2007

It's hard to believe that the final installment of the Harry Potter series (the books) came out in 2007. There were 3 more movies after that, of course. But, 13 years!? Holy cow. Time flies when you're having fun.

The Minnesota Gopher wrestlers won their third NCAA championship under J Robinson as Kole Conrad won an individual title.

• The Gopher hockey team won the WCHA regular season title and defeated North Dakota, 3-2 in overtime, to win the playoff title. But the Fighting Sioux returned the favor, beating the Gophers, 3-2 in overtime, in the NCAA regional final. Kellen Briggs finished his career as the Gophers winningest goalie with 84 victories (with 34 losses and eight ties).

• The Concordia (St. Paul) volleyball team under coach Brady Starkey won its first NCAA Division 2 championship. Meanwhile, Winona State fell short in its quest to repeat as Division 2 basketball champs, losing to Barton, 77-75, in the final. 

• Adrian Peterson rushed for a rookie record and a league second best 1,341 yards, including an NFL record 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers on November 4. Still, the Vikes finished just 8-8 and out of the playoffs. The Minnesota Wild went 48-26 but lost their first round playoff series to the Anaheim Ducks, four games to one. Goalie Niklas Backstrom won 23 games with a 1.97 goals against average.

• Long Haul Trucking won the their third national title in Class A slow pitch softball, blasting Chaney’s of San Diego, 33-5, in the final. Greg Flees was named tournament MVP at 7-26-.741.

• The St. Paul Central girls won the state basketball title with a 32-0 record, and were regarded as the greatest girls team ever. Angel Robinson starred for Central. Meanwhile, Ellsworth defeated Cass Lake, 74-73, in a highly entertaining Class A final, as Cody Schilling starred.

• Lindsey Vonn won two silver medals at the Alpine skiing world championships.

Year	Athlete of the Year	Team of the Year	Fearless Leader	Event of the Year
2007	1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings 2. Kole Conrad, Minnesota Gopher wrestling (NCAA individual champion) 3. Lindsey Vonn, Alpine skiing	1. St. Paul Central girls basketball (32-0, state champion) 2. Minnesota Gopher wrestling (NCAA champion) 3. Long Haul softball (national champion)	1. Robinson 2. Brady Starkey, Concordia (St. Paul) volleyball (NCAA Division 2 champion) 3. Lemaire	1. The Minnesota Gopher hockey won and lost two games against North Dakota, both 3-2 in OT, winning the WCHA playoff title but losing in the NCAA region. 2. Ellsworth edged Cass Lake-Bena 74-73 for the boys Class A basketball title. 3. Winona State lost to Barton, 77-75, in the NCAA D3 basketball final.