Sports - Hastings Journal

Hastings' Siena Sanchez scores her 100th career goal just 29 seconds into the Raiders' 9-0 victory over St. Paul Highland Park in the Section 3AA quarterfinals on Oct. 13. Sanchez scored four goals in the contest, finishing the season with 103 career goals and a school-record 38 goals in 2026.

Girls soccer season ends, Sanchez surpasses 100 goals

Siena Sanchez reached a major milestone in her Hastings High School soccer career Tuesday, Oct. 13, scoring her 100th career goal just 29 seconds into the Raiders' 9-0 victory over St. Paul Highland … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/24/26

Hastings' Gabe Ferdig (28) scores on a two-yard touchdown run against Burnsville on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Ferdig's second-quarter touchdown helped the Raiders build a 42-6 halftime lead, which would also be the final score.

Hastings football remains unbeaten with 42-6 win over Burnsville

The Hastings Raiders continued their unbeaten football season with a commanding 42-6 victory over Burnsville on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Pates Stadium. Hastings scored 21 points in each of the first … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/24/26

Boys soccer season closes in section quarterfinals

The Hastings Raiders boys soccer team closed its 2026 season with a 4-0 loss to Eastview in the Class AAA, Section 3 quarterfinals on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Raiders entered the tournament as the No. 8 … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/24/26

Hedeen leads Hastings girls tennis at section individual tournament

The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team wrapped up its 2026 season at the Section 3AAA individual tournament Oct. 13-14 at the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center. Emery Hedeen led the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/24/26

Alissa Johnson, a Hastings High School graduate and former Raiders varsity shortstop, has been named the new head coach of the Hastings varsity softball program.

Former Raider Alissa Johnson takes over HHS softball program

Hastings High School has announced the hiring of Alissa Johnson as the new head coach of the Raiders varsity softball program. Johnson, a Hastings High School graduate and former Raiders varsity … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/22/26

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones speaks during the announcement of a new turf field at United Heroes League in Hastings. Seated from left are United Heroes League founder Shane Hudella, Scheels representative Lauren Halseth, Hastings Community Education representative Jaci Hansey and Minnesota Vikings Vice President of Social Impact Brett Taber. Members of the Hastings girls flag football team stand to Jones' left, while St. Thomas Academy cadets stand to his right. The new field will provide additional opportunities for military families and local athletes.

Vikings star Aaron Jones helps bring new turf field to United Heroes League

For Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones, a new turf football field at United Heroes League in Hastings represents much more than a place to play. It represents the friendships, opportunities … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/14/26

Hastings' Emery Hedeen returns a shot during her No. 1 singles match against Two Rivers. Hedeen pushed Erica Eckmann to a 7-5 opening set before Eckmann completed the match with a 6-1 second-set victory.

Raiders girls tennis finishes regular season 5-9. Earns fifth seed for team section tournament

The Hastings girls tennis team finally completed its regular season Thursday, Oct. 1, finishing a match against Two Rivers that had been interrupted twice by weather. Two Rivers won the Metro East … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/7/26

Hastings swim and dive rolls past North St. Paul/Tartan

Hastings girls swim and dive put together one of its strongest dual meet performances of the season Thursday, Oct. 1, using wins throughout the swimming lineup and a complete sweep in diving to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/7/26

Hastings’ Ethan Meyer (75) helps bring down a Two Rivers ball carrier during the Raiders’ 35-21 win Friday night. After allowing 21 points in the first half, the Hastings defense shut out the Warriors over the final two quarters and held Two Rivers to 209 total yards, including 110 rushing and 99 passing. The Raiders also forced four turnovers in the second half.

Hastings football rallies from 14 down, defeats Two Rivers 35-21

Hastings had not trailed by two touchdowns at any point this season. Friday night at Two Rivers, the Raiders found themselves there before the first quarter was over. The response was emphatic. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/7/26

Raiders at the line at the Zimmerman Thunder 300.

Raider Nation expands with a new team!

Raider Nation expands with a new team! By Bruce Karnick and Ryan Renneke Hastings Middle School (HMS) will have its first-ever National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) competitive archery team! … more

By Bruce Karnick and Ryan Renneke | 10/7/26

The Hastings defense swarms a Bloomington Jefferson ball carrier, with No. 2 wrapping up his legs while Marlowe Strain, No. 89, winds up trying to knock the ball loose. The fumble did not come on this play, but the Raiders later recovered two Jefferson fumbles in the 35-7 victory.

Hastings football rolls past Bloomington Jefferson, improves to 2-0

The Hastings Raiders took control early and carried a four-touchdown lead into halftime Friday, rolling to a 35-7 varsity football victory over Bloomington Jefferson at McNamara Stadium/Todd Field. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/26/26

Hastings junior Benjamin Schwanke competes during the Metro East Conference Preview on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Schwanke was the Raiders’ second finisher, placing 29th overall in 19:06.6.

Raiders cross country races through busy two-meet week

Hastings cross country runners faced two very different tests during the week, racing against Metro East Conference competition Tuesday before joining large fields at the Roy Griak Invitational … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/26/26

In the game against Two Rivers at Todd Field, it seemed like, no matter what the Raiders did, nothing went their way. This image really sums up the sheer simplicity of the struggles the Raiders had on the field. A simple, easy stop gets lightly poked past Michael Wenisch for a goal. Odd penalties, a red card and other basic miscues led to a long day for Hastings before they rebounded with two straight hard fought wins.

Hastings boys soccer closes week with back-to-back victories

Hastings boys soccer bounced back from a conference loss with two straight victories last week, including a three-goal second half against Chanhassen on Saturday. The Raiders opened the week Tuesday, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/26/26

Hastings football survives Chaska rally for 24-20 win

Hastings took control early, then held off a second-half Chaska rally to remain unbeaten with a 24-20 road victory Friday, Sept. 18. The Raiders scored on three of their first four meaningful … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/25/26

Hastings cross country girls take fourth, boys fifth at Dewey Minnaert invite

Hastings cross country runners turned in a pair of solid varsity performances Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Dewey Minnaert Cross Country Invitational at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, with the Raider … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/15/26

Hastings’ Maelyn Kirk returns a shot during her No. 2 singles match at Simley on Sept. 8. Kirk fell to Isla Feldman 6-4, 6-2 as the Raiders came up just short in a 4-3 loss.

Hastings girls tennis rebounds with back-to-back dual victories

Hastings girls tennis put together its strongest stretch of the season last week, bouncing back from losses to South St. Paul and Simley with consecutive victories over Farmington and North St. Paul. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/15/26

Hastings senior Siena Sanchez scores her second goal of the game early in the second half against Tartan Thursday, Sept. 10. Sanchez scored three times in the Raiders’ 4-2 victory, including two goals less than two minutes apart to open the second half.

Hastings girls soccer beats Tartan for first conference win

Hastings girls soccer picked up its first Metro East Conference victory of the season Thursday, then faced one of its toughest tests of the year two days later as the Raiders split a pair of games … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/15/26

The scuffs, stains and creases in this Wilson George Brett A2124 are not imperfections that need to be erased. They are reminders of summers spent playing baseball, of a glove shaped with my dad when I was a kid, and of a life that has happened in the decades since. At 52, neither the glove nor its owner needs to look new again, we just need to take care of what needs taking care of, accept the wear we've earned, and see what we've still got

I ain’t dead yet

"I ain't dead yet." That was Dad's way of saying yes before he passed September 10. 2024. It wasn't morbid. Quite the opposite. It meant, let's go. Let's have some fun. Let's do something. We're here today and there is no guarantee about tomorrow, so why would we sit around waiting for life to happen? more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/10/26

UWRF AD earns Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in Sports

RIVER FALLS — University of Wisconsin-River Falls Athletic Director Crystal Lanning received a massive honor over the summer, being named the Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in Sports. … more

By Andrew Harrington | 9/9/26

Hastings tennis to begin busy stretch after being blanked by South St. Paul

The Hastings girls tennis team fell 7-0 to South St. Paul on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Roosevelt Tennis Courts. South St. Paul claimed each of the four singles matches in straight sets. Annie Spreigl … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/9/26