Recent content from Jim Paulsen
Biles, Lee lead deep group of gymnasts at U.S. Olympic trials
The five-member U.S. Olympic team in women's gymnastics will be announced Sunday night in Minneapolis. One leading contender for the team suffered an injury Wednesday in training.
The Boys Team of the Year features heavy hitting and no hype
Centennial won the Class 6A state championship, opening up the offense just a little but mostly sticking to the blue-collar behavior that suits coach Mike Diggins.
From August into March, Male Athlete of the Year is unstoppable
Maxwell Woods led Chanhassen to a football state championship as a running back and defensive back and wasn't far from averaging a triple-double in basketball.
Credentials pile high for Girls Team Coach of the Year
Scott Jackson's Wayzata volleyball teams have won every big-class state championship available since 2018, and in 2023 the squad went 34-0.
Two final baseball champions conclude the prep sports year
East Ridge scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh against Mounds View in Class 4A, and Totino-Grace defeated Mahtomedi behind Tommy Heifort's pitching in Class 3A.
Attention, please. That's a goal, not a request, for rhythmic gymnasts.
Long overlooked, rhythmic gymnastics gets a shot at the spotlight during the USA Gymnastics Championships starting Monday at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Wizened leader amid youth is Metro Player of the Year in boys tennis
Tanay Panguluri served as a senior captain on a Wayzata state champion loaded with youngsters, and he also was half of the winning doubles pair.
Metro ace holds undefeated top seed in check in 4A state baseball semifinal
Despite the nerves, Mounds View ace Tyler Guerin was dominant vs. undefeated Wayzata.
No. 1 seed punctuates end of boys volleyball club status with a title
Shakopee needed five sets over Rogers to claim the final club championship. Boys volleyball becomes an official MSHSL sport next spring.
Boys volleyball teams open last state tournament as a club sport
Wednesday marked the start of the last non-sanctioned state tournament before MSHSL sanctioning in 2025.
Eighth-grader dominates big-class state softball final
Rogers pitcher AnnaBelle Waldoch pitched a shutout, settling matters in Class 4A. Mankato East won 3A with a six-run seventh, and top seed Randolph took 2A.
Class 4A's top seed and defending champ exits winner's bracket
New Prague sunk Rosemount in the Class 4A semifinals on a day when high wind affected most games at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
Boys tennis team champions make their superiority clear
Wayzata clinched 2A early against Rochester Mayo, and St. Paul Academy won its third 1A title in a row by rolling over Breck.
MSHSL tackles controversial method of seeding state tournaments
All eight teams will receive a seed in the state hockey and basketball brackets starting in 2025.
Lifted by a legend and her eighth-grade daughter, softball team arrives
Rogers reached the state tournament boosted by the pitching of AnnaBelle Waldoch and the teachings of former Gophers standout Angie (Recknor) Waldoch.
Semifinal pairings are set in boys tennis state tournament
Mahtomedi rolled through Eagan, Wayzata and Mayo swept and Blake squeaked past Eden Prairie. St. Paul Academy and Mound Westonka swept in 1A.
All-Metro softball: A list of 23 stars, including a future U slugger
One of the first-teamers, Cameron Chard of Belle Plaine, hit 10 home runs this season and is committed to the Gophers. And because this is softball, 10 of the picks are pitchers.
Meet the softball Metro Player of the Year, a one-loss wonder
Randolph pitcher Carter Raymond won 22 games in a row, and when that first loss finally happened, she quickly balanced matters.
After making a name for himself, tennis standout wants a title
Sam Rathmanner sprung an upset last season but comes into the state tournament this time seeded high in large-class singles.
Meet the women behind Minnesota high school boys volleyball
Jenny Kilkelly and Krista Flemming formed a league and started pushing the MSHSL to sanction boys volleyball in 2017. Now it's official, and their club days are winding down.
Softball state rankings mix lots of action, little movement
Champlin Park made a move in Class 4A, two No. 1 teams held on amid slumps, and Randolph just kept winning.
Three softball teams make it their moment in the state rankings
Champlin Park, winner of 10 in a row, landed in Class 4A's top 10. Farmington in 4A and Red Lake Falls in 1A are new No. 1s.
Softball coaches cite gender equity in push to move state finals to U
A committee has requested a move from Caswell Park in North Mankato to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, pointing out that no other team sport has title games outside the Twin Cities.
High school boys tennis teams bear down on the postseason
A new No. 1 player, Garrett Webb of Mounds Park Academy, leads the Class 1A individual rankings in the final week of the regular season.
Change at the top looms in high school softball rankings
Farmington's victory over Rosemount will weigh heavily. Meanwhile, Randolph stands strong at 14-0 in Class 2A.
Fall or spring, it's Rochester Mayo's year in prep tennis
The Spartans have the top-ranked boy and a high team ranking now, after producing individual and team champs during the girls season.
Edina sophomore two-sport standout on recruiting: 'Gotten a little busy'
Mason West quarterbacked the Hornets to the Class 6A football final and starred on the school's state-title winning hockey team. The 6-6 standout also wants you to know about how he sees himself.
Focusing on bringing football film into frame
High schoolers will learn how to properly record coaching film at a free training session hosted by the Football Film Federation on Sunday.
'I always wanted this job.' Football coach hits peak with promotion.
After being an assistant coach for 19 years, Adam Spurrell is getting the chance to lead one of the metro area's traditional football powers at Maple Grove.
West metro football power finds new head coach on current staff
Maple Grove made Adam Spurrell, a member of its staff for 19 years, the Crimson's third head coach in the school's nearly 30-year history.
Who are our 25 metro softball stars (and one bonus pick, too)?
The Gophers have commitments from two of the standouts, and most of the others have already made their college choices, too.
Pitchers make the difference atop the softball Metro Top 10
In a sport in which one can be plenty, No. 1 Forest Lake has two starters who stand out.
First sanctioned boys volleyball season is set for Spring 2025
Teams begin play as a fully sanctioned MSHSL sport on March 17, 2025, with the state tournament scheduled for June 9-13.
Gold's glimmer, over and over: Meet the Metro Gymnast of the Year
St. Michael-Albertville's Jackie Bergeron wanted a state championship, and winning on any apparatus would do. She nearly won on all of them.
The Metro Wrestler of the Year: 50 wins. No losses. Will that do?
Mounds View 215-pounder Quin Morgan, son of Gophers national champion Marty Morgan, won a Class 3A individual title amid the Mustangs' best season in history.
High school sports and NIL: Bigger things are ahead for younger stars
Name, image and likeness deals are already expanding beyond college sports. Some top metro boys basketball players are aligned with a barbershop. The top girls hockey player touts a fitness center. Another high school standout represents a chain of chicken restaurants.
Transfers make major impact at boys basketball tourney — and people noticed
All four state champions — two public schools and two privates —benefited from players who transferred. That and more from the weekend.
Minnetonka starts strong and stays stern, wins Class 4A title
The Skippers took a 14-point lead in the first half, then pushed back when the Trojans threatened down the stretch.
Totino-Grace's 3A dominance leads to the opt-up question
Totino-Grace played a schedule almost entirely from 4A. Also Saturday, Cherry completed a rise from 0-22 to a state title, and Breck's Miles Newton channeled his dad.
Half of Championship Saturday is set for the boys basketball tournament
Defending champion Wayzata and Minnetonka will battle for the Class 4A championship, and Totino-Grace and Mankato East advanced to the Class 3A title game. The Class 1A semifinals are also set. Tap here for stories and in-game updates.
Day 2 at state: Rival DeLaSalle reveals Totino-Grace's true emotions
Eagles star Isaiah Johnson-Arigu conducted business as usual in a victory, while future Gophers guard Isaac Asuma and Cherry cruised in their Class 1A quarterfinal. Big man Alex Lester kept the Nevis engine running despite being gassed.
It's all right here! Wednesday's boys basketball tournament news, notes.
Eagan pulled off the biggest surprise of the quarterfinals, dropping Class 4A second seed Park Center. Tap here for game results and more from the first day of play.
We call this fun: State boys basketball opens with a 12-game day
A Wayzata sophomore spiced an early 4A quarterfinal with his passing. The 3A teams also got going before lunch, and 2A schools will take over the night.
Hopkins? Minnetonka? We know, Coach. Change can be difficult.
A superstar's gentle reminder got Brian Cosgriff back on track about which team he's coaching these days. A look back at state reveals certainty on other matters.
Minnetonka holds off Hopkins' frantic comeback to win 4A title
A tidy Tonka victory seemed to be shaping up until it pivoted to a stress-inducing exercise in uncertainty that left the outcome in doubt until the final minute.
Girls basketball reaches the peak: Among the best, who's better?
Moments of March: It's a high-powered day at state. The four championship games Saturday all involve the top two seeds, and three teams will play for consecutive titles.
Girls basketball finals schedule is mostly set and fully loaded
Moments of March: The top two seeds in Class 4A, 3A and 1A all qualified for championship games, and Providence Academy got 2A halfway there.
Rivals to battle it out for Class 4A title in girls basketball; 3A championship also set
The finals are solidified in the top two classes while the top four seeds in Class 1A advanced to the semifinals. Tap here for coverage on all of Thursday's games.
Iron Range family starred for one basketball team; next generation stars for another
Moments of March: The Lamppa family was the foundation of a small school that no longer exists. This year, the Lamppas were key to another school's state tournament run.
Big day for a first-time tournament team -- despite the final score
Moments of March: Roosevelt fans showed up in numbers for the Teddies' first state tournament game. Plus this from a coach with a unique angle: 'Caitlin [Clark] is good, but I still think Paige [Bueckers] is better.'
Girls basketball state quarterfinals: Wednesday's news and notes
The day began with top seeds Hopkins and Benilde-St. Margaret's rolling, and it wound down with Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway scoring 49 points. Tap here for stories, tournament details and more from Minneapolis.
Introducing the 'matured' girls basketball Metro Player of the Year
Hopkins' Liv McGill cast aside that "really bad attitude" — her words — but she's still L.A. Liv. When it's showtime, she shows the way.
STMA's Bergeron is honored as the first Miss Minnesota Gymnastics
The Class 2A all-around champion, Jackie Bergeron won the award created for the 50th season of high school girls competition in the state.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Championship Day
Edina became the Class 2A champion, St. Cloud Cathedral won in 1A, the attendance record fell, we took one more look at Lou Nanne and we heard dramatic talk from the winners and the others.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from the hockey semifinals
Edina and Grand Rapids revived a rivalry late in the day, giving credence to the notion that Friday is always the hottest spot in state tournament week.
Qualifiers for girls basketball state tournament come with a tale or two
Hopkins is back again, as are all of the top section seeds in Class 4A. Coaches Wendy Kohler and Mike Dreier carry special marks to state, and Jim Lien's there for the first time in his 45 years of coaching.
Minnesota boys hockey state tournament: Class 1A quarterfinals roundup
There were three one-sided games and a thriller in the nightcap of Class 1A. Tap here for all of our coverage from the X.
Behind the scenes at the boys hockey state tournament
Sights and sounds from the Xcel Energy Center include Warroad honoring Henry Boucha and a player tip on how you can use pickles to keep the energy up in overtime.
Maple Grove football coach leaving, takes job at another metro school
Matt Lombardi went 102-37 leading the Crimson and his team won a state 6A title. He said he's leaving Maple Grove because "a lot of little things that added up."
A reporter pins down five gripping memories from state wrestling
Jim Paulsen saw more than competition when he spent most of three days at an event he recommends all sports fans see someday.
Champ packs up one more wrestling title, heads to the Ivy League
Eden Prairie heavyweight Will Sather will play football and wrestle at Princeton, and he'll need to study, too. "I'm going to be really busy," he said.
One wrestler becomes a four-time champ, another is stopped at three
Becker's Kaden Nicolas defeated Mound Westonka's Jack Nelson, but Jackson County Central's Nolan Ambrose knocked off No. 1 Gavin Johnson of Kenyon-Wanamingo.
Wrestlers seeking fourth state titles arrive at semifinals unsullied
Jackson County Central's Nolan Ambrose and Mound Westonka's Jack Nelson both indicated a high comfort level at the championship meet.
History made, remade: Northfield girl wins twice at boys wrestling state meet
Caley Graber became the first girl to win a match in the boys bracket, and then she won again. She'll wrestle in Saturday's semifinals.
Totino-Grace wrestler breaks state record for pins and runs it up
Senior Cy Kruse surged past the mark that Stillwater's Ryder Rogotzke set last season.
Simley lands its sixth consecutive wrestling state championship
The Class 2A title was the 16th overall for Simley. Chatfield took the Class 1A crown.
St. Michael-Albertville wrestlers keep their grip at state this time
The Knights rolled over Mounds View for the Class 3A team championship, a year after a lead vanished in the final.
Grappling for goals: Meet the athletes, teams seeking state titles
The wrestling championship meet is always a family affair, especially at Mounds View this season. You'll find girls wrestling girls and some taking on boys. And you'll learn the numbers behind the dreams.
How to follow the wrestling state meet, from the stands or the couch
It's one of those events sports fans should attend at least once, to rock in the "Cradle of Chaos." But we'll help you keep up from home, too.
All around, St. Michael-Albertville's Bergeron is a Class 2A champion
The senior won every event but the uneven bars at the state championships.
North Branch girl reigns at Class 1A gymnastics state meet
Junior Dakota Esget won the all-around title and repeated as No. 1 on the uneven bars.
Long a contender, Lakeville South breaks through for gymnastics title
The Cougars have competed well in the section for a decade, and once they won there they didn't stop.
Class 1A gymnastics state meet produces a surprise champion
Becker, fifth in the final rankings, won the title, the first for Hall of Fame coach Jen Harmoning.
Totino-Grace wrestler Kruse aims to turn losses into gains
The state record for pins and a team state championship are goals for Cy Kruse, and he has already learned his lessons.
Cretin-Derham Hall found a coach — and gymnastics success — in a hurry
After just one win in the two previous years, the program is headed to state with a staff and team pieced together as the season's start was bearing down.
