Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Celebrating 7 Minnesota High School Sports Stars (2025)

Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Seven Talents from Tournament Time

The Minnesota Star Tribune

November 4, 2025

Seven athletes from various sports and schools were recognized as the Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week. Here's a closer look at their impressive achievements:

1. Lauren Burnett (North Woods, Girls Volleyball)

   • Led North Woods to their first state tournament since 2012 with 28 kills, 20 digs, and a 90.9% serving percentage in the Class 1A, Section 7 championship.
   • Her dedication and growth as a player have been instrumental to the team's success, according to coach Kaileen Redmond.

2. Maddie Gullickson (Wayzata, Girls Cross-Country)

   • Claimed her first individual cross-country state championship at Les Bolstad Golf Course, winning by 37 seconds with a personal best time of 16:54.3.
   • A committed North Carolina State athlete, Gullickson is a defending Class 3A champion in the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs.

3. Charlie Loth (St. Paul Como Park, Boys Cross-Country)

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   • Won the first individual state championship for St. Paul Como Park, helping the team secure the Class 2A state championship.
   • His 5,000-meter race victory in 15:31.1 was 3.5 seconds ahead of the second-place runner.

4. Haden Smith (Edina, Boys Soccer)

   • Scored the game-winning goal in the Class 3A state championship, securing Edina's first title since 2019.
   • Provided an assist in the regular season and was a key player in the state tournament.

5. Rylee Lawrence (Stillwater, Girls Soccer)

   • Scored the winning goal in both the Class 3A state semifinals and finals, leading Stillwater to their fourth state title.
   • Her commitment to Division I soccer for North Dakota showcases her dedication to the sport.

6. Harlow Berger (Mahtomedi, Girls Soccer)

   • Helped Mahtomedi win the Class 2A state championship with 14 saves in the final, setting a new Minnesota girls soccer record.

7. Izaak Johnson (Cretin-Derham Hall, Football)

   • Threw seven touchdown passes in the Class 5A, Section 4 championship game, earning a spot in the state tournament for the second straight year.
   • Leads the state in passing yards and is a top performer in completions and passing touchdowns.

Nominate an Athlete
- Email varsity@startribune.com to nominate a student-athlete for Athletes of the Week consideration.

About the Writer
- Alicia Tipcke, a video reporter for Strib Varsity, contributed to this article.