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Cassidy Hettesheimer

Sports reporter | Newsroom
Instagram: @cassidyhphotos

Cassidy Hettesheimer is a high school sports reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune.


Hettesheimer joined the Minnesota Star Tribune as a preps reporter after her summer 2024 internship in the sports department. From Georgia, she graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia before heading north. She previously covered global sports as an intern at CNN and reported for The Associated Press at the 2023 Women's World Cup. When she's not out reporting, she's running, playing soccer or watching women's sports.
Recent content from Cassidy Hettesheimer
Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) scored over Warriors Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga on Tuesday at Target Center.

Donte DiVincenzo faces the Golden State team that helped revive his career

The Timberwolves guard took a cue from Steph Curry and became a prolific three-point shooter
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reaches for a pass while defended by Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the second quarter Tuesd

Warriors lose guard Stephen Curry in Game 1 against Wolves

The All-Star guard suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out before halftime of the playoff game at Target Center.
St. Louis Park lacrosse player Ailish Fitzpatrick. With six games left in the regular season, the midfielder has a state-high 40 goals along with 12 a

Prep Athletes of the Week: State-leading scorer in girls lacrosse looks to lead team to state

Ailish Fitzpatrick, a Florida Tech commit, has a state-high 40 goals in seven games for St. Louis Park.
Two-time shot put Olympian Payton Otterdahl coaches throwers at Rosemount High School on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

How Rosemount track and field built a strong throws culture and produced an Olympian

An April clinic led by Olympian alum Payton Otterdahl showed off Rosemount's strong shot put and discus programs.
Minnesota women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has already received commitments from in-state recruits for 2026 and 2027. She has now offered a sc

Hill-Murray seventh grader gets offer from Gophers women's basketball

Minnesota joins Iowa as two Big Ten programs recruiting guard Ashlee Wilson.
Ashlee Wilson, right, is a top recruit in Minnesota's Class of 2030. Her sister Mya, left, is PrepZone’s No. 1 player in Minnesota’s Class of 2027

Hill-Murray seventh-grader gets offer from Big Ten power

Iowa became the first program to offer a scholarship to Ashlee Wilson, who averaged 13.8 points per game for the Pioneers last season.
Staples-Motley junior Audrey Brownell competes in the 4x800 — one of the four events in which she already holds Class 1A state titles.

Staples-Motley high school runner has chance to do the unthinkable

Audrey Brownell could become the first Minnesota runner to win a high school state title in every distance event.
Minneapolis Roosevelt players prepare to play Camden as the inaugural high school girls flag football league opens Sunday at Washburn High School in M

High school flag football becomes real as games begin, enthusiasm reigns

All seven Minneapolis schools competed at Washburn High School, and 44 other teams were spread over 11 sites.
LeBron James of the Lakers reacts to a fan's comments on Friday night at Target Center.



  ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com

LeBron turns back time, but Doncic's illness hurts Lakers in loss to Wolves

James scored 38 points in Game 3 and carried the Lakers as Doncic was "vomiting all afternoon."
Vikings players Harrison Phillips and C.J. Ham talk with high school flag football players at a media day the Vikings hosted March 30 ahead of the spr

'New tricks up our sleeves': Hundreds of Minnesota girls kick off flag football careers this weekend

Fifty-one schools will participate in the spring's historic league sponsored by the Vikings.
Wayzata guard Christian Wiggins, shown during the Class 4A  boys basketball championship game against Cretin-Derham Hall, has chosen Iowa State for co

Minnesota's top Class of 2026 boys basketball recruit commits to Iowa State

Wayzata's Christian Wiggins had scholarship offers from various Big 12 and Big Ten teams, including one from new Gophers coach Niko Medved.
Maple Grove and Minnetonka met in the Class 6A state championship in 2024. Now the programs will compete against each other for a spot in the state pl

Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Moorhead football in same section after realignment

Maple Grove and Minnetonka faced off in last year's Class 6A high school state title game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Benjamin Geiger of Northfield High, left, and Freddie Schneider of Edina High are among six Minnesotans selected to join USA Hockey’s under-17 natio

Six Minnesotans picked for USA Hockey's under-17 national development team

The group includes Edina's Freddie Schneider, Benjamin Geiger from Northfield and Hill-Murray defenseman Carson Scott
Corey, identified by a nickname at her family’s request, is a transgender high school track and cross-country athlete in southeast Minnesota.

Two Minnesota transgender teens share how they navigate high school sports amid Trump's policy change

As the Minnesota State High School League faces federal pressure to change its bylaws, the athletes and their families share their experiences in competitive sports.
Gabriella Keefer, left, of St. Michael-Albertville finishes second in the Class 3A 100-meter race at the 2024 state meet, running 11.96 seconds.

Meet 13 Minnesota track and field athletes to keep an eye on this spring

In the state's biggest high school sport, a baker's dozen top competitors return in events ranging from the 100 meters to the discus.
First place finisher Linnea Ousdigian, a sophomore from Mounds View, had the course to herself at the start of the girl’s Nordic classic pursuit rac

All-Minnesota Girls Nordic Skier of the Year: Linnea Ousdigian of Mounds View

The sophomore repeated as state champ and also as the Star Tribune's award winner.
First place finisher Logan Drevlow of Hopkins double poled at the start of the boy’s Nordic classic pursuit race. He finished with a combined time o

All-Minnesota Boys Nordic Skier of the Year: Logan Drevlow of Hopkins

Logan Drevlow, a sophomore, repeated as state champion in Nordic skiing, this time winning by 50 seconds, and since has added national championships.
Organized and sponsored by the Vikings, the spring league is not sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League but is a step toward sanctioning

Vikings launch flag football league for high school girls in Minnesota

Games will be played on Sunday, allowing athletes to double-dip and play flag football alongside spring sports such as softball, lacrosse or track.
Caden Burns of St. Paul Academy on his 38.01 second run on Helsinki. His combinded total of 1:12.97 earned him the boy’s championship. The Minnesota

Meet Caden Burns of St. Paul Academy, the All-Minnesota Boys Alpine Skier of the Year

Burns won the boys Alpine skiing individual state championship in February.
Taylor Voight a junior from Hill-Murray, skis her way to first place with an unofficial time of 37.70 on her first run on Helsinki. The Minnesota high

Meet Taylor Voigt of Hill-Murray, the All-Minnesota Girls Alpine Skier of the Year

Voigt won her second girls Alpine skiing state title in February while leading the Pioneers to another team title.
Albany players celebrate their victory against Waseca in the Class 2A boys basketball championship game Saturday.

Albany reigns as undefeated Class 2A boys basketball champion after holding off Waseca

Waseca tied the game in the second half, but All-Minnesota standouts Zeke Austin and Sam Hondl pushed back.
Wayzata forward Tommy Shunmugavelu dives for the ball in the first half against Cretin-Derham Hall.

Boys basketball live blog: Scores and updates from boys basketball championship games

Earlier Saturday, Alexandria defeated Mankato East 73-64 in the 3A final, Dawson-Boyd beat Cherry 81-74 in 1A, and Albany overcame Waseca 70-63 in 2A.
Albany guard Zeke Austin drives against Caledonia's Ben Stemper in a Class 2A semifinal Friday.

Albany and Waseca, the top two seeds, will play for the Class 2A boys basketball title

Albany turned away Caledonia and Waseca held off Breck in the semifinals.
Albany guard Braeden Justin (5) shouts his satisfaction toward teammate Zeke Austin after sinking a three-pointer in the first half Friday in the Clas

Boys basketball state tournament: The matchups are set for a day of championships

Cherry and Dawson-Boyd advanced to the 1A final, and Albany and Waseca reached the 2A semifinal title game.
Cretin-Derham Hall guard Jojo Mitchell falls to the court as he’s fouled by Maple Grove’s Bo Draheim in the second half Thursday.

Boys basketball state tournament: Pairings are in place for Class 4A, 3A championship games

Wayzata will take on Cretin-Derham Hall in 4A, and Alexandria will play Mankato East in 3A.
Lucas Gustafson (3) of Mankato East drives against Grant Hansen (11) of Orono in the second half Thursday at Williams Arena.

Boys basketball: Alexandria, Mankato East to play for Class 3A state championship

Alexandria toppled three-time defending champ Totino-Grace in the semifinals, and Mankato East knocked off Orono.
Wayzata forward Tommy Shunmugavelu goes down after he was fouled by Moorhead forward Austin Dryburgh, and Wayzata guard Samuel Mohs tries to grab the

Boys basketball state tournament: Thursday's semifinals are set in the three biggest classes

Class 4A's higher seeds all won, though Wayzata was tested by Moorhead, and Classes 3A and 2A also went according to form.
Hopkins players rush the court to celebrate their victory over Maple Grove and their Class 4A championship.

Hopkins reigns as Minnesota's all-time leader in girls basketball state championships

The Royals, with 28 points from sophomore Erma Walker, won their ninth title, breaking a tie with Rochester Lourdes.
Maple Grove guard Jordan Ode shoots as Hopkins guard Liv Bell defends during the first half of the Class 4A girls basketball state championship game.

Hopkins closes championship day with a record-setting Class 4A girls basketball victory

West Central Area defeated MACCRAY to win Class 1A, Providence Academy topped Crosby-Ironton in 2A, and Benilde-St. Margaret's beat Marshall in 3A.
Providence Academy's starters cheer as a teammate scores against Minnewaska Area late in the second half of Providence's victory in the Class 2A semif

Providence Academy and Crosby-Ironton, a perfect pairing, reach Class 2A girls basketball final

Each of the finalists remained undefeated with a comfortable victory in the semifinals.
Providence Academy guard Maddyn Greenway drives past Minnewaska Area guard Lauryn Ankeny in the first half of the first Class 2A semifinal Friday.

Girls basketball state tournament: Pairings are set for four championship games

Providence Academy and Crosby-Ironton, both unbeaten, reached the Class 2A final. West Central and MACCRAY upset their way into the 1A title game.
Maple Grove's Kyla Nygaard celebrates with teammates after the Crimson defeated Lakeville North in a Class 4A semifinal.

Hopkins reaches Class 4A girls basketball state final and will go for a record against Maple Grove

The Royals will play Saturday for their ninth state championship, which would break the record shared with Rochester Lourdes.
Lakeville North's Jessica Montouri is guarded by Maple Grove's Sophia Kormann in the first half of a Class 4A semifinal at Williams Arena.

Girls basketball state tournament: Championship pairings are set in the three biggest classes

In Class 4A, Hopkins will play Maple Grove for the title. In Class 3A, Benilde-St. Margaret's will take on Marshall.
Benilde-St. Margaret's forward Jalen Wilson steals a pass from Orono guard Nolan Groves (5) late in the second half of a game Jan. 30.

For Minnesota teen, father's memory lives on through love of basketball

Benilde-St. Margaret's forward Jalen Wilson, a Division I recruit and Mr. Basketball finalist, has dedicated his senior year to his late dad.
New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva takes on top seed Providence Academy in the Class 2A quarterfinals at Williams Arena.

Girls basketball state tournament: Three classes' worth of semifinalists are settled

Classes 4A, 3A and 2A played it down to four teams Wednesday, and Class 1A will take that step Thursday.
Christian Wiggins of Wayzata scores over Jayden Moore of Hopkins in the second half of the Class 4A, Section 6 championship Tuesday.

Wayzata overcomes Hopkins again, moves on to boys basketball state tournament

The Trojans won the annual Class 4A, Section 6 championship matchup for the fifth year in a row.
Minnehaha Academy High School guard Addi Mack brings the ball down the court in the class 2A game against Providence Academy, ranked No. 1 at Minnehah

Dandy Dozen: 12 players to watch at the 2025 girls basketball state tournament

The list of talented players represent individuals most likely to shine in the 2025 state tournament
Khyah Harper was a star for the Gophers, and now she's a pro.

These 3 new pros are reshaping views on women's soccer in Minnesota

Edina's Maddie Dahlien, Orono's Clare Gagne and Centennial's Khyah Harper turned successful college careers into pro contracts while setting a new standard for Minnesota prep soccer.
Moorhead forward Mason Kraft skates away after he scored his fourth goal of the first period.

Records take a beating in Class 2A boys hockey championship game

The attendance was an all-time high, and Mason Kraft of Moorhead equaled a John Mayasich achievement. Though it lost, even Stillwater made a mark.
At left, Moorhead forward Mason Kraft (19) and Moorhead forward Brooks Cullen (8) celebrate after winning the Class 2A Championship game. Cullen shot

Presenting the boys hockey state tournament champions: Moorhead in Class 2A and East Grand Forks in 1A

Moorhead won its first title, outracing Stillwater 7-6 on four goals in the first period by Mason Kraft. East Grand Forks triumphed after bringing a .500 record to state.
Stillwater defenseman Jonas Kohn (4) celebrates near the student section after scoring a goal against St. Thomas Academy in the first period of a Clas

Moorhead and Stillwater advance to Class 2A boys hockey championship game

The Spuds pulled off a 4-3 victory over Edina on a goal with 58.1 seconds left. The Ponies won on goaltender Cal Conway's second shutout of the tournament.
Stillwater defenseman Cal Grilz (5) intercepts a pass intended for St. Thomas Academy forward Peter Murray in the second period of a Class 2A semifina

Boys hockey state tournament: Saturday's championship matchups are set

It'll be Moorhead vs. Stillwater in Class 2A and St. Cloud Cathedral vs. East Grand Forks in Class 1A.
Hopkins senior wing Lauren Hillesheim guards Wayzata senior forward Katie Kelzenberg in the first half of the Class 4A, Section 6 championship game at

Hopkins overcomes Wayzata, snags spot in the girls basketball state tournament

The result was in keeping with the past 10 years, despite the Trojans' victories in the regular season.
Maeve Zinkel goes for a big run while Ellie Reddin pulls her flag in a September game in Edina.

Flag football leagues coming to Minnesota, with Vikings investing in high school girls, colleges

The Vikings are powering a new flag football pipeline that will offer new prep and collegiate opportunities for Minnesota's female athletes.
Dodge County celebrates with its Class 1A championship trophy after defeating Warroad in overtime Saturday.

Dodge County wins Class 1A girls hockey title in overtime, ends Warroad's push for four in a row

A review showed the Wildcats had scored with 1:03 left in overtime, after the Warriors surged in the third period to tie it.
Warroad players celebrate winning the Class 1A girls hockey championship in 2022 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Warriors have been to the stat

Girls hockey: Statistics that define state tournament week

Detailed analysis of the teams at the state tournament ... through a by-the-numbers point of view.
Holy Family's players gather to celebrate their victory over No. 1 Minnetonka in the section championship game.

Holy Family wins in overtime, ends Minnetonka's run of girls hockey state tournament appearances

The Fire had lost to the top-ranked Skippers in the past four section championship games.
Evidence of a fierce rivalry showed when Edina forward Charlotte Theirl, left, and  Minnetonka defender Bella Finnegan clashed in January.

Unrivaled rivalries: The 10 most electric high school matchups in Minnesota

Star Tribune readers who double as prep sports fans made their cases for the best grudge matches in the state.
Minnesota Hockey executive director Joe Delich said helmets are a good idea for coaches when on the ice.

Hockey coach's head injury leads to new calls for stronger helmet requirement

No official policy from the MSHSL regarding helmets exists, but that doesn't preclude individual schools from taking action to minimize risk, officials said.
Swimmer Drew Ploof, who is one of three Minnesotans heading to Missouri's swim and dive program next year, speaks at Eden Prairie's signing day on Wed

Signing day: Why three of Minnesota's best swimmers are headed to Missouri

Enrolled at different high schools but teammates on the same swim club, Libby Bakker, Drew Ploof and Annabelle Wentzel often talked about going to college together.
Simley wrestler Vristol Short lifts Lila Fumich in a dance move for a Simley Overtime video in the school's studio space.

No pins, escapes or falls this time. Prominent wrestling coach is teaching about Instagram reels.

Will Short, leader of Simley's successful wrestling team and also the school's activities director, is guiding a social media experiment that promotes the school's athletics.
Edina forward and captain Whitney Horton (15) talks to her team around the net before they play Minnetonka earlier this year.

Girls hockey: Section tournaments to keep an eye on as postseason kicks off

Many of Minnesota's best teams will meet in the section tournament, with only a few able to skate on to the state tournament.
Orono guard Brennan Doherty (30) fouls Benilde-St. Margaret's Jaleel Donley in the first half Thursday at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Benilde-St. Margaret's turns back Orono in boys basketball, soothing a past pain

The Spartans kept the Red Knights from reaching state last season with an improbable, buzzer-beating victory in the Class 3A, Section 6 final.
Mya Wilson, left, and sister Ashlee are a one-two combination for the Hill-Murray girls basketball team.

Hill-Murray's Wilson sisters, a sophomore and a seventh-grader, pursue a big goal

Both Division I prospects, Mya and Ashlee Wilson are working to get their school back to the Class 3A tournament.
Minnetonka senior Taylor Landstrom is a rare national-level equestrian show jumper hailing from Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Landstrom)

High school equestrian and family make sacrifices on path to college scholarship

Minnetonka's Taylor Landstrom spends months in Florida each school year to continue training and competing.
The 2017 state champ team of Caroline Homer, Erin Bianco (that year's individual state champ), Ryne Prigge, Emma Terwilliger, Laura Pasmick, Brooke Pa

These Minnesota high school skiers thaw themselves after races with dance battles

Tradition began shortly before Ely's girls team won 2017 state title.
On Thursday, Major League Volleyball announced its arrival as the fourth professional volleyball league in the United States, with plans to begin play

Major League Volleyball is coming to Minnesota

On Thursday, Major League Volleyball announced its arrival as the fourth professional volleyball league in the United States, with plans to begin play in January 2026.
Cassidy Hettesheimer poses for a portrait at a girls hockey game Friday in Edina.

Star Tribune reporter wants to know: Which Minnesota high schools have the best sports rivalries?

Writer Cassidy Hettesheimer seeks readers' help in pinpointing the top prep rivals in the state.
Frost forward Taylor Heise (27) celebrates her game-winning goal in overtime against the Fleet on Wednesday night.

Heise scores game-winning goal as Frost defeat Fleet 2-1 in overtime

Minnesota's win vaulted the Frost into first place in the PWHL before Montreal moved one point ahead of them late Wednesday.
Jen Larrick takes over Minnesota Aurora's head coaching job after previously working for the team as an assistant coach. (Photo courtesy Minnesota Aur

Minnesota Aurora hires former assistant Larrick as new head coach

Jen Larrick replaces Colette Montgomery, becoming the Aurora's third head coach as they enter their fourth season.
A loop made of artificial snow had to do in December 2023 at Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis.

Among Minnesota's high school Nordic skiers, concern piles up as snow doesn't

Teams might have to deal with extra travel and cost and get more creative if the weather doesn't cooperate.
Taylor Heise, who earned MVP honors in last season's PWHL playoffs, has been working her way back from a knee injury this season.

Knee injury slows Frost star Heise, but not for long

Taylor Heise has one goal and six assists through six Minnesota Frost games and is getting more ice time as her knee heals.
Montreal forward Marie-Philip Poulin scores on Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney in the second period.

Frost fall to Victoire, hit end of four-game PWHL winning streak

Montreal handed Minnesota its first regulation loss of the season but didn't knock it off the top spot in the standings.
Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek (12) feeds the puck to teammate Grace Zumwinkle (13) on a goal against New York in the Dec. 1 season opener.

What factors have made the Minnesota Frost so potent to start this season?

The Minnesota Frost are getting production from newcomers and their established vets, with notable improvement on special teams.
Gabbie Hughes, left, of Ottawa controls the puck against Mellissa Channell-Watkins (23) of the Frost in the second period Thursday at Xcel Energy Cent

Mental health awareness gets the victory as PWHL teams from Minnesota and Ottawa meet

The Frost defeated Ottawa on a night when the Charge's Gabbie Hughes and her Minnesota family made certain a lost teammate and an important cause weren't forgotten.
Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise (27) stickhandles while defended by New York's Abby Roque in the Dec. 1 season opener.

Minnesota Frost face the Ottawa Charge in first game back from break

The Minnesota Frost are 2-0-1 heading into Thursday night's game against the Ottawa Charge (1-2-1), with the game set to be televised on FanDuel Sports Network.
Hopkins student Logan Drevlow, shown winning a Nordic skiing state championship as a freshman in February, is also a successful mountain-bike racer.

No mountains nearby? Elite Hopkins athlete makes Minnesota work for him, whether he's skiing or pedaling.

A state champion Nordic skier and national-level cross-country mountain biker, Logan Drevlow gets by quite well with rolling hills.
Fans shine their phone lights as Minnesota Frost players are introduced before the Dec. 1 opener against the New York Sirens at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota Frost announce 27-game TV deal with FanDuel Sports Network

The network formerly known as Bally Sports North will televise the rest of the Frost's season, the team revealed Monday.
Frost forward Dominique Petrie celebrates her tying goal in the third period against the New York Sirens on Dec. 1 at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota Frost rookie Petrie grew up in California, dreaming of a chance like this

Dominique Petrie endured long road trips just to find competitive hockey in California. She eventually landed at Clarkson, scoring a fateful goal against the Gophers and now has three goals in three games with the Minnesota Frost.
Clockwise from left: Vivien Pihlstrom of Blake (girls Alpine), Linnea Ousdigian of Mounds View (girls Nordic) and Logan Drevlow of Hopkins (boys Nordi

High school skiing 2024-25: Meet the skiers and teams likely to get to the finish line first

State champions are back to defend titles in three of the four racing categories.
Champlin Park's Brent Solomon

Prep Athletes of the Week: Senior adds thrill of victory to an emotional day for Champlin Park's boys hockey team

Brent Solomon scored the winner in overtime against Andover in a game that featured a tribute to Max Akerson, a teammate who died of cancer.
Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney tracks the puck during a practice last month at TRIA Rink in St. Paul.

Frost get first win of PWHL season in Walter Cup rematch against Boston

Frost rookie Dominique Petrie scored her second goal of the season to clinch a 2-1 road win over the Fleet.
Frost forward Klára Hymlárová (71) knocks New York Sirens forward Elle Hartje (13) to the ice, battling for the puck in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss

Minnesota Frost build a Czech connection, including third-round draft pick Hymlárová

Frost rookie Klára Hymlárová has joined Czech teammate Denisa Křížová in her "home away from home," heading into her second PWHL game against Boston.
New York forward Sarah Fillier watches from behind the net as a shot by her teammate, Alex Carpenter, sails into the net past Frost goaltender Nicole

Defending champ Frost open PWHL season with overtime loss to Sirens

Minnesota scored mere seconds into the season, but New York did the same in the extra period.
Kelly Pannek is one of several key veterans returning with the Minnesota Frost this season.

Minnesota Frost's 26-player roster entering Sunday's season opener

The reigning PWHL champions have 16 returning players, but a host of newcomers have been added to the roster as well.