Rock Ridge Public Schools

Over 100 student-athletes from rural Northern Minnesota will wrestle at the 2026 state tournament in St. Paul, with a strong representation from the north-central region.

The first of two Native American Heritage Nights Jan. 20, 2026, included drumming, dancing and an Ojibwe-language broadcast. The second is Jan. 30 against Grand Rapids.

The same announcers from the historic Minnesota Wild Ojibwe-language broadcast in November will announce hockey games against Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and Grand Rapids on Jan. 20 and 30, 2026.

Park Rapids' Avery Schueller placed third in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle, and Two Harbors' Bella Imholte ended seventh in the 200 freestyle.

Dozens of Northern Minnesota student-athletes from nine area schools, including Grand Rapids and Bemidji, will compete at the 2025 state swimming and diving meet this week.

East Grand Forks' Ruby Leach and Thief River Falls' Piper Greene and Braylee Wienen are 2025 consolation champions.

Fifteen individual athletes from Northern Minnesota competed in the girls tennis singles and doubles state tournament Thursday and Friday in the Twin Cities.

The Wolverines upset the first- and third-seed teams to win the 2A title, the first in Rock Ridge history and second for Virginia.

Student-athletes from Wadena-Deer Creek, Pequot Lakes, Staples-Motley, Crosby-Ironton, Rock Ridge, Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks will compete in singles and doubles.

Starting Aug. 27, 2025, motorists will transition back to Highway 53 near Eveleth, with lane shifts, head-to-head traffic and traffic control expected.