John’s Journal:

John's Journal:National Recognition For La Crescent-Hokah's Noah Bjerke-Wieser

October 17, 2023 |

John's Journal

Noah Bjerke-Wieser, the La Crescent-Hokah athlete who made headlines last year with a social media post asking fans to respect officials, will receive a Musial Award in a Dec. 24 ceremony in St. Louis broadcast on CBS.

John’s Journal: 80 Years Old And 60-Plus Years Of Officiating

October 11, 2023 |

John's Journal

This is John Lieser's 60th season as a high school football official, and when basketball season starts he will mark 63 years officiating that sport.

John’s Journal: Soccer Is A Family Affair For St. Charles, Apple Valley

October 5, 2023 |

John's Journal

John’s Journal: "Chasing Influence" Is An Important Book For Coaches And Leaders

October 2, 2023 |

John's Journal

Chasing Influence tells the story of a transformational high school coach who uses the power of school sports to make the world a better place. Embedded in each chapter are practical takeaways for leaders in every field.

John's Journal: 108 Years Of Coaching For Rostbergs And Lundeen

September 30, 2023 |

John's Journal

The football coaches at Hutchinson and Becker will not be around forever, but their names will live on in the facilities at their schools.

John’s Journal: Father And Son, Living A Football Dream

September 25, 2023 |

John's Journal

Football coach Dan O'Brien's move from St. Thomas Academy to Holy Family Catholic had one major dividend: His son Casey could finally join his dad's coaching staff.

John’s Journal: Park Football Team Is All In On Concussion Safety

September 18, 2023 |

John's Journal

Park High School has become a team to watch for reasons beyond the scoreboard. The Wolfpack are believed to be the only football team in the country at any level that’s wearing extra protection in the form of Guardian caps.

John’s Journal: Lots Of Reasons To Smile At Mabel-Canton

September 13, 2023 |

John's Journal

How Hall of Fame coach Lonnie Morken got involved in volleyball, and how he remained close to home, is a story that leans on serendipity, fortune and maybe just a bit of good timing.

John’s Journal: Thinking Back To 22 Years Ago This Week

September 11, 2023 |

John's Journal

"Everybody keeps saying we'll never get back to normal, just like our nation will never get back to normal. But hopefully we're going to get as close to normal as we can."

John’s Journal: Home Field Can Be Truly Home Or Somewhere Down The Road

September 7, 2023 |

John's Journal

Owatonna has a new football stadium and Hancock is playing every game this season on the road. But playing well is more important than where you're playing.

John’s Journal: Young Coaches Join Storied Volleyball Programs

September 5, 2023 |

John's Journal

The biggest offseason volleyball coaching change in years took place at Eagan High School, where longtime head coach Kathy Gillen became an assistant to her daughter, McKenna Melville. And at Chaska, coach Sue Murphy promoted two of her former players to varsity assistants

John’s Journal: A Special Day At The Brave Like Gabe Invitational

August 30, 2023 |

John's Journal

The first Brave Like Gabe Invitational was held a few months after Gabe died. This year, nearly $2,500 in proceeds from concessions, t-shirt sales and donations from competing teams was given to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation.

John’s Journal: The Game’s The Same, No Matter The Location

August 27, 2023 |

John's Journal

The first game of any season in any sport is special. In Alden and Verndale, these games kicked off the high school football season in Minnesota; they were Zero Week contests in nine-player football, two of eight such games Thursday and Friday.

John’s Journal: Pequot Lakes Volleyball Hoping For An Even Better Finish

August 22, 2023 |

John's Journal

With a record of 91-20 since the beginning of the 2019 season, and with plenty of talented players back, the 2023 volleyball season could be another season to remember for Pequot Lakes.

John’s Journal: Another Crack At State Title Motivates MIB Rangers

August 17, 2023 |

John's Journal

A new banner hangs in a prominent spot on the wall inside the weight room at Mountain Iron-Buhl High School. Two team photos are prominent reminders of what the Rangers football and girls basketball teams accomplished last season: Minnesota State High School League state champions.

John’s Journal: Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons Aims High

August 12, 2023 |

John's Journal

When the Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons football team went from 0-9 in 2021 to 5-4 in 2022, it opened some eyes. Coming back from an ofer season to win more than half your games is not an easy lift in football.

John's Journal: 16 Football Teams Get A Head Start On 2023 Season

August 7, 2023 |

John's Journal

A handful of Minnesota high school football teams are on the practice field a week early as they begin preparations for the 2023 season. Sixteen teams will play Zero Week games on Aug. 24 or 25.

John's Journal: 55 Football Seasons For A Coach Who Loves The Game

August 4, 2023 |

John's Journal

Mike Mahlen has been the head football coach at Verndale since 1969. That was the year when Neil Armstrong put a foot on the moon’s surface, the Woodstock music festival was held in upstate New York and Sesame Street made its television debut.

John’s Journal: No. 1 From 2022-23/ One Step At A Time, One Foot In Front Of The Other

July 9, 2023 |

John's Journal

Despite fighting cancer, Luke Klassen never stopped running. He competed in every cross-country meet in 2022, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. That’s how important his teammates, his friends, his coaches and cross-country is to him.

John’s Journal: No. 2 From 2022-23/ A Powerful Statement About Respecting Officials

July 8, 2023 |

John's Journal

“I didn't think it was going to get that big. But after I really thought about it as coming from a student, more people are going to think it's more of a problem, right? Everyone said they've been super proud, that they’re glad I did that or thankful I did that.”