News

Despite fighting cancer, Luke Klassen never stopped running. He competed in every cross-country meet in 2022, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. That’s how important his teammates, his friends, his coaches and cross-country is to him.

“I didn't think it was going to get that big. But after I really thought about it as coming from a student, more people are going to think it's more of a problem, right? Everyone said they've been super proud, that they’re glad I did that or thankful I did that.”

Some female wrestling coaches are veteran teachers and coaches in other sports, some have children who wrestled, some are young women who have experience as wrestlers on the high school and college levels, and all are enthusiastic about this new opportunity for female athletes.

Tackle Cancer began 10 years ago, and by the time all the participating high schools and colleges in Minnesota send in the funds they have collected this fall, the 2022 total will exceed $400,000. In the decade that Tackle Cancer has existed, nearly $3 million has been raised to fight cancer.

It was a crazy, strange, head-spinning day for the Cardinals. Friday’s game was delayed at halftime because of lightning, then delayed again and again as the strikes continued. Finally, a decision was made to resume the game on Saturday morning. The second half began at 11 a.m. – 16 hours after the first-half kickoff.

As Hal Miller managed an MSHSL state tennis tournament for the 64th and final time before stepping away, he was grateful for all the friends he has made and all the fun he has had. And everyone who knows Hal Miller is beyond grateful to call him a friend.

"We’re fierce competitors in the field, but their kids will stop every one of ours in the hallway and say hi, and it's just like it really truly represents the spirit of competition and adapted sports.”

The Cardinals boarded Cromwell-Wright school bus Number 7 at 10:30 a.m. and drove south for three and a half hours – with a lunch stop in Hinckley -- before arriving in Janesville to meet the Bulldogs of Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton. By the time they arrived home, they had been gone for more than 12 hours.

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.

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.

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.

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.