| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER 4 – SEPTEMBER 9 | |||
| MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 4 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 5 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm / 5:00pm 7:00pm | Boys Soccer vs. Central | HOME | |
| 4:00pm / 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 6:00pm | Girls Tennis vs. Johnson | V: HOME JV – Eastview Park |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Soccer vs. Central | Griffin Stadium | |
| WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | B-Squad Boys Soccer vs St. Agnes | HOME | |
| THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 7 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | Girls Tennis vs. Humboldt | HOME | |
| 4:30pm | 3:15pm | 5:45pm | JV Football vs. Tartan | Tartan High School |
| 5:15pm / 5:30pm 7:15pm | JV/B: 4:15 | 6:45pm V: 6:00pm | 8:45pm | Boys Soccer vs. Como Park | Como Park High School |
| 7:00pm | Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Como Park | HOME | |
| 7:00pm | 5:00pm | 9:00pm | Girls Swimming vs. Harding | Humboldt High School |
| FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 8 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm / 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 6:00pm | Tennis vs. Holy Angels | V – HOME JV – Christian Park |
| 4:30pm / 5:00pm | 2:30pm | 6:00pm | Cross Country St. Paul Two Mile | Battle Creek Regional Park |
| 6:00pm | Football vs. Tartan | HOME | |
| SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 9 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | Volleyball B-Squad Tournament | Lakeville North High School | |
| 11:00am / 1:00pm 3:00pm | B:10:00am|12:45pm JV: 11:50am|2:45pm V: 1:30pm | 4:45pm | Boys Soccer vs. Breck | Breck School |
| 11:00am | 8:45am | 1:00pm | Girls Swimming vs. Hastings | Hastings Middle School |
Category Archives: Sports
Sections track meet
By: Ellie Moore
Highland Park had an eventful section meet last week.
Wednesday was the first day of the meet when all the prelims would occur. Friday was finals where only the top 9 from prelims in each event raced. In the finals, the top 2 would advance to the state meet.
Wednesday had only 1 final race, the 3200. The boys and girls both raced the 3200, and they were both exciting races.
The girls raced first. Grace Lewis-Mosher, Chloe Koch, and Alice Rapacz were the Highland Park girls in the race. Lewis-Mosher got 4th, Koch got 5th, and Rapacz got 9th, all running strong and fast races.
The boys 3200 was the next race. Gavin Roberts, Ben Martin, and Tim Tzeutschler were the Highland Park boys in the race. Roberts ran a strong race, getting 2nd and qualifying for state. Martin close behind taking 3rd, and Tzeutschler got 11th.
The next race was the girls 100m hurdles prelim race. Yao Buchl got 10th, Austin Bailey-Zimmerman got 15th, and Nuria Rodriguez-Foster got 16th.
The boys 110m hurdles was next. Wesley Norquist and Emmett Riemenschneider got 7th and 8th, qualifying for finals. Johnny Xiong got 13th.
8th graders Harper Frank and Norah Hoglund did the 100m dash, getting 29th and 33rd.
For the boys, Brouke Brookins got 2nd, qualifying for finals. Terez McDaniel-Vaughn and Jvion Giles were the other boys in the 100 for Highland Park, getting 14th and 18th.
The girls in the 400m dash were Ellie Moore, Ellie Pundsack, and Evelyn Beaumaster. Moore made it to finals, and Pundsack and Beaumaster got 15th and 20th.
In the boys 400m dash there were only 2 boys. Sam Cocchiarella and Monaire Vaughn, placing 13th and 16th.
Austin Bailey-Zimmerman and Yao Buchl did the 300 hurdles, placing 10th and 12th just barely missing finals.
For the boys, Emmett Riemenschneider got 4th making it to finals. Wesley Norquist and Johnny Xiong got 19th and 24th.
Delia Johnson and Madeline Klevay ran the 800 and qualified for finals. Eleanor Osmond got 16th.
Jack Douglas, Lance Georgeson, and Pierce Baum ran the 800 for the boys. They placed 11th, 13th, and 16th.
The last event on Wednesday was the 200m dash. Ellery Merrimack and Alexa Ramirez ran it for the girls, placing 15th and 22nd.
Jvion Giles, Sam Schlukebier, and Shawon Easley ran the 200 for the boys and got 12th, 18th, and 22nd.
Friday started with the 4×800 relay. Where the Highland Park girls placed 3rd barely missing making it to state. The boys got 4th in a fast race.
The next race with Highland Park athletes was the 110 high hurdle race. Emmett Riemenschneider and Wesley Norquist got 7th and 9th in the final.
Next was the boys 100m dash where Brouke Brookins ran a 10.95 To get second and qualify for state.
In the 400 finals, Ellie Moore got 2nd to qualify for state.
In the 300m hurdles finals, Emmett Riemenschneider got 9th place, with a PR. Delia Johnson won the 800 and qualified for state.
The last race was the 4×400 meter relay. Both the boys and girls team made it to state. The girls getting 1st and the boys getting 2nd.
End of school year look into Highland Park’s spring sports
By: Abby Altman
Highland Park has been a powerhouse in many sports over the last few years, most notably Cross Country running and Nordic skiing. So what happens in the spring, when Highland no longer represents a powerhouse endurance sport?
Spring sports at Highland Park Senior High have not historically compared to that of fall and winter sports, both in success, and in spectator turnout.
Baseball and softball games don’t attract nearly as many viewers and support as football and basketball, and most people don’t even know that Highand has a combined ultimate frisbee team with Central High School.
However, each of the spring sports at Highland have achieved some level of success and each team deserves to be recognized.
Softball:
The Highland Park softball team has been short in numbers ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since 2019, Highland was able to fill a JV roster this spring, and utilized an abundance of underclassmen to fill out the Varsity roster.
The softball team went 8-0 in conference play, outscoring conference opponents 132-10 en route to their sixth conference title in team history. The team then went on to beat Minneapolis Southwest 16-6 to earn the first Twin Cities championship title in team history.
Baseball:
Similar to softball, the Highland Park baseball team went 8-0 in conference play, and 14-3 overall. The baseball team started the season extremely hot, going 14-0 to open the season, before dropping the last 3 games of the regular season.
Baseball and softball both went 0-2 in section play to end their seasons.
Badminton:
The Highland girls badminton team went 9-3 in conference play, and 17-3 overall on the season. Highland finished the season ranked 4th in team state.
At the individual state meet, Sunny Vang placed 1st overall in the singles varsity matches, and Houahna Yang placed 2nd overall in the singles JV matches. Edi Damiyo and Sara Leticho placed 3rd overall in the JV doubles matches.
Track:
The track team had a relatively bumpy start to the season, with many distance runners continuing their Nordic ski season, and several top athletes out with injury. Despite these setbacks, both the boys and girls teams won the team conference meet, with every single relay team taking 1st or 2nd place, and 12 overall event wins.
The team is now in the middle of their section championships, with Gavin Roberts and Terez Vaughn going to state in the 3200 and triple jump respectively. The finals for the section meet will be held on Friday, June 2, with 7 athletes qualifying for finals in various events.
Girls Golf:
The girls golf team had a record breaking number of participants this year. The golf team went 5-0 in conference, and won the conference tournament for the 18th time, by a daunting 150 strokes. This marks 10 conference titles in the last 11 years for Highland girls golf.
Boys Golf:
For the 3rd straight season, the Highland boys golf team was conference champions, finishing the match with a team score of 326. This is the 16th conference title in team history.
Ultimate Frisbee:
After losing the majority of their team to graduation last season, the Highland-Central combined team was able to recruit lots of new players, and the team is now even bigger than in years prior. The team went 5-4 on the season, including a 4 game win streak in April.
Tennis:
The Highland Boys tennis team clinched the conference title, going 6-0 in city play, ending with a 7-0 defeat over Como Park. This is the 17th conference win in team history.
Doubles duo Andrew Bacigalupi and Bodie Zwank defeated Eagan in the Section 3AA doubles championship, taking 1st place and qualifying for the state tennis tournament. The state tournament will begin on June 8th.
Minnesota Vikings 2023 Schedule Preview
By: Toby Martin Kohls
Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is projected to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, after the retirement of GOAT QB Tom Brady. The storyline for the Bucs will be which QB wins their starting job between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, and what draft pick the Bucs will get. The home opener should be an easy win for the Vikings here.
Week 2: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Seriously, do the Eagles ever play in Minneapolis? This will be a tough one, another away game in Philly taking on Jalen Hurts and the Super Bowl runner-ups in a hostile prime-time environment.
Week 3: vs Los Angeles Chargers
We’re playing the AFC West this year! Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams come to town in what should be a good battle of great offenses.
Week 4: @ Carolina Panthers
The Vikings travel to Carolina to face the new-look Panthers with QB Bryce Young at the helm. The Panthers are actually supposed to be a middle-of-the-road team this year with Vegas setting their win total at O/U 7.5 wins. If the Vikings want to make the playoffs, they should win this game.
Week 5: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Fun fact: Patrick Mahomes has never beaten the Minnesota Vikings in his career, which is the only team he hasn’t triumphed over. Seems not true? It should. The Chiefs and backup QB Matt Moore beat the Vikings in November of 2019. I expect to get blown out here, but who knows?
Week 6: @ Chicago Bears
I’m sure Justin Fields will run all over our defense but I somewhat trust that new DC Brian Flores will have all our issues figured out by now and this is a must-win division game. At least it’s not in prime time.
Week 7: vs San Francisco 49ers
Monday Night Football primetime Kirk Cousins against a ferocious 49ers defense. Need I say more? Ouch.
Week 8: @ Green Bay Packers
I’m going with JJ and Flores traumatizing the Packers’ defense and QB Jordan Love. Packers fans will wish Rodgers stuck around.
Week 9: @ Atlanta Falcons
Sure, they drafted Bijan Robinson in the first round to pair with fellow first-round picks Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but they still don’t have a QB (Desmond Ridder you are significantly below league average). I’m sure Cordarelle Patterson will make us regret not keeping him as a returner. Expect a win here.
Week 10: vs New Orleans Saints
I think this Saints team is actually underrated if their players play up to their potential. Carr, Kamara, Thomas, and Olave on offense, and Jordan, Davis, Mathieu, Maye, and Lattimore highlighting the defense. In a toss-up, I still like the Vikings to get the job done at home.
Week 11: @ Denver Broncos
I’ll be attending this Sunday Night Primetime game at Mile High! Of course, that means they will lose. I’m sorry in advance.
Week 12: vs Chicago Bears
An important game against a division rival at home in prime time. We should have more clarity by this week of the playoff picture. This game should be won.
Week 13: Bye Week
I think this is the latest bye week in the team’s history. It might be sorely needed due to inevitable injuries.
Week 14: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Revenge game for former Vikings CB Duke Shelley and K Daniel Carlson. However, I don’t believe in this Raiders squad with Jimmy G, Jacobs, and Adams. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Carlson kicks a 55+ yarder to win the game or something in true Minnesota sports fashion.
For those who don’t know, Carlson was drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He won the Vikings K job against incumbent Kai Forbath and then against the Packers he missed one FG in regulation and two in OT resulting in a 29-29 tie. The next day the Vikings signed Dan Bailey (at the time Bailey was the second most accurate kicker in NFL history) and cut Carlson.
Carlson then went on to be the 2x NFL Scoring Leader (2020, 2021), Second Team All-Pro in 2021, and First Team All-Pro in 2022. He also set the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a season in 2022 with 11 made. God, I hate Minnesota sports.
Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Vikings travel to Cincinnati to take on Super Bowl hopefuls Joe Burrow and company. This matchup pits the electric JaMarr Chase and Justin Jefferson together in what should be a good game. However, I still give the edge to Cincy here.
Week 16: vs Detroit Lions
Wow, the first game against Detroit in week 16? NFL scheduling madness. This could very well be a crucial deciding game for the division title. The Lions are favored to win the division with their young core but have not won it since 1993.
Week 17: vs Green Bay Packers
Easy W. Enough said. Jordan Love ends up a bust and the Vikings beat up Sean Clifford or Danny Etling.
Week 18: @ Detroit Lions
The NFL made changes in recent years to schedule more inter-division games late in the year to make them more important for the playoffs. This could be the game for the division title or it could be one where both teams rest their starters.
History of Minnesota sports misery since our last major championship win (Twins, 1991 World Series)
By: Toby Martin-Kohls
There has been a long history of disappointment in Minnesota sports since our last win in a major sports championship. From terrible decisions to highly improbable events, this article will (painfully) give you a refresher on Minnesota sports history. This article will go in chronological order, so younger readers might only be familiar with events further down the list. If you manage to make it to the end, kudos to you! Buckle up.
1996: Wolves draft Ray Allen, and immediately trade him for Stephon Marbury
In a move that still haunts Minnesota fans, the Timberwolves drafted future Hall of Famer Ray Allen in 1996 but immediately traded him for Stephon Marbury. Marbury’s tenure with the team was brief and fraught with controversy; a disappointment compared to Allen’s outstanding career.
1998: 15-1 Vikings lose NFC Championship Game on Gary Anderson’s first missed FG
Despite an impressive 15-1 regular season record, the 1998 Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game when reliable kicker Gary Anderson missed his first field goal of the year, in true disappointing fashion.
2000: Vikings lose 41-0 to Giants in the NFC Championship game
Two years later, the New York Giants humiliated the Vikings 41-0 in the NFC Championship game, destroying them once more. The defeat adds yet another episode of postseason heartbreak for the Vikings.
2002: Twins win division, losing to Los Angeles in ALCS
Despite winning the division, the 2002 Twins lost to the Angels in the American League Championship Series. The loss put the Twins’ hopes of winning the World Series on hold once more.
2002: Wild swept by Anaheim in Western Conference Finals
The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Minnesota Wild in four games on their first-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals. This marked the sudden end to what had been a thrilling playoff journey, after coming back from two 3-1 series deficits.
1997-2003: Wolves lose in the first round of playoffs for seven consecutive seasons
Between 1997 and 2003, the Timberwolves had seven consecutive first-round playoff exits, which highlighted the team’s lack of postseason success throughout that time span.
2003: David Ortiz leaves Twins for Red Sox
Losing David Ortiz to the Red Sox in 2003 was a painful blow to the Twins. Ortiz continued to rise to fame in Boston and serves as a daily reminder of what might have been. One of the most beloved players to play the game.
2003: Twins win division, lose to Yankees in ALDS
The Twins lost in the postseason following yet another division victory, this time to the Yankees in the American League Division Series. The Twins’ reputation as a team that struggled to make the playoffs was further solidified with this defeat.
2004: Sam Cassell hurts his hip doing big-balls dance, Wolves lose to Lakers in WCF
Sam Cassell hurt his hip in the 2004 Western Conference Finals during a celebratory dance, which was a particularly upsetting event for Wolves fans. The Wolves hopes were hampered by the injury, and they fell to the Lakers.
2005: Vikings lose NFC Divisional playoff game to Eagles
The Vikings continued their trend of postseason disappointment in 2005, losing the NFC Divisional playoff game to the Eagles.
2005: Randy Moss traded to Oakland, Vikings get No. 7 overall pick, which they use to take Troy Williamson
The Vikings dealt superstar Randy Moss to Oakland in 2005 in exchange for the top pick, which they then used to choose Troy Williamson. Williamson fell short of supporters’ expectations, further disappointing them.
2006: Twins win the division with AL Cy Young, MVP, and batting champ; swept by A’s in the first round
Despite winning the division and receiving individual recognition, the 2006 Twins’ playoff struggles continued when they were swept by the Athletics in the first round.
2007: KG forces trade to Celtics
The Timberwolves suffered a great deal as a result of Kevin Garnett’s demand for a trade in 2007, losing their franchise player and finding it difficult to fill the void.
2008: Wild win a first division title, lose to Avs in the first round
After securing their first division title, the Wild lost to the Avalanche in the first round of playoffs, once again failing to capitalize on regular-season success.
2009: Vikings lose NFC Wild Card game to the Eagles
The Vikings’ loss to the Eagles in the 2009 NFC Wild Card game added to the ongoing narrative of postseason underachievement.
2009: Wolves draft Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry and DeMar DeRozan
Fans have often pondered what might have been when the Timberwolves selected Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry and DeMar DeRozan in the 2009 NBA Draft.
2009: Twins win the division in game 163, swept by Yankees in ALDS (Ump Phil Cuzzi blows easy foul ball call in Game 2)
The Twins were defeated by the Yankees in the 2009 ALDS despite winning the division in an exciting Game 163 of the series. During Game 2 of the series, umpire Phil Cuzzi made a terrible foul ball call.
2010: Vikings choke against Bountygate Saints in NFC Championship game
The infamous “Bountygate” controversy tainted the Vikings’ loss to the Saints in the 2010 NFC Championship game. They were doomed by notable errors like Adrian Peterson’s fumble, the 12-men-on-field penalty, and Brett Favre’s late-game interception.
2010: Wolves draft Wesley Johnson with 4th overall pick over Cousins, Hayward, and George
The Timberwolves chose Wesley Johnson with the fourth overall pick in the draft, passing over future All-Stars DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward, and Paul George in another dismal decision.
2010: Twins win division, swept by Yankees in ALDS
Despite having won their division, the Twins’ postseason troubles continued in 2010 when they were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS.
2011: Wolves, (worst team in the NBA ) lose lottery (and Kyrie), pick Derrick Williams at No. 2
By losing the NBA draft lottery in 2011 and missing out on Kyrie Irving, the Timberwolves lost a significant opportunity. Derrick Williams, who was chosen with the second selection, performed poorly.
2013: AP misses single-season rushing record by 9 yards; Vikings lose to Packers in the first round
Adrian Peterson came just 9 yards short of breaking the single-season rushing record in 2013, which was a disappointing moment in a campaign that ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Packers.
2015: Wild lose to Blackhawks in the second round
The Wild were defeated by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2015 postseason, adding to Minnesota’s ongoing playoff woes. This was the last time the Wild have progressed past the first round.
2016: Blair Walsh shanks 27-yard FG and Vikings lose to Seahawks in the first round
Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal against the Seahawks in the first round of the 2016 playoffs, creating a scary déjà vu similar to Gary Anderson’s miss.
2017: Wild set a franchise record in points, lose to Blues in the first round
The Wild lost to the Blues in the opening round of the playoffs despite setting a team record for points during the regular season, failing to translate their regular-season success into postseason advancement.
2017: Twins blow 3-0 lead to Yankees in AL Wild Card game
In the 2017 AL Wild Card game against the Yankees, the Twins blew a 3-0 lead, leading to yet another sad postseason defeat.
2018: Vikings blown out in NFC Championship game one week after Minneapolis Miracle
After the legendary “Minneapolis Miracle” a week prior, the Vikings’ hopes of hosting a Super Bowl were dashed as they were routed in the NFC Championship game.
2019: MN United gives up two goals in the closing minutes and loses 3-2 in the semifinals to the Seattle Sounders
MN United fell to the Seattle Sounders 3-2 in a heartbreaking 2019 playoff after allowing two goals in the closing minutes.
2020: Vikings lose in NFC Divisional playoff game to the 49ers
Despite beating the Saints in the Wild Card round, the Vikings’ playoff problems continued as they were defeated by the 49ers in the 2020 NFC Divisional playoff game.
2021: All five men’s hockey teams in the state make the NCAA tournament, three reach the Frozen Four, and UMass wins it all
All five of Minnesota’s men’s hockey teams qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2021, with three of them making it to the Frozen Four. However, UMass went on to win the title.
2021: Wild lose in 7 games to Golden Knights in the first round
The Wild’s postseason ended in disappointment once again in 2021, losing in seven games to the Golden Knights in the first round of playoffs.
2022: Wild lose in 6 games to Blues in the first round, blowing 2-1 series lead
The Wild continued the trend of losing in the first round for the 6th straight time, despite setting another franchise record for points with 113.
2022: Timberwolves lose in the first round to the Grizzlies in 6 games, with only their second playoff appearance in the previous 18 years
At least they made the playoffs and even won the play-in games! Alas, it was not enough to advance in the first round over the Ja Morant-led Grizzlies.
2023: Minnesota Golden Gophers Men’s hockey suffers late collapse vs Quinnipiac in NCAA Championship game
Minnesota blew a 2-0 lead starting with 13 min to play in the second period. Collin Graf managed the game-tying goal with an extra attacker 17:13 into the 3rd period to force OT. Jacob Quillan scored the game-winner just 10 seconds in the OT period, gave Quinnipiac their first title, and left Minnesota searching for another since their last win in 2003.
2023: Wild lose to Stars in 6 games
In a revenge series against the team that was originally the North Stars and relocated to Dallas (screw you Norm Green), the Wild again blow a 2-1 series lead. This marks the 7th consecutive first-round exit.
Congratulations if you made it this far! I’m sure this list will only grow in future years. Perhaps the Twins will finally win a playoff game for the first time since 2003. Of course, cautiously optimistic, you can’t expect much.
Most entertaining games of the 23-24 NFL season
By: Nagad Omar
In this article I will be predicting the top 3 most entertaining games of the 23-24 NFL season. Honorable mention goes to all of the oversea games.
#1: Super Bowl rematch- 11/20/23
The highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch will kickoff at 8:15PM for Monday Night Football. The Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City Chiefs will host the Philadelphia Eagles. I think this game will be full of scoring on both sides and will make up for a great game. It will be a revenge game for the Eagles and will also be a big game depending on the course of the Chiefs season to see if they can pull off the win again. I predict Philadelphia will pull off the win.
#2: AFC Championship rematch- 12/31/23
The final game of the year 2023 will be a good one. The Super Bowl champs will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals on a New Year’s Eve game. These two teams have had a lot of history in the last 2 years. The Bengals punched their ticket to the Super Bowl in the 2022 NFL season when kicker Evan McPherson kicked a last second field goal to send them to the Super Bowl and stun the Chiefs. But the following year, the Chiefs came right back to knock the Bengals out and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, and actually win. I think we’re in for an exciting match up with 2 great teams facing off, but I predict the Chiefs will take it home in a close game one more time.
#3: NFC North matchup- 12/10/23
Such an underrated matchup that wasn’t given prime time. I predict that the Detroit Lions against the Chicago Bears will be one of the greatest games we will see this upcoming season. With both teams having done so much work this off season, and bettering their teams, I think this game will be close. With the NFC North title up for grabs I think both teams will play the best football they can. But with all the changes and improvements with the Chicago Bears I think they will take this one home.
Overall, I think we’re in for a great NFL season with lots of close, exciting and entertaining games.
Was there a winner in the Luis Arraez-Pablo López trade?
By: Abby Altman
On January 20th, the Minnesota Twins traded Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins in exchange for RHP Pablo Lopez and 2 prospects.
In 2022, Luis Arraez earned the title of AL Batting Champion, finishing the season with a .316 batting average, .375 OBP, and a .795 OPS.
The reigning batting champion has only been traded 3 times ever in the divisional era, last marked 44 years ago when, believe it or not, the Minnesota Twins traded Rod Carew to the Angels just after he won the AL batting title.
Arraez had become a staple in the Twins both on the field and in the dugout, but he had increased his trade value so much over the 2022 season that Minnesota felt it was necessary to get as high of a payout as possible.
In exchange for the major loss on their lineup, Minnesota received RHP Pablo López. In 2022, López had a 3.75 ERA and a 10-10 record. In April of 2022, López was selected as NL Pitcher of the Month, however his accolades appear to end there. He has never been selected to the All-Star Game in his 6 year MLB career.
Before 2023, López had spent his entire career in Miami, and Arraez had spent his entire career with Minnesota.
Since the trade, both players seem to fit in very nicely with their new teams, however it seems one team may have come out on top.
In the first 50 games of the 2023 season, Arraez is leading the MLB with a .387 batting average, and a .437 OBP. Of his 60 hits, just 12 have been for extra bases, but Arraez’s consistency at the plate has put him high on the NL MVP watch.
Defensively, Arraez has spent the majority of his time at 2nd base, where he is fielding 1.000% through 38 games started.
On the other end of the trade, Pablo López has joined the very strong 5-man rotation that Minnesota has been cooking.
Minnesota’s starting 5 is 2nd in the MLB in ERA, with a combined average of 3.21. The Twins starters lead the league in strikeouts with 314, propelled by 75 strikeouts from Pablo López, which is 5th in the MLB.
López has a 3.90 ERA through 10 starts and 60 IP.
While both teams are strongly benefiting from the trade, Minnesota is currently seeing the effects of a lineup without Arraez.
The Twins currently have the 7th lowest batting average in the MLB, and lead the league in strikeouts, with 485.
The Minnesota Twins star players Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton each have their fair share of strikeouts, with Buxton striking out 52 times and Correa striking out 45 times, both in 44 games played. Arraez, on the other hand, has just 9 strikeouts through 45 games.
The 2 prospects Minnesota received in the trade have yet to make an impact on the Twins roster, and will likely remain in the minor leagues for several years.
The “winner” of this trade between the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins will likely not be known for several years, but both teams appear to be heavily benefiting from their new acquisitions.
Conference meet
By: Ellie Moore
Prelims for the St .Paul City Conference Meet took place on Tuesday, May 23, and finals were held on Thursday, May 25.
In order to make it to finals and score points for your team you need to place in the top 8 at prelims. There are 3 heats of 6-8 people in prelims and the top 2 from every heat, and the next 2 times, will make it to the finals.
Tuesday also had a few finals. With these events, the girl’s Highland team was in the lead with 59 points, Central close behind with 50 points. For the boys, Central was winning with 38 points and Highland was in second place with 32.
The events that scored on Tuesday were boys and girls 3200 meter, boys shot put, boys long jump, girls discus, and girls triple jump.
Highland Park had 2 conference champs on May 23: Benjamin Ward in the shot put and Nuria Rodriguez-Foster in triple jump. Grace Lewis-Mosher, Chloe Koch, and Ziva Westreich scored points for the team getting second, third, and fifth. Ben Martin, Max Reemtsma, and Gavin Roberts scored for the boys getting fourth, fifth, and sixth.
In the 100 Highland Park will have 3 boys and 2 girls in the final, with Brouke Brookins and Ellie Moore with first seed going into it. Demarcus Simmons and Tenzing Walker got seventh and eighth seed and Austin Bailey-Zimmerman got eighth seed.
In the 200 Highland Park will have 2 boys, Brouke Brookins and Terez McDaniel-Vaughn, and 3 girls, Ellie Moore, Ellery Merrimack, and Alexa Ramirez, in the final.
The 400 will have 2 boys and 2 girls. Ellie Moore and Delia Johnson having first and second seed. Brouke Brookins having third seed and Tobias Hennum with sixth seed.
The boys ran a prelim 800 on Tuesday, but the girls did not due to a low number of girls. Davis Isom and Charlie Service made it to finals, and Delia Johnson, Maddie Klevay, and Grace Lewis-Mosher will run their finals on Thursday.
The 1600 doesn’t have a prelim either so Sam Palm, Ingrid Haaland, and Alice Rapacz will run it for the first time on Thursday for the girls, and Mason Deegan, Gavin Roberts, and Ben Martin will run it for the boys.
Yao Buchl, Austin Bailey-Zimmerman, and Nuria Rodriguez-Foster made it to finals in the 100 hurdles for the girls and Wesley Norquist, Emmett Riemenschneider, and Johnny Xiong made it to finals for the boys 110 hurdles.
Emmett Riemenschneider, Wesley Norquist, Austin Bailey-Zimmerman, Yao Buchl, and Hazel Thrasher also made it to finals in the 300 hurdles.
Finals will take place Thursday, May 25 at Harding High School.
Sports schedule for May 22-27
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MAY 22 – MAY 27 | |||
| MONDAY | MAY 22 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | Varsity Boys Golf Conference Tournament | Goodrich Golf Course | |
| 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Two Rivers | Two Rivers High School | |
| TUESDAY | MAY 23 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:00pm | 1:30pm | 7:00pm | Track and Field Conference Prelims | Harding High School |
| 4:30pm | JV Baseball vs. Como Park | Como Park High School | |
| 4:30pm | Softball Sections vs. Holy Angels | Lincoln Field | |
| 4:30pm | Boys Lacrosse B-Squad vs. Minnehaha Academy | McMurray Fields | |
| WEDNESDAY | MAY 24 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | Varsity Boys Golf Conference Tournament | Goodrich Golf Course | |
| 11:00am | Varsity Girls Golf Conference Tournament | Oneka Golf Course | |
| 4:30pm | Varsity Baseball Twin Cities Game vs. MPLS Southwest | TBA | |
| THURSDAY | MAY 25 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:00pm | 1:30pm | 7:00pm | Track and Field Conference Finals | Harding High School |
| 4:30pm | Softball Sections vs. Kennedy/Simley | Away | |
| FRIDAY | MAY 26 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| SATURDAY | MAY 27 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
Loons narrowly avoid elimination in U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 drama plus the 2 most recent MLS games
By: Aeden Evenson-McDermott
After many disappointing results and matches leading up to the Round of 32 Match, the Loons would look to turn the page and set their sights on advancing in the Open Cup further. Kickoff was at 7:30PM which has become a primetime kickoff for most fixtures with MLS and U.S. Soccer Federation scheduling this year.
After an enticing game against Vancouver, the Loons would fall short once again with a 3-2 loss. A first goal from newly signed South Korean striker, Jeong Sang-bin, in Minnesota colors and a first goal of the season for captain Michael Boxall. Vancouver’s goals came from Brian White and Simon Becher.
With coming off the road loss, the Loons would be at home at Allianz Field. Only half the stadium was used plus the supporters section but it was still a decent crowd for a midweek match.
The Loons and Philadelphia Union would play a highly competitive first half with neither side striking first. Good to see the higher intensity and better game flow as Loons have been pretty lackadaisical as of late. The second half would be even more exciting with both teams exchanging chances. The drama would ensue when the 68th minute came and South African Striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane got a diving header and sent the ball through the hands of Philadelphia Union’s André Blake.
In the 73rd minute, Honduran midfielder Joseph Rosales received a fantastic play in which Hlongwane dribbled the defenders and dished it off to Rosales for a slotted shot into the right corner. 2-0 for the Loons!
The excitement wouldn’t last for long when the Union’s Chris Donovan got one back and it was 2-1 Loons in the 78th minute. As the clock neared closer to the 90 minutes, it became clear that Loons fans were becoming nervy. It’s been an unfortunate statistic this season that in the closing of the 90 minutes the Loons can’t hold on. Kai Wagner, the substitute defender, would smash it home in the 90+4th minute to get the game at 2-2 and send it to overtime.
Disappointing how the Loons blew the lead being up 2-0. But in the first half of extra time, Hlongwane would rejuvenate the Loons with another goal, thus being in the 103rd minute. Loons and Philly would go at it further with both sides pushing themselves and fighting to stay alive.
Disaster struck again for the Loons when in the 120th minute, and once again near the end of the match, Kai Wagner would bag his second and end Loons celebrations for the moment. It would send it to penalties!
The Loons thankfully won the first kick and got it down on the side of the supporters section for the penalty shootout. Franco Fragapane would get the first kick for the Loons and Dániel Gazdag equalizing with his kick. Second round, Will Trapp and Jack Elliot would get their second kick as well. In the third set, Kervin Arriaga and Matthew Real would miss their shots. The fourth set, Rosales and Torres would get theirs. The fifth set, Dunbar and Carranza would get theirs! Heavy drama as it would still be tied and now it would be sent to sudden death penalty shots.
Kallman and Rafanello would get theirs for the sixth round. Boxall and Lowe would also get theirs for the seventh round. In the eighth round, Tapias would get his shot for the Loons and back up goalkeeper Clint Irwin who got the start to give rest to the main goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair would deny the man who saved Philly before; Kai Wagner would be ultimately denied on the incredible penalty save made by Irwin and Loons would survive another day and get the only win of the season at home to sing “Wonderwall”.
They advance to the Round of 16 and will be facing Houston Dynamo in Houston on 5/23 for a 7:30 kickoff with streaming to most likely be through the BR Football YouTube channel.
The Loons would return to regular MLS play by traveling on the road to Sporting KC on Saturday 5/13. With a quick turnaround, the Loons would be lackluster and concede 3 goals to unfortunately lose 3-0.
They most recently played on Wednesday 5/17 back at Allianz. The game started out fast paced with much running. The Loons looked more energized and more collective in their play.
The play of the game would come in the 14th minute, early on when a costly mistake from Houston’s left back, Escobar, passed it back, which went through the Houston team and made it to the Loons, and Bongokuhle Hlongwane tucked it past Houston’s goalkeeper Steve Clark and into the right corner. 1-0 to the Loons!
The rest of the first half would have its chances and many were almost point blank on a few attempts. The second half would be quite physical and fast paced as Houston pushed for an equalizer. Thankfully there was no equalizer and the Loons held on despite at least 3 minutes of stoppage time and the ref letting play continue for Houston as they seemed to want to make it more interesting.
Our second home win of the season, but the first win in MLS at home for the season. Loons survive by narrow margins and take all three points to move from 9th into 7th spot with 15 points.
They take on the Portland Timbers on the road this weekend with a 9:30PM kickoff on Apple TV+ which is the streaming service for all things MLS! The Loons will head to Houston to play in the Round of 16 matchup next Tuesday at 7:30PM as well, before they return to Allianz the following Saturday 5/27 to play Real Salt Lake (RSL)!
Plaid Line + PRIZM + Scottie News 