Talking Preps

Star Tribune preps reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen review the wealth of football playoff upsets and discuss the Class 6A experiment pitting the tradition-rich programs against those trying to rebuild.

To QRF or not to QRF? Star Tribune preps reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen tackle the imperfect and sometimes "bloody" process of seeding football teams.

Katie Aafedt, the Edina girls' coach, and Aaron Fenton with the Lakeville South boys' program, talk all things soccer with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque.

Star Tribune prep sports reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen debate how to best rank a football team. They also give props to a courageous tennis player, and the architect of Eden Prairie's football program.

Star Tribune's David LaVaque and Jim Paulsen talk running backs used more in the passing game and the stadiums where the Friday Night Lights shine brightest

High school writes David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen take you inside the game as they try to unravel what they know and don't know about the Minnesota high school football season.

St. Thomas Academy and Cretin-Derham Hall clash once again, as Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque discuss in their second Taking Preps episode of fall 2021.

David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen talk about a 2021 season that begins with a feeling of normalcy.

A season that begin haltingly last fall and ground to halt in the winter finished up with spring sports state tournaments featuring clutch performances, cool story lines and a sense of, dare we say, normalcy that bodes well for next year, according to the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David la Vaque.

A sweltering week of boys' tennis offered a preview of what will be a five-sport blizzard of tournaments next week, including a cast of newcomers among the lacrosse final eight boys' and girls' teams. Plus what Chet Holmgren's latest honor says about Minnesota high school basketball, from the Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen.

Controversial boys' hockey coach Mike Randolph steps down amid an investigation, Trejuan Holloman steps up as a possible Gopher, and the Minnesota State High School League is showing financial improvement. The Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque dissect it all in the latest Talking Preps.

With 50 years of journalism experience between them, the Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen offer graduation season reflections about covering a sports world full of community, everyday athletes and occasional stars before their time with one common denominator: "Rarely,'' Jim says, "do you get a no-comment.''

The idea was to improve competitive balance starting this fall among the state's largest football programs, where state tournament runs are skewed in favor a minority of teams. But as the Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen discuss, those efforts have some questioning how much it will help when it comes to always-contentious postseason seeding.

The Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen, under astute questioning from colleague David La Vaque, breaks down how a strongly backed proposal came up a few votes short at a key Minnesota State High School League meeting even as girls' wrestling was approved for a state tournament division.

The Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque recount superlative efforts across Minnesota high school sports this spring and set up a key meeting to decide whether boys' volleyball and a girls' wrestling state tournament are a go.

The Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen delve into new guidance that makes mask-wearing optional during games and practices, provide insight into Chet Holmgren's move out west and call out a couple of coaching changes of note in boys' hockey.

After a jam-packed run of championships, the Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen disclose what stood out for them, including under-appreciated moments, from a just-completed stretch of high school state tournaments.

The Star Tribune's Ron Haggstrom and Jim Paulsen analyze all four classes of boys' and girls' basketball matchups starting Tuesday and wonder if the Bulldogs, shut down by the pandemic on the eve of their title game last year, can make it this time around.

Out of basketball coaching this year but probably not for good, Brian Cosgriff tells the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen that he misses the game but not the COVID disruptions. And that it will take "the perfect game'' to keep his former team from another Class 4A title.

Always loquacious Ted Cheesebrough, veteran high school hockey coach, dishes to the Star Tribune's David La Vaque what he learned when he quizzed his peers who will behind the bench starting Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center.