Chisago Lakes wins instant classic over Princeton; earns top seed in section
Junior Jacob Kletti’s laser beam from 40 feet out into the top right corner of the net with 1:09 left in overtime gave the Wildcats a 5-4 win over the Princeton Tigers in the Wildcats’ final home game of the 2024-2025 season. An aside –this reporter has watched hundreds of high school hockey games over the past 20-plus years, and this is one of the most exciting and most entertaining games I have ever seen. There was end-to-end action the entire game, nearly 100 combined shots on goal, great saves by both goalies. For Wildcat fans who were lucky enough to be there, a fantastic way to end the home season with a comeback win as the Wildcats head for the section playoffs.
Wildcats hang with top seed early, run out of gas late
The Wildcats scored first in their Section 4A semifinal matchup against the fourth-ranked Holy Angels Stars and trailed just 2-1 late in the third period. But the Stars added an insurance goal with just over five minutes remaining and went on to beat the Wildcats 4-1, ending the Wildcats’ season. The game was played Tuesday, February 11 at Richfield Ice Arena.
CL wins one before bowing out to Simley
The eighth-seeded Wildcat wrestling team defeated the ninth-seeded St. Paul Humboldt-Open World Learning 39-30 in the opening round of the Section 4AA Team tournament on Saturday, February 15 at Mahtomedi High School.
Wildcats draw fifth seed in section play; take on Mpls.
Lauren Schmidt notched her second hat trick of the season to lead the Wildcat girls’ hockey team to a 5-1 win over the River Lakes Stars Tuesday, January 28 at Chisago Lakes Arena. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, scoring three goals in a two-minute stretch in the first period, and never looked back. The Wildcats outshot the Stars 30-27 for the game. Wildcat goalie Evi Reedy came up big in this one, stopping 26 of the 27 shots she faced.
‘Cats establish themselves in sectional games with three wins
Jacob Kletti scored two power play goals in the third period to give the Wildcats a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Mahtomedi Zephyrs at the St. Croix Rec Center in Mahtomedi Tuesday, January 28. Wildcat special teams were key to this win, as the Wildcats killed off all four penalties they incurred while scoring on three of their six power play opportunities.
Chisago Lakes loses both home wrestling triangulars; Osceola next
The Wildcats hosted two triangulars last week, on Tuesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 30. The Wildcats lost all four of their duals in the two triangulars by remarkably similar scores.
NB WRESTLING
The Vikings lost both of their duals at the St. Francis Triangular on Thursday, January 30. They fell to the hosts 53-24 and lost to the Monticello Magic 39-36. Jack Baker (114) pinned both of his opponents, and Nicholas Andreotti (133), Aydan Loren (215) and Moses Ochoa (285) were all 2-0 for the evening. The score in the Mahtomedi match is a bit deceiving. The Zephyrs had a 39-6 edge in contested matches, with Jack Baker’s pin being the only points scored for the Vikings. But the Zephyrs forfeited at five weights to give the Vikings their other 30 points.
Chisago Lakes winding down regular season
The Wildcat girls’ hockey team and the Northern Tier Stars skated to a 4-4 overtime tie Wednesday, January 22 at Chisago Lakes Arena.
Wildcats win defensive battle with Pine City
Goalie Brett Hanson allowed just one goal on 27 shots and Max Bobrowski and Jacob Kletti gave the Wildcat boys’ hockey team just enough offense to beat the Pine City Dragons 2-1 last Thursday, January 23 at Pine City High School.
Wildcat grapplers score last 12 points to upend Irondale
The Wildcats participated in the Irondale Team Tournament last Thursday, January 23. They opened with a 60-16 loss to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. In their next dual, the Wildcats lost to Ogilvie 45-27. In their final match of the day, the Wildcats beat tournament hosts Irondale 37-34 to claim seventh place.
Vikings sweep home tri
The Viking wrestling team won both of its duals at the North Branch Triangular, held last Thursday, January 23 at North Branch High School. The Vikings beat St. Croix Lutheran 62-10 and bested Somerset, Wisc. 51-18. Even without the benefit of forfeits, the Vikings would have come out on top in both duals. They won 38-10 over St. Croix Lutheran in contested matches. The score against Somerset was a lot closer, but the Vikings prevailed 21-18 in contested matches.
Bender triumphs in clash of heavyweight titans
The senior defending Class AA champ locked horns with two-time Class A heavyweight champion Keegan Kuball of W-E-M and came out on top 4-1
The Wildcats lost both of their duals at the Cambridge-Isanti Triangular Thursday, January 16. They fell 65-6 to the hosts and 58-18 to St. Francis. The only Wildcat wrestler to get points against Cambridge was Logan Bender, ranked first in the state in Class AA at 285 pounds. He pinned Brady Anderson, ranked eighth in the state in Class AAA, at 1:44. Connor Frederixon (215) lost by a 5-3 decision to Jacob Henderson, ranked sixth in the state in Class AAA. And Conner Aspenson (114) also faced a top ten Class AAA wrestler, eighth-ranked Wyatt Wald. Wald won by technical fall over Aspenson, 17-1 at 2:35. Against St. Francis, those three wrestlers accounted for all the Wildcat points. Frederixon and Bender won by forfeit, and Aspenson (114) pinned Landon Borgen.
Wildcats put a scare in top ranked Monticello, but lose in OT
Wyatt Garvey of the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets scored at 11:55 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie, and the Bluejackets hung on to beat the Wildcat boys’ hockey team 3-2 on Tuesday, January 14 at Isanti Ice Arena. The Wildcats dominated the game, outshooting the Bluejackets 44-27. But Bluejacket goalie Jason Sibell stood on his head, stopping 42 of the 44 shots he faced.
Packers blank Chisago Lakes
Having played two ranked teams out of their previous three games, things didn’t get any easier for the Wildcat girls’ hockey team when they hosted the unranked South St. Paul Packers (17-6) on Tuesday, January 14 at Chisago Lakes Arena. The Packers shut out the Wildcats 2-0. They scored midway through the first period to take a 1-0 lead, and added an insurance goal midway through the second period. The Packers outshot the Wildcats 34-22 for the game. The Wildcats outshot South St. Paul 8-6 in the third period as the Packers didn’t take a lot of chances with a 2-0 lead. Both goalies played well. Packer freshman goalie Reagan Tracy, who has played every game for the Packers this season, stopped all 22 shots she faced. Senior Evi Reedy stopped 32 of 34 shots for the Wildcats.
‘Cats hang 16 goals up in two blowout wins
The Wildcat boys’ hockey team scored four times in a five-minute stretch in the first period and went on to shut out the Southwest Christian/Richfield Stars 8-0 Tuesday, January 7 at Richfield Ice Arena. Max Koch, Ben Kerkow, and Max Bobrowski each had three assists for the Wildcats. Jacob Kletti, Austin Slettom, and Landon Kerkow scored two goals apiece. Alex Bever and Bobrowski each scored once. Kletti had two assists to go along with his two goals. And picking up one assist apiece were Colton Whiterabbit, Bever, and Slettom. The Wildcats came bursting out of the gate, outshooting the Star 16-5 in the first period. They went on to have a 34-21 shot advantage for the game. Corbin Shandley stopped all 21 shots he faced to pick up the shutout.
CL grounded in triangular
The Wildcat grapplers took part in the Monticello Triangular last Friday, January 10. They fell 65-10 to Becker, ranked seventh in Class AA, and lost 69-18 to Monticello. Connor Frederixon (215) pinned Deegan Schmidt of Becker at 2:53 and won by forfeit against Monticello. Frederixon, 16-2 overall this season, is riding a 12-match winning streak. William Naatz (285) was the only other Wildcat wrestler to win both of his matches. He won by a 14-4 major decision over Aiden Goley of Becker and pinned Bradley Peterson of Monticello at 4:17. And Lucas Yang (127), after being pinned by Boston Kuschel of Becker six seconds before the end of the first period, came back to win by fall over Jaron Swanson of Monticello at 1:22.
Two tough teams send CL to losses
Mckenzie Perry scored four goals to lead Delano/Rockford to a 6-2 win over the Wildcats girls’ hockey team on Tuesday, January 7 at the Delano Area Sports Arena. Perry scored twice in the first period as Delano took a 3-0 lead. Joee Westland scored a power play goal at exactly the halfway point of the second period, assisted by Allie Smothers and Nora DeVries, to cut the Delano lead to 3-1. But Delano responded with a power play goal of their own just over a minute later to stretch their lead back to three goals. Kali Hanson next scored a shorthanded goal a minute later to cut the Delano lead to 4-2. Lexi Smothers got the single assist on Hanson’s goal. But Perry put one in the back of the net with 54 seconds left in the second period to earn her hat trick and increase the Delano lead to 5-2. Perry added her fourth goal of the game in the third period to make the final score 6-2.
Wildcats can’t overcome second-ranked Dodge County
The Wildcats girls’ hockey team played the second-ranked Dodge County Wildcats for the second time in a little over a week, and the results weren’t much different from the first meeting. Chisago Lakes put up a good fight but found it difficult to score goals and were shut out 4-0. Dodge County outshot Chisago Lakes 40-16 for the game. Chisago Lakes goalie Evi Reedy performed well, stopping 36 of the 40 shots she faced.
Familiar name spoils New Years Eve showdown for CL
Chisago Lakes Arena featured fireworks on New Year’s Eve, well before midnight, as the Wildcat boys’ hockey team tangled with local rivals, the Forest Lake Rangers. Five times, one of the teams scored to take a one-goal lead, and all five times the other team scored to tie the game. But early in the third period, the Rangers scored to take another one-goal lead and the Wildcats did not respond.
Pommier makes a statement at Maple Grove tourney
The Vikings lost both duals at the Mora Triangular last Thursday, December 12. They fell to Milaca-Faith Christian 41-26, then succumbed to the host team 50-21. Jack Baker (121), Aiden Schwartz (139) and Ethan Kester (152) each won both of their individual matches, accounting for 33 of the Vikings’ 47 points on the day.
‘Cats come back versus Pine City
Trailing 3-1 early in the second period against Pine City, the Wildcats scored five unanswered goals and went on to snuff out the Dragons 6-4 Tuesday, December 10 at Chisago Lakes Arena. Playmaker Landon Kerkow led the way for the Wildcats with four assists. The Wildcats dominated play for most of the game, outshooting Pine City 39-19.
Forfeits go NB’s way for win over CL
Years ago, a North Branch versus Chisago Lakes dual was a must-see event. And while the fortunes of both programs have had highs and lows since that time, there is some positive buzz around both programs. Both programs will likely have three or more state entrants this year. For the Wildcats, the possibility that that Logan Bender (285) will be their first two-time state champion is exciting. And for the Vikings, the return of Evan Pommier (172), who has missed most of the past three or four years with injuries and has been dominating in his return so far for his senior year, has been a long time coming.
Vikes get underway at Zimmerman Quad
In addition to wrestling – and beating – the Chisago Lakes Wildcats at the Zimmerman Quadrangular (reported separately in this week’s Press), the Vikings wrestled two other teams at Zimmerman. They lost to Delano 50-20, and took the host team, Zimmerman, down to the wire before losing 35-33. The quad took place Thursday, December 5.
Monti gets early checkmate over ‘Cats
Monticello 4, Chisago Lakes 0 The Wildcats hosted the seventh-ranked Monticello Moose last Thursday, December 5, and the result was predictable as the Moose came away with a 4-0 win. The Moose outshot the Wildcats 37-26 for the game. They scored once in the first period, added two more in the second – including a power play goal – and topped it off with a shorthanded goal midway through the third period.
CL loses late to Gentry
Gentry Academy Stars’ senior Haley Gray scored at 6:26 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie, and the Stars later added an insurance goal to beat the Wildcat girls’ hockey team 4-2 Tuesday, November 26 at Tartan Arena in Oakdale. The Stars outshot the Wildcats 29-23 for the game.
Wildcats tame Tigers in home opener
Six different players scored goals as the Wildcat boys’ hockey team crushed the Marshall Tigers 7-1 on Tuesday, November 26 at Chisago Lakes Arena. The Wildcats dominated from start to finish, outshooting the Tigers 39-9 for the game.
‘Cats storm back to tie Hastings 3-3 in opener
With the Wildcat boys’ hockey team trailing the Hastings Raider 3-1 midway through the third period, senior Alex Bever and junior Jacob Kletti scored their first varsity goals less than a minute apart to tie the game at 3-3, allowing the Wildcats a 3-3 tie in their season opener Saturday, November 23 at Hastings Ice Arena. The Wildcats outshot the Raiders 44-34 for the game. Junior goalie Shandley Corbin stopped 31 of the 34 shots, to earn the tie.
Down on their luck Wildcats lose to winless Willmar
The Wildcat offense ran just twelve plays against the Willmar Cardinals in the first half last Friday night, and, obviously, it’s hard to score much when you don’t have the ball. Willmar scored twice in the last four minutes of the first half and beat the Wildcats 21-14 in the final home game of the year for the Wildcats. The Wildcats will almost certainly start the upcoming section playoffs on the road.
SOCCER POSTSEASON ROUND UP
All four of the local high school soccer teams opened their section playoffs on Tuesday, October 8. The only one of the four teams to win and stay alive in the playoffs were the Chisago Lakes girls.
Providence Academy spoils Chisago Lakes’ perfect record
The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season last Friday night, falling to the Providence Academy Lions 28-18 at Providence Academy in Plymouth. The Lions scored early, and the Wildcats never led in this one.
AREA SOCCER ROUND UP
The Viking girls’ soccer team improved their record to 2-3-3 on the season with a win and a tie over the last week. On Saturday, September 14 they shut out the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm 3-0 at home. And on Monday, September 16, they tied the Becker Bulldogs 2-2.
Girls run unbeaten streak to six
Determined to extend their four-game winning streak, the Wildcats faced off against a much-improved Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets team at Cambridge last Thursday. The Wildcats won 3-2 to keep the streak going.
Turnovers and run game propel CL to 2-0 start
After allowing the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets to score 13 straight points in the second quarter to cut the Wildcats lead to 21-20 at halftime, the Wildcats came out on fire in the third quarter. They forced several turnovers and scored on their first four possessions to take a 48-20 lead and went on to win 48-33 in front of the home crowd on Friday, September 6.
‘Cats clip Falcons to open 2024 season
Bender-Ehlke runs for 162 yards as Chisago Lakes wins 28-8 over Foley
Fullback Braxton Bender-Ehlke rushed 19 times for 162 yards and a touchdown to lead the Wildcat football team to a 28-8 win over the Foley Falcons in the season opener last Friday, August 29 at Foley High School. Quarterback Kellen Meissner added 68 yards on 18 carries and scored twice as the Wildcats piled up 312 yards rushing, controlling the ball for most of the game.
Bulldogs fall just short of state, but season still a success
Last Saturday at Brennan Field in Hinckley, the Bulldogs had a thrilling 6-2 comeback win in their Region1C elimination bracket game against the Ramsey Renegades. But in their semifinal game against the Rum River Bandits later that afternoon, they allowed six runs in the first inning and never quite got caught up, losing 11-6 and ending their season.
Bulldogs survive six errors to knock out Lumberjacks
Tyler Stilp drove in pinch runner Jack Boeck to break a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Bulldogs went on to beat the Elk River Lumberjacks 7-5 in the opening game of the 2024 Region 1C Playoffs. Hunter Lindstrom pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. The game was played Saturday, July 27 at Mark Park in Princeton.
Bulldogs fall to fourth seed
The Bulldogs, with the number two seed in the Eastern Minny South playoffs seemingly wrapped up, had a strange week and, when it was all over, dropped to the number four seed in the South. Last Wednesday, they committed ten errors and lost 7-4 to a weak Ogilvie team. On Friday, they beat the Princeton Panthers 9-6. The Panthers had clinched the top seed Eastern Minny League North the night before. And on Sunday, with the number two seed still in their grasp, they lost 7-5 to the St. Francis Silverbacks, largely as the result of three stellar plays by Silverback outfielders early in the game, errors, and some bad calls by a seemingly biased umpire.
Bulldogs clip Nighthawks to claim Mug
The Mug is a traveling trophy, provided by Pizza Pub, fought over between the Chisago Lakes Bulldogs and their arch rival, the North Branch Nighthawks, in the annual Mug Game. The Nighthawks won The Mug for the first five years of the annual game, and Nighthawk players over 21 got to drink out of The Mug before it was displayed along with other trophies at the North Branch Pizza Pub. The Bulldogs finally won The Mug this year in an epic pitcher’s duel that included some controversy, defeating the Nighthawks 3-1 this past Saturday, July 13 at Pat Collins Field. This year’s game was an official Karl Oskar Days event. Beau Fandel threw a complete game one-hitter for the Bulldogs to get the win, and Jimmy Skroch, the winning pitcher for the Nighthawks in all five of the previous Mug Games, took the complete game loss.
Bulldogs win four Eastern Minny games in a row
Hunter Lindstrom pitched a complete game, and Reed Marquardt’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the third put the Bulldogs up 3-0 over the Ramsey Renegades as the Bulldogs went on to beat the Renegades 5-1 on Wednesday, June 26 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School. The sidearming Lindstrom kept Ramsey off balance all night. He allowed one earned run on five hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out eight.
Bulldogs still finding footing with busy schedule
A revised catcher’s interference call allowed the go-ahead run to score for the Osceola Braves in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the lead held, as the Braves beat the Bulldogs 4-3 Wednesday, May 29 at Oakey Park in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Wildcats fall short in consolation bracket
In the opening game of the Section 7AAA baseball playoffs, the third-seeded Duluth Denfeld Hunters had just six hits. But Wildcat pitchers walked eight batters and hit one, and five of those nine batters scored as the Hunters beat the Wildcats 6-2 Tuesday, May 28 at Duluth. Caden Gibbs drove in one Wildcat run with a first inning single, and Kellen Meissner drove in the other with a groundout in the top of the seventh. The loss sent the Wildcats to the elimination bracket, but they actually got a home game as the higher seed, after seventh-seeded Cloquet lost their playoff opener to second-seeded Hermantown.
‘Dogs win ugly 12-10 against Metro Knights
Clint Eastwood starred in the movie “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” The Bulldogs’ game against the Metro Knights last Monday, May 20, contained all three of those elements.
Wildcats struggle late
The Coon Rapids Cardinals broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and shut out the Wildcats 5-0 Wednesday, May 22 at Coon Rapids High School. Coon Rapids pitching held the Wildcats to just three hits and six baserunners overall.
Showers goes yard for CL to walk off on Vikings
The Monticello Magic erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth inning and went on to beat the Wildcats 8-2 on Tuesday, May 14 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School. The Wildcats led 2-1 going into the fifth. But three singles, a hit batter, a walk, and a double given up by starting pitcher Xavier Taylor led to four Magic runs with no outs. Another run scored on a groundout, and Monticello led 6-2. They added two more runs in the seventh to make the final score 8-2. Caden Gibbs singled in one of the Wildcats runs, and Ian Larsen drove in the other one with a sacrifice fly.
Wildcats finish second at true team state
The Wildcats girls finished second to Rocori at the True Team State Tournament last Saturday, May 18 at Stillwater High School. The Wildcats edged out Byron by just 1 ½ points for second, showing once again how every athlete finishing an event, no matter how far back they are, can make a difference in a True Team event since every finishing athlete is awarded team points.
Injuries a factor in late season swoon for ‘Cats
Playing without injured star pitcher Anna Zaruba, the Wildcats lost to the Rock Ridge Wolverines 7-1 on Wednesday, May 15 at Chisago Lakes High School. Only three of the seven runs allowed by Wildcat pitcher Makenna Thorsen were earned. The Wildcats scored their only run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jesa Leritz led off the inning with a single. Morgan Kotval sacrificed her to second. Leritz stole third and, one out later, scored on a single by Sam Johnson.
Chisago Lakes reigns over Mississippi 8, again
Melana Larson’s two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the third broke a 1-1 tie and the Wildcats went on to beat the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets 3-1 Wednesday, May 8 at Chisago Lakes. Makenna Thorsen started and went the first three innings. She allowed one earned run on four hits, walked three and struck out one. Anna Zaruba picked up the win in four innings of relief. She allowed no runs on three hits, walked none, and struck out seven.
Chisago Lakes bests North Branch, again
The Chisago Lakes Wildcats beat their archrivals for the second time this season, shutting out the North Branch Vikings 4-0 this past Monday, May 6 at Chisago Lakes High School. Makenna Thorsen pitched a shutout for the Wildcats. She allowed ten hits, walked two and struck out three, and pitched her way out of a few jams. Hannah Bernier took the loss for the Vikings. She allowed four earned runs on six hits, walked two and struck out nine.
Wildcats trade games in Bluejacket doubleheader
In the first game of a doubleheader at Cambridge-Isanti High school, Xavier Taylor tossed a four-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 6-1 win over the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets on Wednesday, May 1. Taylor allowed one earned run on four hits, walked three and struck out seven in picking up the win.
Girls win Cardinal Invite
As the track season heads for the postseason in the very near future, the Wildcats seem to be hitting their stride. The girls won the nine-team Coon Rapids Invitational last Friday, May 3, and the boys came in third on their side of things.
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