Winners and others: Star Tribune reporters make predictions subdistrict by subdistrict

David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen pick football champions and their top challengers in metro districts.

September 1, 2022 at 9:10AM
Dassel-Cokato High School players run toward the student section to celebrate with their classmates after defeating Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School 28-21 in the Minnesota High School football Class 3A State Championship Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. ]
Dassel-Cokato turned a subdistrict championship into a Class 3A state title last season. (Alex Kormann, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

EAST CENTRAL (picks by La Vaque)

North subdistrict

Champion: Albany

Has a chance: Zimmerman

South subdistrict

Champion: Dassel-Cokato

Has a chance: Litchfield

METRO GOLD (picks by La Vaque)

North subdistrict

Champion: Maple Grove

Has a chance: Anoka

South subdistrict

Champion: Woodbury

Has a chance: East Ridge

NORTH CENTRAL (picks by La Vaque)

Black subdistrict

Champion: Andover

Has a chance: Rogers

Blue subdistrict

Champion: Sauk Rapids-Rice

Has a chance: Monticello

White subdistrict

Champion: Hutchinson

Has a chance: Willmar

SOUTH CENTRAL (picks by Paulsen)

Blue subdistrict

Champion: Blue Earth Area

Has a chance: Maple River

Red subdistrict

Champion: Jordan

Has a chance: St. Peter

White subdistrict

Champion: Fairmont

Has a chance: Waseca

Silver subdistrict

Champion: Pipestone

Has a chance: Redwood Valley, Jackson County Central

SUBURBAN (picks by Paulsen)

Blue subdistrict

Champion: Cooper

Has a chance: Spring Lake Park

Gray subdistrict

Champion: Mahtomedi

Has a chance: Simley

Maroon subdistrict

Champion: St. Thomas Academy

Cretin-Derham Hall

White subdistrict

Champion: Chanhassen

Has a chance: Waconia, Chaska

Red subdistrict

Champion: Holy Angels

Has a chance: Orono

TWIN CITY (picks by Paulsen)

Blue subdistrict

Champion: Providence Academy

Has a chance: St. Agnes

Gold subdistrict

Champion: St. Paul Central

Has a chance: St. Paul Highland Park, Como Park

Green subdistrict

Champion: Minneapolis North

Has a chance: SMB

Maroon subdistrict

Champion: Mound Westonka

Has a chance: Fridley

Red subdistrict

Champion: Columbia Heights

Has a chance: Brooklyn Center

Silver subdistrict

Champion: Richfield

Has a chance: Minneapolis Southwest

about the writers

about the writers

Jim Paulsen

Reporter

Jim Paulsen is a high school sports reporter for the Star Tribune. 

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David La Vaque

Reporter

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

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