Lakes Area MINN STARKS 14U girls basketball team placed second at the Minnesota State AAU DII Championships on Sunday in Shakopee. They advanced to the semis with two decisive victories over metro teams on Saturday. An overtime win versus North Tartan SE gave them the opportunity to win back-to-back state championships after taking the DIII title in 2023. The team fell five points short, losing to Air MN 8th Grade 38-33. They finished the tournament season 13-6 and also won the Wisconsin Bash at the Bay championship on April 15.
Lakes Area MINN STARKS is coached by Central Lakes College assistant women's basketball coach Mark Lindquist. The team comprises area 14U players from a 90-mile radius of the Brainerd Lakes area. This is a satellite AAU basketball program from Starks Academy located in Duluth.
2024 All-Lake Superior Conference Golf Teams
Boys First Team
Peyton Menzel, Hermantown senior
Collin Young, Cloquet junior
Karson Young, Cloquet junior
Lance Sayler, Cloquet junior
Andrew Slatten, Hibbing junior
Boys Second Team
Holden Evjen, Hermantown senior
Jack Slattengren, Hermantown junior
Kyler Berg, Hermantown sophomore
Cooper Ellena, Cloquet senior
Anders Gunelson, Cloquet senior
Dallas Loftis, Proctor sophomore
Girls First Team
Izy Farchild, Hermantown senior
Brianna Dekich, Grand Rapids sophomore
Mai Peters, Grand Rapids junior
Kiera Dick, Grand Rapids junior
Leanna Johnson, Grand Rapids sophomore
Adison Johnson, Cloquet sophomore
Girls Second Team
Kate Clairmont, Grand Rapids senior
Abigail Steinert, Cloquet senior
JuliAnn Steinert, Cloquet senior
Syndey Burggraf, Grand Rapids senior
Jayla Jones, Proctor senior
Madeline Larson, Grand Rapids senior
Bulldogs Baseball Notebook
2024 Most Valuable Player - Jack Puder, IF, hit .354 and led the team in on-base plus slugging (1.043), runs batted in (46), total bases (104), and slugging percentage (.634). He also ended the season tied for first on the team with the most total triples (2) and total home runs (10).
2024 Rookie of the Year - Sam Kliber, IF-P, hit .308.
Most Improved Player - Oran Hinkle, OF, hit .337 with a .772 on-base slugging percentage.
Bulldog Award – Jack Nemetz, C, graduating senior hit .221 with a .928 on-base plus slugging, finishing fourth on the team for home runs (7) and sixth on the team for slugging percentage (.544).
2025 captains: INF Ethan Cole, C Michael Gabbard, 3B Gabe Richardson and P Henry Wilkinson.
Today's Prep Events
Baseball
Hermantown at Superior
Esko at Rock Ridge
Grand Rapids at Hibbing
Mesabi East at Cherry
Ely at South Ridge
Braham at Moose Lake/Willow River
Softball
Esko at Cloquet
Hermantown at Grand Rapids
Superior at Hibbing
Rock Ridge at International Falls
East Central at Barnum
Mountain Iron/Buhl at Ely
Carlton/Wrenshall at North Woods
Cook County at Silver Bay
Detroit Lakes at Crosby-Ironton
South Ridge at Duluth Denfeld
Moose Lake/Willow River at Duluth East
