Recent content from David La Vaque
High school league asks that athletes not have to wear masks during games
The league asked state health officials to not require spring sports athletes to wear masks while competing. Plus new section assignments, spring tournament dates and updates about girls' wrestling and boys' volleyball.
Defending 2A champ Andover stakes a lead, powers past Farmington
Sophomore center Ella Boerger scored twice in the first period as the Huskies moved to the semifinals with a 4-0 victory.
Husband's math error doesn't wave off hockey mark for 'Tonka coach
Believed to be the first Minnesota female hockey coach with 200 victories, Tracy Cassano reached the mark two games sooner than her husband (also an assistant coach) thought she had.
Hill-Murray pauses girls' hockey, others affected after 3 with COVID symptoms kept playing
The three players, who later tested positive for the virus, showed ''complete disregard'' for school policy, a letter to hockey families said.
Minnesota wrestling state meet moves to St. Michael-Albertville
The Minnesota State High School League also plans to hold a two-day Nordic skiing state meet instead of combining boys' and girls' races on one day.
Cretin-Derham Hall football moves to Class 5A next fall
The St. Paul private school had long competed with the state's largest programs, including since Class 6A was created in 2012.
Podcast: Too early to talk about state hockey tournament matchups? Nah.
David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen offer up the best boys' and girls' teams in the hunt and discuss a surprise player from the nationally televised boys' basketball game between Minnehaha Academy and Stewartville.
April madness: MSHSL state tournaments are back - if it's safe
Winter sports tournaments will resume March 10 and conclude with hockey and basketball championship games played in April. Expect changes in all of them.
MSHSL challenges ruling in eligibility case over learning disability
The family of Ashby senior Deklin Goeden had sought to restore his eligibility to play sports after he repeated seventh grade.
Talking Preps podcast: In a pandemic, 'it's not just about the wins and losses'
As Minnesota high school winter sports return there is an important new meaning being brought to the court, rink and mats that doesn't show up in the box scores.
Podcast: Hopkins girls' basketball looks even better than last year, if that's possible
The Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque wondering if the Royals, with a 64-game winning streak, will lose a game this year.
New-look prep state tournaments envisioned for hockey, basketball
A plan discussed by Minnesota State High School League leaders would hold hockey title games on April 3 and basketball finals the following weekend.
Minnesota legislators, parents decry mask order as youth sports restart
During an MSHSL meeting with school officials, executive director Erich Martens said the high school league "did not ask for masks to be worn during competition time periods."
Artistic talents fill downtime for Minneapolis girls' hockey player
When she wasn't involved in hockey training, Avery Cheeseman made earrings, wrote short stories and dabbled in poetry.
Ashby senior sues MSHSL and wins, regaining eligibility
Deklin Goeden repeated seventh grade for academic reasons and was out of eligibility as a senior before taking legal action.
MSHSL will require face coverings in basketball, hockey
The league's winter sports guidelines published Wednesday include flexibility for wrestling.
'It's been intense': Football mom champions movement for Minnesota kids to play sports
Dawn Gillman has advocated for permitting games even while wrestling with the issues.
Masks coming for state high school sports; games begin Jan. 14
The latest Minnesota Department of Health guidelines require masks for some sports when practices begin Jan. 4.
Complaint from smaller metro schools prompts meeting with MSHSL
A metro-area region representing 67 schools, hinting that members would resist paying big increases in fees sought by the league, will meet Friday with MSHSL executives.
High school, youth teams can practice Jan. 4, no date set for games
Winter sports for high school and youth teams can hold practice on Jan. 4 with the hope, but no assurance yet, of playing games again by the middle of January.
Prep athlete going to court to regain eligibility in dispute over learning disability
Deklin Goeden of Ashby repeated seventh grade for academic reasons, a move that cost him two semesters of high school sports eligibility.
'Perfect leader' Ethan Vargas is Star Tribune Metro Boys' Cross-Country Runner of the Year
Vargas won all six of Stillwater's meets, defeating highly ranked runners in five of them, and won a year-end meet of top runners from across the state.
Analee Weaver's new push leads to Star Tribune Metro Girls' Cross-Country Runner of the Year
The Stillwater senior set a new state record for girls in a 5K high school race and won a showcase of top runners at the end of the season.
Target dates for return of prep sports address uncertainty of managing virus
The plan puts a priority on games over season length, though there would be as many as 30% fewer games than in a normal season.
MSHSL proposes restarting sports Dec. 21, plans for state tournaments
The league's board of directors is expected to vote Thursday on a recommendation to approve starting the winter sports season three days after Gov. Tim Walz's four-week pause is scheduled to end.
Smaller MSHSL fee hikes still leave some schools displeased
Some still believe the league didn't go far enough, and a legislator is calling for additional belt-tightening. Without state tournaments budgeted for this year, schools are being asked to fund more than half of the Minnesota State High School League's budget.
OK, we'll pick a champion: With no Prep Bowl, Star Tribune writers name a mythical Class 6A football winner
Before playoffs, a mythical prep titlist was named. We're reviving that tradition.
Tears, frustration, resignation as prep sports takes another shutdown
Gov. Tim Walz's shutdown of youth and high school sports until mid-December delays the start of winter sports as part of new restrictions to curb rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases.
School's 71-game winning streak paused; COVID tears through prep schedules
Caldedonia High School's 71-game winning streak, tops among current streaks in the nation and second longest in state history, is on pause.
Amid conflicts, push builds to rethink Minnesota's prep state tournaments
While the director of the MSHSL is urging long-term vision for the return of state tournaments, one board member said some people see opportunities for athletes elsewhere that Minnesota has rejected.
Schools push back on big fee increases for Minnesota prep sports
Three conferences and a group of Catholic schools say the Minnesota State High School League's plan to collect $3 million puts a disproportionate burden on its smallest schools.
Whistle stops: Pandemic gives high school officials one more call to make
Football gets back on track, but with a noticeably smaller officiating pool.
Limited fans to be allowed for indoor Minnesota prep sports
Indoor events will go from no crowds to two people per participant.
Winter prep sports approved with later starts, shorter seasons
Hockey, basketball and most other Minnesota high school winter sports will start from one to five weeks later than usual in an effort to minimize overlap with fall seasons.
As prep football starts, St. Paul Humboldt players challenge the odds
Only 11 players showed up for the first practice at Humboldt. And with the district in distance learning because of COVID-19, team information isn't as easily shared and transportation isn't readily available.
Minnesota prep football, volleyball approved for fall
The highly anticipated outcome drew more than 400 listeners to the league's virtual board meeting, where they heard impassioned dialogue about the risks involved.
Minnesota prep football, volleyball leagues rush in to fill metro area void
Passing leagues normally held during the summer have sprouted up along with club volleyball leagues in the absence of traditional high school seasons.
Restarting Minnesota prep football, volleyball seasons full of challenges
The Minnesota State High School League called a special meeting for Monday that could reverse its decision six weeks ago to postpone both sports until March.
Fall football, volleyball may happen in Minnesota after all
The Minnesota State High School League is poised to schedule a highly unusual meeting to take up whether to reverse itself and start the football and volleyball seasons this fall.
High school league shocks member schools by raising fees up to 300%
With the pandemic curbing major gatherings for sports, the league has no plans for traditional state tournaments, instead planning on smaller, still-to-be-determined "culminating events."
Metro area's fall prep athletes to watch have less time to show what they've got
School just started this first week for many, but fall sports athletes are on a fast and strange track to the shortest season in memory.…
The prep life, 2020 style: Those who can play, do
Small and strange in some ways, but as competitive as ever in others: Welcome to the beginning of the fall high school sports season.
Stillwater coach gives runners the long view: 'This season is still going to be great'
Stillwater runner's illness over the summer was a cautionary tale, dressed up as perspective.
MSHSL takes urgent steps to address fall sports, budget woes
The $9 million league set up one task force to prepare for three scenarios of fall sports and another to revamp its funding approach in a move to put more of the cost on schools.
Minn. prep leaders discuss contingency plans as fall sports practice looms
The high school league's plan is expected in two weeks, after Gov. Tim Walz and state officials announce their decision on how Minnesota schools will start the school year.
College, prep football in spring is unpopular option, but may be heading that way
Pandemic may drive the switch, even while tradition -- and school coffers -- absorb a big hit.
Isabella McCauley defeats younger sister for Junior State Championship
Isabella and Reese McCauley, who play golf at Simley High School, entered the final day tied atop the leaderboard after spending entire days together practicing.
With NHL draft delayed, Gophers recruit Ratzlaff eyes football border battle
Rosemount's Jake Ratzlaff committed to Gophers hockey early, but he is also considering football. "He enjoys both and he's pretty good at both," said Chris McAlpine, a family adviser through Octagon Hockey
First title for Andover girls' hockey caps a game and team worth remembering
For bringing home a championship in the program's first title-game appearance, the Huskies are the Star Tribune All-Metro Girls' Team of the Year.
Storing up positivity after hardship, New Life Academy's Ben Zheng inspires teammates
Senior Ben Zheng tried to support his classmates outside of school.
Program-rejuvenator Lambert Brown has Wayzata football back with the best
Star Tribune Boys' Team Coach of the Year Lambert Brown led the Trojans to a Prep Bowl championship in his third year of running the team.
With no season promised, peer motivation returns as 300 Woodbury athletes go all in
The first day of summer workouts used social distancing guidelines, with athletes showing up "in good faith,'' coach Andy Hill said, that their sport of choice will be allowed this fall.
No cancellation this time: Eastview's Rhodes wins girls' golf Senior Showcase
Jaycee Rhodes missed the past two high school seasons because of a transfer and a virus.
High school league sets summer plans despite hazy fall outlook
The Minnesota State High School League will allow coaches to start working with athletes on June 15, the first concrete step toward possibly resuming competition later this year.
Prep sports eligibility rules get fresh heat from government, parents
The Minnesota State High School League is exploring revisions of two contentious league bylaws that help determine student-athlete eligibility.
Mahtomedi two-sport seniors say hockey title eased sting of spring sports loss
Billy Buttermore and Colin Hagstrom captured a state championship in their final Mahtomedi athletic season.
50 years later, Southwest's hockey title win over Edina stands taller yet
Minneapolis Southwest vs. Edina was a fierce local rivalry at a time when 11 city schools had hockey teams, and the intersection of 50th and France was known as 'state title crossroad.'
Prep basketball teams deprived of tournament get consolation honor
All teams in contention for basketball state titles when the COVID-19 pandemic ended play will be known as "finalists'' and receive trophies and medals.
Everyone loses as high school spring sports are called off
The Minnesota State High School League made the announcement shortly after Gov. Tim Walz said that Minnesota schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year.
Winless or last place: Three state athletes show dignity amid struggles
A winless season, a last place finish at state and a senior's season ending injury didn't keep these high school athletes from finding strength during the high school season.
Rare sweep of sprints by North St. Paul track star Shaliciah Jones in jeopardy but she keeps leading
North St. Paul senior Shaliciah Jones hoped to sweep 100, 200 and 400.
'People want answers.' Over 200 school officials on prep video conference
"We recognize that working with unknowns and a great level of uncertainty is very difficult and can be very frustrating for everyone," MSHSL executive director Erich Martens said.
Missing teammates: Prep athletes challenged by being #AloneTogether
Edina's Maddie Dahlien and Lakeville North's Bayliss Flynn are finding creative ways to develop their skills in multiple sports, but crave the normalcy of a spring sports season.
Return of spring sports more in doubt after governor's comments
Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday gave a strong signal to suggest students would not return to their school buildings before the current academic year ends, which almost certainly would mean no spring sports season.
Blake School extends sports shutdown to May 1; spring coaches hope, wait
The private school, one of the metro area's prominent athletic powers, is believed to be the first in the state to extend its sports program cancellations through April.
Heartbeat of an angel: Minnesota-bound Charlie Strobel removes all doubts
The star of Hill-Murray's hockey state tournament title run brings a blue-collar mentality to his game, inspired by a brother whose life he helped save in 2015.
High school league will base future actions on government directives
The meeting stemmed from what MSHSL executive director Erich Martens called the ''unbelievable and unpredictable'' disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minnesota spring sports teams cling to hope despite forced spring break
The COVID-19 restrictions challenge prep teams to train in creative ways but the spring sports seasons have not been called off outright.
Minnesota high school sports abruptly canceled, 'devastating' those involved
The girls' basketball state tournament, which still had two days left of tournament play, was called off. No state champions will be determined.
Mahtomedi sets record for fewest shots by title winner
Mahtomedi was outshot 42-12. The previous low for a title-winning team in a championship game came in 1977 Rochester John Marshall had 14 shots on goal vs. Edina.
Physical Hermantown-St. Cloud Cathedral play produces rare mayhem, 11 penalties
Two 10-minute misconducts were among the 11 penalties called at the end of the first period — six on Cathedral and five on Hermantown.
Hermantown's 'X-factor' Joey Pierce stifles high-flying opposition
Junior defenseman Joey Pierce was dominant in stopping St. Cloud Cathedral.
For victorious Blake, the 'holy grail' of 2A hockey is where it's at
The Blake School opted up to Class 2A before the 2017-18 season and plays among the largest schools. It was curious timing, since the Bears had not made a Class 1A tournament in the previous 10 years.
![St. Cloud Cathedral celebrated after Bradyn Balfanz scored in the first period. [Shari L. Gross, Star Tribune]](https://stmedia.stimg.co/08_1010685481_04PREP030520.EARLYPUCK_58395209.JPG?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
St. Cloud Cathedral-Hermantown rematch is 'going to be a riot'
Since their Jan. 3 meeting that ended in a 5-5 tie, St. Cloud Cathedral and Hermantown hoped for a state tournament rematch. They got it, in an 11 a.m. Friday semifinal showdown
Where is the heck is Andover? On the ice, it's first in everything
On the heels of the suburban Anoka County school's girls' team winning its first hockey state title, the No. 1-seeded boys' team has its sights set on the same.
