John’s Journal:

John’s Journal: No. 9 From 2022-23/ Rock Ridge ‘Brings Tears To My Eyes And A Smile To My Face’

June 26, 2023 |

John's Journal

Rock Ridge is a new school district bringing together students from Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert. Voters in those communities approved consolidating the two school districts into one as well as building a new high school and two new elementary schools. It’s the first newly consolidated school district in Minnesota in 15 years.

John’s Journal: No. 10 From 2022-23/ Football Means Tradition At Moose Lake-Willow River

June 25, 2023 |

John's Journal

For about as long as anyone can remember, the Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels have been playing football on a spectacular throwback field tucked into a neighborhood on the edge of Willow River, surrounded by pine trees and bathed in tradition and success.

The Best Of John’s Journal From 2022-23: Top 10 Honorable Mention

June 22, 2023 |

John's Journal

Here are five John's Journal stories that just missed out on Top 10 status for 2022-23 but are worthy of being named Honorable Mention.

John’s Journal: Nearly A Decade Of Top 10 Yearly Stories

June 21, 2023 |

John's Journal

A question came to mind as I began putting together this year's Top 10 John's Journal stories: How long have I been doing this? Well, it turns out that we are nearing the 10-year anniversary of this endeavor.

John’s Journal: Northern Minnesota Baseball For The Win

June 16, 2023 |

John's Journal

In a spring sports season that was delayed and delayed and delayed again by snow and cold and generally rotten weather, the last baseball teams standing in Class A (Fosston) and Class 2A (Esko) hail from up north.

John’s Journal: A Pair Of Aces At State Golf? It’s In The Hole

June 15, 2023 |

John's Journal

Neither Claire Kodama nor Mac Harmer saw exactly where their golf ball ended up after bouncing onto the green on par-3 holes during the Class 2A state tournament this week. But the reaction of others was clear: Both had a hole-in-one.

John’s Journal: ‘Time Really Flies’ During 49 Years As A Baseball Coach

June 13, 2023 |

John's Journal

Paul Twenge has coached more games than many coaches have played, coached or seen. Twenge brought a career coaching record of 977-956-11 into the state tournament; that’s 1,945 baseball games.

John’s Journal: Two Sports, Two (Or Three) State Tournaments

June 10, 2023 |

John's Journal

By the time Jared Delich and Jake Bradach returned home Saturday, they were worn out, and deservedly so. The two seniors from Rock Ridge High School had a memorable week competing at the state tournament. Make that two state tournaments. Or three, depending on how you look at it

John’s Journal: Without A Track, Nevis Has A Track Superstar

June 9, 2023 |

John's Journal

Nevis senior Jade Rypkema is in good company. The last Class 1A girl to win three state titles in the 1,600 meters was 2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson in 1991, 1993 and 1994.

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.