Recent content from Jim Paulsen
'I always wanted this job.' Football coach hits peak with promotion.
After being an assistant coach for 19 years, Adam Spurrell is getting the chance to lead one of the metro area's traditional football powers at Maple Grove.
West metro football power finds new head coach on current staff
Maple Grove made Adam Spurrell, a member of its staff for 19 years, the Crimson's third head coach in the school's nearly 30-year history.
Who are our 25 metro softball stars (and one bonus pick, too)?
The Gophers have commitments from two of the standouts, and most of the others have already made their college choices, too.
Pitchers make the difference atop the softball Metro Top 10
In a sport in which one can be plenty, No. 1 Forest Lake has two starters who stand out.
First sanctioned boys volleyball season is set for Spring 2025
Teams begin play as a fully sanctioned MSHSL sport on March 17, 2025, with the state tournament scheduled for June 9-13.
Gold's glimmer, over and over: Meet the Metro Gymnast of the Year
St. Michael-Albertville's Jackie Bergeron wanted a state championship, and winning on any apparatus would do. She nearly won on all of them.
The Metro Wrestler of the Year: 50 wins. No losses. Will that do?
Mounds View 215-pounder Quin Morgan, son of Gophers national champion Marty Morgan, won a Class 3A individual title amid the Mustangs' best season in history.
High school sports and NIL: Bigger things are ahead for younger stars
Name, image and likeness deals are already expanding beyond college sports. Some top metro boys basketball players are aligned with a barbershop. The top girls hockey player touts a fitness center. Another high school standout represents a chain of chicken restaurants.
Transfers make major impact at boys basketball tourney — and people noticed
All four state champions — two public schools and two privates —benefited from players who transferred. That and more from the weekend.
Minnetonka starts strong and stays stern, wins Class 4A title
The Skippers took a 14-point lead in the first half, then pushed back when the Trojans threatened down the stretch.
Totino-Grace's 3A dominance leads to the opt-up question
Totino-Grace played a schedule almost entirely from 4A. Also Saturday, Cherry completed a rise from 0-22 to a state title, and Breck's Miles Newton channeled his dad.
Half of Championship Saturday is set for the boys basketball tournament
Defending champion Wayzata and Minnetonka will battle for the Class 4A championship, and Totino-Grace and Mankato East advanced to the Class 3A title game. The Class 1A semifinals are also set. Tap here for stories and in-game updates.
Day 2 at state: Rival DeLaSalle reveals Totino-Grace's true emotions
Eagles star Isaiah Johnson-Arigu conducted business as usual in a victory, while future Gophers guard Isaac Asuma and Cherry cruised in their Class 1A quarterfinal. Big man Alex Lester kept the Nevis engine running despite being gassed.
It's all right here! Wednesday's boys basketball tournament news, notes.
Eagan pulled off the biggest surprise of the quarterfinals, dropping Class 4A second seed Park Center. Tap here for game results and more from the first day of play.
We call this fun: State boys basketball opens with a 12-game day
A Wayzata sophomore spiced an early 4A quarterfinal with his passing. The 3A teams also got going before lunch, and 2A schools will take over the night.
Hopkins? Minnetonka? We know, Coach. Change can be difficult.
A superstar's gentle reminder got Brian Cosgriff back on track about which team he's coaching these days. A look back at state reveals certainty on other matters.
Minnetonka holds off Hopkins' frantic comeback to win 4A title
A tidy Tonka victory seemed to be shaping up until it pivoted to a stress-inducing exercise in uncertainty that left the outcome in doubt until the final minute.
Girls basketball reaches the peak: Among the best, who's better?
Moments of March: It's a high-powered day at state. The four championship games Saturday all involve the top two seeds, and three teams will play for consecutive titles.
Girls basketball finals schedule is mostly set and fully loaded
Moments of March: The top two seeds in Class 4A, 3A and 1A all qualified for championship games, and Providence Academy got 2A halfway there.
Rivals to battle it out for Class 4A title in girls basketball; 3A championship also set
The finals are solidified in the top two classes while the top four seeds in Class 1A advanced to the semifinals. Tap here for coverage on all of Thursday's games.
Iron Range family starred for one basketball team; next generation stars for another
Moments of March: The Lamppa family was the foundation of a small school that no longer exists. This year, the Lamppas were key to another school's state tournament run.
Big day for a first-time tournament team -- despite the final score
Moments of March: Roosevelt fans showed up in numbers for the Teddies' first state tournament game. Plus this from a coach with a unique angle: 'Caitlin [Clark] is good, but I still think Paige [Bueckers] is better.'
Girls basketball state quarterfinals: Wednesday's news and notes
The day began with top seeds Hopkins and Benilde-St. Margaret's rolling, and it wound down with Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway scoring 49 points. Tap here for stories, tournament details and more from Minneapolis.
Introducing the 'matured' girls basketball Metro Player of the Year
Hopkins' Liv McGill cast aside that "really bad attitude" — her words — but she's still L.A. Liv. When it's showtime, she shows the way.
STMA's Bergeron is honored as the first Miss Minnesota Gymnastics
The Class 2A all-around champion, Jackie Bergeron won the award created for the 50th season of high school girls competition in the state.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from the hockey semifinals
Edina and Grand Rapids revived a rivalry late in the day, giving credence to the notion that Friday is always the hottest spot in state tournament week.
Qualifiers for girls basketball state tournament come with a tale or two
Hopkins is back again, as are all of the top section seeds in Class 4A. Coaches Wendy Kohler and Mike Dreier carry special marks to state, and Jim Lien's there for the first time in his 45 years of coaching.
Minnesota boys hockey state tournament: Class 1A quarterfinals roundup
There were three one-sided games and a thriller in the nightcap of Class 1A. Tap here for all of our coverage from the X.
Behind the scenes at the boys hockey state tournament
Sights and sounds from the Xcel Energy Center include Warroad honoring Henry Boucha and a player tip on how you can use pickles to keep the energy up in overtime.
Maple Grove football coach leaving, takes job at another metro school
Matt Lombardi went 102-37 leading the Crimson and his team won a state 6A title. He said he's leaving Maple Grove because "a lot of little things that added up."
A reporter pins down five gripping memories from state wrestling
Jim Paulsen saw more than competition when he spent most of three days at an event he recommends all sports fans see someday.
Champ packs up one more wrestling title, heads to the Ivy League
Eden Prairie heavyweight Will Sather will play football and wrestle at Princeton, and he'll need to study, too. "I'm going to be really busy," he said.
One wrestler becomes a four-time champ, another is stopped at three
Becker's Kaden Nicolas defeated Mound Westonka's Jack Nelson, but Jackson County Central's Nolan Ambrose knocked off No. 1 Gavin Johnson of Kenyon-Wanamingo.
Wrestlers seeking fourth state titles arrive at semifinals unsullied
Jackson County Central's Nolan Ambrose and Mound Westonka's Jack Nelson both indicated a high comfort level at the championship meet.
History made, remade: Northfield girl wins twice at boys wrestling state meet
Caley Graber became the first girl to win a match in the boys bracket, and then she won again. She'll wrestle in Saturday's semifinals.
Totino-Grace wrestler breaks state record for pins and runs it up
Senior Cy Kruse surged past the mark that Stillwater's Ryder Rogotzke set last season.
Simley lands its sixth consecutive wrestling state championship
The Class 2A title was the 16th overall for Simley. Chatfield took the Class 1A crown.
St. Michael-Albertville wrestlers keep their grip at state this time
The Knights rolled over Mounds View for the Class 3A team championship, a year after a lead vanished in the final.
Grappling for goals: Meet the athletes, teams seeking state titles
The wrestling championship meet is always a family affair, especially at Mounds View this season. You'll find girls wrestling girls and some taking on boys. And you'll learn the numbers behind the dreams.
How to follow the wrestling state meet, from the stands or the couch
It's one of those events sports fans should attend at least once, to rock in the "Cradle of Chaos." But we'll help you keep up from home, too.
All around, St. Michael-Albertville's Bergeron is a Class 2A champion
The senior won every event but the uneven bars at the state championships.
North Branch girl reigns at Class 1A gymnastics state meet
Junior Dakota Esget won the all-around title and repeated as No. 1 on the uneven bars.
Long a contender, Lakeville South breaks through for gymnastics title
The Cougars have competed well in the section for a decade, and once they won there they didn't stop.
Class 1A gymnastics state meet produces a surprise champion
Becker, fifth in the final rankings, won the title, the first for Hall of Fame coach Jen Harmoning.
Totino-Grace wrestler Kruse aims to turn losses into gains
The state record for pins and a team state championship are goals for Cy Kruse, and he has already learned his lessons.
Cretin-Derham Hall found a coach — and gymnastics success — in a hurry
After just one win in the two previous years, the program is headed to state with a staff and team pieced together as the season's start was bearing down.
Gymnastics state tournament: What you need to know
A Roseville connection revived Breck, Lakeville South found its way back to state, plus team qualifiers and final state rankings.
Mounds View wrestlers get past Stillwater
The Mustangs broke a seven-year losing streak in the section finals to the Ponies, making the state tournament for the first time since 2007.
Video gaming calls national attention to Twin Cities high school
Apple Valley, winner of four Minnesota championships in a row, is honored as one of the nation's most successful programs.
Wrestler headed to Gophers, but first he wants that 4th state title
Jack Nelson of Mound Westonka had reasons to choose basketball (Mom's suggestion) and hockey (Dad's background). He decided on a different path.
Benilde-St. Margaret's finds a proven winner to take over football program
Brad Anderson, coach of three state champion teams at Wayzata, is replacing Sean McMenomy.
Redemption is on wrestling minds as teams grapple for state berths
Mounds View and St. Michael-Albertville have memories of last season to excise. Also presented: the state rankings and final honor roll.
Rankings, final honor roll set scene as gymnasts compete for state spots
There's a new No. 1 in Class 2A, and you'll find more than 150 of the best individual scores in the metro.
What changed? Wrestler links his Christian baptism to his state title
STMA's Jed Wester, a Gophers recruit, finished second twice, then won as a junior after he was baptized at 16.
Gymnastics fact pack: The metro honor roll and state rankings
More than 150 of the top scores by Twin Cities athletes made the list.
200 big winners get their due on latest wrestling honor roll
Wrestlers with at least 28 reported victories made the cut this week, including a dozen who have already reached 40 wins. There are 39 girls on the latest list.
Farmington wrestling champ's strategy: Think a good game
Cole Han-Lindemyer's approach shows in his interest in technique and in his grade-point average.
MSHSL tinkers with seeding for state volleyball and football
The league also approved the addition of a class in girls tennis at its regular meeting.
Wrestling coaches say suffering to reduce weight is a thing of the past
Out: Starvation. Dehydration. Weakness. In: Nutrition. Water. Strength. The problem: "We didn't know what we were doing," one high school coach admitted.
The top athletes, the best teams: Gymnastics honor roll and rankings
The No. 1 team in each class resides outside the metro, and the honor roll runs nearly 150 names deep.
Wrestling with the details: honor roll, state rankings and big moments
A new team resides atop Class 3A, and don't miss the 160-plus records of wrestlers from all over the metro.
Schooled in humility as a youngster, wrestler is a humble champ now
Marco Christiansen of Minnetonka, headed to Nebraska for college, still calls his championship day "surreal."
Providence Academy mourns death of assistant football coach
Brad LaCombe, who played for St. Cloud State and in two pro leagues, died during heart surgery. He was 53.
Check out the gymnastics honor roll, more than 150 of the metro's best scores
The state rankings, with Owatonna atop the big class and Melrose first in 1A, are also included.
East side balance of wrestling power shifts, plus 200 wrestlers' records
Mounds View took out section rival Stillwater in a dual. Read on for the honor roll.
Retribution is one driving force for wrestler who last lost nearly two years ago
Alex Braun, headed to Oklahoma for college, is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A at 145 pounds.
The usual crushing loss? Mounds View wrestlers plan an unusual conclusion
The Mustangs, kept out of state annually by Stillwater, are undefeated and determined to stay that way.
Presenting the best marks by Twin Cities gymnasts this season
The honor roll shows the top reported scores by metro athletes, and read on for the state team rankings.
State's best wrestlers: Metro honor roll and latest team rankings
The honor roll shows the best reported records of athletes from metro-area teams.
Three twists and turns in gymnastics: a big weekend, rankings, honor roll
Class 2A's No. 1 team shows prominently in every one of the gatherings.
Three packs of wrestling facts: Numbers, rankings and honor roll
The successes range from an athlete's school record for wins to a coach's 900th victory.
Rogers sending three linemen off to play Division I football
With tousled hair and sleepy grins, a low-key signing ceremony started the school day at Rogers High School, even though one of the players wasn't part of the scene.
The tush push, the NFL play that sunk Vikings, is illegal in prep games
The play, in which a teammate pushes a runner ahead, cost one team a Prep Bowl TD when a player lifted a teammate who broke away for a score that was called back.
Why Wisconsin? Minnesota's No. 1-ranked offensive lineman explains.
Irondale's Emerson Mandell said the Wisconsin coaches were more concerned about him as a person than as a football player. "They never pressured me."
Coach of the Year loses football job at suburban private school
Benilde-St. Margaret's made the Class 4A state playoffs despite a 5-7 record. But coach Sean McMenomy has been told the school won't renew his coaching contract for 2024.
