Joel Rippel
News Assistant
Joel Rippel writes about sports for the Star Tribune.
Latest from Joel Rippel
Boys and girls wrestling, skiing, boys swimming and gymnastics results for Jan. 19-21
High school sports scores and results from around Minnesota.
January 23, 2026
Amaya Battle, Grace Grocholski lead Gophers to 65-60 win at Oregon
The Gophers opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run and held on for their first Quad 1 victory of the season.
January 22, 2026
Ohio State bounces past Gophers 82-74 in overtime
The Gophers had two shots to win it in the final seconds of regulation, but both fell short. They face unbeaten Nebraska next.
January 21, 2026
Boys and girls wrestling, skiing, boys swimming and gymnastics results for Jan. 15-17
High school sports scores and results from around Minnesota.
January 20, 2026
Lyle Gerhardt had a front-row view of Metropolitan Stadium’s evolution in Bloomington
Lyle Gerhardt, who grew up on the family farm where the Mall of America now stands, died Jan. 1 at age 102.
January 19, 2026
Low-energy Gophers women fall to Washington 67-54
Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit was not happy with her team’s energy level against the Huskies.
January 19, 2026
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 18, 2026
Murphy has four goals, two assists in U’s 11-1 rout at Bemidji State
The Olympian needs four more goals to break Nadine Muzerall’s program-record total of 139.
January 18, 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
