Talking Preps

Prep reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen share wit and wisdom from five memorable weeks of football

Law shared insights with Star Tribune preps reporter David La Vaque on how to get a greater-Minnesota community to support lacrosse

Minneapolis North boys' basketball coach Larry McKenzie has the pulse on this week's state tournament. HIs Polars are embracing the goal of Class 2A state championship or bust.

Former Waconia girls' basketball coach Carl Pierson, author of the new book "The Other Side of Glory" takes us through all four classes of this week's state tournament

Lou Nanne, who began calling boys' hockey state tournament games in 1964, remembers starting his analyst job while still playing in the NHL, discusses this week's Class 2A field with Star Tribune prep reporter David La Vaque and shares why he always pulls for the favored teams.

Wayzata boys' hockey coach Pat O'Leary, who won a NCAA championship as a player and a state title as a coach, tells Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about those experiences as well as unpacking the great section final matchups this week.

Winny Brodt Brown and Star Tribune preps reporter David La Vaque discuss team matchups and players to watch in the Class 1A and 2A quarterfinals, plus the growing physicality of the sport.

Rogers girls' basketball coach Karlee Anderson gives Star Tribune preps reporter David La Vaque an inside look at what goes into winning 18 consecutive games.

Anderson, the former KFAN radio personality, is the current Minnesota Hockey District 2 Girls' Coordinator as well as General Manager of their Minnesota Hockey High Performance and Tier 1 teams. He and Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque tackle a group of sections loaded with talented teams eager to reach the state tournament.

Star Tribune prep writers David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen canvass the winter sports landscape, offering insights and opinions as the top teams prepare for playoff action.

Braziel chats with Star Tribune preps reporter David La Vaque about the undefeated Columbia Heights Hylanders, beating "The Machine" DeLaSalle and anticipating a showdown with another private-school power, Totino-Grace, in the section playoffs.

Star Tribune high school reporter David La Vaque chats with Kristi King, a girls' hockey coach who started at Centennial, joined the college ranks at the University of St. Thomas and is now in her first year at the Blake School.

Pauly and Star Tribune high school sports reporter David La Vaque discuss his team's current win streak and reflect on 10 years since Jack Jablonski's catastrophic injury.

Star Tribune prep sports reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen get high school sports fans caught up on chaos in the hockey rankings, basketball players and teams to watch and even a little football news.

Star Tribune preps reporters Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque recap the biggest names signing their college football letters of intent. Jim discusses an already lively basketball season. And both guys reminisce on great 2021 moments.

Star Tribune preps reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen recover from post-Prep Bowl depression by discussing all things boys' hockey.

Star Tribune reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen share their picks for the final football games this season taking place Friday and Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium

Star Tribune prep sports reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen also look back on the rollicking volleyball state tournament and ahead to girls' hockey dropping the puck on a season full of intrigue

Star Tribune reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen take a deeper look at exciting state tournament teams and matchups in volleyball and football.

You want cross-country, football, soccer and volleyball insights? Star Tribune preps reporters David LaVaque and Jim Paulsen have you (and the landscape) covered.

Star Tribune preps reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen review the wealth of football playoff upsets and discuss the Class 6A experiment pitting the tradition-rich programs against those trying to rebuild.

To QRF or not to QRF? Star Tribune preps reporters David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen tackle the imperfect and sometimes "bloody" process of seeding football teams.