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Soccer: Eastview boys on uptick with playoffs approaching
Lightning run unbeaten streak to 10 games One of the highest-scoring boys soccer teams in Class 3A is finding a new way to win, just in time for the section playoffs. Eastview is averaging 3.5 goals a game, but recently one goal often has been enough for the Lightning. They shut out four of their last five opponents and haven't allowed more than one goal in their last nine games. ...
Rosemount rises to occasion again to remain unbeaten
Ritter’s field goal is the difference in victory at Lakeville South Within nine days, Rosemount defeated the No. 1 team in Class 6A football at home, then went on the road to beat the defending state champion. And while it’s barely halfway through the regular-season schedule, the Irish know they are on the verge of something special – if they can stay the course. For them, staying the course means...
Blaze celebrate a homecoming victory
Burnsville above .500, hopeful about the future It’s been a while since Burnsville celebrated a homecoming football victory, and the Blaze weren’t about to let the opportunity slip away. There was plenty of time for photos and meet-and-greets Oct. 1, when Burnsville defeated Park of Cottage Grove 35-14 at Dick Hanson Field. There also was time for some measured optimism about the state of the program, which has churned through...
Football Week 5: Wildcats’ rushing attack explodes
Eagan’s rushing offense exploded for 364 yards in a 41-3 victory at Eastview on Sept. 30 as the Wildcats football team improved to 2-3 overall. Eagan plays Hopkins (0-5) at home at 7 p.m. Friday. If the Wildcats win, it would be the first time since 2015 they have won three games or more in a season or been .500 or better at any point during a season. Several explosive...
Swimming: North moves up in state poll
A Sept. 29 victory over Apple Valley helped Lakeville North move to its highest ranking of the girls swimming and diving season. The Panthers, who won their first five South Suburban Conference dual meets, rose to fifth in the Class AA rankings after defeating Apple Valley 92-78. Entering Tuesday night’s round of South Suburban Conference meets (which will be recapped next week), Lakeville North and sixth-ranked Prior Lake were the only two SSC teams in the state’s top 10. ...
Wildcats on learning curve as they battle for SSC volleyball lead
As Eagan’s volleyball record rises and falls, almost like the tide, the Wildcats and coach Kathy Gillen remain patient. The Wildcats are 8-8 overall after falling to Lakeville North in three sets Sept. 29. What’s not in plain sight is their 4-1 South Suburban Conference record. Eagan and Lakeville South (5-1 in the SSC) will be the closest pursuers to league leader Lakeville North (6-0) when conference play resumes Wednesday. ...
Proposing a change to help rebuilding programs in Class 6A football
Generally, I appreciate the Minnesota State High School League’s playoff format for Class 6A football. However, as a sportswriter who has followed the Hopkins team the last two years, I can see a path for improving the system. Hopkins’ “close game” during the 2021 season was a 28-14 loss to Eagan. That was Eagan’s only win of the season by the way. ...
Irish’s off-season changes paying dividends
Rosemount grinds out 14-7 victory over No. 1 Eden Prairie Rosemount has been a consistent factor in the Minnesota high school football postseason with eight state playoff appearances since 2006. But after a 5-5 record in 2021, the Irish knew changes were necessary. The changes were intended to put Rosemount back in a position to compete with the state’s top Class 6A programs, on their terms – those terms being...
Football Week 4: Hanson, Lakeville South get back on track
Apple Valley wins its second in a row One week after losing a football game for the first time since 2019, Lakeville South got back on the horse. The Cougars, led by Carson Hansen’s 322 rushing yards and four touchdowns, defeated Farmington 43-21 on Sept. 23. By winning, Lakeville South (3-1) sets up a dual with Rosemount (4-0) for the seeding edge in Class 6A, Section 3. With no other...
Panther boys 2nd, Irish 4th at Griak Invitational
North’s Casey finishes 7th in elite field Dowling Catholic, the top-ranked team in Iowa’s largest enrollment class, won the boys Gold Division at the Roy Griak Invitational cross country meet. Lakeville North, the top-ranked team in Minnesota’s largest enrollment class, wasn’t far behind. When the 525 runners finished the 5,000-meter race at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course on Sept. 23, Dowling Catholic was 21 points ahead of...
Swimming: Cougars take Maroon and Gold trophy
Lakeville North places third in Maroon Division Impressive underclass talent. Seasoned senior leadership. One of the best divers in Minnesota. A galvanized 400 freestyle relay. Together, they equaled a second consecutive championship for Lakeville South’s girls swimming and diving team at the Maroon and Gold Invite held Sept. 24. The Maroon and Gold Invite takes place annually at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota, the...
Notebook: Panthers’ Winter chooses the Badgers
The basketball pipeline from Lakeville North High School to the University of Wisconsin remains open as North senior Nolan Winter announced his commitment to the Badgers last week. Winter, ranked as the No. 2 Minnesota recruit in the class of 2023, is a 6-foot-10 forward who led the Panthers in scoring last season and is regarded as a strong three-point shooter. Last year he averaged 17.5 points for a Lakeville North team that went 19-9. ...
Lakeville South wrestling clinic scheduled
The Lakeville South High School wrestling program will hold a series of clinics in October designed to introduce students in grades K-5 to the sport. All clinics will be in the high school wrestling room. Lakeville South coaches and wrestlers will direct the clinics, along with volunteer parents. Clinics for students in grades K-2 will be Mondays and Wednesdays from Oct. 3 through Oct. 26. There is a choice of...
Panther volleyball rises to third in state rankings
North 3-0 in South Suburban after defeating Eastview Lakeville North retains its customary spot near the top of the state high school volleyball rankings, but for the Panthers it hasn’t been a matter of picking up where they left off. For starters, four of the 10 players who took the floor for North’s 2021 state quarterfinal match against Rogers have graduated, including current Division I players Kaitlynn Peterson (Bradley) and...
Rosemount’s run game will be tested by EP, South
Irish defeat Lakeville North, improve to 3-0 Being able to run against quality opponents was a big point of emphasis in Rosemount’s off-season preparation. So far it’s gone well for the 3-0 Irish, but their rushing game will get a big-time test from their next two opponents. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Rosemount plays host to Eden Prairie (3-0), which is likely to ascend to No. 1 in the Class 6A...
Eagan loss hurts, but for a different reason
Wildcats had their chances against seventh-ranked Woodbury Eagan’s football players were smarting from a home-field loss last week, but not in the same way other losses have stung. Over the past half-dozen years the Wildcats have played numerous games where the outcome was all but certain ahead of time because they simply were overmatched. In the Sept. 15 game against Woodbury they were in it all the way against a...
Football Week 3: EP ends Cougars’ winning streak
Apple Valley wins 1st for new head coach Eden Prairie did what few Lakeville South opponents have accomplished over the last few seasons – contain the Cougars’ potent offense. The Eagles’ 21-6 victory over the defending state Class 6A football champion on Sept. 16 likely will elevate Eden Prairie to No. 1 in the state rankings prior to its game at Rosemount on Thursday. Lakeville South saw its 23-game winning...
Swimming: Lakeville teams win dual meets
Victory is first of the season for South Lakeville South secured its first victory of girls swimming and diving season Sept. 15 in Burnsville, while Lakeville North defeated Farmington to remain unbeaten and tied for first place in the South Suburban Conference. Divers helped spark South (1-2) to a 92-70 victory over Burnsville. Daphne Fox continues to electrify on the 1-meter board, scoring 235.50 in the six-dive competition to remain...
Rosemount spikers displaying grit, talent
Eighth-ranked Irish could be primed for a run at SSC title Rosemount’s players are learning about the art of the comeback. The Irish volleyball team got on the state’s radar with a five-set victory over 2021 state Class 4A runner-up East Ridge on Sept. 1, a match where they dropped the first two sets before rallying to win. ...
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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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