Conrad Engstrom

5 days ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — Two Brainerd Warrior seniors signed their letters of intent to play college basketball at Central Lakes College Friday, April 11. Korde Roseman and Eli Tautges will turn in their Warrior blue for Raider red next year. “I’m very excited,” CLC head coach Jim Russell said. “I think both kids are great kids with great character.

6 days ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PEQUOT LAKES — From assistant coach to head coach, that’s what Tom Klein is doing as the new head coach of the Northern Lakes Lightning. Klein spent last season as the top assistant for Mike Randolph as they guided the Lightning to a state tournament appearance and their first state tournament victory. Randolph resigned after the season, but advocated for Klein to replace him, which he will. Klein has 43 seasons of high school coaching experience, including 16 seasons as a head coach.

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — After the Brainerd Warriors scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, the Willmar Cardinals scored one run in the top of the eighth to pull out an 8-7 extra-inning Central Lakes Conference win Thursday, April 17. With two outs in the top of the eighth, Willmar’s Jordan Ellingson hit a pop-up to short right field. Brainerd shortstop Eli Tautges had the ball pop out of his glove as the runner on second scored the eventual winning run.

1 week ago | brainerddispatch.com | Conrad Engstrom

PEQUOT LAKES — After guiding Pequot Lakes to four straight state tournament appearances, Rich Spiczka has resigned as the boys’ basketball head coach. Spiczka spent the last nine years as the Patriots' coach, where he tallied 195 wins. In total, Spiczka has coached 19 seasons and recorded 324 wins. Spiczka became the city manager in Bemidji in October of 2023. It meant long commutes and early morning practices for the Patriots.

1 week ago | stcloudlive.com | Conrad Engstrom

BRAINERD — The St. Cloud Crush swept Brainerd 7-0 in a Central Lakes Conference boys tennis dual on Tuesday, April 15. Brainerd forced two matches into a third set, but St. Cloud proved to have the upper hand. Brainerd’s Owen Robertson lost the first set 6-4 at No. 1 singles before bouncing back and winning the second set 6-4. Robertson couldn’t keep the momentum going and fell in the super tiebreaker 13-11 to St. Cloud’s Charlie Streit.