Rock County Sports

Local hockey player Easton Johnson of Luverne was recently invited to play for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. “The objective of the NTDP is to develop the most promising players from anywhere in the United States. NTDP players come from all across the country,” according to the program’s website, usahockeyntdp.com. “The culmination of the two-year scouting process is an…

Eli Radtke, a 6-foot-2-inch junior at Northern State University, posted a personal best pole vault of 16 feet 4 inches Feb. 21 in the SDSU Last Chance meet at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota. His vault landed him a third-place finish in the meet. “Two more inches in my vault and I would have qualified for D2 Nationals,” Radtke said. While at Luverne High…

A college basketball player with local ties has just completed a successful season with the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team. Brooklyn Meyer, a 6-foot-2-inch junior on the team is the granddaughter of Bob and Karla Osterday of Luverne. She started in all 33 games for the Jackrabbits this season and participated in the second-round game in the 2025 NCAA Tournament against…

The Luverne High School student council held its annual March Mayhem basketball event Tuesday, March 18, in the Cardinal Gym. It’s an annual fundraiser for the organization, according to LHS Student Council adviser Jason Berghorst. “The council uses the funds raised to support events such as Homecoming, Snow Week, leadership events, Wellness Week, student recognition programs, and many other…

The Blue Mound Figure Skaters performed their 34th annual ice show at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22. This year’s title “Showtime” included 107 skaters from preschool to high school seniors featuring soloists, duets, trios and group skating performances. “The annual ice show is our year-end performance and is our biggest event of the year,” said Teresa Wieneke…

The Big South Conference released the 2024-25 All-Conference girls’ hockey and gymnastics team selections. LHS gymnasts named all-conference are senior Amira Cowell and juniors Kianna Winter and Addyson Mann. Luverne girls’ hockey had two all-conference selections, senior Payton Behr and sophomore Izzy Steensma. Honorable mentions went to sophomore Tenley Behr and freshman Ellie Van Batavia.

Members of the 2005 boys’ basketball team were recognized Friday, Jan. 24, at home, in celebration of their appearance in the 2005 state basketball tournament. LHS completed their 21-9 season by defeating Rockford 60-55 in the third-place game of the state tournament March, 19, 2005, at Concordia University in St, Paul.  

Looking back at 2024 and all the sporting events the Star-Herald featured, the accomplishments of many teams and individuals at both Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek high schools are worth recognizing. Here are the Star-Herald’s Top 5 sporting events of 2024, as well as several personal recognitions in LHS and H-BC activities.   No. 1 – H-BC Patriots Football Team The Patriots finished their…

In this column I would like to call out 11 local athletes who have excelled in their sport and gained recognition for their efforts. Nine students have done so through their athletic abilities, and two have not only participated in their sport but also excelled in their academics while at college. To start with I would like to congratulate University of Sioux Falls sophomore Camden Janiszeski…

Rapidly falling air temperatures, dangerously cold water, and the likelihood of skim ice on some ponds across Minnesota means it’s imperative for parents and guardians to talk with their kids about the importance of safety. Whether through thin ice or into open water, falls into the water this time of year can turn tragic quickly, and an unexpected fall can incapacitate even the strongest…

The Hills-Bever Creek Patriots football team will travel to Minneapolis this weekend to compete in the Minnesota State High School League 9-Player State Championship game against the Fertile-Beltrami Falcons. The Patriots will meet the Falcons at 10 a.m.  Saturday, Nov. 23, at US Bank Stadium for a battle of the undefeated. Both H-BC and Fertile-Beltrami come into the State Championship game…

The Luverne High School trap team placed first in Class 1A-Conference 8 action this season. The team also tied for sixth place in the True Team competition. “The Luverne trap team members had an excellent fall season,” assistant manager Julie Wynia said. “Several league members also finished individually in the Top 20 for males/females in the conference, and one was ranked in the top 20 for…

The Luverne boys’ cross-country team placed second at the 2024 MSHSL State Tournament Saturday, Nov. 2, at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstadt Golf Course in St. Paul. LHS finished with 91 total team points, just five points behind the first-place team from Redwood Valley with 86 team points. “Initially we were disappointed as we missed the state title by five points,” head coach Pete…

The Hills-Bever Creek Patriots won the Section 3 Championship, beating Mountain Lake 37-6 Friday, Nov. 1, in Marshall. Now 10-0, H-BC heads to the state quarterfinals against the Section 4 champions, the Border West Buccaneers, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Buffalo. Border West High School is a consolidation of the school districts of Wheaton, Clinton, Graceville, Beardsley, Herman, and…

The Luverne Cardinal volleyball team fell 3-1 to Redwood Valley in the Section 3AA Quarterfinal game Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Redwood Falls. “We ended the season playing our best volleyball and gave the No. 1 seed Redwood Cardinals a run for their money,” head coach Sarah DeBeer said. “Unfortunately, we came up a little short.” Luverne, the No. 5 seed, stunned the crowd and the Redwood team when…

Ray Hoogeveen recorded his fifth hole-in-one Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Luverne Country Club. “I hit a soft 5 wood into the wind,” Hoogeveen said about the Par 3 seventh hole. “I watched it go into the cup.” Four of his holes-in-one have come at the Luverne Country Club, while the other one was registered in South Dakota. His last hole-in-one came on the same hole at LCC back in October of 2015…