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Regan Smith and her family plan for a busy week
Lakeville swimmer’s first Paris Olympic race is Monday morning Ironically, Regan Smith’s family often will be closer to the Olympic swimming facility in Paris than she is. The family has lined up accommodations across the street from the aquatics center while Regan will be coming from the Athletes’ Village, which could be as much as an hour away via shuttle. The family is prepared to deal with the separation. ...
Medal on his mind: Otterdahl ready for his 2nd Olympics
For many athletes, reaching the Olympics is the pinnacle of a career. Rosemount native Payton Otterdahl will be at the Olympics next week — for the second time. And he believes his star is still rising. Regardless of what happens in the men’s shot put in Paris next week — Otterdahl is ranked fifth in the world by worldathletics.org and is a medal contender — the shot put will remain...
Notebook: Minnesota, Bemidji State teams will skate in Lakeville
Hockey fans can celebrate New Year’s Day 2025 at Hasse Arena in Lakeville, where the University of Minnesota and Bemidji State University will play in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women’s Face-Off Classic. The game will be 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1. Ticket information and additional event details will be announced later. “Our town is home to a thriving youth hockey program, and we are proud to unveil...
Golf: Tylke having a successful summer
Former Eastview High School golfer Max Tylke is leading the Minnesota Golf Association men’s player of the year standings after high finishes in two of the biggest tournaments of the season. Tylke, who plays out of the Legends Club in Prior Lake, tied for second at the MGA Amateur Championship last week at Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. He broke par in each of his three rounds on the par-73 layout, including a 68 in the second round. He was one of five players...
Local teams can’t survive pool play at Gopher Classic
American Legion baseball playoffs start next week The Gopher Classic American Legion baseball tournament continued Monday, but without six teams from the Dakota County Tribune and Sun Thisweek coverage area that didn’t advance out of pool play. Six teams from Minnesota were among the 16 to reach the single-elimination stage of the tournament, but none made it to the semifinals taking place Tuesday at Veterans Field at Minnetonka High School....
Ethan Kimmel completes sweep at Pan-O-Prog run
Races attract more than 300 competitors More than 300 runners completed the 4-mile or 1-mile race at the Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Run on July 13. That group included 30 who didn’t want to be limited, and ran both races. Former Lakeville North High School and current University of North Dakota runner Ethan Kimmel led the group who did both. He won the 4-mile in 21 minutes, 5.8 seconds and the 1-mile...
Rain dampens but doesn’t deter Freedom Days runners
5-mile, 2-mile races held July 4 Brennen Peterson of Rosemount and Stephanie Peterson of Apple Valley were the male and female winner in the 5-mile race at the Apple Valley Freedom Days Fun Run on July 4. Winners in the 2-mile race were Samuel Sampers of Rosemount and Hadley Knight of Apple Valley. Rain caused...
Scanlon called to one more hall of fame
AVHS coaching legend honored by national organization Chuck Scanlon thought he wouldn’t be asked to attend another hall of fame banquet, but he was proven wrong. The winningest high school soccer coach in Minnesota history was called to another last month in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. ...
South Metro Storm celebrates 20 years of growth
Local swim club has become one of state’s largest and most successful In 2004, identical twin brothers Phil and Chuck Smith were elected to the board of a small swimming club based in Lakeville and Prior Lake. The previous board dissolved, in effect making the Smith brothers the new owners. South Metro Storm was a fledgling club with an emphasis on safety, teaching the basics, and fostering a life-long love...
Gopher Classic Legion baseball tourney starts Friday
Six local teams scheduled to compete Teams from eight states and two Canadian provinces will compete starting Friday in the Gopher Classic, which bills itself as the largest American Legion baseball tournament in North America. Ninety-six teams are registered, including six from the Sun Thisweek/Dakota County Tribune coverage area – Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eastview, Farmington, Lakeville North and Rosemount. Farmington was second in last week’s Division I state rankings, trailing...
Notebook: SSC teams will play big part in Hockey Day Minnesota
South Suburban Conference teams will be featured prominently in the 2025 Hockey Day Minnesota, and the Lakeville North girls have been chosen for a repeat appearance. Hockey Day Minnesota, a joint project between the Minnesota Wild, Bally Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the local organizing community, has expanded to four days and will feature nine high school games, one college game and one NHL game. The 2025 event will be Jan. 22-25 on an outdoor rink at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee. ...
A front-row seat to swimming history
North coach gets to see one of his former athletes break world record About 10 days before the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials, Dan Schneider received a text message asking if he would be interested in attending. He did what any hard-core fan would do – he dropped everything and booked a flight to Indianapolis. Once there, the Lakeville North High School swimming and diving head coach watched history unfold....
Cougars soaked, but unblemished
Lakeville South wins second girls lacrosse championship in three years It started with some chilly early April practices in Lakeville and ended in a downpour in Eden Prairie. But for Lakeville South, the 2024 girls lacrosse season could not have been more perfect. The Cougars completed an undefeated season and earned their second state championship in three years with a 12-8 victory over Prior Lake on June 15 at Eden...
Panthers take 2nd in state boys lacrosse tourney
BSM offense too much to handle in championship game It was a numbers issue for Lakeville North in the state boys lacrosse championship game. Specifically, Benilde-St. Margaret’s had too many numbers. Too many players who can generate offense, too many places from where they can attack. Topped by two of the state’s premier offensive players, Gus Bell and Sky Rold, the Red Knights gave the North defense too many problems...
Baseball: Tigers, Lightning fall in first round of Class 4A tourney
Eastview defeats Farmington to reach consolation final The two South Suburban Conference teams to reach the state baseball tournament wound up playing each other, but not where they hoped the game would take place. Eastview and Farmington met in a consolation semifinal game June 14 at Palm Field in St. Anthony, with Eastview winning 3-1. The Farmington loss ended the Tigers’ 2024 season. Later that day, Minnetonka downed Eastview 13-3...
Weather forces state lacrosse schedule changes
Both championship games will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday The Minnesota State High School League has changed the schedule for Saturday’s final day of the boys and girls lacrosse tournaments because of a forecast for possible thunderstorms. Times for the two championship games – both involving teams from Lakeville – are being moved up, and the boys game will be relocated. ...
Track: AV, Blaze sprinters 1-2 in boys 400 meters
Eagan’s Koenen finishes third in 200 Apple Valley senior Dwyne Smith Jr. earned three medals at the boys Class 3A track and field finals, including the one he wanted most – for first place in the 400-meter dash. Smith, running the 400 at state for the fourth consecutive year, took first in 47.55 seconds in the finals June 8 at St. Michael-Albertville High School. He was 1.09 seconds ahead of...
Track: Two Panther relays take first at state
Lakeville South girls team finishes sixth in Class 3A Lauren Reynolds is Lakeville North’s closer on the girls 4x100-meter relay. She said she generally runs better when there’s someone to pursue, but that wasn’t the case at the state Class 3A track and field finals. The first three members of the North relay – Olivia Grecco, Kiah Blalark and Shelita Franklin – had Reynolds at least even with the competition...
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Sun ThisWeek and Dakota County Tribune serve the Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington, Eagan, Lakeville & Rosemount communities. Published Fridays by APG of East Central Minnesota since 1884. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.sunthisweek.com
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