Recent content from Ron Haggstrom
Coach who left Eden Prairie amid controversy hired at private school
The former Eden Prairie coach, who resigned in April following a controversy over reading a racial slur to his players, has been hired at Southwest Christian, a Class 2A school in Chaska
Prep Athletes of the Week: Eden Prairie track and field star runs, jumps, wins
Devin Jordan set personal bests in three events and broke the school record in two of them at the section track and field meet.
Badgers top Gophers for Minnesota's No. 1 boys basketball recruit in 2024
Daniel Freitag, who played for Bloomington Jefferson but is headed to California for his senior year, also considered Baylor, Notre Dame and Virginia.
Seifert takes over Cretin-Derham Hall girls basketball after leaving Chaska
Tara Seifert left Chaska in early May after leading the Hawks to a 27-2 record last season. She will also serve as assistant athletics director for girls athletics with the Raiders.
High school golfers who faced suspensions qualify for state
Three of the five boys golfers qualified in section play this week and the other two who were involved in the high school league controversy will make their bid for state next week.
Champlin Park finishes atop baseball Metro Top 10
The Rebels, riding a nine-game winning streak heading into sections, closed the season just ahead of Cretin-Derham Hall.
High school baseball sections present challenges for metro powers
Teams from the Suburban East and Lake conferences will run into each other again in the postseason.
Cretin-Derham Hall hefts history as it pursues 2023 baseball success
The Raiders are regaining prominence, having carried Class 4A's No. 1 ranking into their section tournament.
Controversy settled: Five top high school golfers won't be suspended
Before backing off, the state high school league had warned that the players faced suspensions if they went ahead with plans to play in certain outside events.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Pitcher having a season in the (strike) zone
Centennial's Will Whelan, committed to the Gophers, began with a 17-strikeout game and aims to end with a state tournament trip. In the zone? That's 52 strikeouts and six walks by a pitcher who says he used to be "all about velocity."
Champlin Park reaches the top of the high school baseball Metro Top 10
The Rebels are 13-4 and displaced Cretin-Derham Hall, which lost twice last week and fell to 14-4.
Prep Athletes of the Week: ACL injury changed lacrosse star's life
Lakeville South standout Emily Moes had time to consider "balance in life," and regained health has her scoring big for the state' s No. 1 team.
Cretin-Derham Hall stays perched atop high school baseball Metro Top 10
As a tight schedule impacts pitchers, Edina, Wayzata and Chanhassen push hard for the top spot.
32 finalists for Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Golf. Who's on the list?
The awards, to be given out for the seventh time this year, will go to the top senior boy and girl golfer in Minnesota. Here are the names and when the winners will be announced.
Eden Prairie hires Roseville's Culver as new boys basketball coach
Alexander Culver, who had been coaching at Roseville, replaces David Flom, who resigned amid protests over his use of a racial slur in a classroom setting.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Nine holes in 30? For Mahtomedi golfer, it's just a start
Thomas Meader opened with a 60-foot eagle putt and strung together four birdies on his way to a winning 67. "It's something I will remember the rest of my life," he said.
No more unbeatens in high school baseball. So who's No. 1 now?
Cretin-Derham Hall and New Prague suffered their first losses of the season. One of them still holds a place in the Top 10. The other has vanished.
6-foot-3 Albany girls basketball star commits to St. Thomas
Alyssa Sand raised her profile when she put up 29 points and 21 rebounds in the Class 2A girls basketball final against Providence Academy.
After going 27-2, Chaska girls basketball coach leaves after 16 years
Tara Seifert led the Hawks to their lone state title in 2021 and last season to the best record in school history.
Girls hoops standouts from Benilde, Hopkins reveal college decisions
Each will play in Division I, Sierra Lumpkin at Loyola Marymount and Kelly Boyle at North Carolina Greensboro.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Maple Grove softball captain aims higher
From her No. 3 spot in the lineup, Crimson star Alissa Wernz sees a team that can make a run to the state tournament — and win it.
Star Tribune 2022-23 Prep Athletes of the Week
Click here to find our collection of standout athletes from around the metro for entire school year.
Cretin-DH, New Prague: Unbeatens set borders of baseball Metro Top 10
A regular season that seemingly just began has three weeks remaining, and most teams are still seeking consistency. Our Nos, 1 and 10 teams share something unique in the rankings.
A girls basketball coach returns to where he reached Hall of Fame heights
Andy Berkvam is back at Lakeville North, where his teams won three state titles before he left to coach boys at Northfield.
Amid rain, snow and other woes, a high school baseball Metro Top 10 emerges
Watch for change as the season plays out, the weather steadies and games grow in importance.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Patience pays for a south metro pitcher
After waiting behind seniors last season, Sawyer Hoffman of Farmington threw a two-hitter in his first start of 2023 after pitching mainly on the JV last year.
Girls basketball Coach of the Year resigns after finishing second at state
Ryan Liffrig's Stewartville team finished second in the Class 3A tournament, going 29-3 with a 26-game winning streak.
On in the offseason: Girls summer basketball Dream Team, 15 to watch
The high school basketball season isn't far in the past, but the players are picking new sides and heading into the heart of the AAU season.
Need more hoops? Here's an AAU Dream Team and 20 boys to know
Colleges are calling for the players on this list, and most have left their options open. There's a 250-team event this week in which you can see many of these players.
High school baseball: 20 players, 15 teams and five things to know
It starts with arms at East Ridge, with a new head coach at Cretin-Derham Hall and at the top of the lineup at Benilde-St. Margaret's.
High school golf preview: Friends, rivals set to battle for state title
Kathryn VanArragon and Reese McCauley won the past two Class 3A girls championships and plan to play college golf right nearby.
St. Michael-Albertville guard Tessa Johnson reigns as Miss Basketball
Johnson, who has signed with South Carolina, averaged 23.3 points per game as a senior.
Jefferson star Freitag explains reason behind leaving state for senior year
Minnesota's top 2024 boys basketball prospect said he'll play in California to be in a better position to make the transition to college basketball.
Families to get input in hire after Eden Prairie coach resigns over slur
A statement released by the school after David Flom's resignation included a request to families for "feedback from you and our players" as the school seeks a new coach.
DeLaSalle point guard Whitlock adds another honor: Mr. Basketball
Whitlock averaged 26.7 points per game in a season that ended, again, with the Islanders as Class 3A state runner-up.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Totino-Grace's Chatman goes out on top
Senior point guard Taison Chatman was at his best in the Class 3A boys basketball state championship game.
Finland, Alaska, state races make Drevlow Metro Girls Nordic Skier of the Year
Sydney Drevlow of Hopkins missed the high school state meet and raced, successfully, for the United States instead. That was part of a winter schedule that took her well beyond the state's borders.
With help from family, West Lutheran's Nelson is Metro Boys Alpine Skier of the Year
Part of a successful skiing family, Josh Nelson has something his brothers don't: A state championship that capped his career at the small private school in Plymouth.
Hopkins star McGill picks Florida, will play for ex-Minnesota standout
Florida coach Kelly Rae Finley, the former Breck star, made the trek back to Minnesota for the girls state tournament. It paid off. Liv McGill is state's No. 2-ranked player in the 2024 class.
Totino-Grace holds off DeLaSalle for Class 3A boys basketball title
The Eagles, propelled by Ohio State-bound guard Taison Chatman, repeated as champions.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton turns back New Life Academy, wins Class 1A title
New Life Academy made up all but three points of a 16-point halftime deficit.
Change of pace sends New Life Academy past Spring Grove and into 1A final
An 18-18 tie at halftime became a blowout when New Life Academy scored 14 points in a row.
R-T-R tops Cherry, Asuma in 1A semifinal with second-half rally
Aiden Wichmann scored 23 points with 10 assists and hit high-pressure free throws for Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, which trailed for much of the game.
Setting up the small-class semis: A look at the matchups in 2A, 1A
The boys basketball state tournament awaits finalists from Friday's games in Target Center.
Cherry picks up foul-plagued star Asuma, beats Border West
Border West wanted to prevent Gophers recruit Isaac Asuma from getting to the basket. But the plan didn't account for Cherry's Noah Sundquist, who hit 14 of 15 field-goal tries and scored 30 points.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton starts fast, doesn't stop in win over Nevis
Aiden Wichmann and Drew Werkman scored more than half of their team's points as the Knights moned into the Class 1A semifinals by knocking off the young Nevis team.
Guards lift Lakeville North over Buffalo in 4A boys basketball quarterfinals
Hudson Vaith and Matt Drake, not the Panthers' marquee names, made a difference.
Adams breaks tie in final minutes, Eastview beats Minnetonka in 4A
The score was tied with 1:54 to play, but Eastview rode a boost from Myles Adams, who hadn't been much of an offensive factor, to victory.
Park Center controls 4A boys quarterfinal, routs Andover
The Pirates wielded their height advantage and showed off their balance in the victory, taking an 18-point halftime lead and having six players score in double figures.
25 standouts: 2022-23 Star Tribune all-metro boys basketball teams
The players have a range of skills — scorers, rebounders, distributors. They range in size from 5-10 to 6-11 and school size from 2A to 4A.
Tripling up on angles from the boys basketball state tournament
Boys-girls doubles abound, champs from big classes are back, new winners in 2A and 1A are guaranteed.
Benilde-St. Margaret's wins without Kendall McGee and for her
McGee, a sophomore point guard, was injured during the semifinals and on crutches for the final.
Providence Academy turns it up, rolls past Albany for 2A title
Providence Academy trailed at halftime but surged to its second consecutive state championship.
Mountain Iron-Buhl rolls to Class 1A girls basketball championship
A dominant victory over BOLD in the final gave the Rangers their first state title.
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa's Harley Roering shoots, scores, inspires
She hadn't played or practiced since a February injury, but she made four three-pointers Friday.
BOLD stops Hayfield's star with unique defense to win 1A semifinal
BOLD turned to a defense designed to hold down two Hayfield standouts, and it worked.
Mountain Iron-Buhl overcomes 11-point deficit to reach 1A title game
The top-ranked Rangers trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes to play before going on a 24-9 run to quash Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa's upset try.
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa stands tall vs. Underwood in 1A quarterfinal
Five players, all 5-10 or taller, combined for 50 points in the Jaguars' victory.
Mountain Iron-Buhl takes out nemesis Minneota in 1A girls
Mountain Iron-Buhl had lost four state tournament games in a row to Minneota.
Benilde-St. Margaret's perseveres in quarterfinal victory over DeLaSalle
When sophomore Kendall McGee joined Olivia Olson with a scoring burst, the Red Knights pulled away.
Ninth-grader Theobald scores 18 to lead Stewartville past Grand Rapids in 3A
Stewartville will take a winning streak of 25 games into the semifinals Thursday after breaking open a close game at the start of the second half.
Top-seed Becker beats Marshall in 3A behind Westin's 27 points
Maren Westin scored 17 points in the first half while her teammates were shooting 3-for-21. Becker won despite shooting only 38 percent from the floor.
State girls basketball: Five matters to mull and three things to know
Study up on first-timer Eagan, injuries that hampered two top seeds, big-time scorers and coaches who can't stay away. The tournament begins on Wednesday morning.
Metro's Top 25: Star Tribune's All-Metro teams for girls basketball
The first team has four players headed to prominent Division I programs and one sought-after freshman. Seven players headed for D-I schools are on the second team and honorable mention list.
Top seeds for girls basketball state tournament are no surprise
Hopkins in Class 4A, Becker in 3A, Providence Academy in 2A and Mountain-Iron Buhl in 1A got No. 1s.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Northfield goalie Walock lives dream
Keaton Walock and his teammates will play Wednesday in the Class 1A boys hockey tournament.
Two Minnesota schools, each tied to girls hoops history, seek state spots
The Grand Meadow Superlarks are aiming for their first state tournament berth; New-London-Spicer coach Mike Dreier is going for his 20th.
After week of chaos, there's a new No. 1 in metro boys basketball
The top three teams lost, including previous No. 1 Park Center for the second time in three games. All told, six of the Metro Top 10 were knocked off during the final week before section play.
Weekend update: Top girls teams will eliminate each other before state
The state's top five Class 4A girls basketball teams all have earned the right to play for a section championship. At least two of them are guaranteed not to make it to state. "It is really a crime, isn't it?" one coach said.
Breck/Blake juggernaut back for more at boys swimming state meet
The combined team has won six consecutive Class 1A championships.
Heavy round of upsets in boys Metro Top 10 causes light change
Four of the top seven teams lost last week, including a stunner involving No. 1 Park Center. The end result: Not much movement because few rivals took advantage of their chance to rise up.
Girls basketball Metro Top 10 remains a Lake Conference playground
The next test is to see how many Lake teams make it through section tournaments.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Perseverance pays for gymnast who almost quit
Reagan Kelley of Watertown-Mayer/Mound Westonka repeated as Class 1A all-around champion in a sport she once considered giving up after back and shoulder injuries.
Three Division I recruits combine for 110 points in Hopkins-STMA clash
STMA's Tessa Johnson and Hopkins' Nunu Agara and Taylor Woodson showed why they're heading for Division I schools. And there were other numbers to note in recent prep basketball action.
Girls basketball Metro Top 10 teams keep it stable and steady
One game led to two teams switching spots, and streaking Chaska stayed No. 1.
