Podcast
Talking Preps
Star Tribune prep reporters David La Vaque and James Paulsen are bringing all you Minnesota high school sports enthusiasts another way to stay connected to the action.
Listen: Lots of answers needed about playing football, volleyball in spring
The issues range from practicing in already-crowded gyms to hosting football on still-frozen winter fields. We tackle those in a new Talking Preps podcast.
Podcast: What now for Minnesota high school sports?
In the first Talking Preps since the coronavirus shut down sports in March, the Star Tribune's David La Vaque and Paul Klauda discuss critical moves by the Minnesota State High School League to try and get them restarted and address a big budget problem.
Podcast: How do you stop Bueckers, Hopkins from winning another state title
In the latest Talking Preps, girls' basketball insider Grant McGinnis and the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen walk through all four state tournament classes and shed light on the formula for the improbable: Taking down Paige Bueckers and the juggernaut Royals.
Podcast: Darkhorse picks for 'fan's dream' boys' hockey state tourney and what scares coaches most
In the latest Talking Preps, hockey coach Ted Cheesebrough and the Star Tribune's David La Vaque discuss which teams scare coaches most in the parity-filled tournaments and why they fret most about the first period of their team's first game.
Podcast: Coaches raise hands in favor of seeded 4A basketball tourney
In the latest Talking Preps, the Star Tribune's Ron Haggstrom joins Jim Paulsen to talk about a "hot topic'' idea for generating more competitive state tournament match-ups.
Podcast: Austin -- a success story fueled by sports, ideas and resources
Go deeper into Chip Scoggins' meticulously reported story about the transformation of Austin, the town of 25,000 people located about 100 miles south of the Twin Cities. It's a tale of immigration, basketball, Hormel and a changing community.
Podcast: Girls' hockey tourney has clear favorites but threats loom
From behind the bench to behind the mic, longtime coach Shawn Reid joins David La Vaque to break down who's best equipped to challenge Edina and Breck. Plus a sneak peek at a special sports project coming Sunday in the Star Tribune.
Podcast: Section finals and state tourneys and 'why we love this job'
The latest Talking Preps from preps writers David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen highlights girls' hockey, gymnastics and the swirl around Hopkins star Paige Bueckers. Plus the state's next best girls' basketball player and new football coaches at two 6A programs.
Podcast: Schools to pay more to help high school league close budget shortfall
In the latest Talking Preps, David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen discuss the Minnesota State High School League's latest action on two popular topics: How to slay a $407,000 budget shortfall and a new effort to look at student eligibility and transfers.
Podcast: Sideline sexism, new home on the Range and here come sections
In the latest Talking Preps, David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen take up ingrained sexist attitudes toward girls' basketball coaches and officials, a rivalry ended on the Iron Range and how did we get so close to state tournament time.
Podcast: Two more biggies in Minnesota high school football coaching walk away
In the latest Talking Preps, Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque spin a few of their own yarns about Totino-Grace's Jeff Ferguson and Brainerd's Ron Stolski, the latest to step down in a winter full of similar big-program departures.
Podcast: Shovel-ready Hockey Day Minnesota brings its chilly holiday to Minneapolis
In the newest Talking Preps, Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque scrutinize the Minnesota appeal of outdoor hockey and examine the changing world of recruiting the state's most prized future college players.
Podcast: 'Best team in state history' ignites debate and the curse of being No. 1 in boys' hockey
Talking Preps' David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen kick off the new year with Minnehaha Academy's impressive boys' basketball weekend, get caught up on big wrestling and Nordic skiing doings, and look at who's catching notice as boys' and girls' hockey kick into post-holiday gear.
Podcast: Football recruiting, Minnehaha loses (again) and the best of 2019
In their last Talking Preps until January, David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen go deep on signing day doings and share their most memorable games of the year. And what kind of hex did Jim put on his self-declared best boys' basketball team ever?
Podcast: Getting up front with Wayzata's Prep Bowl win and slow starts for some big-name boys' hockey teams
The latest Talking Preps podcast shifts into basketball and hockey talk but not without Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque giving football championship credit where it is most heavily due.
Podcast: Misdirection offense and the biggest adjustments for playing in the Prep Bowl
In a special Talking Preps podcast with the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen, Elk River football coach Steve Hamilton deconstructs his team's increasingly popular misdirection offense and sheds insight, based on two Prep Bowl trips, into how teams should be preparing this week. And what to look for in the seven championship games Friday and Saturday.
Podcast: Is there an overlooked team in the 6A field as playoffs move indoors?
In the latest Talking Preps, the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque preview football semifinals starting Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium and salute the state of volleyball after a most excellent day of state championships.
Podcast: New teams on the block set to make volleyball tournament debut
In the latest Talking Preps podcast, David La Vaque and Jim Paulsen set the stage for three days of state tournament volleyball and football quarterfinals starting Thursday.
Podcast: Surprising rivalry grows as football playoffs decide who goes to state
In a sea of competitive Class 6A matchups, Edina vs. Centennial has some history going for it, according to Star Tribune prep writers Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque. Plus the latest on soccer and cross-country championships.
Podcast: Soccer state tourney leaps into semis with a little disrespect talk
Unseeded St. Paul Central pulls an upset in 2A boys, giving David La Vaque and JIm Paulsen some grist for this week's Talking Preps. Plus Edina's retiring girls' tennis coach gets one more state title, and the teams no one wants to face in the football playoffs.
Podcast: Soccer section finals week meets last night of regular-season football
In an earlier-than-usual Talking Preps podcast this week, the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque talk playoff soccer and football's busy stretch ahead.
Listen: Wayzata in a 6A runaway? Not this year
In the latest Talking Preps podcast, David La Vaque and JIm Paulsen give the new No. 1 Trojans their due. But with two games left before playoffs, they see a more wide-open field than in many years. Plus the latest on Jalen Suggs, track and field goes to three classes and sections begin in soccer and tennis.
Listen: Minnesota lands state's top diver and prep football's widening cast of 6A surprises
In the latest Talking Preps, Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque recap two news items from Edina and assess the aftermath of surging Wayzata's defeat of Eden Prairie.
Listen: The biggest football game of the year (so far) is setting up to be 'just like old times'
In the latest Talking Preps, Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque preview Wayzata at Eden Prairie, both undefeated. Plus who's still unbeaten in prep soccer as the season winds down and the puzzling case of Tyler Krebs.
Listen: After Wisconsin lands two top Minnesota recruits, what's next for Prior Lake's Dawson Garcia?
In the latest Talking Preps podcast, Jim Paulsen and David La Vaque serve up fresh basketball recruiting news, set up a first for Minneapolis South, and talk volleyball and soccer as well.
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