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RockRidgeTennis

John’s Journal: Inaugural Tennis Champion Is Back At State

The first girls state tennis tournament was held in 1974, and to this day and forevermore, two kids from Virginia – Linda Glavich and Sheila Robinson – remain at the very top of the list as the first doubles state champions.
Reese

John’s Journal: Gopher Football’s Most Sizable 2023 Recruit

Kasson-Mantorville junior Reese Tripp stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 325 pounds. Tripp’s big-time football future was not a sure thing until he worked hard and did something drastic: he lost nearly 60 pounds. That’s right, Reese weighed around 380 pounds.
Tony Nelson

John’s Journal: From Three Sports In High School To Gophers Football

Tony Nelson thought about graduating from high school early and moving to the University of Minnesota for the 2022 spring semester, getting a head start on his college education and Gophers football career. But home is important and Nelson had more to accomplish as a three-sport, small-town high school athlete in southwest Minnesota.
RepAssembly

John’s Journal: Some Thoughts On The Volleyball Decision

News was made when the 48-member Representative Assembly, the legislative body of the MSHSL, voted against making boys volleyball a sanctioned sport. The vote was 31-17 … one short of the 32 votes needed for approval.
willmar

John’s Journal: Let’s Celebrate Minnesota's Future Teachers

In 2018 Maple Lake became the first high school in Minnesota to hold a signing ceremony for future teachers. Burnsville did the same in 2018 and Willmar joined in 2019. The pandemic put a stop to such gatherings but they are back in 2022.
Shaina Zinter

John’s Journal: The Next Heather Van Norman?

Concordia Academy senior Shaina Zinter might not know a lot about Heather Van Norman, but she has thought about making a similar mark by winning a state team title all by herself.
Jarod White

John’s Journal: Ready To Vault Into The History Books

Pine Island senior Jarod White's focus is on pole vaulting higher than anyone in the history of Minnesota high school track and field. His 16-0 accomplishment in 2021 put him third on the all-time list.
LakiaManska

John’s Journal: Speaking Out, Sparking Conversations

Lakia Manska is a busy senior at Morris Area High School. She’s a three-sport athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, a two-time qualifier for the MSHSL state speech tournament, a dancer and more. She’s also fearless.
Farmington Baseball

John’s Journal: New Season, New Hopes For 2021 State Champions

When the Farmington High School baseball team took the field on Monday afternoon, it was the first time the Tigers had been on their home diamond since last season. That was a memorable season, too, with Farmington winning the Class 4A state championship 31 miles away at Target Field.