Joel Rippel
News Assistant
Joel Rippel writes about sports for the Star Tribune.
Latest from Joel Rippel
U men's basketball can’t keep up with No. 13 Illinois
The Gophers kept close until the final minutes in their third loss in a row.
January 17, 2026
Gophers women’s hockey beats Bemidji State for 30th consecutive time
Abbey Murphy scored her 131th career college goal, putting her within eight of tying Nadine Muzerall’s program record.
January 17, 2026
Adaptive floor hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, skiing and boys swimming results for Jan. 12-15
Scores and results from around the state.
January 16, 2026
Undefeated Red Lake County boys basketball team aims to return to state tournament
For their undefeated start and No. 2 state ranking, the Rebels, a cooperative between Red Lake County and Red Lake Falls, are the Strib Varsity/Taco Bell Team of the Week.
January 15, 2026
Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Meet seven winter sports high achievers
Four basketball players, a hockey player, swimmer and a wrestler are recognized for their achievements this week.
January 13, 2026
Wrestling, skiing and swimming results for Jan. 9-10, 2026
Scores and results for boys and girls wrestling, boys swimming and skiing from around the state.
January 13, 2026
U women beat No. 21 USC 63-62, end 36-game slide vs. ranked foes
Grace Grocholski scored 25 points to lead the Gophers, who hadn’t beaten a ranked foe since November 2019.
January 12, 2026
Penn State sweeps Gophers in men’s hockey; Gophers women sweep Minnesota State
The Gophers wrestling team opened the Big Ten schedule with a victory over Illinois.
January 11, 2026
U women’s hockey routs Minnesota State Mankato 11-3
The Gophers scored at least 10 goals in back-to-back games for the first time since October 1999.
January 10, 2026
![Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy (18) in the second period. Gophers women's hockey hosted Ohio State at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn, on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/IXQQZXOLVETXMF57BVHWR6BOFU.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
No. 9 Penn State blanks Gophers 3-0 in U’s return to action
The Gophers hadn’t played a regular-season game since Dec. 5 because of the World Junior Championship.
January 10, 2026
Wrestling, gymnastics, skiing, and swimming results for Jan. 5-8, 2026
Scores and results for boys and girls wrestling, gymnastics, skiing, and boys swimming from around the state.
January 10, 2026
Wrestling, gymnastics, skiing and swimming results for Jan. 5-8, 2026
Scores and results for boys and girls wrestling, gymnastics, skiing and boys swimming from around the state.
January 10, 2026