Category Archives: Twin Cities Game Time Podcast

The Twin Cities Game Time Podcast is your weekly source for Twin Cities High School sports. Matt Dean and Logan Anderson will break down key games, share insights from coaches and players, and keep you well informed when it comes to high school sports in the Twin Cities Metro area.

EP 88: Prep Football Week 1 Overreactions!

The triumphant trio of Matt, Logan, and Bill combine forces for the first time in season 3, and get bold with their sweeping takeaways from the first week of high school football!

Starting at (2:13), they touch on the preseason top-10 before touching on their Week 1 overreactions, including an early candidate for Mr. Football, predictions on an offensive breakout by Lakeville North this year, a Class 5A Prep Bowl prediction, and an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object in Shakopee this week!

Finally, they discuss key volleyball storylines early in the season (26:21), including Wayzata coming out strong looking to defend their title and a changing of the guard at volleyball powerhouse Eagan.

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EP 87: Prep Football Kickoff with KARE 11’s Craig Norkus!

Season 3 of the pod kicks off with third-time guest Craig Norkus, who joins the show to help preview the high school football season in the Metro!

After a brief intro, Matt and Bill welcome Craig to discuss some the realignment in the top two classifications of the sport, before diving into KARE 11’s Pre-season All-Metro team starting at (15:45)! They talk Chanhassen standout running back Maxwell Woods, the State’s top-recruit in edge-rusher Wyatt Gilmore, top QB’s Tanner Zolnosky (East Ridge) and Milos Spasojevic (Minnetonka), and more!

Also discussed are title favorites in both Class 6A (15:45) and 5A (39:47), as well as touching on the growing concern of referee shortages and the reasons for it (44:10).

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EP 86: Lawnmowers and Lacrosse State Madness on the Season 2 Wrap-up Show!

Logan, Matt, & Bill get the gang back together for one last pod before summer break! They recap some standout performances and news & notes from the golf and track & field State Tourneys before diving into their reactions to a thrilling State Boys Lacrosse Tournament (9:00). On the boys side, they discuss Lakeville North’s improbable run to the title, highlight standout players of the tourney, and make some way-too-early bold predicitons for next season.

Next, they discuss Benilde St. Margaret’s stunning upset of favorites Lakeville South in the girls tournament (26:00) while examining the unforseen parody this season in girls lacrosse.

Moving to the diamond (29:34), they talk about East Ridge and New Prague’s baseball championships, including a thrilling walk-off for the Trojans as called by “North of the River” Bill at the Mini Met!

They also recap their top-3 moments of the high school sports season to close the show, including Matt & Bill going viral with a bizarre on-field moment last Fall.

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EP 85: We Mean Business with Lakeville South Girls Lacrosse Coach Joel Tornell

Before welcoming in the head coach of the top-ranked Cougar Girls Lacrosse squad, Matt & Bill recap all the State Tournament action from the past week, including recapping the Rosemount Irish’s impressive capper to an undefeated softball season, State golf getting underway, breaking down Day 1 action from the boys & girls lacrosse tournaments, and a discussion of the favorite for Minnesota “Mr. Lacrosse” at the end of the season. Plus, State Championship predictions in lacrosse and baseball!

Interview with Joel Tornell of Lakeville South Girls Lacrosse starts at (25:55)

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EP 84: Graduation Shenanigans & Section Title Chases feat. Shakopee Lacrosse’s Sean Pollock

Before welcoming in the head coach of Shakopee Boys Lacrosse to talk about their terrific season and forthcoming matchup with Chanhassen in the Section Title game, Matt & Logan get back together to discuss the exciting summer playoff races in high school sports. They discuss some news & notes, including an interesting rules violation that nearly barred a student-athlete from the State Tournament and one of the top basketbal recruits in the State making their college committment.

Starting at (12:36), they break down the upcoming Seciton Finals this week in boys & girls lacrosse before previewing the Class 4A Softball Tournament field and standout players to watch for at (29:19).

Interview with Sean Pollock starts at (40:18).

EP 83: Zephyrus Sends a Westward Win Through the Metro

On the latest episode of the podcast, Matt Dean and Bill Hupp get together to break down a race for the State’s all-time goals scoring record between Joey Stolpestad of TriMac and Linus Toward of Shakopee in boys lacrosse!

They also discuss an impressive showing by Mahtomedi boys lax to close out the regular season, Lakeville South Girls Lacrosse’s 29-game winning streak, and preview the upcoming Section playoffs in both boys & girls!

Also discussed are the teams left standing in the Class 4A Softball field starting at (19:52) and the guys discuss high school mascots and Forest Lake standout Matt Wallner shining in the Big Leagues for the Twins in their “notes from the field” (25:29).

EP 82: Set, Spike, Serve with the Star Tribune’s Jim Paulsen!

Matt, Logan, and Bill are back together for the latest edition of the pod, first talking news & notes from around the high school sports landscape, including a record-breaking performance at Rosemount High School, rule changes, and huge matchups in the season’s final week in boys & girls lacrosse.

Starting at (31:50), they welcome in Star Tribune sportswriter Jim Paulsen for his semi-annual appearance, to talk about last week’s announcement of boys volleyball’s approval as an MSHSL sport! Paulsen talks about the growth in the game and how the plan will roll out leading up to the 2024/25 school year.

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EP 81: Spring Cleaning with Prior Lake Girls Lacrosse’s Heather Pierson!

Before welcoming in this week’s guest, a two-time State champion head coach at Prior Lake, Matt and Logan are back with a fresh outlook on the Spring! They talk news & notes in prep sports in Minnesota, including a recent approval to officially sanction boys volleyball as an MSHSL sport, suprise teams in the boys lacrosse season this Spring, and a dominant run by the Rosemount Irish in pursuit of an undefeated softball campaign, led by the the “Miss Softball” favorite!

Interview with Prior Lake Girls Lacrosse Coach Heather Pierson starts at (32:00). Topics discussed include Pierson building a championship culture and managing expections at Prior Lake, this year’s terrific squad depth, as well as rule changes and trends in the girls game.

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EP 080: Chopping It Up W/ Eden Prairie Assistant AD & Gopher Legend Trevor Mbakwe

Matt and Bill are away, so Logan takes over with a conversation with current Eden Prairie Assistant AD and Gopher legend Trevor Mbakwe. They discuss his pro career over seas, finding a passion in high school sports administration, coaching through controversy, and how he would hold up on the floor with current EP hoopsters!

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EP 79: Back to the Minors with East Ridge Baseball Head Coach Brian Sprout

On the latest episode of the pod, the podcast crew welcome in guest Brian Sprout, the head coach of the No. 2 ranked East Ridge Raptors to talk about one of the hottest baseball teams in Minnesota!

Before their conversation with Coach Sprout, Matt & Bill first discuss some news & notes from the prep landscape, including the doing away of the Gold-Maroon system in 6A football next year, a recent Division 1 committment from a local standout, and some key results from boys lacrosse in the past week.

The interview with Brian Sprout begins at (26:38): Topics include the Raptors’ collection of future Division 1 talent, the East Metro’s strong baseball tradition, and some of Sprout’s experiences playing in the minor leagues, including stints with the St. Paul Saints and drawing a walk against Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez.

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