John’s Journal:

John’s Journal: After 64 State Tournaments, Hal Miller Leaves A Legacy

June 7, 2023 |

John's Journal

Hal Miller is filled with gratitude. As he manages an MSHSL state tennis tournament this week for the 64th and final time before stepping away, he is grateful for all the friends he has made and all the fun he has had.

John’s Journal: The Road To State Softball, And An Eye On 2024

June 6, 2023 |

John's Journal

As Minnesota’s best high school softball teams gather for the state tournament, they all have stories to tell about their path to state. It’s hard to top what the team from Becker High School has been through.

John’s Journal: The Best Thing I’ve Seen In A Long, Long Time

June 3, 2023 |

John's Journal

I absolutely cannot remember ever seeing this happen before … the head coach of the losing team shooting photos of the winning team.

John’s Journal: Two Decades Later, A Record Stands Strong

June 1, 2023 |

John's Journal

Karl Erickson has fond memories of his high school career, and he is sure of one thing: Records are made to be broken. “I know someone will come along and smash it,” he said.

John’s Journal: One Season, Two Sports, A Very Busy Family

May 30, 2023 |

John's Journal

Cyrus and Elijah Jones of Minneapolis Edison are football players in the fall, wrestlers in the winter, and in the spring they are members of the baseball and track and field teams.

John’s Journal: Winona Cotter’s Bowlin Joins Softball’s 800 Club

May 23, 2023 |

John's Journal

Winona Cotter's Pat Bowlin is the second softball coach in Minnesota history to win 800 games, and he is on pace to become the career leader in victories.

John's Journal: The Final Stretch Run For The Overgaauw Twins

May 21, 2023 |

John's Journal

The Overgaauw sisters of Murray County Central run and they win, and that’s been the theme for years, during the fall cross-country season and on the track in the spring ever since they were in seventh grade.

John’s Journal: 10 Years Later, Maggie Ewen Is Still Throwing

April 30, 2023 |

John's Journal

In 2012 Maggie Ewen was a junior at St. Francis, breaking and re-breaking state records in the shot put and discus and winning seven state titles. More than a decade later her state records remain.

John’s Journal: Rosemount’s Manning Reflects On 27 Years As An A.D.

April 27, 2023 |

John's Journal

Mike Manning is one of the longest-serving athletic directors in Minnesota, having spent 27 years in that position at Rosemount High School. Mike will retire at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year,

John’s Journal: Twelve Hours, 420 Miles And Great Baseball Memories

April 19, 2023 |

John's Journal

The baseball team from Cromwell-Wright rode a bus for three and a half hours to play a doubleheader at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton. By the time they arrived home late that night, they had been gone for more than 12 hours.

John's Journal: Four Schools, One Track And A Dominant Relay Team

April 16, 2023 |

John's Journal

The GMLOKS Bulldogs girls 4x200 relay teams have won state titles at the four MSHSL state meets.

John’s Journal: After Gym Collapse, Browerville Looks To The Future

April 12, 2023 |

John's Journal

When the Tigers return to their school in Browerville, a long-term, hometown reality for their students, teams and communities is striking. On April 1, a heavy load of snow and ice caused the roof on the Browerville gymnasium to start sagging, and the gym was demolished.

John’s Journal: Spring Sports Held Outdoors? Yes, In Southeast Minnesota

April 3, 2023 |

John's Journal

Assuming that the roads would be clear (which they were), I decided to visit all three Monday events -- softball game, track meet, baseball game – as a memorable way to observe my first day of 2023 spring outdoor competitions.

John's Journal: Special Moments Make For Special Tournaments

March 25, 2023 |

John's Journal

There are always lots of special moments and scenes when state championships are decided. And there are quieter moments that can be just as special and even more meaningful.

John's Journal: The New Kid On The Block Vs. The Seasoned Veterans

March 24, 2023 |

John's Journal

It would be easy to forgive New Life Academy boys basketball coach Robbie Whitney if he felt just a little bit intimidated when he looked at the coaching staff from Spring Grove before Friday’s Class 1A state semifinals at Target Center.

John's Journal: Small-Town Backgrounds, Big-Time Basketball

March 23, 2023 |

John's Journal

If there was a postgame theme to the Class 3A boys basketball semifinals, it centered around teammates and families.

John's Journal: 102 Years Later, Border West Makes Basketball History

March 22, 2023 |

John's Journal

Border West is a cooperative team that draws students from three schools near the South Dakota border: Wheaton, Herman-Norcross and Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley. The only appearances at state for any of those schools was Wheaton in 1919, 1920 and 1921.

John’s Journal: The Curse Is Gone As MIB Wins Class 1A Championship

March 18, 2023 |

John's Journal

Maybe the 13th consecutive trip to state was the magic number for Mountain Iron-Buhl. Because they climbed the last mountain on Saturday, defeating BOLD 52-21 at Williams Arena to finally, finally, finally have gold medals on blue ribbons placed around their championship necks.

John's Journal: The Toughest Player In The State Tournament

March 17, 2023 |

John's Journal

Harley Roering suffered a torn ACL more than a month ago and didn't play until Friday's state semifinals. “She’s one of the toughest kids I've ever coached," said her coach. "Did you see that today? It was pretty cool.”

John’s Journal: Mountain Iron-Buhl Hoping To Make More History

March 16, 2023 |

John's Journal

This school year has already been historic at Mountain Iron-Buhl, with the Rangers winning their first football state championship by taking the Nine-Man title last December at U.S. Bank Stadium. Two miles away, at the University of Minnesota, the MIB girls basketball team is hoping to bring home another state championship, which would be their first in that sport.