Recent content from Cassidy Hettesheimer
Here are the high school juniors Minnesota sports fans should know
These soon-to-be seniors, some of who will sign athletic scholarships in the fall or winter, enter their final seasons with a history of success in sports.
Here are the high school sophomores Minnesota sports fans should know
From Strib Players of the Year in their respective sports to All-Minnesota team selections, this group of athletes will begin the upcoming school year as experienced stars.
Wolves face elimination: 'We've got to play like there's no tomorrow.'
Wolves trail Thunder 3-1 in Western Conference finals, must play Game 5 on road.
Meet the best high school freshman athletes in Minnesota
From basketball to hockey, these ninth-graders have already gained notoriety in their respective sports.
Timberwolves unveil X-factor against Oklahoma City
Rookie guard Terrence Shannon Jr. came off the bench and scored 15 points in a Game 3 spark-plug role.
Meet the fastest high school sprinters in Minnesota
From the 100-meter dash to the 4x100 relay, here are the best times posted by athletes across the state as section meets near.
Hopkins alum helps coordinate homecoming for Bueckers' return to Minnesota
The Wings lost their second game in a week against the Lynx as the Hopkins community turned out to see the WNBA's No. 1 pick.
Girls basketball: Hill-Murray parts ways with longtime coach Erin Herman
Emails sent to the Star Tribune from former players and community members expressed disappointment in the school's decision.
Minnesota Aurora still wants to go pro, but has the NWSL priced them out?
The cost of owning an NWSL expansion team has skyrocketed, as shown by Denver's successful bid last year.
She's already one of Minnesota's all-time best pole vaulters. Small tweaks could take her even higher.
Roseville's Jayda Wilson hopes to defend her Class 3A pole vault state title. Her 13-1 vault is tied for 16th in the nation.
Boys basketball: Albany, Lakeville North announce head coaching changes
The reigning Class 2A state champs and a Class 4A state tournament regular will have new leaders next season.
Can girls flag football help get Minneapolis Public Schools out of Title IX trouble?
With all seven Minneapolis public high schools adding flag teams, opportunities bring joy and boost below-standard participation rates for girls in sports.
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
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.
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.
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.
Hill-Murray seventh grader gets offer from Gophers women's basketball
Minnesota joins Iowa as two Big Ten programs recruiting guard Ashlee Wilson.
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 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.
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](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/RB6CC7XCKJB4DMFRWCXWPNVPVA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
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."
'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.
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, 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These Minnesota high school skiers thaw themselves after races with dance battles
Tradition began shortly before Ely's girls team won 2017 state title.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
