Reporter | High school sports

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

La Vaque previously spent 18 months covering high school sports at the Woodbury Bulletin. La Vaque has written frequently about Minnesota State High School League news, football, hockey, lacrosse and track and field. A native of St. Paul, La Vaque lives in Woodbury. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Communication Studies, Rhetoric and Applied Business. La Vaque is researching a book on the history of the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament. In his free time, he enjoys running and biking and listening to music.


Lacrosse lists: 21 top players and the school that's No. 1 for boys and girls

Five players on our list play for the same high school, so it's no surprise that school has the top ranked teams for boys and girls.


Track and field 2024: Six athletes likely to jump farthest, finish fastest

Meet three girls and three boys, most with state titles in place and five committed to prominent colleges.


Talking Preps: New Maple Grove football coach fulfills a long-time dream

On the latest edition of the Talking Preps podcast, Adam Spurrell joins David La Vaque to discuss being named the third head coach in Maple Grove's nearly 30-year history.


USA Hockey leans on Minnesota to fortify under-17 roster

Eight from the state make up more than a third of the development program's squad. Two played for their high schools last season.


High school sports and NIL: Bigger things are ahead for younger stars

Name, image and likeness deals are already expanding beyond college sports. Some top metro boys basketball players are aligned with a barbershop. The top girls hockey player touts a fitness center. Another high school standout represents a chain of chicken restaurants.


Holy Family hires boys hockey coach from program on the rise

Zack Friedli, who was associate head coach as Chanhassen reached the Class 2A final, will take over the Fire.


Totino-Grace's 3A dominance leads to the opt-up question

Totino-Grace played a schedule almost entirely from 4A. Also Saturday, Cherry completed a rise from 0-22 to a state title, and Breck's Miles Newton channeled his dad.


Totino-Grace makes it three, winning another Class 3A state title

The Eagles surged away from Mankato East on the strength of senior Isaiah Johnson-Arigu's dunks and his 25 points.


Boys basketball championship games set in all four classes

Breck and Badgers-bound Daniel Freitag flew past Minnehaha Academy in Friday's first Class 2A semifinal. and will face Lake City Fertile-Beltrami and Cherry, led by Gophers-bound Isaac Asuma, advanced to Saturday's Class 1A championship.


Small-class semifinals at Williams Arena makes for a big day at The Barn

Breck entered the tournament missing one key intangible, but it hasn't held back the Mustangs — yet. Nevis coach Scott Kramer made a bold prediction for Cherry, which is treating its third state tournament appearance as a business trip.