Aitkin High School teacher Sean Smith decided it was time for students to be back and working out.
This team had high expectations for this year and we all looked forward to this spring season. This would have been my 10th year coaching varsity baseball and I don’t know if I have coached a group of kids that cared more about each other than this group. They loved each other, they loved to…
The Aitkin boys’ basketball team brought an aura of excitement to the Gobbler gymnasium this past season. Part of the reason for the excitement was the addition of 6’ 7” Manni Ukutegbe to the team after Manni and his family moved from Brainerd to Aitkin last summer.
Four members of the Aitkin Gobbler boys’ basketball team and three members of the girls’ basketball team received Mid States All Conference recognition for achievements on the court. Manni Ukutegbe was named the Mid States co-MVP of the year and earned All Conference honors. Ukutegbe average…
Four local business: McDonald’s; Dairy Queen; Security State Insurance; and Ryan, Brucker and Kalis, Ltd, recently partnered to purchase game gear for the Gobbler boys’ basketball team. According to boys’ basketball coach Kerry Hopperstad, the idea was initiated about a year ago at the Virgi…
Aitkin senior basketball player, Logan Gabrio, is modest when it comes to being honored. But when his teammates selected Logan as “Best Teammate,” he blushed with humility.
Several potential Aitkin softball players took advantage of open gym to get some preseason work in.
As the Aitkin Gobbler baseball team prepares for the 2020 season, coach Jeremy Janzen will be able to look up and down his bench and see pitchers everywhere. With the pitch count rule implemented in 2018, having a lot of experience on the mound will be a key to success.
The McGregor Mercury boys’ basketball season ended in the opening round of the Class A Section 5 tournament action, 51-44.
It was raining threes for the Pequot Lakes Patriots in the Section 7 2A match-up March 5 at Pequot Lakes. The Patriots knocked down eight from the distance in the first half as the Patriots bolted to a 39-24 half-time lead.
After being tied at 23 at halftime, the McGregor Mercury boys faltered on their home court and were outscored by 10 points late in the final period, losing to Lakeview Christian Academy (LCA) 60-50 on Feb. 27.
The number two seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots scored the first 28 points of the game in the 60-20 rout of the Aitkin Gobblers, the number seven seed, in the Section 7 2A subsection game at Pequot Lakes, Feb. 26. The Patriots knocked down seven first half 3-point baskets, including three by fre…
Last Thursday, Aitkin’s regular season finale against the Duluth-Marshall Hilltoppers was a win for both teams in the Coaches vs. Cancer game that raised $702, but it was even a better night for the Gobblers as they continued their winning ways with their fourth straight victory, 68-58.
Aitkin Gobbler sophomore Marshall Larson wrestled his way to the third place spot on the 2020 State podium at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul over the weekend.
The Isle Huskies, led by 6-feet, 7-inch Teagan Haggberg, staved off a late McGregor Mercury rally to defeat the Mercs, 86-75, Feb.18. Haggerty finished with 27 points and 29 rebounds. McGregor fell behind 17-4 in the early going but stayed within shooting range, trailing by 11 at halftime.
The McGregor Mercury girls’ basketball season ended with a 67-32 loss in a Class A, Subsection 5 game at Hinckley-Finlayson, Feb. 21. Kaelyn Tierney scored 9 points; Kiana Hawkinson 8; Hailey Maas 6; Maddy Demenge 5; and Jordan Paquette and Ava Guida 2 each. Maas led the rebounding with nine…
The number four seeded Pine City Dragons defeated the number six seeded Northern Lakes Lightning 4-1 at Pine City, Feb. 20, in Section 5-1A action. The match was even at 0 after one period, but the Dragons scored 3 second period goals. Shane Donavon scored the lone goal for the Lightning. Th…
The Aitkin Gobbler boys won both of their contests last week and have won five of the last six games while improving to 14-11 overall. On Feb. 18, the Gobblers defeated Eveleth-Gilbert and on Feb. 21, Staples-Motley.
The Aitkin Gobbler girls ended the regular season on a positive note, getting their second win of the season, a 78-65 win over Ogilvie, Feb. 22. It took a tremendous rebounding effort by the Gobblers, who out-rebounded the Lions 43-25, led by Sarah McMillan, who harnessed 21 rebounds while t…
Two Aitkin wrestlers will be competing in the individual portion of the 2020 State tournament Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-29 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Sophomore Marshall Larson earned a return trip to State at 106 pounds as Section 7A champion and freshman Jack Grell made his w…
The McGregor Mercury boys lost twice last week, 75-49, at East Central, Feb. 10, and 75-59 at Silver Bay, Feb. 14, dropping the record to 5-15 on the season. Ethan Bohn tallied 25 points against Silver Bay. However, other details of the games were unavailable at press time.
The Northern Lakes Lightning recorded a 6-3 win over Sauk Rapids, Feb. 14. Shane Donovan notched a hat trick while Caiden Kjelstrom, Josef Slepica and Hunter Nybakken added goals. On Feb. 11, the Lightning lost at Proctor, 7-1, with Kjelstrom earning the lone goal for the Lightning.
McGregor defeated Silver Bay on the road last Friday 73-45, improving their record to 5-17 heading into the final week of the regular season. Hailey Maas earned a double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Paquette had a career high 23 points and 10 rebounds, earning her first doub…
The Aitkin Gobbler girls were so close to getting their second win of the season, but faltered in the final minutes of action, losing to East Central, 62-58, Feb. 10. Jenna Cline and Teagan Piecek kept the Gobblers close with 3-point baskets; Aitkin trailed 13-10 after six minutes of action.…
The Aitkin Gobbler wrestlers came up just short of the Section 7A championship and a return trip to State, losing 27-39 to the Royalton-Upsala Royals in the finals at Royalton on Saturday, Feb. 15. The number two seed Gobblers gave it a good shot with a solid 60-15 victory over the Mille Lac…
For the first time since 2002, the Aitkin Gobbler boys defeated the Pequot Lakes Patriots, 62-56, Feb. 13.
Teagan Piecek’s 21 points were not enough as the Crosby-Ironton Rangers toppled the Aitkin Gobblers 84-66 at Crosby, Feb. 7. Aitkin got off to a slow start, as C-I quickly built a double-digit lead in the first half. Ally Ehnstrom tried to keep the Gobblers close with three straight from the…
The McGregor Mercury boys scored 41 first-half points, fueled by seven first-half treys for a 76-47 win over Ogilvie at home, Feb. 6. Logan Jackson had his best game of the season, pouring in 18 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. Jackson scored 7 of the Mercs’ first 9 points, including a three-…
The Aitkin Gobblers, playing some of their best basketball of the season, won both games at the Virginia Tournament last weekend. On Friday, the Gobblers thumped International Falls 62-37 and on Saturday defeated the 16th ranked Virginia Blue Devils, 68-63.
The McGregor Mercury girls broke a nine-game losing streak with a 64-19 win at Wrenshall, Feb. 6. A stingy first-half defense forced numerous Wrenshall turnovers while Hailey Maas poured in 39 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to key the victory. Kiana Hawkinson added 10 points; Jordan Paquette…
The Aitkin Gobbler wrestlers were on the home mat Feb. 6 for their last dual meet of the regular season, honoring their only senior wrestler, Nathan Rom. In front of a full gym of roaring fans, the Gobblers wrestled their way to a 41-32 victory over the Zimmerman Thunder.
The Aitkin All Starz competed in the Section tournament last Saturday at Wadena with outstanding performances. They truly left it all on the floor, but the sixth place finish in kick and jazz ended the season. The top three teams advance to the State Tournament.
The McGregor Mercury girls lost a pair of games last week, sending the team to its seventh straight loss and a 3-13 record. The Mercs lost at Chisholm Jan. 27, 71-57. Hailey Mass earned a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kiana Hawkinson was the leading scorer with 19 points; Jor…
The McGregor Mercury boys three losses last week extended the losing streak to four games and a season record of 4-12.
It was a positive week of basketball for the Aitkin Gobbler boys, winning two of three games – the big one, a 72-58 victory over arch rival Crosby-Ironton, Jan. 28. The Rangers defeated Aitkin Dec. 13. It was a rocky start for the Gobblers as C-I came out on fire, knocking down four of their…
The Aitkin Gobbler girls basketball team put up some impressive offensive numbers last week, but were unable to get a second win for the season. The week began with a 61-34 loss to Esko, Jan. 27. Aitkin battled the Rebels for the first eight minutes of action, trailing 9-7; however, 13 conse…
The Aitkin Gobbler wrestlers put in three straight days of matches, starting on the home mat Thursday, Jan. 30 with a 63-15 win over the Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson Dragons. Friday night the Gobblers had Brainerd back on their schedule, losing 27-45 to the Warriors and Saturday they wrestle…
After a pair of road losses early in the week, the Aitkin Gobbler boys bounced back with a home victory over Staples-Motley, Jan. 23, improving to 7-8 on the season. Aitkin’s offense was on fire during the first half in the 74-42 win over Staples-Motley, Jan. 23. The Gobblers put up 45 point…
It was a good week for the McGregor Mercury boys’ basketball team with a pair of wins over Onamia and Floodwood before a two-point loss to Two Harbors last Friday. The Mercs rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat the Onamia Panthers, 57-48, Jan. 23. The Mercs struggled on offen…
The Aitkin All Starz competed in the Mid States Conference Tournament at Crosby. Jan. 24. The varsity Jazz team placed third with 292 total points. The varsity kick team finished in fourth place with 292 total points. The JV kick won first place and the JV jazz won a tie breaker for third place.
The Aitkin Gobbler girls fell to 1-13 on the season with losses to Barnum and Staples-Motley. The Gobblers had a solid offensive performance on Jan. 20, battling Barnum closely for the first 18 minutes of action. A 3-point basket by Teagan Piecek and a deuce by Bella Westerlund gave the Gobb…
The Aitkin Gobbler wrestlers started out their week on the home mat Jan. 21, sweeping the triangular against section opponents the Cloquet-Esko Lumberjacks and Deer River Warriors as parents were recognized for their support.
It was a tough week for the McGregor girls, losing to Floodwood and Two Harbors. The Mercs could not muster any offense at Floodwood, Jan. 20, scoring only 20 points. “They were aggressive and forced us to commit a lot of turnovers,” said coach Amy Hawkinson. “Floodwood double- and triple-te…
The Pillager Huskies connected on seven first-half 3-point baskets, grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and forced the Gobblers to commit 15 turnovers during the opening period to defeat the home team 71-37, Jan. 16. Rae Nyberg scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead Aitkin; Ally Ehnstrom …
If it wasn’t a school record for rebounding at an Aitkin Gobbler boys’ basketball game, it was at least one of the best. The Gobblers grabbed 52 rebounds, 20 on offense and 32 on defense, while limiting Braham to 25. Although the game was close with the home team leading 21-17 at halftime, t…
Aitkin Gobbler wrestlers had their week cut short by the weather as the Northland Invite at Ashland, Wis. and the 7-9 State at Mora were both cancelled on Saturday.
The Cromwell-Wright Cardinals defense held the McGregor Mercury offense to 14 first-half points while pouring in 47 en route to an 82-35 win at Cromwell, Jan. 14. Marshall Passer tallied 22 points for the Mercs who fell to 2-7 on the season. Logan Jackson added 7 points while Nathan Scollard…
The Aitkin All Starz competed at the Rocori Invitational on Jan. 11.
Senior Carter Olson, the Aitkin Gobbler baseball catcher, recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Rainy River Community College at International Falls. Olson has been a varsity starter since his sophomore season, earning all-conference and all-section honors each year.
The McGregor Mercury boys lost a pair of home games last week to Silver Bay on Jan. 7 and Barnum Jan. 10. In the 67-47 loss to Silver Bay, the Mercs kept pace during the first half, trailing 22-18 at the break. Ethan Bohn scored the first 4 points of the game, but the Mariners answered with …
