Sebeka MN

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.

Kathy Connell remembers the first seeds she ever planted. It was a handful of corn intended as feed for pigeons. "I fell in love with the magic," she…