Local and National Sports 9-16-2025
The International Falls Broncos volleyball team opened homecoming week in dramatic fashion, pulling out a five-set win over Mesabi East in the annual Spike Stigma Game. The Broncos took it 26-24, 25-27, 25-23, 23-25, and 15-10. Cheznee Skrien led the way with seven kills, while Neva Kokesh added six. At the service line, Charley Swanson and Cammie Cronin each delivered four aces. The Broncos are right back on the court tonight, hitting the road to face Ely at 7 p.m.
Also today, the Broncos cross country team travels to Grand Rapids for a 4 p.m. race.
The Littlefork-Big Falls Vikings volleyball team is preparing for tomorrow’s matchup at Nashwauk-Keewatin. First serve is at 7 p.m., and the team reminds fans to grab their Dig for a Cure t-shirts to support breast cancer awareness.
Minnesota North College–Rainy River is celebrating big news in the classroom. Voyageurs volleyball and baseball squads both earned NJCAA All-Academic Team Awards, and 10 student-athletes received national honors — including First Team selections Destiny Piekarski, Duru Ildir, Jackson Stumpf, and Jaylynne Verrier. On the court, Voyageurs volleyball is back home Wednesday at 6:30 to take on Northland after sweeping Gogebic and Bay College on the road. The Baseball team faces MNC-Vermillion this afternoon at 2pm first pitch.
In Fort Frances, congratulations go out to Terrance McMahon, who has received the 2025 Ontario Coaching Excellence — Susan Kitchen Trailblazer Award. Since 2015, McMahon has been a leader in building volleyball opportunities across the region, and he’ll now turn his focus to coaching the Senior Muskies boys this fall.
Turning to the pros — the Minnesota Twins blanked the Yankees 7-0 at Target Field last night. Simeon Woods Richardson struck out 11 over six scoreless innings, while Austin Martin cleared the bases with a double in a five-run seventh inning. Brooks Lee also homered. The Twins improved to 66-84 and face the Yankees again tonight with Zebby Matthews on the mound.
In football, the Vikings are dealing with injuries. Rookie quarterback J-J McCarthy is not expected to play this Sunday against Cincinnati after spraining his ankle in Sunday’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta. Veteran Carson Wentz will get the start, with former Gopher Max Brosmer backing up. Meanwhile, the Bengals will be without Joe Burrow, who’s set for surgery and expected to miss at least three months with turf toe. Kickoff is set for noon Sunday at U-S Bank Stadium.
Around the NFL, Week Two wrapped up with a Monday night doubleheader. Tampa Bay edged Houston 20-19, while the Chargers beat the Raiders 20-9. Week Three begins Thursday night when Miami visits Buffalo.
On the hardwood, the Minnesota Lynx carry a 1-0 series lead into Game Two of their first-round WNBA playoff matchup against Golden State. The Valkyries host tomorrow night in San Jose, tip-off at 9 p.m. Napheesa Collier had 20 points in the Game One win.
And in basketball news, the Timberwolves are bringing back Bones Hyland on a partially guaranteed deal and have also signed former UCLA standout Johnny Juzang, who averaged nearly eight points per game over three seasons with Utah.