Aitkin Independent Age

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Four lessons from best-ever Minnesota high school graduation rates

6 days ago | messagemedia.co | Joe Nathan

There’s good news and several lessons from the May 7 release of historically elevated Minnesota high school graduation rates. Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett released information showing that the 2024 high school class showed the highest ever graduation rate — 84.2%. Data also showed that graduation gaps are closing among various groups. This is good news. The first lesson is that many young people are more resilient than some have acknowledged.
mtrack

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

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Guida takes first, heading to State

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

Garrett Guida won the boys 3200m run Wednesday and will advance to the State track meet at St. Michael-Albertville High School June 10-11. He is the only Merc to make the State this season, but there were some nice efforts by the Mercs. Connor Barden just missed, finishing third in the discus. Paige Dean was fourth in the 400m, Hunter Rubich was sixth in the long jump, Connor Barden was seventh in the shot put and Rubich was ninth in the 200m.
Aitkin track teams advance to Section 7A meet

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

The Aitkin Gobbler track teams had a good day at Esko Thursday as they battled to advance to Wednesday’s Section 7A track meet. The girls finished in fourth place as a team and have plenty of athletes heading for UMD next week. Ashley Asmus broke the school record in the 800m run, winning first place in 2:23.3. Brita Westman also had a first as she won the 100m hurdles. Brooklyn Raisch was second in the high jump; Tika May was third in the 100m hurdles and in the 300m hurdles.
Peterson comes up short

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

Aitkin’s Zander Peterson got back to the match he wanted, a chance to make next week’s State Tennis Tourney. Unfortunately, the tennis gods were not in his favor and despite a great match for “true second,” he came up short, losing a dramatic three-set marathon, falling 7-5 in the final set to Landon Wheeler of Duluth Marshall. The day started with a loss in the semi-final to top seed Ethan Lavan of Cloquet 6-1, 6-3.
Storm softball in semi-finals

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

The Northland Storm softball team moved to the Section 5A semifinals with a 7-4 win over Kelliher Thursday. Kaija Neary pitched well, striking out eight and added a pair of singles to the offense. Bella Dunham had a home run and two runs batted in and Abby Zapzalka had two singles. The Storm face Blackduck in Walker in the semi-final round. The Storm opened the Section 5A softball tournament with a 10-0 home win over Pine River-Backus.
Gobblers clinch great river conference title

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

The Aitkin Gobblers baseball team picked up a big GRC win Thursday as it dropped the Rush City Tigers 9-1 at Woock Field. The victory gives the Gobblers a 13-5 record with just Crosby-Ironton at home on the remaining schedule, that game to be played tomorrow. Aitkin got out to a 2-0 lead in the second. Cole Trotter singled and stole second and came home on a base hit by Jack Setzer. Nolan Dotzler singled later in the inning for the second run. They made it 6-0 in the third.
Gobbler softball advances to semi-finals

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

Sienna Melz threw a no-hitter at the top seeded Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin Titans game Thursday to help the Gobblers softball team advance to the semi-final round of the Section 7AA tournament. Melz walked one and fanned 11 hitters in her second no-hit performance of the season. The Gobblers, who lost to the Titans earlier in the season, got three runs in the first and never looked back as Melz kept the pressure on from inside the circle. kAmx?
Merc athletes advance to Sections this week

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

The McGregor Mercs track team took part in the sub-section track meet Thursday with several athletes advancing to this weeks’ Section Meet at UMD. Garrett Guida won the 3200m while Paige Dean was fourth in the 400m. The 4x200 relay of Violet Brekke, Emma Henderson, Paige Dean and Izzy Nelson was fifth and Katie Heikkala advanced by finishing seventh in the 1600m. kAmpD:56 7C@> vF:52’D H:?[ @E96CD 25G2?4:?8 2C6 r@??@C q2C56? H9@ H2D E9:C5 :? E96 5:D4FD 2?5 7:7E9 :?
The line between success and failure is thin

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | John Woodrow

Well folks, another group of seniors ends their high school days this week. It has been a pleasure covering so many of them over their years wearing the uniform and I salute all of the students and athletes for their accomplishments over the years. I also have a message for them as they conclude their walks down the hallowed halls.