Joel Rippel
News Assistant
Joel Rippel writes about sports for the Star Tribune.
Latest from Joel Rippel
Gophers
Gophers cruise against Mavericks in WCHA women's hockey tournament
The U defeated Minnesota State Mankato for the seventh straight time and will head to the Final Faceoff if it happens again Saturday.
March 1, 2025
Colleges
St. Thomas defeats North Dakota, extends its Summit League men's basketball push
The Tommies, who won their 17th home game in a row, kept alive their chance to share the conference title.
February 28, 2025
High Schools
Ex-U safety Royston named football coach at Cretin-Derham Hall
Royston, a 2006 Cretin-Derham Hall graduate, spent three years at safety for the Gophers. He later coached at Armstrong High School and Hamline and Temple universities.
February 25, 2025
High Schools
Prep Athletes of the Week: Minneapolis Southwest girls basketball standout goes big on the boards
Lehla Gaulden, averaging 17.2 rebounds a game, set the school record for rebounding in a career.
February 24, 2025
Colleges
St. Thomas men’s basketball's Summit League hopes on thin ice with loss to last-place Oral Roberts
The Golden Eagles made nine of 10 shots from the foul line in the final 25 seconds.
February 23, 2025
Gophers
Gophers women’s hockey team rolls to victory over No. 6 Bulldogs
Minnesota, ranked fourth, ended Minnesota Duluth's four-game winning streak.
February 22, 2025
High Schools
Longtime boys basketball coach joins elite company
Tartan's Mark Klingsporn, whose team is unbeaten this season, became the seventh to reach 700 victories.
February 19, 2025
Gophers
Former Gopher Dick Meredith, who played on two U.S. Olympic hockey teams, dies at 92
Meredith, who graduated from Minneapolis Southwest, lettered for the Gophers from 1952-55.
February 17, 2025
Colleges
St. Thomas men’s basketball's Summit League hopes on thin ice with loss to last-place Oral Roberts
The Golden Eagles made nine of 10 shots from the foul line in the final 25 seconds.
February 23, 2025
Gophers
Gophers women’s hockey team rolls to victory over No. 6 Bulldogs
Minnesota, ranked fourth, ended Minnesota Duluth's four-game winning streak.
February 22, 2025
High Schools
Longtime boys basketball coach joins elite company
Tartan's Mark Klingsporn, whose team is unbeaten this season, became the seventh to reach 700 victories.
February 19, 2025
Gophers
Former Gopher Dick Meredith, who played on two U.S. Olympic hockey teams, dies at 92
Meredith, who graduated from Minneapolis Southwest, lettered for the Gophers from 1952-55.
February 17, 2025