Darrell Olson

Bring back physical education. Monday through Friday.

Little man caught a foul ball, then immediately went to celebrate with his parents 🥹

BHS Class AA State Final thoughts    Minnetonka's decision not to attend a postgame press conference was disappointing, yes.  Often, the losing team (it's okay to say "lose", I promise) has insight into the game (obviously), but also on the journey the team has embarked on together, how unheralded players showed up in the season's biggest game, and a perspective on the season as a whole.   There were also questions YHH had for the Minnetonka coaching staff: who runs the program's strength and conditioning? How has the youth system prepared this team to become such a well-oiled machine? How did you get every player to buy in while running four lines every game and ignoring point totals? Among others.  Hibbing/Chisholm lost in overtime, too. They showed up in that little room next to the Grand Casino Arena cafeteria, with harsh lighting and TV cameras lined against the back wall.  Head Coach Aaron Jamnick and three players. Gavin Lamphere, Tate Swanson, and Hunter Gustavsson.  They answered questions from local and statewide media.  The best part?  Senior goaltender Gavin Lamphere sat there, clear-eyed, and answered every question posed to him. He talked about what he said to his distraught teammates after the game. About how the underclassmen had great careers in front of them. About how he told them this loss wasn't the end of the world.  His most poignant comments were about Warroad, the team that had just ripped his heart out in overtime. He tipped his cap to the Warriors. He said their team had a great story. He mentioned Warrior goaltender Patrick Kennedy, and his rise from backup to the Class A All-Tournament Team.  And, yes, he wore his silver medal.  Medals, man.  Some people spend way too much time thinking about what kids (KIDS) are doing with a ribbon and a metal disc, moments after their season ends. Some kids wear them. Some take them off. Some throw them in the garbage before heading down the tunnel.  The time to remind them that the medal is a symbol of all the work they've put in, and that every other team but one would kill to be in their place, likely isn't on the ice in front of cameras and a crowd. Teaching those life lessons should not come at the cost of embarrassing an emotionally vulnerable teenager.    But I'm glad Gavin Lamphere wore his. Hopefully, he'll cherish it for the rest of his life.  Hopefully, the Minnetonka boys will eventually cherish theirs, too.  Thanks for following along this week. Being able to cover the boys' and girls' high school seasons is truly, sincerely, an honor.  See you next year.

A group of 4th graders went to every high school basketball game to cheer the team on, so the high schoolers showed up to the kids’ game to return the favor