Boxing brings armloads of benefits
By Unsie Zuege
It’s a bitter cold January night, but here, inside this Chanhassen boxing and mixed martial arts gym, there’s a sweaty perfume that conjures memories of high school gymnasiums, perspiration-soaked T-shirts, and Icy Hot. More than a dozen men and women of all ages concentrate on punching the big black boxing bags in varying combinations of punches and jabs. They take turns holding the bags steady for their sparring partners. Overhead, from a speaker, Johnny Cash’s gritty weathered voice provides a fitting soundtrack.

A look back at 40 years of theatre, food and fun.

Minnetonka took a big halftime lead and grew it into a 62-14 victory on Tuesday in the Section 6-5A football quarterfinals.

Minnetonka scored the final six touchdowns of the game to advance to Saturday's semifinals against Hopkins.

Tonka running back Sam Alajika had three touchdowns, and quarterback Tom Ahrens threw for three scores. Dre Thompson scored twice in the third quarter, after the Skippers opened a 42-14 halftime lead.

The Hawks hung in there early, as quarterback Mike Geissler threw to Derrick Engel and Blake Belland for touchdowns.

Chaska's football team lost 19-7 to Park of Cottage Grove in the regular-season finale on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The Hawks fell to 1-7 on the season, and open the Section 6-5A playoffs at No. 2 seed Minnetonka at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Enjoy this selection of photos from the game.

Chaska had no problem outpointing Apple Valley in a Lake Conference girls swim dual on Thursday.

The Hawks rocked the Valley Middle School pool with a 120-66 victory. See full Chaska varsity results below.

Enjoy this selection of photos from the Hawks' dual at Bloomington Jefferson on Sept. 18.

Chaska is having its struggles scoring points this season.

Rosemount, not so much.

The Irish blasted Chaska 42-7 on Friday to end the Hawks' one-game win streak.

The Irish were up 35-0 at halftime, and got an easy third-quarter score after recovering a bobbled punt inside the Hawk 10-yard line.

Chaska got the final points of the night on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brett Kohler to Derrick Engel.