MN Wrestler With Autism Qualifies For National Tourney
A Minnesota wrestler is achieving life goals both on and off the mat. It's pretty remarkable, considering Ben Cousins has autism and weighed nearly 200 pounds in 5th grade.
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A Minnesota wrestler is achieving life goals both on and off the mat. It's pretty remarkable, considering Ben Cousins has autism and weighed nearly 200 pounds in 5th grade.
David McCoy heads to the state wrestling tournament. Mike Max and Frank Vascellaro highlight the best plays from the big Friday night match-ups in high school sports.
In a college wrestling room that has produced 11 national team titles and numerous individual champions, a group of kids is beginning their own wrestling journey. "Whether you get knocked down, this sport is all about how you get back up," organizer Justin Benjamin said. And that's exactly what the wrestlers in the Minneapolis Wrestling Club are all about.
Here is a glimmer of sports hope on the local landscape. The Gopher wrestling team is ranked number one in the country, with a local wrestler ranked number one as an individual. Dylan Ness knows what it means to work. He was state champion at Bloomington Kennedy High school.
A Minnesota father whose fight with cancer got national attention this year has died.
In a sport dominated with big muscles, little spandex and a lot of smack talking, the culture of World Wrestling Entertainment is changing. No longer are women a pretty face to escort men to the ring. Now they're getting between the ropes to take care of business.
Blaine High School's Caleb Butler can run. In fact, he can do just about anything he sets his mind to. That's what makes him special, according to Coach Rob Nick. "He's a coach's dream. He does everything we ask of him, his effort is always outstanding, he gives us 100 percent," Nick said. "He's just an amazing athlete. His strength is unbelievable, and for a kid to be 6'3', 220 and to run 110 hurdles. He ran 300 hurdles, shot disc, he's going to run a 4X1 for us."
Penn State won its fourth consecutive NCAA wrestling title, holding off Minnesota 109.5-104 on Saturday night. Oklahoma State placed third with 96.5 points, Iowa was fourth with 78.5 and Edinboro (Pa.) fifth with 62.
Three-time defending champion Penn State holds the slimmest of leads heading into the final day of the NCAA national wrestling championships.
As we inch closer to the start of the boys state hockey tournament, the games get intense.
The state wrestling tournament got underway Thursday and junior Lance Benick from Totino-Grace will be going for his third straight title. And as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class in the nation, he knows he's the guy to beat.
The first Rally of the new year held a huge wrestling tournament, loads of amazing winter sports highlights, and the story of a Minneapolis coach trying to bring new life to the school he once played for.
The Eden Prairie wrestling program had a chance to witness some history Friday night as its head coach was preparing to reach a milestone. Scot Davis made a name for himself in Owatonna, then took over the Eagles wrestling program. If the Eagles won Friday night, Davis would get his 1,000th career victory as a head coach.
A Minnesota high school athlete who was suspended over a tweet has dropped his push for a court order that would allow him to compete after learning he'll be allowed to wrestle this season. Tyson Leon, a 16-year-old football player and wrestler at Shakopee High School, had argued that his tweet about "drilling" his teammates was about tackling opponents.
A Minnesota high school athlete is challenging his suspension from sports, saying a tweet about drilling his teammates was about tackling opponents and wasn't a threat. Tyson Leon, a 16-year-old football player and wrestler at Shakopee High School, says the suspension from sports is hurting his chances of getting a wrestling scholarship to attend college. However, a school district attorney said in court Tuesday that his suspension was only for football and that he will still be able to wrestle, according to the Star Tribune.
Gold medalist Jordan Burroughs and his fiance nervously awaited word Sunday on whether wrestling would be reinstated as an Olympic sport.
A dream came true for a Minnesota family at the state wrestling tournament, even when the odds weren't in their favor.
Watch 120-pound wrestler Caleb Smith from Harding High School in St. Paul and you'll see what everybody else sees -- a wrestler with no arms below the elbows, and no legs above the knees.
A Minnesota lawmaker and former wrestler is going back to the mat, this time with the International Olympic Committee.
Gov. Terry Branstad says 9,000 people have signed an online petition aimed at keeping wrestling in the Olympics.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has launched a campaign to keep wrestling an Olympic sport after the International Olympic Committee announced its recommendation this week to drop it.
There's a quiet buzz around a wrestling program just outside the Twin Cities metro that's looking to end one dynasty and start their own.
It's getting downright freezing outside, so if you're willing to venture out there's nothing better to do than take in a great high school sports match-up this weekend.
A well-respected and much-loved wrestling coach was remembered in a unique way on Saturday.
Some think Minnesota is the nation's top wrestling team this season. Others believe Penn State is primed for a third straight NCAA championship.
Residents in the Twin Cities are keeping a close eye on public schools for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity amid operations targeting Somali immigrants in the area.
A student is recovering after a school bus collided with a Metro Transit light rail train in St. Paul on Friday morning.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
A combination of cold weather and fresh powder serves as a beacon for cross country skiers, eager to hit the trails.
Residents of a South Minneapolis apartment building say they've been without heat for weeks as a bitter blast of winter weather continues.
A student is recovering after a school bus collided with a Metro Transit light rail train in St. Paul on Friday morning.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
A combination of cold weather and fresh powder serves as a beacon for cross country skiers, eager to hit the trails.
Residents of a South Minneapolis apartment building say they've been without heat for weeks as a bitter blast of winter weather continues.
A 28-year-old man previously convicted of sexual assault in Minnesota has been federally charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in 2017 and kidnapping a woman earlier this year, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Out of the 1,500 men on his ship, Del Thielke was the only one selected to be aboard the USS Missouri when the peace treaty was signed.
The owner of the historic Lutsen Resort on Minnesota's North Shore has been charged with arson and insurance fraud more than a year after a fire destroyed the resort's lodge.
Minnesota will see a higher-than-expected surplus for this current budget, but is expected to see a deficit in the future due to spending outpacing revenues, according to state budget experts.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say a mountain lion has been spotted in the city recently.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
River Falls hosts St. John's this weekend in round three of the NCAA tournament.
Bodycam video captured a sheriff's deputy in Racine County, Wisconsin, saving the life of a little girl from a house fire that killed her mother and the family dog earlier this week.
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group.
A Democrat who served four years as Wisconsin's lieutenant governor and narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate bid is running for governor in the battleground state.
Organizers at Mt. Telemark Village in Cable say there's no shortage of reasons to head north.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
Two hundred Thanksgiving meals were distributed to this community by Second Harvest Heartland and the Thielen Foundation.
A Minnesota nonprofit is getting a major boost this week as dozens of college students spend their morning sorting donated shoes to support families in need.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, sources told CBS News.
Minneapolis City Council leaders are set to roll out what they’re calling a “people-centred budget."
Minnesota's state budget could go from boom to bust. A new forecast shows a $2.5 billion surplus for the current budget but a $3 billion deficit in the next one. WCCO's Caroline Cummings explains the drop and how it could impact you.
Inspire Change Clinic opened its doors in Minneapolis with a simple mission: provide access to marginalized communities. On Thursday afternoon, the clinic should have been bustling with a waiting room filled with families. Instead, the clinic was empty.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
When we do winter weather stories, there's always that one line people use: cold, snow, ice — it's just what happens here. And this week, Ticket King president Michael Nowakowski said that same idea kind of applies to Minnesota Vikings ticket prices.
Thanksgiving is a big day for the farmers who raise the centerpiece of Americans' dinner tables on the last Thursday of November. But in Minnesota, the nation's top turkey producer, the work doesn't stop once the national holiday ends.
A family-owned Linden Hills bar and restaurant is closing its doors for Thanksgiving, but opening the kitchen for those who need it most.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Sentyrz Liquor & Supermarket turned into holiday headquarters for last-minute shoppers.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
A 28-year-old man previously convicted of sexual assault in Minnesota has been federally charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in 2017 and kidnapping a woman earlier this year, according to court documents filed Thursday.
A man who law enforcement say was armed with a large knife when a deputy shot him in Monticello, Minnesota, now faces charges.
Police said this is the city's 13th homicide of the year.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Inspire Change Clinic opened its doors in Minneapolis with a simple mission: provide access to marginalized communities. On Thursday afternoon, the clinic should have been bustling with a waiting room filled with families. Instead, the clinic was empty.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Cases always rise in colder months, with the use of furnaces and people working on gas motors in closed garages.
A jury has awarded an Iowa woman a $19.8 million verdict against the Mayo Clinic and a colorectal surgeon in a lawsuit brought in Minnesota courts, according to her attorneys.
ByHeart said it can't rule out that all of its baby formula across all product lots could be contaminated, citing recent test results.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
The yellow childhood home of the Purple One is abandoned and in need of some TLC, despite the City of Minneapolis recently granting it landmark status.
Legendary rock 'n roll band Guns N' Roses is hitting the road again next year and will make a stop in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Jimmy Cliff, who famously sang about the "many rivers" we all must cross, has died after suffering a seizure and pneumonia, his family say.
Early in the winter season, there are always good nonconference matchups in Minnesota, including Friday, when the Chanhassen girls basketball team visited Blaine. Plus, see the results of other exciting prep games in Minneapolis, Shakopee, Andover and other areas in the state.
River Falls hosts St. John's this weekend in round three of the NCAA tournament.
Julius Randle had 28 points and nine rebounds, carrying Minnesota on a quiet night from Anthony Edwards, and the Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-116 on Thursday night.
J.J. McCarthy has returned to the lineup for the Minnesota Vikings, refreshed after an injury absence to resume his much-delayed development with a better perspective on how to handle this most difficult job.
A White Bear Lake Native, Bill Butters lived a hockey life through and through – playing for coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota before embarking on a pro career throughout most of the 1970s with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child in this year can start applying to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Matt Varilek, the commissioner of the state's Department of Employment and Economic Development about the program's rollout and who qualifies for the program.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Minnesota lawmakers and small businesses are scrambling to get a piece of new federal legislation overturned that they say would eliminate Minnesota's hemp industry.
A new federal law threatens the hemp industry that Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says provides 2,700 Minnesota jobs and has generated $16 million in taxes for the state through nine months in 2025.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
How would you like to own a former Cold War missile site? In Dakota County, Minnesota, there's a one-of-a-kind property that could be yours for the right price.
It's a photograph found in homes across the country, and even overseas. The picture "Grace" shows a man bowing his head in prayer with food and what appears to be a Bible in front of him.
Fall harvest means barns across the Midwest are a busy place — but for a central Minnesota woman, they aren't just farm buildings, they're works of art.
It is the food that is top of mind right now, but did you know more turkeys come from Minnesota than anywhere else in the country?
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Minnewaska, Minneota. Those are just some of the place names in "the Land of 10,000 Lakes" featuring "minne" as the first five letters.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we wanted to do a deep dive into gratefulness, and why it makes us feel better.
Many commuters know the Interstate 394 and Interstate 94 interchange seems to back up almost every afternoon. And you face the choice: should you wait in the back of the line or try to get closer and swoop in?
According to the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association, 50% of their farms open before Thanksgiving, which used to be unheard of.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
Showers moving through southern Minnesota on Saturday may drop up to 5 inches of snow in some areas, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. The Twin Cities could see up to 3 inches as the system moves through.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Snow will cover southern Minnesota on Saturday, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows, with the system partially hitting the Twin Cities metro.
A combination of cold weather and fresh powder serves as a beacon for cross country skiers, eager to hit the trails.
Residents of a South Minneapolis apartment building say they've been without heat for weeks as a bitter blast of winter weather continues.
Early in the winter season, there are always good nonconference matchups in Minnesota, including Friday, when the Chanhassen girls basketball team visited Blaine. Plus, see the results of other exciting prep games in Minneapolis, Shakopee, Andover and other areas in the state.
Showers moving through southern Minnesota on Saturday may drop up to 5 inches of snow in some areas, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. The Twin Cities could see up to 3 inches as the system moves through.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Twin Cities has some parents and teachers dealing with scared students. Conor Wight explains what schools and parents are doing to address fears during the federal enforcement.
Snow will cover southern Minnesota on Saturday, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows, with the system partially hitting the Twin Cities metro.
In 1990, WCCO aired a report called "The Iron Crib," which exposed the horrible living conditions of thousands of children crowded into Romanian orphanages. Many Minnesota families saw their plight and opened their hearts and homes through adoption. Photojournalist Tony Peterson shows us how one of those orphans recently connected with her past.