Portfolio - Freelance work - Star Tribune - 2023-24 section, state tournaments

Below is Heather's prep sports coverage from the 2023-24 school year, including section and state tournaments, as a freelancer with the Star Tribune.
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KhiJohnn Cummings-Coleman makes a mark at wide receiver for Coon Rapids football team
Aug. 29, 2023 
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Cummings-Coleman ranks among the top 10 college recruits in Minnesota and is uncommitted. 
Crimson find way to move on: Maple Grove makes a breakthrough at girls tennis state tournament
Oct. 25, 2023 

The Crimson reached the semifinals for the first time after qualifying for state three years in a row. 
She's come a long way, in all respects: Winona Cotter's Emma Hageman, here from Mexico, upsets No. 2 seed Annika Harberts Ott in state tennis
Oct. 27, 2023 

Hageman sprung a big surprise in the Class 1A tournament while the rest of the matches went according to form. 
Lakers rally, hold off Mustangs: Prior Lake rallies past Mounds View in first round of Class 6A football playoffs
Oct. 28, 2023 

Prior Lake ended a long stretch of postseason difficulty, winning on the road for the first time in 19 tries. 
Rogers shuts out Park Center, advances to Class 5A football section final
Oct. 29, 2023 
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Though beset by injuries, Rogers won the chance to play for its fourth section title in a row. 
St. Paul Academy upsets Providence Academy in Class 1A girls soccer semifinals
Nov. 1, 2023 
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St. Charles also advanced to the championship game, defeating Southwest Christian.
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Wayzata, Maple Grove win in OT, advance to Class 3A boys soccer final
Nov. 2, 2023 
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Wayzata defeated Woodbury on a penalty kick, and Maple Grove turned back Park of Cottage Grove with a rally and overtime finish.  
Wayzata goes back-to-back: Wayzata shuts out Maple Grove, repeats as Class 3A boys soccer champ
Nov. 4, 2023 

Wayzata won its fifth state title and its third in the past six opportunities. 
A perfect ending to Edina's season: Edina, perfect to the end, defeats Wayzata for Class 3A girls soccer title
Nov. 4, 2023 

Metro Player of the Year Izzy Engle scored both of the goals for Edina, which finished 22-0. 
Pioneers returning seniors go 'over the top': Hill-Murray tops Orono, takes Class 2A title in boys soccer
Nov. 4, 2023 

Hill-Murray won the trophy that eluded it last season, when it finished second at state. 
Cougars finally reach semis after 39 years: Centennial ascends to the next level with Class 6A playoff victory over Rosemount
Nov. 10, 2023 
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Centennial reached the state semifinals for the first time since 1984. 
Lakeville South rallies past East Ridge and into Class 6A football semifinals
Nov. 11, 2023 
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The Cougars will play in the semifinals for the fifth time in the past five state tournaments. 
First go at state title ends with a trophy: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton defeats Mayer Lutheran, wins Class 1A volleyball title
Nov. 12, 2023 

On its first trip to state, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton left with the championship trophy. 
Marshall sweeps its way to a second three-peat: Marshall snags its third Class 3A volleyball state championship in a row
Nov. 12, 2023 
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Marshall defeated Delano in the final and completed its second three-peat in a dozen years. 
Visitation chasing 10th straight girls state title: Visitation begins pursuit of 10th girls swimming state title in a row
Nov. 18, 2023 

After heavy losses to graduation after 2022, Visitation showed depth in the preliminaries. 
Second half carries Robins to PI crown: Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound Westonka turns scoreless tie into adapted soccer title
Nov. 19, 2023 
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The Robins won the PI Division, and Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville won in CI.
Five, :04, :03, :02, :01 ... The shot clock is about to sound. Will it change high school basketball?
Dec. 5, 2023 
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Even fast-paced teams will adjust strategy, and schools have had to install clocks and find and train operators. 
Top two teams settle for draw: No. 1 Minnetonka, No. 2 Wayzata play to a draw in high school boys hockey
Dec. 30, 2023 
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A capacity crowd at Plymouth Ice Center watched the holiday clash of unbeaten teams.
Skippers prevail in battle of undefeateds: Minnetonka defeats St. Michael-Albertville in battle of girls' basketball powers
Jan. 13, 2024 
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Each undefeated to open the evening, the two Lake Conference rivals kept things close before the Skippers went on a 10-0 run after halftime. 
Pioneers attuned to late coach upheaval: Hill-Murray girls hockey team aims for elusive state tournament berth
Jan. 16, 2024 

Hill-Murray, led by a crew of coaches including Mr. and Ms. Hockey in Johnny and Krissy Pohl, is ranked No. 1. 
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Day 1 of girls hockey
Feb. 22, 2024 

The seeding held true as Dodge County, Orono, Holy Angels and Warroad won spots in the Class 1A semifinals. 
From the X: Minnesota girls hockey tournament Class 1A quarterfinal results
Feb. 22, 2024 

The girls hockey state tournament began Wednesday with Class 1A quarterfinals.  
Sights and sounds from Day 2 of Minnesota state girls hockey tournament
Feb. 23, 2024 
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The state tournament draws a variety of fans to the Xcel Energy Center, including some from Minnesota's professional team.
Minnesota girls hockey Class 2A quarterfinals
Feb. 23, 2024 
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Edina shut down Ayla Puppe and Northfield to join Minnetonka, Andover and Hill-Murray in Friday's semifinals.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Day 3 of Minnesota girls hockey tournament
Feb. 24, 2024 

Edina toppled top seed Minnetonka after Warroad dropped 1A No. 1 Holy Angels. Meanwhile, Hill-Murray's Grace Zhan and Dodge County's Ida Huber issued reminders of the importance of goalies. 
Minnesota state girls hockey semifinals 
Feb. 24, 2024 

Edina toppled Minnetonka in Class 2A, the last result of a day when both top seeds were eliminated. Traditional power Warroad sunk Class 1A No. 1 Holy Angels. Hill-Murray in 2A and Dodge County in 1A are the other finalists.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from the finals at the Minnesota girls hockey tournament
Feb. 25, 2024 
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Discussed: Opting up holds no interest for 1A champ Warroad. Goalies were stories on both 2A finalists. Analysis of the much-pondered 2A seedings. 
Warroad pulls off first three-peat in 1A: Warroad rolls against Dodge County, wins third Class 1A girls hockey state title in a row
Feb. 25, 2024 
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Warroad entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed but won its way to another championship. 
Orono pulls away from Minneapolis, returns to state in Class 1A boys hockey
Feb. 29, 2024 

Orono, which finished fourth last season, hasn't been defeated by a team from its class since December. 
Minnesota 1A boys hockey matchups: Will No. 2 Warroad get another chance to beat No. 1 Hermantown?
March 6, 2024 
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Get to know the leading scorers for each team, meet the goaltenders and find out about all eight qualifiers in the Class 1A tournament, which begins Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. 
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Minnesota Class 1A boys hockey field: Same teams with new stories
March 6, 2024 
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Defending champ Mahtomedi and Orono are back from the metro, Warroad and Hermantown from the north. Only New Ulm is fresh this season.
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from the Minnesota boys hockey state tournament
March 7, 2024 

The big event began with Hockeytown USA's team, Warroad, winning easily. Then St. Cloud Cathedral and Hermantown romped and Mahtomedi survived in the Class 1A quarterfinals.  
Minnesota boys hockey state tournament: Class 1A quarterfinals roundup
March 7, 2024 
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There were three one-sided games and a thriller in the nightcap of Class 1A. 
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Day 2 of the Minnesota boys hockey state tournament
March 8, 2024 
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Cretin-Derham Hall goalie Owen Nelson wears his heart on his head, and it's the last call for a legend in the broadcast booth.
Minnesota boys hockey state tournament: updates, game stories, how to watch and more
March 8, 2024 

Underdogs Grand Rapids and Cretin-Derham Hall record upsets to reach semifinals, where heavyweights Edina and Chanhassen await. 
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Semifinals Day at the Minnesota boys hockey state tournament
March 9, 2024 

Edina and Grand Rapids revived a rivalry late in the day, giving further credence to the notion that Friday, with 1A semis early and 2A by night, is always the hottest spot in state tournament week. 
Minnesota boys hockey tournament
March 9, 2024 

Chanhassen and Edina comfortably landed spots in the Class 2A final, and Hermantown and St. Cloud Cathedral both needed extra time to escape the 1A semifinals. 
State Tourney Insiders: Sights and sounds from Championship Day at the Minnesota boys hockey state tournament
March 10, 2024 
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Edina became the Class 2A champion, St. Cloud Cathedral won in 1A, the attendance record fell, we took one more look at Lou Nanne and we heard dramatic talk from the winners and the others. 
Crusdaers pick up second state title: St. Cloud Cathedral overcomes Hermantown for the Class 1A boys hockey state championship
March 10, 2024 

St. Cloud Cathedral's top line led the charge as the third seed knocked off the top seed. 
Half of Championship Saturday is set for the boys basketball state tournament
March 22, 2024 

Two-time defending champion Totino-Grace faces Mankato East in the 3A title game.
Tej Bhagra of Rochester Mayo defeats Aaron Beduhn of Wayzata for Class 2A boys tennis state title
June 8, 2024 
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Tej Bhagra completed a season in which he didn't lose a set. St. Paul Academy's Zahir Hassan won Class 1A singles.