Two Willmar Cardinals earn Central Lakes Conference award

Alex Hoppe and Carlee Brown recognized as top performers in boys basketball and gymnastics

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Willmar High School athletes Alex Hoppe and Carlee Brown have been named Central Lakes Conference Performers of the Week. Hoppe, a junior on the boys basketball team, had a standout week with 30 points, 21 rebounds, and 5 steals in two games. Brown, a senior on the gymnastics team, scored career-best marks on the floor exercise. The article also highlights other Willmar graduates making an impact in sports, including an assistant volleyball coach, a videographer, and a long-time tennis coach being inducted into the Minnesota Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Why it matters

The recognition of Hoppe and Brown showcases the talent and success of Willmar's athletic programs, particularly in boys basketball and gymnastics. The achievements of other Willmar alumni working in various sports-related roles also demonstrate the lasting impact the school has had on developing skilled individuals in the industry.

The details

Alex Hoppe, a 6-foot-2 junior on the Willmar boys basketball team, had an impressive week, scoring 30 points and accumulating 21 rebounds and 5 steals in two games. Carlee Brown, a senior on the Willmar gymnastics team, scored career-best marks of 9.1 and 9.15 on the floor exercise in two meets last week. The Willmar boys basketball team is currently in third place in the Section 8AAA standings, while the gymnastics team is ranked 18th in the state in Class A and looking to win their first section title since 2020.

  • Willmar plays Tuesday at Brainerd, Thursday at Sartell, and then has a home game against St. Cloud Apollo at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.
  • The Section 6A gymnastics championships are being held at noon on Saturday.

The players

Alex Hoppe

A 6-foot-2 junior on the Willmar boys basketball team who had a standout week with 30 points, 21 rebounds, and 5 steals in two games.

Carlee Brown

A senior on the Willmar gymnastics team who scored career-best marks of 9.1 and 9.15 on the floor exercise in two meets last week.

Grace Marti

A former Willmar star who is now an assistant volleyball coach at Northern State University, an NCAA Division II school in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Nathan Tusa

A 2009 Willmar graduate who works as a videographer for Elite Edge, a company involved in set promotion for the Super Bowl, and is the co-founder and head of production for Vision Lab Media.

Paul Bates

A Willmar alum who has been coaching boys and girls tennis at St. Cloud Tech (now the St. Cloud Crush) for the past 33 years and is being inducted into the Minnesota Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 7.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.