Sebeka MN

Speakers from Bemidji, Cass Lake-Bena, Pequot Lakes, Pillager, Walker, Laporte, Cherry, Mountain Iron-Buhl, Red Lake County, UNC, Staples-Motley and Crookston took home hardware.

The qualifiers span 27 Northern Minnesota teams and all 13 categories. Over 30 are repeat qualifiers, including five medalists and one reigning champion.

Kimberly Soon Jim Rife, 39, died, and her 13-year-old daughter suffered life-threatening injuries. Rife ran an adult foster care and coordinated a program to help hungry students.

Wrestlers from Grand Rapids, Staples-Motley and Badger-Greenbush/Middle River topped the podium at state Feb. 28, 2026, with another 35 Northlanders from 12 teams winning medals.

The Cardinals' dominant run at the state tournament ended with another championship Feb. 26, 2026. United North Central's more mixed results resulted in a fifth-place finish.

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.

Two Northland athletes medaled at the 2025 state cross-country meet, and six others finished in the top 20.

The cities are among 10 in Northern Minnesota selected by the state for grants funding housing and public infrastructure. Others include Sebeka, Winger, Erskine and Hendrum.

The region will be well represented in the Class A meet, with 69 entries; Northern Minnesota has five entries in the 2A meet.

Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Staples-Motley and United North Central qualified for the team tournament, as well as individual wrestlers from 24 Northern Minnesota schools.