In the midst of March Madness

It's only the 9th of March and March Madness is already in full swing. High school hockey players have taken over the Xcel and are eliminating/advancing round the clock-- games are scheduled almost immediately following each other. It's refreshing to see athletes really care... playing for the love of the game and not for a paycheck.
Little Falls faced off against St. Thomas Academy Wednesday morning at the Xcel. Within seconds after the puck dropped, St. Thomas Academy scored their first goal. Little Falls continued through the game playing like they weren't being shut out 7-0 but like it was still the first or second period. Admiring players with serious heart.

Check out some of the images...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Tyler Buckentine's story at the St. Cloud Times' site.

State Gymnastics: Class A

The last weekend in February marked the finale to the Minnesota high school gymnastics season with the Class A and AA state tournament. The University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion was taken over by high school gymnasts and their fans.  Check out some of the best moments from the Class A tournament...

Jailyn Brinkman of Melrose Area preforms a vault at the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Melrose Areas' Kayla Austing gains speed as she runs to the vault in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Hailey Brinkman prepares for her uneven parallel bars routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Hailey Brinkman of Melrose Area swings on the uneven parallel bars in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Lydia Butkowski swings on the high bar of the uneven parallel bars in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Lydia Butkowski swings in her uneven parallel bars routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Hailey Brinkman of Melrose Area performs her balance beam routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Lydia Butkowski dismounts her balance beam routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Maddy Brinkman executes a skill on the balance beam in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Melrose Area's Abby Hinnenkamp jumps above the balance beam in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Hailey Brinkman arches backwards during her floor exercise routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Hailey Brinkman of Melrose Area performs her floor exercise routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Lydia Butkowski of Melrose Area prepares before continuing her floor exercise routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Maddy Brinkman or Melrose Area finishes her floor exercise routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Abby Hinnenkamp leaps in the air as part of her floor exercise routine in the Class A state girls' gymnastics meet Friday at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Melrose Area gymnasts react after hearing they won first place in the Class A State Gymnastics meet Firday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Melrose Area is named first place champions of the Class A State Girls' Gymnastics Tournament Friday, February 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

State Gymnastics: Class AA

The last weekend in February marked the finale to the Minnesota high school gymnastics season with the Class A and AA state tournament. The University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion was taken over by high school gymnasts and their fans.  Check out some of the best moments from the Class AA tournament...

St. Cloud Tech's Paige Beuning executes a move on the balance beam in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Taylor Pick executes a skill during her routine on the floor exercise in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Mariah Miller of St. Cloud Tech flips over the vault in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

St. Cloud Tech's Margaux Schmid performs on the uneven parallel bars in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Alyssa Lommel of St. Cloud Tech executes a skill on the balance beam in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Katlyn Mohs of St. Cloud Tech attempts the vault in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

St. Cloud Tech's Taylor Pick performs her balance beam routine in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Paige Beuning of St. Cloud Tech performs a hand stand during her floor exercse routine in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Taylor Pick begins her balance beam routine in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Mariah Miller performs her floor exercise routine in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

St. Cloud Tech's Taylor Pick performs on the vault in the Class AA girls' state gymnastics meet Friday, Feb. 24 at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

Kickin into the Championships

Several weeks ago, the Target Center played host to the Minnesota State Dance Championships. I spent the second half of the weekend there during the High Kick championship. Here are some of the best...

Members of the Sartell-St. Stephen High Kicks dance team compete at the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Members of the Sartell-St. Stephen High Kicks dance team compete at the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Members of the St. Cloud Cathedral dance team compete in the Class AA High Kicks state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Members of the St. Cloud Cathedral dance team compete in the Class AA High Kicks state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Members of the Sauk Rapids-Rice dance team compete in the Class AA High Kicks state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. 

Members of the St. Cloud Cathedral dance team celebrate as they are announced third place finalists in the state dance tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Members of the Sartell-St. Stephen dance team celebrate as they are announced second place finalists in the state dance tournament Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.