, you watch a game with your parents, have a hot dog. It’s like, oh, maybe…
DULUTH, Minn. -The Northwoods League announced on Saturday morning that the Duluth Huskies violated a roster rule, which has changed their second half record and the Great Plains East Division Standings. The Huskies had their last five wins removed, but the wins will not change to loses. All other statistics will be the same, except for wins loses and saves…
DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend, some of the brightest and best youth girls hockey players will get to learn from some of the best in the game at UMD. The Bulldogs women’s hockey team held their annual summer camp at Amsoil Arena. The girls came from all over the country, including seven different states and a even few from Canada….
DULUTH, Minn. – The Huskies used another big night at the plate to sweep a pivotal series against the Eau Claire Express, who won the Great Plains East first half division, winning Friday’s game 12-7. Nico Lima went 4-for-5 with four runs scored while Collin Hopkins went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs. Ricky Reynoso was strong on the mound,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies extended their lead in the Great Plains East division on Thursday, defeating the Eau Claire Express 9-1, taking a one and a half game lead over La Crosse for the second half title. The Huskies used a five run third inning to seal the win over the Express. Noah Marcelo hit a bases clearing…
DULUTH, Minn. – Max Guzman and Alex Tappen would each hit three-run home runs as the Duluth Huskies knock off La Crosse 11-5 Wednesday night at Wade Stadium. Aaron Greenfield also chipped in with three hits on the night, while Colton Williams pitched six shutout innings, allowing just five hits and striking out four. Huskies will be back at home…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, a group of local squirt hockey players got the special opportunity to learn from not one, but two former UMD stars who both currently play in the NHL. Hermantown native Neal Pionk and Esko native Karson Kuhlman are teaming up this week for a Bulldogs hockey squirts camp. The idea for this camp was brought…
DULUTH, Minn. – Travis Booth was stellar on the mound, but it was all for naught as the Duluth Huskies drop a close one to La Crosse 2-1 Tuesday night at Wade Stadium. Booth struck out seven batters while allowing four hits in eight innings of work. Matt Hogan knocked in the lone run for the Huskies, who will look…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies’ play as of late has reminded a lot of people of last year’s team. One of those people is outfielder Kyle Jacobsen, who has re–joined the Huskies in the second half of the season after playing in 31 games last year. “There’s a little bit of de ja vu there. This team is really…
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite out-hitting Thunder Bay 9-7, the Duluth Huskies would strand too many runners as they take the home loss against the Border Cats 7-3 Friday night at Wade Stadium. Channy Ortiz and Kyle Jacobsen each had two hits for the Huskies, who will look to bounce back Saturday night as they open a three-game road series against…
DULUTH, Minn. – UMD hockey players from the past and present traded in their sticks and pucks for clubs and golf balls as they took part in the annual alumni golf outing at the Ridgeview Country Club. 75 former Bulldogs showed up to the event for a relaxing day on the links. For former players, it was a chance to…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Superior High School announced their 2019 Hall of Fame class which includes former basketball standout Hailey Kontny. She is the second-leading scorer in school history and continued her strong play at the Universtiy of Wisconsin-Superior, winning UMAC Player of the Year honors three years in a row. Kontny now serves on the Spartans coaching staff with her…
DULUTH, Minn. – The dreams of becoming a St. Scholastica football player began Thursday up at Saints Field as the team held their annual youth football camp. The campers aged five to 13 were put through several drills that focus on skills like ball security and agility. The goal of the camp is to not only teach the fundamentals of…
WINNIPEG, Ontario – The Winnipeg Jets announced this weekend that they have signed Hermantown native Neal Pionk to a two-year deal with an average annual value of three million dollars. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Rangers back on June 17th after scoring 26 points in 73 games in the Big Apple. The former UMD star spent two seasons with…
DULUTH, Minn. – Outfielder Alex Tappen just wrapped up his sophomore season at the University of Virginia, a team that’s become a premiere program in Division I over the past two decades. “They’re a great baseball program and everything the coaches have done there is incredible and that was probably one of the main draws. And also the academic side…
DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD men’s basketball team is back in Romano Gym this week, getting an early start to the season and some practices in before the team goes to play three games in Costa Rica next week. The NCAA allows college basketball programs to go on an international trip every four years, but it is still less common…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Huskies pounded out 15 hits Friday night to top Thunder Bay 11-4 to sweep the two-game set and pick up their seventh straight win. Both Alex Tappen and Danny Zimmerman hit home runs in the win, while Tappen was 3-for-5 at the plate. Kyle Jacobsen went 2-for 4 and drove in a run while Preston Hartsell…
DULUTH, Minn. – Former UMD men’s hockey star Rob Bordson is heading overseas to continue his pro career. The Duluth native is signing with Vasterviks IK in Sweden. Bordson was supposed to play in Austria last season, but a knee injury prevented that. The 31-year-old has also played in Germany following his time at UMD. He’ll see some familiar faces…
DULUTH, Minn. – Lance Ford drove in three runs as the Duluth Huskies got the big win over Thunder Bay 13-5 Thursday night at Wade Stadium. Nine different players scored for the Huskies, who picked up their sixth win in a row. They’ll look to sweep the Border Cats on Friday night. Categories: College, Northwoods League, Sports
DULUTH, Minn. – This week, the sounds of balls dribbling and sneakers squeaking returned to Romano Gym as several campers attended the annual Bulldogs Youth Camp, hosted by the UMD women’s basketball team. The four–day camp is designed for athletes from 3rd to 8th grade. It focuses on the basics like dribbling and ball-handling, which are crucial to learn, especially…
SUNRISE, Calif. – The Florida Panthers announced Tuesday they have signed former Duluth East and UMD men’s hockey captain Dominic Toninato to a one-year, two-way contract. Toninato was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2012, but has spent most of his career in the Colorado Avalanche organization. Toninato has played in 39 NHL games and scored his…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been an interesting season for the Duluth Huskies to say the least. After making it to game three of the Summer Collegiate World Series last year, the Huskies were unable to carry that into this season, finishing the first half 10 games under .500 and last in the Great Plains East. But a lot has changed…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies will be on break for the next few days as the 25th annual Northwoods League All-Star Game takes place night. And while some players will enjoy some much needed time off two Huskies will be participating in the festivities. Infielder Nic Kent and starting pitcher Dane Morrow were both selected as 2019 Northwoods League…
DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD football team is already making noise in the preseason. The Bulldogs are ranked 10th in the College Football America Yearbook Division II preseason poll. Minnesota State-Mankato was the only other team from the NSIC on the list as the Mavericks were ranked fifth. The Bulldogs will have 13 returning starters from last year’s team that…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Whitecaps announced Monday that they will head back to Duluth to play a preseason game against the UMD women’s hockey team. The defending Isobel Cup champs will meet the Bulldogs Saturday, September 28th at 4 p.m at Amsoil Arena. The Whitecaps played UMD in an exhibition before they started their inaugural season last year,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Team USA announced over the weekend the rosters for the Under-17 men’s select team and one Northland hockey player will be representing the United States. Grand Rapids defenseman Jack Peart made the roster after a week of development camp and games in Amherst, New York. The team will play in the Five Nations tournament in Germany August…
