Recent content from Jim Paulsen
Prep athletes of the week: Do-it-all Wayzata guard really did it all in final two games of championship season
Drew Berkland, a future Gophers baseball player and a state champion football player, got hot from long range in adding a basketball championship to his résumé.
Prep athletes of the week: Cara Sajevic at sharp-shooting best for tourney-bound Gentry Academy
The sophomore had a hat trick in both the section semifinals and the section final.
The week in preps: Spotlight on wrestling, gymnastics, girls' hockey
Boys' hockey section finals are also slated for this week, while the boys' and girls' basketball section playoffs hit the throttle.
12 teams in each class to be seeded for wrestling state tournament
State wrestling matchups will be set this week. The coaches of the qualifiers in each bracket will vote on seeding, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday.
U lands lineman from southwest Minnesota, second top recruit in three weeks
Offensive lineman Tony Nelson, a three-star recruit from Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, has verbally committed to play for the Gophers.
Prep state tournament season, long awaited and uncertain, is here
The winter state tournament season, which seemed so far away, and highly unlikely, six months ago, kicks off this week.
109 games without a loss: A streak will end when Hopkins, Becker battle
Hopkins' winning streak is now at 73, five short of the state record of 78, set by Fosston from December 1999 to March 2002. Becker has won 36 straight.
Prep athletes of the week: Breck goalie Sarah Peterson digs in after an early blip
The sophomore stood tall with 40 saves in a one-goal victory over Blake.
Holmgren's choice, undefeated teams and more prep stories for March
Chief among the questions to be answered are 7-foot Chet Holmgren's college decision and whether a couple of metro-area teams are really that good.
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.
No showers, no secrets: Safety concerns ripple through ranks of state basketball officials
Dozens have stopped working. But for others the squeak of basketball shoes and lure of the whistle were too hard to resist. And some officials have even found things to like about working under pandemic rules.
Andover vs. Edina girls' hockey rematch will have to wait until state
The top two teams in Class 2A sport 9-0 records, are deep in talented skaters, play shutdown defense and have top-notch goaltending.
Wrestling coaches pleased with tricky-to-plan state tournament concept
Where it will be held is still unknown, but the March 25-27 event will crown team and individual champions, something that had been much in doubt two months ago.
Florida's IMG squad hands Minnehaha Academy first loss
The Redhawks might be the state's best team, but they're still a step below the top prep teams in the country.
Commemorative patch honors Minnesota pioneering Black official Jimmy Robinson
A $10,000 fundraising effort has been started to get patches distributed to all 2,000 game officials in the state.
Minnetonka's near-upset of Hopkins girls turns heads
The addition of junior Kiani Lockett (pictured is Lockett's teammate, guard Desiree Ware), a junior transfer from DeLaSalle, has been a big reason for the Skippers' successful start
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.
Prep athletes of the week: Senior rink rat helps Cambridge-Isanti reclaim 'Rusty Skates' trophy
Jason Ziebarth's third-period goal lifted the Bluejackets over Princeton 2-1, ensuring the traveling trophy between the two programs was coming back after spending the five previous seasons in Princeton.
Uneven mask-wearing in high school games draws call for full compliance
Game officials have adopted a three-step process for addressing improperly worn masks, preferring to be instructive rather than punitive.
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.
Basketball court — his getaway place — open again for Richfield star
An injury and a pandemic curtailed Jaden Wollmuth's AAU basketball season. Then a declaration by Gov. Tim Walz put the winter high school sports season on hold, stretching his inactive period for more than a month. The pause was finally lifted Monday.
New Hopkins girls' basketball coach: "I just want to get into the gym.''
Highly successful AAU coach Tara Starks, taking over a talented team with a 62-game winning streak, has only been able to virtually coach her players.
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.
Making history lures first group of Division I recruits to St. Thomas
Youth football foes Jordan Titus and Savion Robinson are coming back to St. Paul, among at least 11 Minnesota high school stars who are part of the new St. Thomas recruiting class.
Minnetonka girls' tennis coach Stearns dies at 72
He led Skippers' teams for 33 years, including the last 27 as the girls' team coach.
Eastview's Karin Young earns Star Tribune Metro Tennis Player of the Year honors
The junior, who won the Class 2A singles title as a sophomore, was undefeated in her matches at No. 1 singles in the shortened 2020 season.
Let Them Play MN sues Walz seeking to end youth sports pause
The group has filed a federal lawsuit claiming Gov. Tim Walz's order of a four-week pause "unfairly singles out young people for harm" by shutting down youth sports.
Rosemount two-sport star Ratzlaff says he'll play football at Wisconsin
A talented hockey player who played with the U.S. U-18 national team, Jake Ratzlaff had given a verbal commitment to Minnesota after his freshman year.
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.
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.
Virus leaves prep football teams, schedules in disarray
Teams, including some of the best in the Twin Cities, continue scrambling for games as players and coaches watch schedules fall apart and come back together.
East Ridge, Woodbury impress in Week 2
Before we get to the Metro Top 10, what can we take out of Week 2?Class 6A: What kind of team is Lakeville North? After…
As girls' tennis exits the Minnesota fall sports stage, winning it all is missing
Tennis season finishes early in 2020 with section finals.
Without fans at matches, volleyball teams will have to create own excitement
Teams will have to generate their own energy without fans
Lawsuit claims fan limits for prep sporting events set illegally
The suit contends the Minnesota State High School League is failing to follow recent Minnesota Department of Health guidelines with rules it recently adopted because of the pandemic.
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.
Longer seasons, fewer games? Task force plans for Minnesota winter prep sports
Planning for the likelihood of virus outbreaks that result in postponed games has a Minnesota State High School League task force talking of shifting from plans in place for fall sports.
Expectations vary for Polars' volleyball, football teams, excitement does not
On the first official day of practice -- pushed into late September by coronavirus concerns that temporarily postponed fall seasons into the spring -- the volleyball and football teams at North St. Paul were all about energy and optimism in their returns to the court and field.
'Did you see that?' Prep athletes excited to get fall season back
The decision to resume football and volleyball this fall, albeit with shortened seasons and most likely without state tournaments, generated plenty of excitement across Minnesota.
Prep athletes of the week: St. Paul Humboldt soccer gets winning lift from new-look force
Yah Naing Oo's physical presence and skills take a major step up.
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.
1.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Court filing: MSHSL violated bylaws in delaying football, volleyball
A motion, filed on behalf of three prep athletes, seeks to undo actions taken by the Minnesota State High School League to postpone football and volleyball until March.
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.…
High school sports fan policies leave some on the outside looking in
Some metro-area schools and conferences are telling fans to stay away, even from outdoor venues such as stadiums.
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.
Racquet taps and no handshakes: New Edina girls' tennis coach is ready for not normal
Former Hornet Jaime Gaard Chapman has handle on safety, an eye toward excellence.
High school football, volleyball move to new spring season
The Minnesota State High School League also cleared soccer and individual-based sports — cross country, girls' tennis and girls' swimming — to start as scheduled Aug 17 with limitations.
High school league meets today, considering 'fourth season' for prep sports
On the eve of arguably one of the most anticipated recommendations in its 105-year history, the Minnesota State High School League discussed two scenarios Monday for fall sports.
Former Anoka wrestler Eischens: 'Disbelief, shock' at Stanford dropping program
Coming off a 21-9 record and an NCAA tournament qualification last season, upcoming redshirt sophomore Tyler Eischens must eventually decide if he'll remain at Stanford after wrestling is eliminated.
Football coach determined to keep driving change at Minneapolis North
Charles Adams III, a Northsider since birth and a Minneapolis police officer, will do anything to serve a community he loves.
Diminished prep fall sports offerings likely if Minnesota schools reopen
The head of the Minnesota State High School League said a "differentiated approach'' would allow low-risk sports to have competitions but higher-risk ones might only practice or train.
23 state titles later, Steve Paulsen leaves no doubt about Edina girls' tennis dynasty
The Star Tribune Girls' Team Coach of the Year led the Hornets to 23 state titles before retiring.
Amid bigger concerns, Minneapolis North football rediscovers 'whole new level of excitment'
Weight room fits bill for a team eager to bond again.
With one second left, Elk River says yes to 'Michigan' for improbable football state tournament victory
Elk River hadn't thrown the entire game ... until the final play produced a 57-yard TD.
Three sports, two comebacks from injured knees, one thankful Concordia Academy senior
Bryce Paul endured torn ACLs in back-to-back academic years.
'I'm 16 and I'm scared.' City athletes, coaches gather to talk about race
Mistrust of law enforcement was a thread that carried throughout the meeting. "It's not fair how we should go out every day and be scared of police officers," Washburn's Jamar Nelson said.
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.
It's no fun and no play, a 'devastating' turn for many teens in the city
Schools, parks and clubs are havens for many young people in the Twin Cities. For much of the past two months, they have been shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Memories wash away tears for championship-minded Lakeville North softball
Shared memories buoyed the Panthers after their softball season was lost.
N. Carolina-bound Walton didn't feel buzz about delayed college choice
Over the weekend, Kerwin Walton's name was popping up all over social media as he was trying to decide where to play college basketball. "I wasn't paying too much attention," he said with a chuckle.
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.
New plan would invite St. Paul Saints to join MLB's minor league system
The Saints are one of two independent baseball teams that would be invited to join the ranks of minor league franchises in a reorganization plan that would eliminate dozens of other teams.
Spring sports shutdown hits preps budgets with pluses and minuses
With schools shut down and sports on hold, expenses are down in athletics departments; but coaches are getting paid. "Regardless of winning or losing, they still have value," one AD said of coaches.
No-look recruiting: Canceled football camps leave prep prospects no place to go
Spring is prime time for high school football players to get noticed by college recruiters. But the COVID-19 pandemic is keeping athletes from showing off their skills and coaches from making the personal contact that can lead to scholarships.
St. Paul Saints 'sitting tight' while pushing toward May 19 opening day
With the official start of the season still more than a month away, the 2019 American Association champions are moving forward with just a few changes to their typical preseason regimen.
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.
Mr. Football winner Jalen Suggs named Minnesota Mr. Basketball, too
The Minnehaha Academy star, who will play basketball at Gonzaga, became the first prep athlete to win the award as the state's top senior in football and basketball.
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.
Paige Bueckers adds Miss Minnesota Basketball to senior season honors
The UConn-bound Hopkins star was named Minnesota's top high school girls' basketball senior.
First time at state for injury-tested Farmington ends without getting a final shot
DeLaSalle girls' and boys' basketball teams also saw their seasons end abruptly.
When the going gets sad, Becker's bonded Bulldogs go bowling
After the state tournament was abruptly called off Friday, Becker's girls' basketball players credited coach Dan Baird for helping them focus on the good - like a team bowling outing.
