Mic'd Up Sports

Frequent guest LaShayla Wright-Ponder typically comes on to discuss the sights and spaces she visits in her overseas travels, including a pair of stops in England and Luxembourg in her third season as a professional basketball player. That hasn't changed, but a series of trials upon her arrival in England and her return home proved illuminating in ways that stats can't measure.LaShayla goes deep in our most complex and revealing conversation yet, discussing the growing pains that accompany age and experience.

As Jordyn Johnson writes the final chapter of her high school volleyball career at DeLaSalle, she will write several new ones next year at UC-Santa Barbara. When she isn't racking up blocks or kills, you'll find Jordyn working on code as a member of the DeLaSalle robotics team. Her summer job? Interning with the Minnesota Twins as a business systems analyst in software development! We explore all the achievements Jordyn has earned and how that will shape her as she prepares for life as a Division I student athlete. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

From the late 1990s through the 2000s, Minneapolis North girls basketball was a pipeline for Division I recruits. Catrice Williams was no exception, winning three straight Class AAA state titles before landing a Division I spot at Arkansas State. As a youngster, Catrice was inspired by the likes of Tamara Moore and Mauri Horton. In college, Catrice found herself in a mentally treacherous position, leading her away from the sport for several years. Raising two daughters has given Catrice a renewed love of the game, and the sport has served her well in her current role as a realtor and affordable homeownership advocate. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

If you heard of a three-sport athlete who plays football, basketball and track, Deborah Ayeni might not be the first name that comes to mind. The kicker? Deborah plays offensive and defensive line on the gridiron, emblematic of a student athlete who combines toughness and intellect. Between the athletes Deborah watched growing up and her two older siblings, including an older brother who plays football at St. Thomas, inspiration was plentiful. In our conversation with a hopeful Division I basketball athlete, find out how Deborah makes all three sports work and how she aims to continue promoting the belief that Nigerian-American women can thrive in athletics. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Minneapolis was a girls basketball hotbed in the late 1990s. Minneapolis North had two Miss Basketball winners in Tamara Moore and Mauri Horton, and Minneapolis Washburn had a Golden Gophers recruit in Kim Bell, who was the tallest player in school history at the time of her signing. Bell's height (6'5", 6'7" on listed programs) was an asset on the court, but a source of nerves outside of it. Accepting her body type was one of several hurdles Bell encountered during her time as a player, but she had plenty of highlights too. With the likes of Lindsay Whalen, Janel McCarville and Corrin Von Wald as teammates, Bell finished her college career with an NCAA tournament appearance in 2002. Get ready for a trip through the basketball vault and hear what the sport gave Bell, from the friendships that still hold today to her work in public service. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

As long as she can remember, Sade Pollard was the fastest kid on the block. Her blazing speed was noticed by a local track coach, launching a swift expedition that led to seven career gold medals in Minnesota state track competition. In one of those state trips, Sade earned enough points by herself to give Harding High School a bronze medal in the team standings. Years later, she would receive induction into the Harding Athletics Hall of Fame Sade's track career met an abrupt end following a scleroderma diagnosis, but that hasn't derailed Sade's next chapter as a coach and a mother of three sons who are aiming to stake their own claim in athletics. Get ready for a enlightening trip down memory lane. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Professional basketball athlete LaShayla Wright-Ponder checks in with us before taking off to start another season of pro basketball in Sweden. Along the way, she helped run basketball camps domestically with The Sanneh Foundation and abroad in Germany. While she was teaching the game of basketball to the next generation, she learned several lessons about herself that will stick with her no matter what her career looks like. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Nora Francois envisioned herself as a Division I basketball athlete the moment she took up the sport, but the quest to complete her mission brought a deluge of detours and dichotomies. On one side, Nora was a rising bastion of versatility, becoming the first DeLaSalle player in school history to make varsity as an eighth grader. She later played a central role in DeLaSalle's state championship run in 2019. On the other side, Nora encountered a series of mental health battles and traumatic moments that chipped away at her morale, leading her to transfer schools several times as a junior and senior. Refusing to let go of her basketball dream, Nora enrolled at North Iowa Area in her college freshman season, which led to a spot in the Southland Conference at New Orleans the following year. Her numbers were modest, but she did earn the first double-double of her collegiate career. Nora sees basketball as a tool to build her career ambitions, and she discusses all the tools that strengthened her resolve with basketball and mental health. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Versatility sums up Lauren Stenman succinctly. At North St. Paul, she embraced whatever role was needed, and she played a big role as a member of the first North St. Paul volleyball team to reach the state tournament and win a medal, taking bronze. At Lewis, Lauren's responsibilities were more defined as the primary setter, a task she has mastered over the last two seasons as Lewis won back-to-back GLVC conference tournament titles. Lauren would love to make it three in a row as she embarks on her final college season, but no matter what happens, the two-time All-GLVC First Team honoree remains steadfast in her mission to grow as an athlete and as a citizen every day. In this interview, we detail Lauren's odyssey of growth, how the COVID phase led to a stronger spiritual connection, and her voracious fascination with books. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

In her 51 years, Onika Craven has done a little bit of everything. You may remember her as a player at Minneapolis Washburn, Rainy River or Minnesota-Morris. You might have seen her running community outreach events as CEO and co-founder of the non-profit organization O'nika's Angels. You may also have seen her covering all sorts of sports with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. All of those pieces played a part in Onika being selected to the Rainy River Hall of Fame 2023 class. Her distinction is both a validation of her efforts to make a positive impact wherever she goes and a reminder that you can be recognized for things other than sports. Onika shares it all with us in this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Sierre Lumpkin went out with flair in her senior year at Benilde-St. Margaret's, earning a silver medal in the Class AAA state volleyball tournament and gold in the Class AAA girls basketball state tournament. Getting to that point was, in her words, "a jamble." Sierre reflects on an adventure of growing up as the daughter of an NFL veteran, starting her varsity career in Edina, enduring a mental health scare, and the numerous steps she traversed before committing to play Division I basketball at Loyola Marymount. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Prior to a Salvo SC home game, we conducted a short interview with midfielder Ansley Atkinson. Atkinson attended DeLaSalle and played Division I soccer for Creighton University, a path that took an unexpected detour following an ACL injury. We discuss her journey to get back on the pitch and what she enjoys most about playing the game with a mix of college and high school athletes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

In another universe, LaShayla Wright-Ponder could have charted a career in karate, but she has achieved a lot in basketball amidst a journey that included playing for three colleges, navigating athletics amidst the pandemic, and a professional track that took her to Australia, Serbia and Germany in the span of a few months. The graduate of Bloomington Kennedy and Tampa discusses the sights and sounds she has encountered already, the benefits of transitioning from Division I to Division II, and what she would advise to others who share her ambition of turning pro. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Since our first visit with Alayna Contreras, the graduate of Hopkins found herself making a course correction after an ACL injury sidelined her from both AAU competition and her senior year of high school. Unable to play in front of scouts, Alayna utilized her connections and enrolled at Cochise College, a junior college in Arizona, to rebuild her ground game. Her persistence led to a spot at Missouri-Kansas City, an embodiment of her mission to play at Division One. Alayna relayed the journey to get back in playing form, attending a junior college far away from friends and family, and what other players can do if they find themselves in a similar situation. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Daria Douglas has seen a lot in her basketball travels. Growing up in the Hopkins youth league, she got to play alongside some members of the vaunted Hopkins teams led by Paige Bueckers. In the AAU circuit, one of Daria's assignments was guarding Aliyah Boston. Recently, Daria won an NJCAA region championship with Moberly Area Community College and is hoping it will lead to a spot on a Division I roster that features a Chinese Flagship program (Daria is fluent in Chinese). Daria is also striving to be an advocate as an athlete with POTS, a blood circulation disorder that is invisible to the naked eye. Although the condition can interfere with her basketball regimen, she wants others to know that it isn't a term to be feared, just understood. In this episode, we discuss how both journeys have intertwined. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Mary Claire Francois was seldom the centerpiece of the basketball teams she played for, but her coaching duties with Maranatha Christian Academy and FBC North AAU place her at the center of the next generation of athletes. A state tournament champion and graduate of DeLaSalle, Mary Claire planned on continuing her basketball expedition at St. Catherine University, but a combination of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd led her to make a difference in other ways. In this episode, we discuss the inspiring athlete Mary Claire met at six weeks old, taking the role of chauffeur in her senior season with DeLaSalle girls basketball, the non-profit she launched in the midst of the pandemic, and what she has learned already about the responsibilities of coaching. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Some people take up basketball the moment they learn how to walk. Others, like LaVera Jeffrie, discover it by accident. Her towering frame made her an attractive figure for coaches, but outside of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, LaVera had no knowledge of the sport. A persistent attitude from her coaches and teammates at Highland Park imbued LaVera with insight and a budding appreciation of basketball, a passion that led her to a roster spot at Minnesota Community and Technical College. After her playing days, LaVera found another front-row seat, working security at Target Center for Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx games for several years. These days, she mentors the next generation of female athletes as a coach for Como Park. Needless to say, LaVera has lots of stories to tell, including the one about a high school conference rival who later became a source of inspiration. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

If you visit the Haben Center at Benilde-St. Margaret's, you'll find Azzairia Jackson-Sherrod on a banner honoring the school's 1,000-point scorers. She added a few hundred more at Emory University in Atlanta, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Human Health. Upon her return to Minnesota, Azzairia obtained her Master's Degree in Human Nutrition and traded her basketball jersey for an officiating kit. Over the last four years, she has worked numerous high school and college games, forging a new connection with the sport that gave her a lot. We document her basketball expedition and the experiences she gained as a referee. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Rachel Hagen may not headline the 2023 class, but she headlines the definition of resiliency, recovering from two ACL tears early in her prep career to finish with over 1,000 points at Duluth East and start a new chapter at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Not too shabby for someone who grew up in Australia and New Zealand before coming to Duluth. Rachel talks about how what she went through in basketball inspired her career ambitions, her "big sister" role with fellow Duluth athlete Chloe Johnson, and a few talents you may not see when she hoops it up. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tsbtelevision/support

Versatility sums up Naja Woods well. She was a three-sport athlete at Minneapolis Southwest and Knox College (IL), and she still holds the career scoring record for Southwest girls basketball. The skills and values Naja learned from balancing three sports carried over to her career in news. Starting as a producer for ABC57 News in South Bend, Naja is now a multimedia journalist for the station, aiming to be a voice for the voiceless. We chronicle her transition from athletics to journalism, the significance of working the industry as a woman of color, and the time her two worlds came together when she covered the Notre Dame women's basketball team during their 2022 NCAA tournament run. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Not every basketball athlete has to go to Division One to make an impact. Shantell Harden from St. Louis Park is a glowing example, earning 14 double-doubles in her junior season, a campaign that helped her land a spot at Minnesota State-Mankato. We discuss the finer details of the recruiting process, standing out in a section where Hopkins and Wayzata historically draw most of the attention, and Shantell's plans once she transitions from basketball. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Lindsey Becher has a lengthy list of milestones in basketball. She holds the all-time scoring record at Mounds View High School, men or women. In her first year at Concordia University, Lindsey was named NSIC South Division Freshman of the Year and set a single-season school record in blocks (based on average). Last season, she finished third in all of Division II in blocks and became the first player in Concordia history to earn over 10 blocks in a game. Simply put, Lindsey was balling, but her college career was obstructed by mental health struggles. She was prepared to step away from the game to take care of herself, but after a period of reflection, she decided to return for her junior season. In this conversation, Lindsey opens up about her mental health journey, her remedies whenever a sense of anxiety or dread creeps in, and how this experience has made her stronger as she moves forward. We also talk some basketball, including a few people who give Lindsey inspiration. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Basketball and Tisa Mitchell have gone together for a long time. She won a pair of state titles at Minneapolis North, played college basketball for two years at Southeast Missouri State and has been part of Crystal Flint's coaching staff for Minneapolis North and Cretin-Derham Hall girls basketball. In this conversation, we discuss the role Tisa's big sister played in all of this, playing alongside two Miss Basketball Minnesota winners in Tamara Moore and Mauri Horton, and why she chose to step away from the game in the middle of her college career. We also cover just about every possible tangent you can think of owing to the shared connections Tisa and our host have in basketball. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Kendall Minta will forever be one of Eden Prairie's most distinguished volleyball players, culminating a fine career with a bronze medal at the 2021 Class AAAA state volleyball tournament. She matches her athleticism on the volleyball court with her leadership outside of it, participating in national leadership conferences throughout her time as a student and co-founding Eden Prairie's Black Student Union. Kendall will continue her coalescence of talents at Bradley University, and we discuss how her combination of athletics and activism have shaped her as a burgeoning leader. We also settle a "minor" dispute between Kendall and close friend Nia Holloway over who is responsible for their blocking skills. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

There's more than one way to make an impact in basketball. Aalayah Wilson may not boast the wins or titles of her peers, but she placed fourth in the state in scoring as a junior, including a career high 47 points in a game (an Osseo single game school record). Wilson recently announced her commitment to play Division I basketball at Lindenwood, helping usher a new chapter in athletics at the school located in Missouri. What does all this mean for Wilson? We find out in this conversation! #mshsl #ncaaw --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Ivane Tensaie accomplished a lot at Concordia Academy, but one goal that eluded her was a chance to play Division One basketball, so she took the junior college route and spent a year at North Dakota State College of Science. Ivane's penchant for scoring and perimeter shooting attracted several Division One schools. After conducting several visits, Ivane announced her commitment to Penn State in April. In celebration of this milestone, we brought Ivane back to the podcast to discuss her year at NDSCS and the returns she got by placing a bet on herself. Along the way, she dispels some myths about the junior college basketball experience. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

In sports, you may hear the saying that if you're good enough, someone will find you. That line rang true for Savannah McGowan, who recently announced her verbal commitment to play Division One women's basketball at Illinois State, even if her phone camera isn't fully on board with her decision. McGowan currently headlines the Robbinsdale Armstrong girls basketball team, averaging a double-double and earning her first 20-20 game in her junior season. On the basketball court, she aims to erect a demoralizing brick wall to neutralize opponents. Outside of basketball, few in her class can rival her fandom of The Golden Girls and other classic TV shows. Savannah truly is one of a kind. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Before Mandy Hill officially became part of the first family of Minnesota basketball, she was a respectable basketball athlete at Richfield and Concordia University in St. Paul. Mandy was the first female basketball player at Richfield to score over 1,000 points, and she tallied a few more as a member of the Golden Bears. Following her playing days, Mandy transitioned to a career in education, but you can still find her at gyms to support her family of basketball fanatics. We explore Mandy's journey in sports, including the trek that led her to become Tayler Hill's sister-in-law :-) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Phillis Webb was a three sport athlete at Osseo. Volleyball was her favorite sport. Basketball was the sport that fulfilled her goal of perfection. Track was her "suicide" sport, but the only thing she killed was records and gold medal finished. Phillis parlayed those talents to Eastern Michigan, where she accumulated over 1,100 points and 700 rebounds. Phillis shares what her life in sports has done for her, including the connections she made with high school and college teammate Janay Morton and the lift she gave to Taylor Anderson at the state track meet that will forever be a part of sportsmanship lore. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Mike Peden and LaToya Turk discuss the developing situation with Minnetonka girls basketball, where one of their players was accused of using racial slurs against other Minnetonka students. We also highlight responses from Nia Holloway of Eden Prairie, Edina and Hopkins. #mshsl #basketball #racismnotwelcome --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Janay Morton's plans after college did not include coaching in the slightest, but an opportunity at Jamestown changed her line of thinking, and now she can't get enough of guiding the next generation of athletes. Janay had solid credentials of her own as a multi-sport athlete at Osseo before scoring over 1,000 points in college. Janay's college career began at Eastern Michigan, but she still had an itch to prove that she could hold her own in a Power 5 conference, so she made the move to Nebraska to close out her collegiate career. Her opportunities were initially limited due to injury, but it ended with an appearance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament. Janay discusses her basketball journey in this conversation, recorded before the start of her first season with MSU-Mankato. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Kachine Alexander left an indelible legacy as a player. In high school, she won a Class AAA state championship at Benilde-St. Margaret's. Committing to Iowa in college, she became the first woman in Big Ten history to earn two triple-doubles in the same season. Her 34 double-doubles and 910 rebounds ranked second in Iowa women's basketball history when she graduated, an impressive mark considering the time she missed when she wasn't certified to compete in the spring semester of her freshman year. No matter the setback, Kachine built a reputation of bouncing back, an attitude she carried to the coaching ranks, which has taken her to Concordia University, North Dakota State and Florida Atlantic. After taking a year off with the birth of her daughter, Kachine returned to the sidelines as an assistant coach at James Madison, reuniting her with former Big Ten rival Samantha Prahalis-Holmes. In this conversation prior to the season, Kachine reflects on her history with basketball, her research methods in an era before smartphones, and what she hopes to accomplish as a female coach of color. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Few athletes hold the distinction of setting all-time records in both high school and college. Tyzashia Holt was one of them, rewriting the record books at Humboldt High School and St. Catherine University. The kicker? Holt didn't play a single minute of hoops until she turned 14. Holt's progression from novice to expert included career scoring records in high school and college, and she became the first woman in St. Catherine school history to earn a triple-double. Holt's next chapter in basketball will come as an assistant coach for South St. Paul girls basketball, part of her efforts to mentor the next generation of athletes. Get ready for a lot of memories, a lot of laughs, and a dose of inspiration for anyone considering a path in basketball! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

You don't have to be a star athlete to make a difference, and Jazinae Patterson is living proof. She had a solid prep career at Minneapolis Washburn, reaching two state tournaments and leading the team in scoring as a senior. Along the way, she won the Boys and Girls Club Minnesota Youth of the Year and a full-ride scholarship to the University of Northwestern (not to be confused with Northwestern University in Illinois), where she graduated as a triple major. Beneath Jazinae's tremendous highs was a woman who contended with hardships. Injuries and cultural insensitivity at UNW led Jazinae to end her athletic career early, and her mental health was strained from years of intense concentration on basketball and her studies. Jazinae's journey of healing isn't over, but as a mental health advocate and program coordinator for the Black Women's Wealth Alliance, she's making sure people like her aren't left behind. In this conversation, we reflect on Jazinae's life in sports and the classroom, her mental health experience, and her unique taste in food. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Most sports stories are centered on star athletes who are on their way to big-name schools, but there is a lot more to sports than records, rankings or stats can tell you. Fametta Zubah was a three-sport athlete at Richfield High School and will start the next chapter of her education at the University of Minnesota. She had a few college offers, but elected to concentrate on her studies and other avenues, which include a YouTube channel (a co-production with Mitchell January) and her own product line. Although Fametta won't be suiting up in the maroon and gold colors, she isn't done winning. She was one of two recipients for this year's Mike Zimmer Foundation MVP Scholarship awards. In this conversation, Fametta discusses her transition from sports athlete to sports fan, the growing audience watching the Mitch and Fam YouTube channel, and the lessons sports can offer even if it doesn't translate to state titles. Visit the Mitch and Fam YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdeFUL8v2ZeJtXBwKOPmGRQ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Next season, the Lamar University women's basketball team will add a powerful forward and skilled hairstylist in NJ Weems. Weems returns to our podcast to discuss her season at Moberly, going through the recruitment process a second time before choosing Lamar, and her burgeoning skills at styling hair that has clients calling her up. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

If you're wondering about the title, Katelyn Diegnau doesn't play basketball for three different teams. The group of Minnesota cities near the southern border represent a co-op, a common sight in order to compete in the state's smallest class. Diegnau lives in a town of 70, and just about all of them cheered her on when she verbally committed to Augustana University in South Dakota. In this conversation, Katelyn highlights the difference between Class A basketball and AAU basketball, the sense of community in her hometown that led to a virtual bypass of capacity restrictions last winter, and the amusing "family feuds" that are usually resolved by athletic duels. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Katie Loberg holds a rare distinction among college athletes, competing in both women's basketball and track and field at the University of Minnesota. Originally from Princeton, Loberg's commitment to Minnesota fulfilled a promise she made to her grandfather, one of her most inspiring figures. Loberg's playing days are done, but her involvement in sports continues as a sport manager for the Amateur Athletic Union. We touch on all of that in this conversation, along with her burgeoning candle business. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Grace Landvik and Ivane Tensaie have experienced a lot together as athletes at Concordia Academy. Their talents as basketball players is without question, but how will they handle a series of questions that puts their friendship to the test? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Crystal Flint is not just the head coach of Cretin-Derham Hall girls basketball. She is also the organizer of the Triple Threat Girls Basketball Showcase, an exhibition to salute the senior class and a preview of what's to come with youth games featuring 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams. She joins Mike Peden to discuss how the event was founded in 2018 and the excitement surrounding its return. If you live in the Twin Cities area, the Triple Threat Girls Basketball Showcase will take place May 29th at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul. If you're interested in participating or sponsoring the event, contact Crystal Flint through social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or email (crystalflint22@hotmail.com). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Between them, Jade Hill and Adalia McKenzie scored over 5,000 career points. Jade is a 2-time Minneapolis City Conference Player of the Year, Adalia holds the Park Center school record for most career points, and the two finished 3rd and 4th in the state in scoring this season, respectively. Before Jade and Adalia begin the next chapter of their careers at St. Thomas and Illinois, they put their friendship to the test with a quiz that just might have the longest bonus round in questionnaire history! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Basketball has given Meghan Mandel a sense of purpose. She played a key role in transforming the girls basketball program at Orono High School, and her success led to a Division I scholarship at Marquette. Although she reached the NCAA tournament in her first year of college ball, it wasn't enough to shield Meghan from physical and mental health struggles. She thought about leaving the sport, but decided to chart a new course at Loyola Marymount. In the last two seasons, Mandel has led the Lions in blocks and removed any doubt from critics who didn't believe she was Division I material. We delve into Meghan's story in sports and all the avenues she hopes to pursue when her college career is finished. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Wherever she goes, Gabi Haack is a woman of firsts. In 2017, She was the centerpiece of the first Elk River girls basketball team to win a state championship. Gabi was also the first Elk River athlete to win Miss Basketball. 4 years later, she led the Bradley Braves to their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Along the way, Gabi set the Bradley record for most career 3-point field goals and is in good position to break the school's career scoring record next season. She also was named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2020-21. We explore her journey in basketball and the how her academic and athletic accomplishments will suit her well in the next phase of her career. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Inspired by the GQ Couples Quiz series, we put the friendship of Holy Angels athletes Kassie Caron and Rachel Kawiecki to the test by having them quiz each other! What began as an inquisitive spin-off turns into a non-stop roast of Kassie for not watching WandaVision :-) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Kiara Buford is one of only two women in the entire state of Minnesota to win a girls basketball state championship as a player and coach. She won two titles in Class AAAA when she was a student at St. Paul Central, and she would guide Robbinsdale Cooper to the Class AAA state championship in 2018. In between those accomplishments, Kiara was a finalist for Miss Basketball Minnesota in 2008 and scored over 1,500 points for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Although she took a hiatus from coaching to spend time raising her two children, Kiara still finds ways to stay involved, and she is one of the most respected figures in Minnesota basketball. We explore her journey that included playing alongside Angel Robinson, Ashley Ellis-Milan and Rachel Banham, as well as an extended friendly rivalry with Tayler Hill. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Brianna Edwards, Crystal Flint and Tisa Mitchell of Cretin-Derham Hall Girls Basketball make plenty of coaching calls in games. In this episode, they draw up a few plays to advance the conversation of racial justice, police brutality, and other issues of equality under close examination since George Floyd's death. Our three guests also share ties with Minneapolis North, opening a portal to some basketball history. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

The adults take their turn on our podcast to discuss the impact citizens and companies are having on the racial justice movement, and the work that remains to address the obstacles caused by systemic racism. THE PANEL Tia Elbert - Founder, Rate My College Coaches (Indiana) Suzanne Gilreath - Host, Beneath it All Podcast (Wisconsin) Cayla McMorris - Professional basketball athlete (Wisconsin) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

Our Mic'd Up Sports panel discussion series continues with a trip to campus...virtually, that is. Four college students converge for a thought-provoking conversation on the impact George Floyd's death continues to make worldwide. THE PANEL Nevaeh Galloway - Iowa Central Community College (Minnehaha Academy) Avery New - Normandale Community College (Minnehaha Academy) Zarina Sementelli - Spelman (Como Park) Olivia Travis - Illinois-Springfield (DeLaSalle) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

In basketball, we often celebrate the athletes who win titles, break records, and make history, but you don't have to score 20-30 points per game to make a difference. Rai'Janee Meadows was putting up those numbers when she played for Humboldt through 8th grade. That changed when she got to Roseville, but she wouldn't change one thing about her journey. A first-generation basketball athlete in her family, Rai'Janee has college aspirations, and another dream of hers is to travel the world. We explore how a passion for basketball has transformed into a land of opportunity for Rai'Janee. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

You know the saying "Listen to Your Elders," but when it comes to race relations, our youth have plenty of wisdom to offer. We invited five women's basketball players from five different teams to come together and share their hopes, frustrations, and anything else pertaining to the spotlight on racial injustice over the last several weeks. ON THE PANEL Demaiyah Hill - Maranatha Christian Academy (College: Anoka-Ramsey) Ronnie Porter - Como Park Sedonia Seibure - Anoka (College: Anoka-Ramsey) Ivane Tensaie - Concordia Academy NJ Weems - DeLaSalle (College: Moberly Area) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support

When it comes to sports, Devyn White is more of a fan than an athlete, but she was named captain of the cheerleading squad at East Ridge High School. Following the death of George Floyd and riots that threatened to destroy neighborhoods in the Twin Cities area, Devyn joined the front lines by organizing several rebuilding efforts. Her leadership is just as evident in the classroom as an elementary school educator. It's all part of her mission to highlight positive people in the Black community. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tsbtelevision/support