Luverne Sports
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026Luverne’s hockey program started 47 years ago with humble roots and grew into a strong school-sanctioned sport, thanks to coach Dan Smeins and others who saw his vision. On Saturday, Jan. 10, former players, coaches, friends and families gathered to commemorate the foundation laid by Smeins and original members of the 1979 Luverne Optimist Club team. Two display cases were unveiled during the…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne boys’ basketball team hung on to a slim lead to claim a 56-52 win against the St. James Saints Friday, Jan. 9, at home. In a game of back-and-forth runs the Cardinals were able to hold off a late push by the Saints to win by four points. The Cardinals started the game on a 10-point run and tacked on another 12 points to take a 22-11 lead partway into the first half. At the half,…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne boys’ hockey team netted two wins in the past week, improving their season record to 15-2. The Cardinals skated past Minnesota River 7-3 at home Saturday, Jan. 10, and iced the Windom Eagles 9-1 on the road Monday, Jan. 12. Luverne travel to Waseca Saturday, Jan. 17, and Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 20, before hosting Redwood Valley Thursday, Jan. 22. Luverne 7, Minnesota River 3 The…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne girls’ basketball team collected one win and one loss this past week. LHS fell 78-53 to St. James at home Friday, Jan. 9, and beat United South Central 66-50 in Wells Saturday, Jan. 10. The Cardinals sit at 8-5 for the season and were scheduled to play Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 13. LHS will travel to Dell Rapids Saturday, Jan. 17, and to Jackson County Central Tuesday, Jan. 20. St…- By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne Cardinals wrestling team faced stiff competition this past week in triangular and tournament action. LHS fell 48-29 to St. James and 40-25 to Blue Earth Area on the road Thursday, Jan. 8. At the 2025 Big South Conference Tournament six LHS wrestlers landed on the varsity podium — three first-place, one second-place and two fifth-place finishers in their brackets. The junior varsity…
- By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne gymnastics team fell 138.675-128.225 to the Blue Earth Buccaneers in head-to-head action at home Thursday, Jan. 8. LHS was without senior Addyson Mann (due to an injury) but had senior Kianna Winter back in the lineup after missing last meet due to a scheduling conflict. Pipestone was also in attendance but did not compete with Luverne directly. Luverne head coach Phoebe Flom said…
- By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026The Luverne girls’ hockey team topped two teams in the past week to bring its record to 11-7 for the season. The Cardinals beat Minnesota River 3-1 on the road Saturday, Jan. 10, and blanked the Windom Eagles 14-0 on the road Monday, Jan. 12. Luverne was scheduled to host Albert Lea Tuesday, Jan. 13, and will travel to Waseca Saturday Jan. 17, before hosting Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 20. …
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 14, 2026Luverne senior goaltender Gavin Hoven recorded his 1,000th career save in the game against Mankato East at home Jan. 3. Hoven has 13 wins, two loses and one shutout this season. He has been in the goalie position the past three seasons. He had 72 saves in 2023-24, 655 saves in 2024-25 and sits at 324 saves so far this season. Hoven also has seven shutouts so far in his career.
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne girls’ wrestling team “Rocked” the Belle of the Border Meet in St. James Saturday, Jan. 3, with four Rock sisters placing in the event. The Belle of the Border is an annual meet in St. James among invited Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa high school girls’ wrestling teams. This year there were 270 total athletes from 28 teams grappling for top honors in their weight divisions. In…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne girls’ hockey team finished a tough week 2-2 against four solid hockey teams. In the Stillwater Holiday Tournament, the Cardinals lost 2-1 to Stillwater Monday, Dec. 29. They beat Western Wisconsin 2-1 Tuesday, Dec. 30, and blanked Moose Lake Area 5-0 Wednesday, Jan. 31. Luverne fell 3-1 on Saturday, Jan. 3, in a home game against Mankato East. The Cardinals, now 9-7 for the season…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne boys’ basketball team pocketed two wins on the road this past week improving its season record to 9-2. Luverne beat Worthington 79-67 Friday, Jan. 2, and pulled out a 44-42 win against Baltic Saturday, Jan. 3. LHS will host St. James Area Friday, Jan. 9, and will travel to Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 13. LHS 79, Worthington 67 Luverne beat the Worthington Trojans 79-67 on the road…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne girls’ basketball team notched two wins on the road giving the Cardinals a 7-4 season record to date. LHS handily beat Worthington 74-28 Friday, Jan. 2, and topped the Wynot, Nebraska, Blue Devils 37-24 in Madison, South Dakota, Saturday, Jan. 3. “I think our defense the last two games has been outstanding. Any time you hold a team under 30 points you give yourselves a great chance…- By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne boys’ hockey team went 2-2 this past week bringing their overall season record to 13-2. In the Granite City Showcase in St. Cloud Luverne won one game and fell twice in the three-day tournament. Luverne fell 6-2 to Cloquet/Esko/Carlton in the first day of the tournament Monday, Dec. 29. Monticello beat the Cardinals 7-3 Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Luverne took down Litchfield/Dassel-…
- By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJanuary 07, 2026The Luverne gymnastics team traveled to Marshall Saturday, Jan. 3, placing third in team competition of the Winterfest Meet. As a team, Luverne took fourth place in the vault, third on the bars, second on the beam and third on the floor exercise. “I thought the girls did a fantastic job at the meet and I couldn’t be prouder of this crew,” head coach Phoebe Flom said. “We went into the meet…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorDecember 30, 2025Looking back at the sporting events covered in the Star Herald during 2025, I was amazed at all the accomplishments of our local teams and individual athletes in Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek high schools. From team titles to individual medals, our sports year in review highlights the big events that shaped the seasons. From personal and season bests to school and individual records I’ve had…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorDecember 30, 2025The Luverne girls’ basketball team beat Adrian-Ellsworth by 14 points in a 75-61 win on the road Monday, Dec. 22, improving the Cardinals’ record to 5-4 for the season. The LHS girls jumped to a 6-0 lead and built a 22-16 cushion halfway through the first half before taking a commanding 48-31 lead at the half. The Cardinals added another 27 points in the second half to win 75-61 over the…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
