Sports - The Timberjay

Ely to host sectional softball games on Tuesday

REGIONAL- The Ely Timberwolves softball team drew the No. 4 seed in the 7A sectional tournament that begins Tuesday and will host three games that day. The Wolves will take on No. 13 Cook County in … more

5/19/25

Cook native Trevor Nicholas throws out the first pitch in honor of Teacher Appreciation Night at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Cook native’s big league pitch had home written all over it

COOK- As a two-time national finalist for the annual GRAMMY Music Educator Award, Cook native Trevor Nicholas is acquainted with soaring in rarefied air, but even he didn’t know what was in … more

David Colburn | 5/16/25

Anglers ply the waters off Birch Point on Lake Vermilion.

Couldn’t be nicer

REGIONAL— Many people caught fish but just about everyone caught a sunburn during this past weekend’s 2025 fishing opener. It was the second year in a row that the weather gods smiled on … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/15/25

Ely catcher Peyton Huntington figured prominently in three of the four runs the Wolves scored against North Woods.

Wolves edge Grizzlies

FIELD TWP- It was the nightcap for both the North Woods and Ely softball teams as they took to the field here late Friday afternoon, with each having dropped games to South Ridge earlier in the day … more

David Colburn | 5/15/25

Wolves sweep Rangers

ELY— The Timberwolves softball team improved to 9-4 on the season after sweeping the Rangers in a Monday afternoon doubleheader here. In the opener, the Wolves rallied for eight runs in the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/15/25

North Woods seniors, from left, Alex Burckhardt, Talen Jarshaw, Vincent Kajala, Louie Panichi, and Jase Swan were honored before the start of Monday’s game against Mt. Iron-Buhl.

North Woods tops Rangers on Senior Night

FIELD TWP- The Grizzlies saw their winning streak come to an end on Friday with a nailbiting 3-2 loss to South Ridge, but got back on the winning track on Monday with a 6-4 home win over Mt. … more

David Colburn | 5/15/25

Nobody’s PERFECT!

ELY— After dominating opponents through the first several weeks of the high school baseball season, the Timberwolves are in the midst of a three-game slump that has tested the club’s … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/15/25

Grizzlies drop five in a row

REGIONAL- The North Woods Grizzlies softball team hit a rough patch this past week, dropping games against Littlefork-Big Falls, Cherry, South Ridge, Ely, and Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin. … more

David Colburn | 5/15/25

North Woods shortstop Emarie Gibson preps for a throw to first base against Deer River on Tuesday.

Grizzlies smack Deer River23004

FIELD TWP- The North Woods softball team bounced back from a tough 17-4 loss to Mt. Iron-Buhl on Monday to crush Deer River on Tuesday, 18-0. The Grizzlies got off to a hot start when Zoey Burckhardt … more

David Colburn | 5/9/25

Visser, Udovich top Ely track at Hibbing meet

HIBBING- The Ely track team taught the schools at the 69th Annual Doc Savage Invitational in Hibbing on Saturday a thing or two about talent and determination, as numerous Ely athletes turned in a … more

David Colburn | 5/9/25

North Woods’ Aidan Hartway competed in the 100-meter dash this week in Mesabi East.

Grizzlies show promise at Hibbing invitational

HIBBING- The North Woods Grizzlies track team competed in the 69th Annual Doc Savage Invitational Meet in Hibbing on Saturday, with numerous athletes competing well in a crowded 13-team field. The … more

David Colburn | 5/9/25

The Grizzlies’ Louie Panichi, pictured here in Tuesday action against Littlefork-Big Falls, pitched a no-hitter last week against Mt. Iron-Buhl.

Panichi hurls no-hitter

FIELD TWP- It’s been a good roll for the North Woods baseball team, starting out with a stellar no-hitter by senior pitcher Louie Panichi and following up with three more wins. Panichi was a … more

David Colburn | 5/8/25

Ely tallies sixth win in a row

CHISHOLM— The Timberwolves notched their sixth straight win here on Tuesday as they routed the Bluestreaks 16-3 in six innings to improve to 7-2 on the season. Senior Maija Mattson was nearly … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/8/25

Caid Chittum tips to his back foot as he prepares to swing at a Mesabi East pitch during Monday’s contest in Aurora.

Wolves show they have what it takes

AURORA— The Timberwolves improved to 8-1 on the baseball season this week with back-to-back wins over Mt. Iron-Buhl and Mesabi East. In Aurora on Monday, Ely demonstrated patience and execution … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/8/25

NER/Ely girls golf team showing real promise in Class A

REGIONAL- Class 2A Rock Ridge appears to be the area’s dominant force in girls’ golf this season, having claimed the top eight spots in last week’s Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin meet … more

5/8/25

Aune notches best round for Grizzlies at Two Harbors meet

REGIONAL- The North Woods boys golf team hit the links last Thursday for a tournament at the Lakeview National Golf Course in Two Harbors, placing third among four schools. Gage Aune led the way for … more

David Colburn | 5/8/25

North Woods’ Louie Panichi slides into second ahead of a tag by Ely second baseman Hunter Halbakkan.

Ely dominates North Woods

ELY- The North Woods baseball team traveled to Ely last Friday with hopes of avenging a pair of losses to the Wolves last season, but Ely hurler Owen Marolt put shackles on the bottom half of the … more

David Colburn | 5/1/25

Second inning the charm for Ely in week’s action

TWO HARBORS— Give the Timberwolves an inning to warm up and then watch out. That was the message sent this past week as Ely blew back-to-back games wide open in the second inning. On Friday, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/1/25

Wolves win fifth straight in convincing fashion

ELY— The Timberwolves looked convincing in a three-game weekend home stand, allowing just five combined runs to improve to 6-1 and extend their winning streak to five games. Hosting Cook County … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/1/25

Area golfers show promise

VIRGINIA- Golf season has finally arrived, and the Northeast Range/Ely and North Woods girls squads teed it up last Thursday in the Rock Ridge ERC meet at the Virginia Golf Course. NER/Ely … more

5/1/25

Grizzlies slip to Rangers 5-3

MT. IRON- Early North Woods pitching problems gave Mt. Iron-Buhl a lead they wouldn’t relinquish last Thursday, as the Rangers defeated the Grizzlies softball team 5-3 in Mt. Iron. Zoey … more

David Colburn | 5/1/25

Addison Burckhardt is flanked by her parents Eric and Stephanie during her recent signing ceremony.

Burckhardt signs with St. Mary’s

FIELD TWP- When North Woods School graduation comes around this year, it will bring an end to an unusual and lucky run of having three top-level long distance running siblings representing the school … more

David Colburn | 4/25/25

With Nevada Gauthier looking on from shortstop, Addison Burckhardt winds up for a pitch.

Grizzlies maul Chisholm 13-3

FIELD TWP- Nevada Gauthier had a huge day at the plate Tuesday to drive the North Woods softball team to a 13-3 five-inning home win over Chisholm. Gauthier singled and scored in each of the first … more

David Colburn | 4/24/25

Ely looks impressive in back-to-back road wins

ELY— The Timberwolves seem to be hitting their stride early in the season, picking up two convincing wins this week. Dominant pitching, timely hitting, and sharp execution of small ball tactics … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/24/25

Wolves rout Warriors 18-4

DEER RIVER— Timely bats and 14 walks proved the ticket to an easy 18-4 Timberwolves rout here over the Warriors on Tuesday. It was Ely freshman Naomi Archer’s varsity pitching debut and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/24/25