A little seventh grade team from Tri-City United Middle School’s robotics club called the Circuit Surfers (3589A), consisting of AJ Munguia, Landon Ballman, Colton Claffey, Jake Goettl, and Vincent Carpenter, has qualified for the VEX V5 Robotics World Championships to be held April 25-27, 2026, in St. Louis, Mo. at the America’s Center.
    “The VEX Robotics World Championship is a gathering of the top 588 Middle School Teams from all around the world,” said Robotics Head Advisor Jeff Ballman. It’s a first-ever honor the club has ever received, according to Jeff Ballman.

    The Tri-City United (TCU) boys track and field team placed second in the Belle Plaine Indoor Triangular Saturday, March 21 at Myers Field House at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
    The Titans scored 32.5 points to place behind champion Belle Plaine, who scored 107.5 points. Glencoe-Silver Lake placed third with 27 points.
    TCU had three champions and a pair of runner-up finishes.
    The 4 x 200-meter relay team won the race in 1:42.56. Relay runners were not provided as of print time.

    The Tri-City United (TCU) girls track and field team won three of the four field event championships and five other titles in the Belle Plaine Indoor Triangular Saturday, March 21 at Myers Field House at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
    Juniors Louise Stock and Kaitlyn Hartwig each won two titles helping the Titans place second to a very strong Belle Plaine team. The Tigers won the event with 88 points. TCU followed with 69 points and Glencoe-Silver Lake placed third with 12 points.

    The St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade in Le Center was largely unaffected by the historic March 14-15 blizzard until Saturday evening after about 5 p.m. when snow started falling, well after the parade.

    Tri-City United Middle School’s 7th grade black boys traveling basketball team went 4-0 in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 14, beating Minneapolis Phelps by two. This gave them the Minnesota Youth Athletics Association’s (MYAS) title of being the 7th Grade Tier 3 Tournament State Champions.
    The team played in nine tournaments this year, competing in 29 games for the season where they ended up 20-9. Head Coach John Schmiesing said, “At the end of the season, MYAS has our team ranked 25th out of all 7th grade teams in Minnesota.”

    TCU Titans youth wrestling wrapped up its 2025–26 season with 17 wrestlers competing at the MN/USA State Folkstyle Tournament, marking the culmination of months of hard work on the mat.
    The Titans youth wrestling program, which serves wrestlers in grades PreK-6th from the Tri-City United communities, began its season in November with 94 registered wrestlers, the most in program history. 

    Music students from Tri-City United High School participated in the Section 2AA Solo and Ensemble Contest last Wednesday, March 4. 
    The school’s jazz band and the Encore choir both received the highest rating, a superior, at the contest.

Saturday, March 14, 5 p.m. Update

The National Weather Services (NWS) in Chanhassen, Minn., has issued a Blizzard Warning for our greater area from 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, through 4 a.m. on Monday, March 16. They are calling this a "historic March winter storm on track to bring extreme snow accumulations and strong winds." 

The warning calls for a broad swath of 12 to 18 inches of snow over the region, with some area approaching two feet, with winds between 35 and 45 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, even after the snow starts to taper off.

    It was another success for the Titans at the Minnesota State High School Weightlifting Championships in Cannon Falls this last Saturday.
    Head Coach Andrew Meier said, “It was a great finish to an overall very successful season. Seven lifters at state: four of them made the podium and two state champions.”

    Business members and residents of the Lonsdale area were treated last Tuesday, Feb. 24, to the Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Community. This year it was held at the new Lonsdale City Hall, moving from the Lonsdale Public Library.
    About 50 invested people were present to hear Tri-City United Schools Superintendent Kevin Babcock, New Prague Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Vollmuth, and Lonsdale Mayor Tom Berg give updates in their respective areas.

    Outside of pageantry or large community event duties, it’s not every day that you get two Princess Kay of the Milky Way in the same room. 
    Last Thursday, Feb. 26, Tri-City United High School was paid a planned visit of the current and 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way Malorie Thorson from Wright County. Thorson was invited by 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Emma Kuball of Waterville.
    Both princesses come from long-standing farming families and ones that have supported the dairy industry for some time. 

    For the second time Tri-City-United (TCU) junior Tucker Skluzacek had a chance to stand on the podium at a Class AA State Wrestling Tournament.
    Skluzacek, wrestling at Class AA 145 pounds, won three of his five matches to place fifth overall this past weekend at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. He finished his outstanding junior season with a 43-8 record.
    Skluzacek opened with a 15-4 major decision over Foley sophomore Jacob Demarais. 

Heading into the state tournament, New Prague High School’s cooperative floor hockey team seems ready to begin a strong defense of its state championship from a year ago.

The opening round is the big question mark. New Prague will face Shakopee-Prior Lake-Chaska-Chanhassen tomorrow evening, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., at Bloomington Jefferson High School’s activities center. See the team congratulations page in the print edition for the bracket information.

    Tri-City United (TCU) junior Tucker Skluzacek will be making his second Class AA State Wrestling Tournament appearance after winning the 145 pound weight class in the Section 2aA Tournament Feb. 21 in Delano.
    Skluzacek advanced to State in 2024 and placed 5th as a freshman.
    He was the top finisher among the 10 Titan wrestlers who competed at Sections.

    Saturday evening concluded the Snow Week fun at Tri-City United High School with a dance at Next Chapter Winery. 
    Thursday afternoon about a dozen students showcased their various talents during a talent show, and each day of the week students showed their school spirit with various dress up days. 

    It was a week of redemption for the Minnesota River girls hockey team in the Section 2A Tournament.
    The Bulldogs avenged losses from a year ago on their way to their first Section Championship appearance ever.
    Minnesota River opened the Section 2A Playoffs with a 3-1 win over Willmar Thursday, Feb. 5 at Le Sueur. Willmar ended their season in the Section Quarterfinals last year with a 2-0 win. Minnesota River was 18-6-2 last season.