Each year, sports in the Northland deliver, but perhaps this year more than ever.

2024 brought everything to the table for sports fans up north.

The unusually warm winter and lack of snow plagued the Northland early in the year. The Beargrease Marathon was canceled, and many ski hills and resorts were forced to pause business.

This weather even allowed spring sports to start on time, including a baseball game on the Iron Range at the end of February.

But through it all, fans were treated to an excellent calendar year.

Fans of Cherry basketball certainly were, as the tigers won their first ever State Championship in Class A. Mountain Iron-Buhl girls were not as lucky, but still finished runners-up in their state championship game, as well as Northwood/Solon Springs baseball in their first ever trip to the tournament.

In the state of hockey, Hermantown pulled double time at the state tournament.

The boys team fell just short in the state championship, but the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage ran the table, winning the Class 1A consolation bracket.

That wasn’t all on the ice though, in fact far from it.

UMD hockey had many shakeups, with the death of legendary Bulldog head coach Mike Sertich in early August. The community mourned his loss, and also celebrated the life of Adam Johnson.

The UMD women’s hockey team was hit with a bombshell in May. Head coach Maura Crowell was leaving the program to head to Dartmouth. The successor was Laura Schuler, the third coach in the 25 year history of the Bulldogs.

Another bench boss making their mark on the year was Mike Randolph. On November 25th, Randolph became the all time winningest head coach in Minnesota boys hockey history.

On the professional rink, PWHL Minnesota hoisted the first ever Walter Cup, and four Bulldogs played a big part in the win, with the cup even coming back to AMSOIL Arena.

From the ice to the pitch, two soccer teams enjoyed their best seasons in program history. This summer, Duluth FC became NPSL Midwest region champions for just the second time ever, but fell in the national semifinals. UWS men’s soccer made it all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

You can’t forget about individual athletes either, especially prep stars that took major leaps on the national stage right in front of our eyes. Koi Perich blossomed into one of not only the Big 10s best players, but one of the college football’s, while Iron Rangers Isaac Asuma and Jordan Zubich continue to get it done on the Division I hardwood.