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Boys volleyball gets the go-ahead from MSHSL
Club sport likely will receive varsity status in 2024-25 The third time really was the charm for boys high school volleyball proponents. On Tuesday, the Minnesota State High School League became the 25th state association to sanction boys volleyball as an interscholastic sport. Boys volleyball, which has existed as a high school club sport in Minnesota since 2018, will ascend to the status of other MSHSL-sanctioned activities, likely by the...
Another baseball game between Lightning and Irish goes to the wire
Eastview wins 4-3 for its second one-run victory over Rosemount When the bases were loaded – for either team – Eastview turned to Charlie Ortman for help. The senior outfielder/pitcher’s ability to perform in the highest pressure situations was crucial in the Lightning baseball team’s 4-3 victory at Rosemount on Monday in a duel between the top two teams in the South Suburban Conference baseball standings. ...
Cancer research fundraising becomes personal for AVHS baseball
Event raises $2,600, honors coach The Apple Valley High School Baseball Booster Club will send a check for about $2,600 to the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund – a gift Shaver, the KARE 11 news anchor and cancer survivor – acknowledged in a tweet Monday. The partnership between Minnesota high school athletics and cancer research efforts has existed for a number of years, starting with numerous “Tackle Cancer”...
Lacrosse: Defending champion Cougars show no complacency
South girls steamroll first four opponents Lakeville South returned a significant portion of the roster from its 2022 state girls lacrosse championship team, so the fact the Cougars are winning again in 2023 surprises absolutely no one. But this good? The No. 1-ranked Cougars’ efficiency through four games is something not even they expected. They dispatched their first four opponents by a combined 78-12, including Lakeville North 18-4 on Tuesday....
Local athletes shine at Hamline Elite Meet
The Hamline Elite Meet continued its tradition of showcasing top high school track and field performers from throughout Minnesota. It also was a tour de force for South Suburban Conference athletes, who won 10 of the 37 events. Athletes from the Lake Conference also won 10 events at the April 28 meet held in chilly and occasionally drizzly weather at Hamline University’s Klas Field. Maple Grove sprinter Jordyn Borsch swept the girls 100-, 200- and 400-meter races. ...
Andy Berkvam returning to North girls basketball after 10-year hiatus
Lakeville North could be one of the best teams in Class 4A girls basketball when the ball goes up in November 2022. The Panthers for certain will have one of the state’s most experienced coaching staffs. The 2023-24 season will mark Andy Berkvam’s return to the Panthers sideline after a 10-year hiatus. Berkvam, who coached Lakeville/Lakeville North teams to state championships in 2001, 2002 and 2010, has never actually been away from the sport. He coached the boys team at Northfield High School for six...
Golf: Eastview teams come up big in tournaments
Lightning boys shoot school record at StoneRidge Eastview junior Megan Young shot 75 on Monday to finish second in the Brackett’s Crossing Invite girls golf tournament and leading the Lightning to the team championship. Playing golf on Monday was a challenge with wind gusts reaching 40 mph, so it should be no surprise that three highly ranked teams coped with the weather better than most. Eastview, which had a 321...
EVAA Baseball Day is May 15
Eastview Athletic Association is inviting its baseball players and families to EVAA Baseball Day during the high school varsity game between Eastview and Apple Valley on Monday, May 15. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. on the Eastview High School field. Before the game EVAA, in partnership with the high school program, will recognize its 2022 Traveling Lightning Sportsmanship Award recipients. There will be games for youth players along with vendor booths and food trucks. A drawing for Twins tickets also will be held. Following the game, youth players will be able to go on the field, meet the varsity players and receive autographs.
Apple Valley baseball Strike Out Cancer event is Saturday
The Apple Valley High School baseball program and booster club will hold their Strike Out Cancer event and Valley Athletic Association Family Day on Saturday, May 6, when the Eagles face Rochester Century at AVHS. Junior varsity and 9A games will be at 11 a.m., with the varsity teams playing at 1 p.m. The event will raise money for the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. VAA players will be able to play catch with the varsity players and be recognized in a pre-game ceremony on the field. Hot dogs will be provided to VAA players in uniform. Food and beverages will be served during the games.
Irish basketball star lends his ability to track team
Ramlall will play at St. Cloud State next year Rosemount senior Anish Ramlall won the long jump at the Osseo Invitational track and field meet last week, helping the Irish win the boys team championship. He jumped 19 feet, 5.5 inches that day, and there’s no telling what he could do if track was his main sport. ...
Boys lacrosse: SSC stacks up with state’s best
Four teams in conference ranked ninth or higher An argument could be made for the South Suburban being the strongest high school boys lacrosse conference in Minnesota. You’d get an argument from a couple other leagues – specifically the Metro West, home of two-time defending state champion Benilde-St. Margaret’s – but the SSC’s case is based on depth. Four teams from the league were in the top nine of last...
Girls lacrosse: Does South have what it takes to repeat?
Cougars are loaded, but other strong teams nipping at their heels The last four state high school girls lacrosse champions were from the South Suburban Conference. Lakeville South will look to continue that streak as well as go back-to-back. Although the Cougars graduated several key performers from an 18-1 team, they have abundant talent returning this year – and they expect to have senior Emily Moes, one of the state’s...
Oettinger saves the day for Stars
Lakeville native frustrates Wild in Game 4 For the second year in a row, an athlete with Dakota County ties has returned to try to deliver playoff disappointment to a Minnesota team. In April 2022 it was Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones, a state champion high school basketball champion at Apple Valley and NCAA champion at Duke University. Jones helped the Grizzlies defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in...
Irish's big inning leads to early ending
Rosemount wins duel of Class 4A softball powers For six games, power was what stood about about Rosemount’s offense. On Tuesday the Irish showed they have other ways to put pressure on an opponent. Rosemount’s undefeated softball team expected a test from Hopkins and got one – for 4 1/2 innings. The Irish went to the bottom of the fifth trailing 2-1. Sixteen batters and 11 runs later they had...
SSC softball preview: Loaded league has several state tourney contenders
The talent-rich South Suburban Conference has several teams that are expected to contend for places in the state Class 4A softball tournament this spring. That group includes Rosemount, the 2021 state champion and off to a dominant start this season; Shakopee, which tied the Irish for the 2022 conference title; Lakeville South, returning most of its players from a team that went to state last year; and Farmington, which took Lakeville South to the wire in the Section 1 tournament. ...
SSC baseball preview: Tigers are the target
Another competitive season is shaping up Farmington won the 2022 South Suburban Conference baseball, one season after winning the state Class 4A title. But is the run over? Not if the Tigers have anything to say about it. They were fifth in Class 4A in a preseason ranking, indicating they should still be in contention...
Track and field: Season heating up faster than the weather
Lakeville North Mega Meet will be April 29 High school track and field builds toward its championship season with some high-profile invitationals scheduled next week. One of those invitationals is the annual Lakeville North Mega Meet scheduled for Saturday, April 29. The Panthers will host boys and girls teams from 13 other schools, including Apple Valley and Burnsville from the South Suburban Conference. Last year Lakeville North was third in...
Softball teams enjoy all the comforts of dome
SSC moves indoors to start season As the high school softball season started last week, a number of South Suburban Conference teams dealt with an only-in-Minnesota moment: having to play indoors while the temperature soared into the 80s outdoors. Although a streak of warm weather melted the snow quickly, fields at some SSC schools still needed time to recover from an unusually harsh winter. The softball teams, however, had games...
Athena Awards programs will honor local athletes
St. Paul chapter luncheon is April 19 High schools in the metro area will honor their outstanding female senior athletes at Athena Awards luncheons this spring. Forty-six winners, including athletes from Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview, Farmington, Lakeville North, Lakeville South and Rosemount, will be recognized at the St. Paul Area Athena Awards luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Saint Paul RiverCentre. Master of ceremonies is KARE 11 news...
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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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