Joel Rippel
News Assistant
Joel Rippel writes about sports for the Star Tribune.
Latest from Joel Rippel
Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Let's recognize big performances by seven standouts
A record-setting diver, skiers, a wrestler and basketball players are the seven student-athletes whose accomplishments stood out.
December 30, 2025
Bobby Durkin scores season-high 19 as Gophers trip Fairleigh Dickinson 60-43 in men’s college basketball
The U has won all eight of its home games as it closed out the non-conference portion of the schedule.
December 30, 2025
Gophers women roll past Indiana 71-48 in Big Ten basketball
Amaya Battle led the way for the U with 20 points in the lopsided road victory.
December 30, 2025
U men’s basketball routs Campbell to improve to 7-0 at home
The Gophers women’s team defeated Drake in Des Moines for its third victory in a row.
December 22, 2025
UW-River Falls wins on 79-yard TD pass in final minute, will play for first D-III title
Blake Rohrer caught a third-down pass and found no one around him as he sprinted to the end zone with 45 seconds left against Johns Hopkins.
December 21, 2025
Greg Thayer, former Twins pitcher from St. Cloud, dead at 76
He pitched in 20 games for his home-state team in 1978 after a standout college career at St. Cloud State.
December 20, 2025
Wisconsin-River Falls football gears up to face Johns Hopkins with berth in Stagg Bowl in sight
The Falcons (12-1), if they win Saturday, will reach the Division III championship game for the first time in school history.
December 18, 2025
Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: High achievers gather in a group of seven
A Nordic skier, wrestler, basketball players and hockey players make up seven athletes across Minnesota that earned recognition.
December 16, 2025
Cade Tyson scores 38 points as Gophers rout Texas Southern
The Gophers had assists on 27 of 28 baskets and made 15 of 34 three-pointers.
December 15, 2025
Concordia (St. Paul) volleyball comes up short in NCAA Division II championship
The Golden Bears, aiming for their 10th national volleyball title, on Saturday night lost in four sets to Metropolitan State-Denver.
December 14, 2025
Defending Division III champion North Central ends Bethel’s season
North Central has won 44 in a row at home, last losing there in the 2018 playoffs to the Royals.
December 14, 2025
Gophers volleyball swept by Pittsburgh in NCAA regional semifinals
The Gophers played the final two sets tight in their first Sweet 16 since 2022, but they couldn’t get past the Panthers.
December 12, 2025
