Joe Christensen
Strib Varsity Enterprise Reporter
High School SportsThe National Sports Media Association named Christensen as the 2003 Maryland Sportswriter of the Year and 2014 Minnesota Sportswriter of the Year.
Latest from Joe Christensen
Distracting chants and sounds from the dugout now a no-no in baseball, MSHSL votes
The MSHSL board of directors, on Thursday, Feb. 5, unanimously voted to adopt new “bench decorum” rules that prohibit the chanting teams had used in recent years to distract opponents.
February 6, 2026
Minnesota vs. the U.S.: Which states have the best high school sports spectacle?
The State of Hockey hosts one of the premier high school sporting events in America, but other states claim highly attended championships as well.
February 6, 2026
MSHSL not changing transgender athlete policy amid federal threats
Since February 2025, the Minnesota State High School League has stated that changing its decade-old policy would conflict with state law.
February 5, 2026
![Maple Grove took to the ice before the start of a MSHSL Class 2A quarterfinal hockey game between state tournament Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Maple Grove Thursday, March 9, 2023 St. Paul, Minn. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/OANTR2HOB6UVFANHK7MEWSVMHY.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Turnaround season for Twin Cities team connected to generational coaching success
The Roseville boys basketball team have equaled their win total from a season ago at 10-6 heading into a Feb. 4 home game vs. Minneapolis Southwest.
February 5, 2026
Coach allowed to teach gym class, but return to hockey team still undetermined
Lakeville South boys hockey coach Josh Storm was recently put on administrative leave and is being investigated by the school district.
February 4, 2026
Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Seven deliver exceptional results
Four basketball players, two wrestlers and a skier earned recognition for their athletic accomplishments.
February 4, 2026
Lakeville South coach Storm removed from boys hockey team, under investigation
Assistant coaches will take over Lakeville South's team while the district investigation plays out.
January 30, 2026
Transgender athlete battle advances to DOJ; Trump administration threatens federal funds
The U.S. Department of Justice poised to punish Minnesota for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls sports.
January 26, 2026
ICE surge shreds high school sports normalcy in Minnesota
Missing routines, leaving teams, looking for distraction: how student-athletes are getting through this week.
January 10, 2026
Securing tickets to the boys hockey state tourney last year was an issue. Schools hope there isn't a repeat
Moorhead and Stillwater hockey parents, students, alumni and community members hit major roadblocks trying to access allotted tickets to the semifinal and title games.
January 9, 2026
The players believed. Now the hockey team is experiencing a turnaround
Three years ago, the Bloomington Jefferson boys hockey team won just three games. This season, the Jaguars are off to a 5-0-1 start.
December 12, 2025
Wayzata’s girls cross-country team wins Nike Cross Nationals team title
Led by Maddie Gullickson, the Trojans won a national title in Portland, Ore.
December 7, 2025
