Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

The Minnesota State High School League's Board of Directors online meeting Monday was packed with coaches and activities directors across the state. The meeting was held to determine whether or not th... Full story

7Notice is hereby served that the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team is now 6-0 on the season following two impressive wins last week. On Thursday the Lumberjacks beat Duluth East for the first tim... Full story

The Esko girls soccer team picked up an impressive win Sept. 17 as they knocked off Hermantown for the second time this season. Two second-half goals helped secure the 2-0 road win. "I think the... Full story

After suffering a 6-1 loss at the hands of Grand Rapids-Greenway on Monday, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls tennis team rallied for a solid home win against Superior on Tuesday. Against GRG the lone CE...

Playing at home last Thursday on a perfect day for soccer, the Cloquet girls team stayed undefeated by slipping past Duluth East 3-2. With temperatures in the mid-60s and a partly cloudy sky, and... Full story

With two meets already this season, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls swim team is seeing solid improvement over last season. The Lumberjacks have solid numbers and hope to balance a generally young team... Full story

There was a lot of the expected mixed with a little of the unexpected last Thursday as Esko, Carlton/Wrenshall and Cromwell-Wright hooked up in a cross country race at Pine Valley in Cloquet. The... Full story

With 12 seniors on his roster and a plethora of talent, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton boys soccer coach Dave Bergan must feel like he robbed a bank. After four matches this season, the Lumberjacks have... Full story

Some semblance of normalcy returned to the local sports scene Tuesday afternoon when the Cloquet girls soccer team hosted Esko at the high school's Rol Bromberg Field. Or maybe it was the new normal,... Full story

A year ago the Cloquet boys cross country team was loaded with talent, including four strong seniors. As a team, the Lumberjack boys qualified for the state tournament and were a force to be reckoned... Full story

The Esko boys and girls cross country teams have been notorious for being perennial contenders in the sectional meet. After a challenging time last year, things look to be on the upswing for the... Full story

Willow River/Barnum can expect to have a big season in boys and girls cross country this fall. The Rebels have 45 athletes out this fall as they hope to improve on a seventh-place finish for the boys... Full story

Don't look now, but the Cromwell-Wright Cards could be on the verge of something special this cross country season. A year ago the Cards sent two athletes to the state meet and this year it could be... Full story

The Carlton/Wrenshall Raptors cross country girls and boys teams are hoping No. 3 will be a charm. After forming a cooperative team in 2018, last season was the second year in a row the Raptors had... Full story

Now in his 17th year as the head cross country coach at South Ridge and previously AlBrook, Jeremy Polson is no stranger to the ups and downs of high school athletics. "Last year was a rebuilding year... Full story

If local girls soccer teams think the Lumberjacks will be a pushover this season due to losing the area's top player Kiana Bender, they should think again. The Cloquet girls soccer team appears ready... Full story

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer coach Dave Bergan is entering his second year at the helm of the Lumberjacks. Last season the 'Jacks finished with a record of 8-9-1, but with the return of a mass of... Full story

As the new high school sports season arrives, the Esko girls soccer team will be looking to improve on a team that finished under .500 in the win-loss column last year. Under the leadership of... Full story

For decades, Cloquet kids played hockey outside in the elements, until volunteers and local businesses came together to build the Pine Valley Ice Arena aka the Barn, in the late 1960s and gave the...

Last Tuesday the Minnesota State High School League announced a revamped high school schedule due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. The league's board approved four sports for the fall season:... Full story

The opportunity to play softball this summer has been fleeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This past weekend Braun Park held its only softball tournament of this summer. The Wood City Classic... Full story

Despite having his high school golf season wiped out due to the coronavirus, this summer has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Cloquet-Esko-Carlton golfer Sam Baker. The senior played in the... Full story

Last Wednesday I had a chance to see sports in its purest form when I visited Braun Park and watched a group of young boys and girls playing tee-ball. I have been fortunate enough to coach youth... Full story

In a normal year, the end of July would mean high school athletes were nearing the end of their summer training and getting ready for the high school season to begin in late August. With COVID-19 stil... Full story

The morning of June 21, Father's Day, broke hot and humid in the Twin Cities. I was visiting my daughter and son-in-law and three of my grandsons. My work quarantine was over and, for the first time i... Full story