Recent content from Joel Rippel
Northwestern (St. Paul) falls in NCAA Division III volleyball
New York University outlasted Northwestern (St. Paul) 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament in Claremont, Calif.
Bemidji State's NCAA football run continues, and two other things to watch
The Beavers have earned another rare playoff home game. They'll face Central Washington on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament.
Minneapolis Washburn sophomore leads after Class 2A diving prelims
Madeline Kohel stood ahead of two-time defending champion Gabby Mauder of Woodbury.
Bethel gets a tough draw in D-III playoffs, and so does UMAC's champ
Bethel faces a 9-1 Wisconsin Whitewater team to open the NCAA Division III football playoffs. Two Minnesota teams from the Northern Sun are on the road, too.
100-year-old girls state tournament? It happened on the Iron Range.
This week's girls swimming and diving state meet will be the 48th in the modern era. But Minnesota's true pioneers first competed in the 1920s in pools funded by mining that were called 'the best in the nation.'
Five area football teams make Division II and Division III playoffs
Three NSIC teams were included in the 28-team Division II football playoff field and two teams from Minnesota were included in the 32-team Division III bracket.
Area college football: Adebayo lifts St. Thomas over San Diego in OT
The 11-yard touchdown run came after the Toreros missed a 28-yard field goal on their overtime possession.
The big list, bigger: The latest update shows 327 Minnesota athletes and their college commitments
A national signing day this week led to this list of Minnesota high school athletes officially aligning themselves with Division I or II colleges.
St. Paul hockey legend Cotroneo dies at age 93
Lou Cotroneo, a member of St. Paul Johnson's state championship team in 1947, coached in the Johnson program for 20 years and later worked for the North Stars and Wild.
Area college football: 3-team tussle in NSIC, Gustavus goes for MIAC title
Bemidji State, Augustana, MSU Mankato and UMD are also battling for spots in the 28-team Division II playoff field, which will be announced Sunday.
Prep Athletes of the Week: He's a winner for his 'big goals in big games'
Vinny Pearcy led Hill-Murray to the Class 2A boys soccer state championship.
Area college football roundup: Gustavus Adolphus claims spot in MIAC title game
The Gusties have won five games in a row and will play Bethel next week.
MIAC title game could feature surprise teams based on Saturday's results
St. John's met Bethel in the MIAC's previous two championship games, but Gustavus and Concordia could each go there this time by winning Saturday.
Steve Johnson, Hall of Fame football coach at Bethel, to retire
In 1989, Steve Johnson took over a Bethel football team that had won 14 games in a decade and completely turned the program around.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Mounds Park Academy runner gets his kick in
Eddie Snider won a section championship by turning on the speed he had been "polishing up."
Minnesota college football roundup: Bemidji State outlasts UMD
Brandon Alt passed for 271 yards and two touchdowns, and Sage Booker rushed for 120 yards and two TDs for No. 12 Bemidji State.
St. Thomas' 29-game home winning streak and four other things to watch in Minnesota college football
After bouncing back from their loss at Drake, the Tommies pounded Stetson last week and return home Saturday to face Marist.
Seeds announced for high school state soccer tournaments
Wayzata earned the top seed for Class 3A boys, Edina for 3A girls.
Area college football: Battle of 7-0 teams, will Johnnies get a challenge?
Augustana is off to its best start since 2010, but Minnesota State Mankato has had its number over the years. Also, St. John's crushed an undefeated MIAC team last weekend and goes on the road this weekend.
Area college football roundup: Minnesota State Moorhead outlasts Sioux Falls 53-40
The Dragons had the ball only 16 minutes, 37 seconds, but averaged 21.4 yards per completed pass.
If Twins can stop their losing streak, why not Carleton vs. St. John's?
In other Minnesota college football action: St. Thomas heads to Des Moines, and Minnesota State Mankato takes a nonconference detour.
Minnesota Duluth is off to a blazing start — in football
The Bulldogs are on a roll, led by quarterback Kyle Walljasper.
NSIC showdown in Bemidji tops 5 things to watch in state college football
Bemidji State and Minnesota State each take a 4-0 record into Saturday's matchup in Bemidji.
Chart: Every Twins postseason appearance since 1961
The Twins have reached the postseason 14 teams since becoming a franchise in 1961. In that time, they've won five playoff series and two World Series.
Twins close regular season against National League-worst Rockies
The AL Central champion, No. 3 seed Twins will make their way to Denver for the first time since 2014.
Twins face abysmal A's in final regular-season series at Target Field
The A's (48-108) have their worst record since moving from Kansas City in 1968, though former Twins outfielder Brent Rooker has been a bright spot.
Twins face Angels in final homestand of regular season
The Angels will face the Twins without probable AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery Tuesday.
Rare Tommies losing streak — and a huge matchup in league they left
St. Thomas has never lost three games in a row under coach Glenn Caruso. After falling at South Dakota and Harvard, they'll face Morehead State at home. And there's a big MIAC game, too.
Lynx-Sun Game 3 preview: Deciding game takes place at Target Center
The Lynx lost Game 1 by 30, then regrouped to win Game 2 by seven. Now they have a chance to advance in the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Twins to play Reds for first time since 2021
Minnesota will look to move closer toward the AL Central title with a visit to Cincinnati, which is a half-game behind in the wild-card race.
Gameday preview: Lynx looking to rebound from record loss
The Lynx are coming off a 90-60 loss to the Sun in Game 1, the worst in a playoff game in franchise history.
NSIC race takes shape; five things to watch in Minnesota college football
Macalester and Minnesota State Mankato are scoring points in bunches to start the season.
Twins start seven-game road trip with series against White Sox
Minnesota holds a 6-3 advantage over Chicago this season but has a 33-38 road record.
Lynx gameday: WNBA playoff opener at Connecticut
The teams are meeting for the first time in the postseason.
Twins look for redemption against Tampa Bay
The Rays swept the Twins and limited them to three runs in three games when the two teams last met in June.
Gameday preview: Lynx close regular season against Fever, looking to settle playoff seed
A No. 5 finishing spot would mean a Dallas playoff matchup, while No. 6 would put them against Connecticut.
Gameday preview: Playoff berth in hand, Lynx go to Chicago
Still vying for a postseason spot, the Chicago Sky hold a tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Series preview: Twins open six-game homestand with three against against the Mets
The AL Central-leading Twins have lost 11 of their past 13 games against the Mets, who are out of the playoff race.
Big St. John's comeback and 4 other Minnesota college football story lines
The Johnnies head to Wisconsin-Whitewater this week, coming off their biggest rally from a halftime deficit in 29 years.
Twins-Cleveland series preview: Guardians get some reinforcements
The Twins maintain a five-game lead over the Guardians in the AL Central as the two rivals clash for the final time in the regular season.
Area college football roundup: St. John's rallies from 17-point deficit in fourth quarter, beats Trinity in OT
Conor Murphy kicked a field goal late in regulation to tie the score and another in overtime for the decisive points.
Lynx could clinch playoffs vs. league-worst Mercury
Phoenix is coming off seven losses in a row and has the league's worst away record.
Gameday preview: Lynx, Dream tied in WNBA playoff race
The teams stand sixth in the standings, though the Dream have swept the Lynx so far this season.
Twins visit Rangers for first half of six-game road trip
The Rangers are 42-24 at home, second in the American League.
Anglers getting crappies on Chisago-area lakes; Mille Lacs walleye bite good
Walleyes in Lake Pepin have been worth the late-summer effort recently, too.
No. 5 Lynx look to hold off No. 6 Washington, sweep season series
Coming off a loss to the Liberty at home, the Lynx will try to build on their luck on the road when they visit the Mystics in Washington.
10 things to know about Minnesota Division II and III football this season
St. John's and Bethel are looking forward to big seasons again, and the NSIC has a team picked first in that conference for the first time since 2007.
AL Central competitor Cleveland up next for Twins
The teams will play one another six times in 10 days, with three games at each team's home field.
Lynx look to exceed .500 for first time this season vs. New York
Defeating the Eastern Conference-leading Liberty would help the Lynx cement their No. 5 ranking in the WNBA playoff race.
Late-summer fishing productive at south end of Lake of the Woods, in some Ely area waters
The intense heat has slowed the bite in metro area lakes.
Wings have chance for revenge in rematch against Lynx on Thursday
The two teams are competing for playoff position as the WNBA season hits the final stretch.
Twins open seven-game homestand vs. AL West-best Rangers
The Texas Rangers, who have lost six games in a row, face the Minnesota Twins for the first time this season.
Another crucial game for WNBA playoff positioning as Lynx face Dallas
The Wings have a three-game winning streak and are in second place in the Western Conference — they're also 2-0 against the Lynx this season.
Central leader showdown as Twins cross the border to face Brewers
The AL Central-leading Twins, who swept the NL Central-leading Brewers in June at Target Field, will look to match those results in Milwaukee.
Lynx shoot for season sweep of Storm
Seattle has one last chance to avoid going 0-4 this season after winning 15 of the previous 16 matchups against the Lynx.
Lynx, holding onto 6th place in WNBA, start back-to-back vs. Storm
The two teams will meet against Sunday at Target Center. Seattle has won three of its past four and features Jewell Loyd, the leading scorer in the WNBA.
López looks to continue red hot run as Twins open series vs. Pirates
The Twins ace has thrown 13 scoreless innings over his last two starts. He'll look to keep it going against the Pirates, who are 14-23 in interleague games this season.
Rainy River, Detroit Lakes anglers are finding walleyes
Minnesota fishing report: Backwaters of the Mississippi River near Lake Pepin are producing panfish.
Gentry Academy selects Follmer as boys hockey coach
Gentry Academy named Kyle Follmer as its boys hockey coach. He had been an assistant coach for the New Mexico Ice Wolves junior team the past two seasons.
After losing season series, Twins get another crack at Tigers
The Tigers are 53-65 on the season, but they're 7-4 against the Twins. A two-game series at Target Field figures to be the last time the team's meet this season.
Series preview: Twins to face Phillies in first meeting since 2019
The AL Central-leading Twins continue their seven-game road trip against the defending NL champion Phillies.
Crankbaits are attracting fish near Red Wing; summer good on Mille Lacs
Minnesota fishing report: Near the Northwest Angle, the bite has been good for a variety of fish. Here's a look at what's going on in the waters around Minnesota.
Lynx face slumping Fever in last game before weeklong break
Indiana has won three of its past five games against Minnesota, but the team is in poor form, having lost nine of its past eleven.
As roster inches closer to full strength, Lynx head to Chicago
The last time the Lynx faced the Sky was the season opener in May, on Tuesday they meet in Chicago with Rachel Banham and Dorka Juhász close to returning.
Series preview: Twins have a losing record vs. Tigers this season
The Twins have won each of the previous six season series against Detroit.
Twins preview: Diamondbacks arrive for first time since 2017
Arizona will feature outfielder Tommy Pham, acquired at the trade deadline.
Gameday preview: Liberty might have revenge in mind for Lynx
Their last loss was to Minnesota in New York. Now, the Breanna Stewart-led Liberty visit Target Center on Friday.
Anglers having success at Lake of the Woods and near Northwest Angle
Minnesota fishing report: Activity has slowed among some species in Detroit Lakes area. Panfish are biting in Ely.
Twins open series vs. Cardinals, facing another last place team
After losing five consecutive games, the Twins will look to maintain their one game lead in the AL Central as the trade deadline looms.
After back-to-back showcase wins, Lynx wrap season series vs. Sun
After two of their best wins of the season, the Lynx end a three-game road trip with the second game of a back-to-back series against Connecticut.
Lynx look for first victory over Sun this season
Connecticut is tied with New York for the lead in the WNBA's Eastern Conference.
Lynx star Collier to miss game against Liberty after hurting ankle
Napheesa Collier left Wednesday's game — a 97-92 victory over Washington — with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter because of an injury to her right ankle
Muskie bite has improved on Leech Lake; walleye bite slows on Minnetonka
Minnesota fishing report: Fishing also has been solid on chain of lakes in Fairmont area
Twins-Royals preview: K.C. has lost nine of 10 meetings this season
Byron Buxton is back from the paternity list as the Twins try to end a two-game losing streak as they hit the road for six.
Preview: Lynx vs. Washington Mystics
Washington comes into Wednesday's game off a victory despite being severely injury plagued,
