Sports

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.

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…

Vikings Fans Flood Grandma’s to Watch Wild Card Game

Dozens of fans cheered on the Vikes.

DULUTH, Minn.- Grandma’s Sports Garden was alive with dozens of fans as they cheered on the Vikings to win against the Saints Sunday. Fans whooped and hollered, flooding the Sports Garden floor with purple and yellow. Whether they were cheering wildly or groaning at some bad calls, they were all united in their love of SKOL. “We got a lot…

Bulldogs Basketball Sweeps Golden Eagles to Stay Undefeated at Home

The UMD women pick up its 11th straight win and stay perfect in NSIC play while the men used a big first half to stay perfect at Romano Gym.

DULUTH, Minn. – Both UMD basketball teams picked up wins over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday as both squads stay undefeated at Romano Gym this season. The women’s game came down to the wire but UMD was able to hang on for the 68-67 win to pick up its 11th straight win and stay perfect in NSIC play. Brooke Olson led…

Prep Boys Basketball: Oredockers, Spartans Win at Lake Superior Conference Day

Both Ashland and Superior used big second halves to get the wins on Saturday. Duluth Denfeld and Duluth East won the other two games at Lake Superior Conference Day.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior High School was home to Lake Superior Conference Day on Saturday, where both Ashland and Superior used big second halves to get wins. Ashland got the 74-69 win over Duluth Marshall, while the hosts Superior got a 71-63 win over Hermantown. In the other games on Saturday, Duluth Denfeld edged out Proctor 61-53 while Duluth East…

UMD Women’s Hockey Advances to Minnesota Cup Final

Gabbie Hughes finished with two goals on the night, including the one during 3-on-3 overtime to send the Bulldogs to the Minnesota Cup Final.

DULUTH, Minn. – Gabbie Hughes scored her second goal of the night during 3-on-3 overtime to send the No. 10 UMD women’s hockey team to the Minnesota Cup Final. UMD’s first round game against Minnesota State-Mankato officially goes down as a 2-2 tie, but the Bulldogs are headed to the cup final with the win in 3-on-3 overtime. Hughes finished…

UMD Men’s Hockey Holds Outdoor Practice at Glen Avon Rink

After a light practice, the Bulldogs invited young fans onto the ice with them to practice and skate around.

DULUTH, Minn. – After sweeeping Merrimack College to end 2019 on Sunday and Monday, the No. 10 UMD men’s hockey team is off this weekend. So on Saturday morning, the Bulldogs had a bit of a different, more relaxed practice, and hit the outdoor rinks at Glen Avon. After a light practice, the Bulldogs invited the kids watching onto the…

Coaches Corner: Rhett McDonald

For this week's segment, we hear from the head coach of the Duluth East boys basketball team.

DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with Duluth East boys basketball coach Rhett McDonald about his team’s great start to the season. McDonald also talked about the rivalry that has developed between the Greyhounds and his father’s team Cambridge-Isanti. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports

Prep Boys Hockey: Hawks Tie With Crusaders, Hunters Pick Up Home Win

Kade Shea would score the go-ahead goal for the Hunters as they topped Bloomington Kennedy.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – The Hermantown boys hockey team scored four goals in the opening period, but St. Cloud Cathedral would battle back to score three in the final frame as the game finished in a 5-5 tie Friday night at the Hermantown Ice Arena. UMD commit Blake Biondi scored twice for the Hawks, while Beau Janzig, Aydyn Dowd and Zach…

UMD Basketball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Bemidji State to Stay Undefeated at Home

The Bulldogs women stay perfect in NSIC play while the men snap a two-game losing skid.

DULUTH, Minn. – The UMD women’s basketball team stayed perfect in NSIC play on Friday with a 62-41 win over Bemidji State to win its 10th straight. Brooke Olson led all scorers with 15 points and six rebounds while Sarah Grow chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds and seven blocks. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field…

Cardinals Girls Basketball Roll Past Mariners at Home

Cromwell-Wright picked up a big win at home over Silver Bay on Friday night.

CROMWELL, Minn. – Taya Hakamaki finished with a game-high 22 points as the Cromwell-Wright girls basketball team knocked off Silver Bay 67-18 Friday night. Shaily Hakamaki chipped in with 12 points for the Cardinals, who get their ninth win in a row to improve to 9-1 on the season. Cromwell-Wright will be back in action Thursday as they host Two…

Duluth East’s Macy Hermanson Commits to CSS Women’s Basketball

The senior is coming off a season-high 18 points against Rocori.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth East’s Macy Hermanson announced Thursday on Twitter that she has committed to joining the St. Scholastica women’s basketball team. Hermanson is currently averaging just under 12 points per game and is coming off a season-high 18 points against Rocori. She is one of only three seniors on the Greyhounds girls basketball team. Categories: College, High School,…

Ready, Set, Mush! Trail Talk with Musher Ryan Redington

Active Adventures: Mushing with Alaska Native Ryan Redington

DULUTH, Minn. – Have you ever wanted to bundle up and give sled dog mushing a try? Meteorologist Brittney Merlot recently caught up with musher Ryan Redington for this week’s Active Adventures. Redington will be mushing in this year’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon taking place January 27 – 30 along Minnesota’s North Shore. The Alaska native says he’s very excited…

UMD Women’s Hockey Set to Host 2020 Minnesota Cup

Along with the Bulldogs will be MSU Mankato, St. Cloud State and Bemidji State.

DULUTH, Minn. – Four of the five Division I women’s hockey teams in the state will make their way to Amsoil Arena this weekend for the second annual Minnesota Cup tournament. This year’s installment will feature the hosts UMD, as well as Minnesota State Mankato, St. Cloud State and Bemidji State, all teams that the Bulldogs have faced in the…

Prep Girls Basketball: Home Wins Thursday Night for Eskomos, Rails

The Esko and Proctor girls basketball teams started the new year with home wins.

ESKO, Minn. – A strong second half would push the Esko girls basketball team past Moose Lake-Willow River 72-50 Thursday night, while Proctor got the best of Cloquet 76-24. The Eskomos and Rails will meet up Monday night in Esko for the first time this season. Categories: High School, Sports

CEC Boys Hockey Fall at Home to Wildcats

A two-goal second period for Eagan would be the difference on Thursday night.

CLOQUET, Minn. – Kyle Siiter and Jake Huhta would find the back of the net, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team fell at home to Eagan 3-2 Thursday night at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena. A two-goal second period would be the difference for the Wildcats as they pick up the road win over the…

Cloquet Native Dylan Lauer Talks Shutdown of St. Cloud State Football Program

Lauer was one of over 80 student-athletes impacted by the folding of the football team.

CLOQUET, Minn. – Three weeks ago, St. Cloud State sent shockwaves through the Division II college sports world as they folded multiple sports programs due to budget cuts and compliance with a Title IX ruling back in August. Among those cut was the Huskies football team, a decision that impacted over 80 student athletes, including Cloquet native Dylan Lauer. “Some…

Ringing in the New Year Outdoors in the Northland

With most people enjoying the day off of work, some spent the holiday outside.

DULUTH, Minn. – With most people enjoying the day off of work, some spent the holiday outside. FOX 21 photojournalist Marcus Asmus caught up with outdoor enthusiasts at the Hartley Nature Center in Duluth. Categories: Features, Great Outdoors, News

Greyhounds Boys Hockey Fall at Home to Cougars

Duluth East falls to 5-5 on the season.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth East boys hockey team struggled at home on the last day of 2019, as Lakeville South got the 8-0 win on Tuesday. The Greyhounds fall to 5-5. Duluth East will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 3 at Stillwater and will return home on Monday, Jan. 6 against Duluth Denfeld. Categories: High School, Sports

Wilderness Pick Up Home Win on New Years Eve

Hermantown native Tyler Watkins scored twice for the Wilderness in the win.

CLOQUET, Minn. – The Minnesota Wilderness got off to a fast start and held on late to get the 5-3 over the St. Cloud Blizzard in their annual New Years Eve game. Tyler Watkins scored twice while Mitch Allard, Jonathan Morrison and Alec Cokley all scored once for the Wilderness. Kaleb Johnson finished with 28 saves. The Wilderness will be…

UMD Women’s Basketball Looking to Stay Perfect in Conference Play After Holiday Break

The Bulldogs are currently 6-0 in NSIC play and will host Bemidji State on Friday night and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday afternoon.

DULUTH, Minn. – The holidays are over for most college athletes as teams are returning to practice to get ready for upcoming games. After eight days off, the UMD women’s basketball team hit the court on Monday to start preparing for the second half of the season. After finishing non-conference play at .500, the Bulldogs got things together for NSIC…

UMD Men’s Hockey Ends 2019 With Non-Conference Sweep of Merrimack

Cole Koepke and Justin Richards both scored their second goals of the weekend as the Bulldogs improve to 5-5 in non-conference play.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 10 Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team closed out the decade in a big way, getting the 5-1 win over Merrimack College to sweep the road series and improve to 5-5 in non-conference play. Cole Koepke scored his second goal of the weekend in a personal-best three-point afternoon. Justin Richards also scored his second goal…

College Women’s Basketball: Yellowjackets Sweep Superior Shootout Holiday Classic; Saints Fall to Lions

Marissa Ruiz and Eva Reinertsen led the way with 14 points each for UWS while Karli Skog led St. Scholastica with 15 points.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The hosts Wisconsin-Superior women’s basketball team dominated on the final day of the Superior Shootout Holiday Classic, getting the 83-45 win over Waldorf on Monday afternoon. Marissa Ruiz and Eva Reinertsen led the way with 14 points each, while Pashia Scott chipped in with 12 points for the Yellowjackets. UWS (7-5) will return to action on Wednesday,…

Northern Star: Grace Kirk

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

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…

College Women’s Basketball: Saints, Yellowjackets Win on First Day of Superior Shootout Holiday Classic

The St. Scholastica and Wisconsin-Superior women's basketball teams picked up wins on day one of the Superior Shootout Holiday Classic.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – On the first day of the Superior Shootout Holiday Classic, the St. Scholastica women overcame a slow start to get the 68-51 win over Waldorf, while the hosts Wisconsin-Superior women used a big fourth quarter to top Finlandia 64-55. In the first game of the day, the Warriors led the Saints after the first quarter, but the…

Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey Skates to 4-4 Tie, Marian Wins Superior Showdown in Shootout

Cloquet native Dylan Johnson scored two goals for the Yellowjackets.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Wisconsin-Superior men’s hockey team continued to battle back, but in the end, Marian won the 2019 Superior Showdown in a 1-0 shootout win. Dylan Johnson finished with two goals for the Yellowjackets, including the first goal and the last goal with just 30 seconds remaining to force overtime. Troy York and Artur Terchiyev scored the other…

Bulldogs Men’s Hockey Scores Four Unanswered to Top Merrimack College

Down 1-0 in the second, Cole Koepke scored shorthanded to start the comeback and give UMD the win.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 10 UMD men’s hockey team returned from the holiday break in a big way, getting the 4-1 road win over Merrimack College in the series opener. After being off for three weeks, but Bulldogs took some time to get going and went down 1-0 early in the second. The Bulldogs then scored four unanswered…

Yellowjackets Men’s Hockey Hangs On Late to Win Superior Showdown Opener

Andrew Durham and Troy York scored early to give UWS a 2-0 lead after the first period.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Wisconsin-Superior men’s hockey team jumped out to an early lead and then held on late to get the 2-1 win over Tufts and advance to the Superior Showdown championship game. Andrew Durham and Troy York scored for the Yellowjackets in the first period. Oscar Svensson finished with 21 saves. UWS will play Marian in the Superior…

Prep Boys Hockey: Hunters Win Heritage Holiday Classic in Overtime; Hilltoppers, Hawks End Holiday Classic With Wins

Griffin Lehet scored the game-winner in overtime for Duluth Denfeld.

DULUTH, Minn. – Griffin Lehet scored the game-winner in overtime as Duluth Denfeld rallied back to get the 2-1 win over Owatonna to win the Heritage Holiday Classic. Kade Shea scored the other goal for the Hunters early in the third period. Duluth Denfeld (9-2-1) will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 3 hosting Bloomington Kennedy. At the final…

Hawks Girls Basketball Takes Home Third Place at Esko Coaches Classic

Hermantown improves to 9-1 on the season.

ESKO, Minn. – The Hermantown girls basketball team bounced back in a big win on Saturday, getting the 56-35 win over hosts Esko to take home third place at the Esko Coaches Classic. Hermantown improves to 9-1 and will be back in action on Jan. 7 at home hosting Duluth East, while Esko (7-4) will host Moose Lake-Willow River on…

Prep Boys Hockey: Hunters, Hawks Win Holiday Classic Games, Hilltoppers Fall at Home

Griffin Lehet lifted Duluth Denfeld past Roseville in the second round of the Heritage Holiday Inn Classic, while Hermantown domianted Fort Frances in the second day of the Hilltopper Holiday Classic.

DULUTH, Minn. – Griffin Lehet finished with a hat trick as the Duluth Denfeld boys hockey team got the 6-2 win over Roseville in the second round of the Heritage Holiday Inn Classic. The Hunters will take on Owatonna in the championship game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. In the Hilltopper Holiday Classic at Mars Lakeview Arena, Hermantown dominated Fort…

Prep Girls Basketball: Lumberjacks, Hawks Fall in Holiday Classics

Hermantown suffered its first loss of the season, while Cloquet lost at home in the first day of the Wood City Classic.

ESKO, Minn. – The Hermantown girls basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, as St. Anthony Village got the 62-58 win in the second round of the Esko Coaches Classic. The Hawks (8-1) will play hosts Esko in the third place game on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. In the first day of the Wood City Classic in Cloquet,…

Coaches Corner: Stephanie Erickson

For this week's Coaches Corner, we sat down with Duluth Marshall girls hockey head coach Stephanie Erickson.

DULUTH, Minn. -For this week’s Coaches Corner, we sat down with Duluth Marshall girls hockey head coach Stephaine Erickson to talk about the start of the season and what it will take to get the Hilltoppers back to the section 7A title game. Duluth Marshall will be back in action on Saturday against Warroad and will be back home on…

Proctor Basketball’s Sam Parendo Commits to Wisconsin-Superior

Parendo will head across the bridge to play at the collegiate level next season.

PROCTOR, Minn. – Proctor girls basketball senior guard Sam Parendo has decided to stay close to home for college and committed to playing college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Parendo holds the record for all-time assists at Proctor and has been a key part of the team’s offense, where she helped lead the Rails to the state tournament last…

Superior’s Jarrett Gronski Commits to Bemidji State University

The Big Rivers Conference Offensive Player of the Year led the Spartans to the state semifinals for the first time since 1990.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior quarterback Jarrett Gronski announced on Twitter on Thursday that he has committed to play college football at Bemidji State University. Gronski pulled off multiple impressive comebacks while leading the Spartans to the state semifinals this past season. In 13 games, Gronski completed 42 passes for 753 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 57.9 passing yards per game….

Denfeld Takes Game One of the Heritage Holiday Inn Classic

The Denfeld Hunters beat the Depere, WI Voyageurs 5-3.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Heritage Holiday Inn Classic high school hockey tournament kicked off on Thursday at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center. The Denfeld Hunters took on the Depere, WI Voyageurs. Denfeld ended up winning 5-3 they take on Roseville on Friday night at 7 p.m.. Categories: High School, Sports

UMD Looking to Pick Up Non-Conference Wins This Weekend

The Bulldogs stressed in a press conference Thursday that they are looking to change their losing non-conference record which stands at 3-5.

DULUTH, Minn. – With 22 days between games for the holidays UMD men’s hockey is back and prepping for this weekends clash with Merrimack College. The players got some much needed break and most got to go home and see their families. The Bulldogs stressed in a press conference Thursday that they are looking to change their losing non-conference record…

Hawks Prevail Over Warriors in First Day of Hilltopper Classic

Hermantown beats Brainerd 4-1.

DULUTH, Minn. – After having the day off for Christmas, the Hermantown Hawks were back in action at the Hilltopper Holiday Classic at Mars Lakeview Arena. Captain Blake Biondi scored two goals in the second including a short-handed goal. The win puts the Hawks to 7-1-1 on the season. They will play Fort Frances on Friday at 4:30 in the…

Mini Mushers at the Secret Forest Playschool

GREAT OUTDOORS: Ryan Redington Takes Preschoolers Mushing

DULUTH, Minn. — Dog sledding was widely used by those traveling from village to village along the north shore and later by mail carriers. One legendary mail carrier in particular, John Beargrease, is still recognized and honored here today. With the Beargrease race just weeks away, in this weeks great outdoors Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot takes us mushing with a…

Duluth Marshall Hockey Looking to Holiday Tournament to Bounce Back

The holiday classic gives Marshall a chance to get plenty of experience with teams they would not normally play.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Marshall is hosting its annual Hilltopper Holiday Classic hockey tournament at Mars Lakeview Arena. The tournament is drawing six teams from as far away as Fort Frances in Canada to compete. Other teams featured will be Hermantown, Brainerd, Burnsville, and Buffalo. The holiday classic gives Marshall a chance to get plenty of experience with teams they…

Hermantown Hockey’s Christmas Eve Alumni Game Brings Together Decades of Tradition

A family is how many have described the hockey community in Hermantown, and this is just another way the Hermantown community continues its traditions.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown is all about hockey, many years of tradition is on display each Christmas Even when alumni come back to take on the current varsity team. “We have Division-oners playing with guys that never played a day after high school and it’s just great to see everybody and it just keeps the community going that hockey community…

UMD Women’s Hockey Coach Maura Crowell Making History

With Scott Sandelin coaching the World Juniors team, it marks the first time two head coaches from the same school will be coaching national teams at the same time.

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD women’s hockey coach Maura Crowell will be far from home this Christmas. She is coaching the US Womens U-18 team at the IIHF World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia. Along with the honor of coaching the team for the second straight year, she is making history as well because Bulldog’s men’s hockey coach Scott Sandelin will be…

Northern Star: Braelyn Sathers

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

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…

Prep Boys Hockey: Hawks and Greyhounds Nab Big Wins

Hermantown and Duluth East both beat tough teams on Saturday.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – The 5-1-1 Hermantown Hawks boys hockey team hosted last year’s state third place finisher Mahtomedi in a big matchup. The Zephyrs had a record of 7-1 coming into the game. Hawks would dominate the Zephyrs 9-2. Hermantown captain Blake Biondi helps his team out and scores his eleventh and twelfth goals of the season as well. Meanwhile…

Prep Boys Basketball: Friday Night Wins for Eskomos, Blue Devils, Hilltoppers

Esko and Duluth Marshall earn wins at home, while Virginia hangs on for the road win over Proctor.

ESKO, Minn. – James LaGarde and Payton Wefel combined to score 31 points as the Esko boys basketball team knocked off Two Harbors 76-35 Friday night. In other boys action, Virginia picked up a close road win over Proctor 68-65 and Duluth Marshall ran past Lakeview Christian Academy 92-35. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports

Coaches Corner: Greg Polkowski

For this week's segment, we catch up with the head coach of the UWS men's basketball team.

DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Coaches Corner, we spoke with UWS men’s basketball coach Greg Polkowski about his team’s hot start to the season. The Yellowjackets are 6-4 on the season, including a perfect 4-0 in the UMAC. They’ll be back in action next weekend for the Nicolet National Bank Holiday tournament in De Pere, WI. Categories: Coaches Corner,…

Hilltoppers Girls Hockey Fall to Red Knights at Home

Duluth Marshall could not get on the board against the Red Knights.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Marshall girls hockey team had no answers for Benilde-St. Margaret’s as the Red Knights blanked the Hilltoppers 4-0 Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena. Mary Zavoral scored twice, while Lily Mortenson and Sophie Melsness also scored for the Red Knights. The Hilltoppers fall to 5-5 on the season as they will host Minneapolis on Saturday….

Jingle Bells For A Good Cause

ACTIVE ADVENTURES: Volunteer Salvation Army Bell Ringing Taken To The Next Level

DULUTH, Minn. — In this weeks Active Adventures Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot and Brett Scott donated their time to help the less fortunate this holiday season. Volunteering to bell ring for Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive at Mount Royal turned out to be a fun experience, check it out. Brittney Merlot wanted to take it to the next level with…