Portfolio - written work - Star Tribune - 2025-26 prep sports

Below is Heather's prep sports coverage from the 2025-26 school year, including section and state tournaments, with the Star Tribune. PDFs of each story below are available to view/download via the corresponding images.
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Rochester Mayo, Rock Ridge and St. James take home girls tennis state titles
Oct. 23, 2025 

The Spartans defeated Minnetonka for the 3A championship. Rock Ridge dethroned Blake, and No. 1 doubles secured match point for St. James over Litchfield. (Heather covered Class 2A.)
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Mayo's Loftus wins her first 3A state title: Aoife Loftus, Elizabeth Payne, Chloe Alley win girls tennis singles championships
Oct. 25, 2025
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Edina, Hill-Murray and Breck duos claimed the doubles state titles. (Heather covered Class 2A.)
Monticello swims to first crown: Monticello wins Class 1A girls swimming and diving title
Nov. 15, 2025 

Monticello’s Adalynn Biegler won two events, set a record and swam on two winning relays. 
Edina girls earn their 20th state swim title: Edina takes 2A
Nov. 15, 2025 

Edina’s Libbi McCarthy pulled off the two-event, two-relay, one-record combo, too.
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Edina, Holy Family survive close calls to reach state tournament
Feb. 14, 2026 

The Hornets shut out Benilde-St. Margarets in Section 6, while the Fire won in double overtime in Section 2. Centennial/Spring Lake Park advanced in Section 5. (Heather covered the Benilde-St. Margarets's vs. Edina section championship.)
Final results from Thursday’s girls hockey Class 2A quarterfinals at Grand Casino Arena
Feb. 19, 2026 

Hill-Murray, Edina, Centennial/Spring Lake Park and Holy Family advanced to Friday’s semifinals. (Heather covered Andover vs. Hill-Murray.)
Final results from girls hockey Class 1A and 2A semifinals at Grand Casino Arena
Feb. 20, 2026

Warroad and Breck will face off in Saturday’s 1A final. Hill-Murray will play Centennial/Spring Lake Park in 2A. (Heather covered Holy Family vs. Centennial/SLP.)
Rosemount boys hockey wins first section title since 1992
Feb. 25, 2026 

The Irish will make their second state tournament appearance in school history.
Hornets, Cadets both win 17th state championships​: Here are your 2026 Class 2A and 1A boys swimming and diving state champions​
March 1, 2026 

Edina relied on its divers to win in Class 2A for the third year in a row, while St. Thomas Academy defended its team title in 1A.
Final results from boys hockey Class 1A quarterfinals at Grand Casino Arena
March 4, 2026 

Mahtomedi, Hibbing/Chisholm, Delano and Warroad were winners and advance to Friday’s semifinals. (Heather covered Northern Lakes vs. Warroad.)
Read the recap: Minnetonka, Rosemount, Moorhead and Edina advance to Class 2A boys hockey semifinals
March 5, 2026 

The Hornets and Spuds will meet for a rematch, and the Skippers and Irish will play in the other semifinal. ​(Heather covered Andover vs. Edina.)
Read the recap: Minnetonka, Moorhead to meet for big school state title
March 6, 2026 

The Skippers and Spuds will meet in Saturday’s Class 2A final. The Class 1A final pits Hibbing/Chisholm against Warroad. ​(Heather covered Mahtomedi vs. Hibbing/Chisholm.)
​Primetime performances: The players who stood out at ‘The Tourney’
March 7, 2026 

Meet six players who left their marks on this year’s boys hockey state tournament.
Olympic hopeful's next splash is Virginia's pool​: All-Minnesota Boys Swimmer of the Year: Micah Davis, St. Cloud Crush
March 20, 2026 

Micah Davis, who will head to Virginia on scholarship, won two state titles at the 2A boys swim meet.
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High school seniors advise future signees: We asked high school seniors about their college recruiting process. Here’s what they said future signees should know.
April 2, 2026 

The road to finding the ideal situation to play on a college team isn’t simple. It requires communication, planning and locating a program that fits a student’s goals — athletically, financially and academically.
Wayzata claims fourth consecutive Class 2A boys tennis title; SPA wins fifth straight Class 1A crown
June 3, 2026 

Both matches come down to the wire, but winning teams continue streaks. ​(Heather covered Class 2A.)
Mounds View’s Swenson, Rochester Lourdes’ Ritter win boys tennis singles state titles
June 5, 2026 

Soren Swenson defended his Class 2A title in a close victory over Wayzata’s Ethan Turunen. Wayzata pair Jacob Salisbury and Nolan Beduhn won the 2A doubles title.​ (Heather covered Class 2A.)
Brainerd leads Class 3A boys golf; Braydon Pulcanio leads boys individuals
June 9, 2026 

The golf state tournaments, with three classes at three sites, will produce champions Wednesday.
Elk River’s William Roiland wins in Class 3A; Heritage Christian takes its first Class 1A team title
June 10, 2026 

Brainerd captured the Class 3A team championship. Southwest Christian’s Henry Johnson earned the Class 2A individual crown. (Heather covered Class 3A.)
Minnetonka sweeps Class 3A state girls golf with team title and Ruby Reding’s individual title
June 10, 2026 

Detroit Lakes wins the Class 2A team title and Dawson-Boyd wins the Class 1A team title. (Heather covered Class 3A.)
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Headband ritual, title, repeat​: 2026 All-Minnesota Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Soren Swenson from Mounds View
June 15, 2026 

The junior won the Class 2A singles title for the second consecutive year.
2026 All-Minnesota Boys Golf Player of the Year: Elk River’s William Roiland
June 17, 2026 

Roiland won the Class 3A boys golf state championship by one stroke.
2026 All-Minnesota Girls Golf Player of the Year: Minnetonka’s Ruby Reding
June 17, 2026 

Reding capped off her six seasons with Minnetonka by sweeping individual and team honors at the girls golf state tournament.
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