Chisago County Press

Vikings’ girls primed for true team sections

The North Branch girls track and field team is in fine form after running in two meets last week. They are hoping their top performances led them to a lot of team success at the True Team Section this week, which happened after the County Press went to print.

Rebels come storming back against Chisago Lakes

Chisago Lakes looked like it might run away early from the Champlin Park Rebels on Wednesday, May 1, but it was the Wildcats calling for a May Day as the game finished up, with CL falling 10-9 to the Rebs.

East Metro teams no match for Wildcat girls lax

The Wildcats kept their perfect season intact with two more resounding wins over East Metro teams last week. Fresh off their win over Blaine, the girls took on Totino-Grace at home and walloped the Eagles.

Good luck with fishing opener!

Here in Minnesota, it seems a foregone conclusion that people love to eat walleye.

Both boys teams battling to trim strokes off their games

Chisago Lakes and North Branch duked it out with Becker for the second through fourth spots in the Mississippi 8 Conference meet at The Ponds Golf Course in St. Francis on Wednesday, April 24.

Killer ‘B’s: CL Girls Lax topples Blaine & Becker

The Wildcats kept their perfect season going in girls lacrosse with a 16-4 shellacking of the winless Becker Bulldogs on Thursday, April 25.

Vikings fall to Monticello

The Vikings only had one game last week, and it was a tough loss to a really good Monticello team on Thursday, April 25.

CL High School adopting cell phone policy for next year, use being restricted

Chisago Lakes High School will be following the lead of Chisago Lakes middle school and banning the use of cell phones by students in the classroom setting after a unanimous vote at the regular school board meeting on Thursday, April 18.

Wildcats nearly capture win from Magic at Monticello CC

Chisago Lakes had three of the top four individual finishers in the Boys Mississippi 8 Conference golf meet at Monticello Country Club on Monday, April 22, but that still wasn’t enough to win the meet outright.

‘Cats off to perfect start

The Chisago Lakes girls lacrosse team has breezed through the first third of their schedule, winning their four contests by a combined total of 67-15.

No microwave pancakes here

For some reason, an argument in our office broke out earlier this week on the right way to make pancakes in the morning (real deep conversations we are having, I know). We have a certain employee who likes to microwave Eggo pancakes, which is of course the wrong way to go about it.

Chisago Lakes alum conquers Canebrake 200

2012 graduate Kailee Carlson recently finished a 200 mile ultramarathon in Atlanta

Kailee Carlson was never the star athlete in her career at Chisago Lakes High School that spanned from 2008-2012. Sure, she participated in track and field and tennis, but she didn’t make it to the state tournament, or win any major awards.

Vikes shut down by Irondale ace

Patience is a virtue, and it certainly seemed to be the deciding virtue in North Branch’s season-opening 4-1 loss to Irondale on Friday, April 5.

It’s time to get out on the courses

It’s finally golf season! We’ve had some fun moonlighting this winter (spring I guess?) with some tee times in February, but this weekend seems to officially be the start of our nicer weather where courses will remain open throughout the year.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and enjoyed their time with family, friends and the Easter bunny!

CL School District eliminating 19 teachers and 10 support staff in cuts

There was an air of uncertainty around the well-attended regular school board meeting for Chisago Lakes on Thursday, March 21.

Quick whistles and poor shooting doom Wildcats in state quarterfinals

Playoff basketball at all levels typically means a bit more physical game with a few less whistles and a better flow.

Happy Easter to everyone!

I’ve got some extended space this week to really share some of my favorite Easter recipes! I’m hosting my in-laws this weekend for the holiday, and that always makes me nervous because my mother-in-law is a phenomenal cook. She always says she likes my cooking, but sometimes I feel like she thinks she has to say that!

Amador Twsp. wishes fire dept. chief well; budget up 2. 5 percent

Much of the Amador Township meeting centered on the Almelund Fire Department and the changes and upgrades happening within the department.

MISSION: MINNEAPOLIS

The Wildcats conquered Hermantown to advance to just their fourth state tournament in school history

Chisago Lakes is going to the state tournament for the first time since 2016, but it wasn’t without challenges as the Wildcats had to survive a 38 point effort from Hermantown senior Abe Suomis in the Wildcats 95-82 section championship win over the Hawks on Thursday, March 14.

Feelin’ hot, hot, hot

I was in Jamaica a couple of weeks ago, and I tried to immerse myself as much as I could in their local flavors. I had oxtails, plantains, jerk everything, rice, and a whole host of other things that I can’t remember or couldn’t pronounce!

EXCEPTIONAL ESGET

North Branch gymnast Dakota Esget defended her uneven bars title at state but also added the all around crown

Dakota Esget made history last year, becoming the first North Branch gymnast to ever win a state championship.

Boys make waves at section, finish second

CL is sending 10 swimmers and divers to the state meet

Chisago Lakes will be sending 10 swimmers and divers to the state meet this weekend after a wildly successful Section 4A meet at John Glen Middle School in Maplewood.

HOOPS ROUND UP

Kuhlman breaks NB’s scoring record

The Chisago Lakes Wildcats are back on track to earn their first ever uncontested Mississippi 8 Conference championship.

How sweet is spring?

Well, I kind of think we are officially in spring? But it’s still February.

ROWE ASCENDS TO THE TOP OF CL’S RECORD BOOKS

Chisago Lakes senior basketball star Patrick Rowe has hit a lot of milestones in this season.

Three gymnasts headed to state

North Branch and Chisago Lakes are in arguably the toughest gymnastics section in the state. Section 7A features five of the top 17 ranked teams in Class A, including three in the top 10, so the competition is fierce and the qualification standards are high.

DANCERS SHINE UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

For the third straight year, the Chisago Lakes Wildcat dance teams got to compete at the Target Center in Minneapolis as part of the state meet, and they all cherished their experience again, regardless of the results.

Dahl sisters compete at state meet in Biwabik

Maren Dahl had a heck of a state meet on Tuesday, February 13.

A fondness for potatoes

Aly and I were discussing what was going to be on our menu this week, and we got to talking about sides because I seem to always default to some kind of potato.

Upsets highlight county clashes between North Branch and Chisago Lakes

Viking boys earn revenge while Wildcat girls win second game

The North Branch boys basketball team has had some great spurts of play this year.

Dahl sisters ski their way to state meet

Anna and Maren Dahl have been foundational rocks for the Chisago Lakes girls’ alpine ski team all year, and the pair really came through in the Section 7 meet at Giants Ridge Tuesday, February 6.

Cozy dinner ideas

That ended up being a great Super Bowl after a snoozer of a first half! But the game exposed me as a little bit of a fraud.

DANCE TEAMS HEADING BACK TO STATE!

Both the Jazz and Kick dance teams are headed back to the state tournament for the third year in a row.

Ultra competitive county gymnastics meet ends in deadlock

North Branch and Chisago Lakes earn rare tie at 137.375 apiece

Ties are common in some high school sports. You see them all the time in soccer and hockey and even swimming.

Girls ready for sections

Senior Brooke Klemz almost waited a little too long to get her first career hat trick. She scored three goals to lead the Wildcat girls’ hockey team to a 6-1 win over the River Lakes Stars Tuesday, January 30 at Chisago Lakes Arena in the final regular season varsity home game for Klemz and her senior teammates Breanna Ritter and Aly Vogelsang.

North Branch avenges two earlier M8C losses

Big Lake and Becker were the opening salvos in North Branch’s seven game losing streak earlier this year, so the Vikings are hoping wins over the two starts a similar streak, just in winning fashion.

Losing skid reaches 13 for CL

Things just haven’t been going the Wildcats’ way this year on the basketball court. The girls’ hoops squad dropped two more contests, a lopsided Mississippi 8 Conference affair against Monticello, and an in-section matchup against Hermantown.

Vikes improving play, nearly knock off Becker

The North Branch girls basketball team may be just coming off a six game losing streak, but you’d never guess it with their inspired play last week.

The Great Conundrum was solved for me

I wrote on this last year for the first time, but it’s tough to focus on which recipes I want to share this time of the year. It’s the last, biggest, best football game of the year this weekend, but then just a few days later, Valentine’s Day is on the calendar too.

Wildcats shine bright under the Target Center lights

Playing at the Target Center is usually reserved for the state championship games in Minnesota.

Ski teams wrap up regular season; sections on the horizon

While most people have enjoyed the unseasonably warm temperatures this winter, cold weather lovers and in particular alpine skiers, have been on the outs.

North Branch trades wins with Saints and T’Hawks

North Branch avoided the long losing streaks they’ve had this year when they rebounded from a loss against Spectrum to beat St. Francis on Tuesday, January 23.

AREA GIRLS HOOPS HIGHLIGHTS

The Vikings couldn’t shake their losing streak last week, and it stretched six games after they went 0-3, beginning with a Mississippi 8 Conference loss to St. Francis.

GymCats look sharp heading into tough gymnastics section

It’s a rare, but great accomplishment when everything goes according to plan, especially in a high school gymnastics season.

Spring time food? Really?

Well normally, we’d be tackling crockpot meals or comfort food this time of the year, but since we have spring weather without the spring crops, we might as well have some outside-of-the-box recipes.

AREA HOOPS HIGHLIGHTS

Streaking season continued for the North Branch boys basketball program last week. They have won and lost in long streaks, and after the roller coaster of a ride, they now stand at 8-8 on the year. The Vikings began the season 4-0 before losing seven straight games. They proceeded to rattle off four straight wins after that, with two of them coming last week.