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Ron Haggstrom

News Assistant | Sports
Phone: 612-673-4498
Recent content from Ron Haggstrom
David Flom was suspended by Eden Prairie for a portion of the 2022-234 season.

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
Devin Jordan of Eden Prairie set personal bests in three events in the Class 3A, Section 2 meet.

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.
Daniel Freitag is one of the top 100 basketball recruits in the nation, recruiting services agree.

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.
Girls basketball coach Tara Seifert left Chaska in early May and has landed at Cretin-Derham Hall.

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

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 first baseman Kellan Oligmueller got low for a throw during a 4-3 victory over Centennial that’s part of a nine-game winning streak.

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.
Infielder Johnny Conlin of Mounds View came up throwing during a game against Stillwater this season.

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’s Buzz Hannahan is in his first year as head coach, but he knows of what he speaks when he talks about the Raiders’ tradition.

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.
A ball got stuck in the mud during the boys state golf tournament in 2016.

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.
Will Whelan of Centennial

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’s players celebrated a victory over Centennial that helped the Rebels take the No. 1 position in the Metro Top 10.

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.
Emily Moes of Lakeville South

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.
Anders Wessman of Centennial took a cut Friday during a 4-3 loss to Champlin Park. Centennial is 11-4 and ranked eighth in the Metro Top 10. Champlin

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.
The high school golf season is headed toward a mid-June conclusion.

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.
Alexander Culver, after four seasons as head boys basketball coach at Roseville, is the new coach at Eden Prairie. Culver will replace David Flom, who

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.
Mahtomedi’s Thomas Meader played a round “I will remember for the rest of my life.”

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.
Rosemount’s Carter Theisen pitched Wednesday in a 4-1 victory over Prior Lake.

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.
Alyssa Sand of Albany has committed to St. Thomas for women’s basketball.

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.
Tara Seifert steps down as the Chaska girls basketball coach after 16 seasons.

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.
Sierre Lumpkin of Benilde-St. Margaret’s (left) and Kelly Boyle of Hopkins made NCAA Division I decisions about the future.

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.
Alissa Wernz has been in Maple Grove’s starting lineup since eighth grade.

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.
Elk River’s Cade Osterman (2) is one of the dozens of Star Tribune Prep Athletes of the Week selected for 2022-2023.

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

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.
Andy Berkvam, shown coaching Lakeville North in 2011, is returning to the school for a second run as girls basketball head coach.

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.
Mounds View shortstop Johnny Conlin came up throwing in an early-season game against Stillwater. Mounds View (3-2) is ranked seventh in the Metro Top

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.
Sawyer Hoffman of Farmington

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.
Ryan Liffrig saw his team’s lead slip away during the Class 3A girls basketball state championship game, a 66-60 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

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.
The offseason girls Dream Team, from left: Olivia Olson of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Maddyn Greenway of Providence Academy, Jordan Zubich of Mountain

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.
The offseason boys Dream Team, from left: Jayden Moore of Hopkins, Jackson McAndrew of Wayzata, Grayson Grove of Alexandria, Casmir Chavis of Park Cen

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.
Drew Rogers of Mounds View (left), from a game Friday against Stillwater, and Michael Miller of St. Thomas Academy, from a game Saturday against Benil

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.
Kathryn VanArragon of Blaine and Reese McCauley of Simley have three state titles between them.

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 exits high school as a state champion and Miss Basketball.

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.
Bloomington Jefferson’s Daniel Freitag said he’s playing too little at guard, the position he’ll play in college.

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.
David Flom talked to his team Jan. 24, during his first game after being reinstated from suspension for reading a racial slur.

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 finished as Class 3A runner-up two seasons in a row with Nasir Whitlock at point guard. He was named Mr. Basketball.

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.
Totino-Grace’s Taison Chatman drew a foul against DeLaSalle’s PJ Pounds in the state final.

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.
Sydney Drevlow attacked the course during the Junior National championships this month in Fairbanks, Alaska.

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.
Alpine skier Josh Nelson gave West Lutheran, student population 133, a state champion in February.

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 guard Liv McGill scored against Stillwater in the first half of a Class 4A semifinal in March.

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 players enjoyed the moment after successfully defending their state championship.

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 senior Aiden Wichmann shot a floater over New Life Academy defenders Saturday at Target Center. Wichmann scored 18 points in his

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.
New Life Academy’s Colton Hendricks stretched to obstruct Spring Grove’s Tysen Grinde in the first half.

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.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Aiden Wichmann drove for a layup on his way to 23 points Friday.

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.
Aiden Wichmann of Russell-Tyler-Ruthton twisted his way out of the defense of Nevis’ Alex Lester in the quarterfinals.

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’s Isaac Asuma (3) drives against Border West defenders Clint Determan (35) and Andrew Walker-Hannemann (23) in the first half..

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’s Drew Werkman (50) is congratulated by teammate Tucker Haroldson after making a three-pointer in the first half against Nevis

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.
Lakeville North’s Hudson Vaith found plenty of open space under the basket for a layup.

Guards lift Lakeville North over Buffalo in 4A boys basketball quarterfinals

Hudson Vaith and Matt Drake, not the Panthers' marquee names, made a difference.
Eastview’s Chet Kloss challenged Minnetonka’s Jordan Cain (20) under the basket during the first half.

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.
Andover’s Sam Musungu drew a foul from Park Center’s Chiang Ring during the first half Tuesday.

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.
The Star Tribune All-Metro boys basketball first team, from left: Hayden Tibbits of Wayzata, Boden Kapke of Holy Family, Nasir Whitlock of DeLaSalle,

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.
Top row, from left: Lakeville North boys player Jack Robison and girls player Haley Bryant. Bottom row, from left: Minnehaha Academy girls player Addi

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.
Kendall McGee (30) of Benilde-St. Margaret’s competed for a loose ball with Jordyn Johnson of DeLaSalle during the quarterfinals.

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 guard Maddyn Greenway attempted a shot against Albany forward Alyssa Sand in the first half Saturday.

Providence Academy turns it up, rolls past Albany for 2A title

Providence Academy trailed at halftime but surged to its second consecutive state championship.
The Mountain Iron-Buhl crew celebrated with the trophy after winning the Class 1A girls basketball 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 guard Harley Roering made a three-pointer against Mountain Iron-Buhl, one of four for her in the game.

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 guard Lainey Braulick attempted a three-pointer in the first half against Hayfield.

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 players celebrated their come-from-behind victory against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa on Friday.

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.
Abby Berge, who led Belgrade-Brooten-Elrose with 18 points, headed to the basket Thursday.

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’s Gabby Lira found a seam in the Minneota defense during Thursday’s game.

Mountain Iron-Buhl takes out nemesis Minneota in 1A girls

Mountain Iron-Buhl had lost four state tournament games in a row to Minneota.
A defender weighed in from behind when Benilde-St. Margaret’s Olivia Olson drove against DeLaSalle and Aneisha Scott on Wednesday.

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.
Stewartville’s Savannah Hedin drove to the basket around Katelyn Jamtgaard in the second half.

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.
Becker’s Maren Westin found plenty of room to shoot against Marshall and produced 27 points.

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.
Clockwise from top left: Becker’s Maren Westin, Eagan’s Lydia Schmitter, New London-Spicer coach Mike Dreier and Hopkins’ Taylor Woodson.

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.
The girls basketball All-Metro first team, from left: Kennedy Sanders of Chaska, Olivia Olson of Benilde-St. Margaret, Metro Player of the Year Tessa

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.
Hopkins, Becker, Providence Academy and Mountain-Iron Buhl are the top seeds in the four classes.

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.
Keaton Walock has been in goal for 23 victories, 10 of them shutouts, this season for Northfield.

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.
Top: Beulah Ankeny, left, and Mae Gross, photographed in 2018, were part of the unbeatable Grand Meadow girls basketball teams of 1929-40. Bottom: Mik

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.
Braedy Laliberte of Maple Grove went to the basket against JJ Ware of Park Center on Friday, when Maple Grove won 67-64 and shook up the Metro Top 10.

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.
Chaska and Eden Prairie (top) will meet in a section final, and Hopkins and Wayzata will meet in another, and that will mean two of the top five teams

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.
The boys swimming and diving state meet begins Thursday and concludes Saturday.

Breck/Blake juggernaut back for more at boys swimming state meet

The combined team has won six consecutive Class 1A championships.
Wayzata’s Jackson McAndrew (left) and DeLaSalle’s Isreal Moses V are key figures for Metro Top 10 teams that will meet Tuesday. McAndrew averages

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.
Minnetonka’s Aaliyah Crump drove on Wayzata’s Shannon Fornshell on Tuesday, when Minnetonka won the Lake Conference game 57-54.

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.
Reagan Kelley celebrated with her coaches Saturday at the Class 1A gymnastics state meet.

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.
From left, St. Michael-Albertville’s Tessa Johnson and Hopkins’ Nunu Agara and Taylor Woodson tangled in a Lake Conference game.

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.
Chaska has won 18 games in a row behind the leadership of senior guard Kennedy Sanders (2).

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.