National Signing Day for the fall period is Wednesday, as high school seniors can sign with the college of their choice.

Below is our list of the East Metro athletes committing to scholarship-level programs this week

Have a name to add? Email jfrederick@pioneerpress.com

Baseball

Sam Abrahamson, Hudson, St. Thomas

Andrew Gette, Mounds View, Miami

Kashton Bodden, Lakeville South, Minnesota State Mankato

Jack Drieman, Cretin-Derham Hall, Sioux Falls

Harrison Falk, Cretin-Derham Hall, San Francisco

Joe Fenlon, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Thomas

Connor Finn, Mahtomedi, Texas Tech

Davis Fleming, Cretin-Derham Hall, Minnesota

Brodie Gibart, Farmington, Augustana

Ethan Hagman, Farmington, New Mexico State

Brody Illa, Eagan Minnesota State Mankato

Patrick Karlen, Two Rivers, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

Cody Loida, Mahtomedi, Sioux Falls

Stephen Loshek, Woodbury, Iowa South Eastern

Brandon Lunneborg, Eagan, Concordia-St. Paul

Jace Mataczynski, Hudson, Auburn

Chase Sanders, East Ridge, Sioux Falls

Bennet Skinner, East Ridge, Minnesota

Basketball, Men’s

Kevin Kemp, Eagan, St. Cloud State

JoJo Mitchell, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Thomas

Nolan Myren, Spring Lake Park, Bemidji State

Colin Piper, White Bear Lake, Florida Institute of Technology

Cedric Tomes, East Ridge, Minnesota

Basketball, Women’s

Vienna Murray, East Ridge, Oklahoma

Callie Oakland, St. Croix Lutheran, Northern Iowa

Violet Otto, Prescott, St. Cloud State

Amaya Pahl, Lakeville South, Minnesota State Mankato

Haley Quinn, River Falls, Augustana

Ashlyn Williams, Lakeville South, Rollins

Cross Country, Men’s

Eli Firchau, Park, Augustana

Oliver Halvorson, River Falls, Michigan Tech

Lliam Merrell, Burnsville, St. Thomas

Cross Country, Women’s

Carley LaMotte, Burnsville, Minnesota

Sofia Oliart, East Ridge, St. Cloud State

Dance

Bella Haugen, Spring Lake Park, Minnesota

Football

Henry Bern, East Ridge, St. Thomas

Godson Rufus-Okomhanru, Mounds View, North Dakota State

Ben Knaup, East Ridge, Minnesota-Duluth

Ben Mugisa, Mounds View, Minnesota State Mankato

Golf, Women’s

Emma Fitzmorris, Hill-Murray, North Dakota State

Addison Timm, River Falls, Concordia-St. Paul

Maddy Vang, White Bear Lake, Concordia-St. Paul

Gymnastics, Women’s

Stella Guth, Hill-Murray, Utah State

Sophia Mapstone, Hill-Murray, Illinois State

Hockey, Men’s

Carter Ernst, Lakeville South, St. Thomas

Hockey, Women’s

Brooke Gnetz, Woodbury, Minnesota-Duluth

Maddie Lee, White Bear Lake, St. Cloud State

Sophie Olson, Hill-Murray, St. Cloud State

Makena Underwood, Farmington, St. Michael’s

Lacrosse, Men’s

Ashton Boehmer, Rosemount, Rockhurst

Zach DeVaan, Park, Lewis

George Genereaux, Hudson, Rockhurst

Jake Godbout, Hill-Murray, Rockhurst

Austin Griffith, East Ridge, Anderson (S.C.)

Brooks Furney, Farmington, North Greenville

Caden Hennes, Farmington, Rockhurst

Luke Hudson, St. Thomas Academy, Bucknell

Bradley Johnson, East Ridge, Adelphi

JP Marx, St. Thomas Academy, Flager

Tony Minks, Farmington, Northwest Nazarene

Parker Nivala, Farmington, Queens-Charlotte

Oliver Rivera, Hudson, Rockhurst

Payton Sickel, Rosemount, Lewis

Lacrosse, Women’s

Alayna Deering, Hill-Murray, Eastern Michigan

Katey Getting, Farmington, Missouri Western State

Josie Jones, Hudson, Siena

Reagan Kubler, Hudson, Adelphi

Ruby Kuhn, Rosemount, Rockhurst

Gigi Nelson, Hill-Murray, Rockhurst

Molly Oehlerts, Lakeville South, Butler

Josie Ramsden, East Ridge, Concordia-St. Paul

Jaida Steffes, Farmington, Liberty

Alexia Tempelis, Mahtomedi, Rockhurst

Rowing, Women’s

Annika Winke, Mahtomedi, Texas

Soccer, Women’s

Ivella Barba, Woodbury, Valparaiso

Harlow Berger, Mahtomedi, St. Thomas

Evie Birk, Eagan, Minnesota State Mankato

Ingrid Birkeland, Highland Park, Northern Iowa

Cecelia Cernohous, Eastview, Minnesota-Duluth

Brooke Goerish, Spring Lake Park, Colorado

Olivia Halunen, Woodbury, South Dakota

Izzy Kapanke, St. Croix Lutheran, Iowa State

Woodbury senior goalie Sam Mattes, makes a save for the Royals in net during the 2025 season. (Courtesy of Rich Peterson)

Samantha Mattes, Woodbury, South Dakota

Nina Meyer, Hill-Murray, Charleston Southern

Ana Oenning, Eagan, St. Thomas

Liv Penmen, East Ridge, Belmont

Natalie Ramthun, Hudson, Augustana

Allie Rippentrop, Mahtomedi, Bemidji State

Karsen Schlattman, Woodbury, Winona State

Maddie Thompson, White Bear Lake, Concordia-St. Paul

Oceane Tsopzang Chekouo, Math and Science Academy, Bemidji State

Marissa Weilert, Spring Lake Park, North Dakota State

Jacquelyn Worden, Mahtomedi, North Dakota

Softball

Alayna Adamez, Park, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

Allyson Grobner, Park, Minnesota State Moorhead

Trinity Jensen, Lakeville South, Iowa State

Lila Johannsen, Farmington, Wisconsin

Lily Martin, White Bear Lake, Minnesota-Duluth

Chloe O’Neil, South St. Paul, Bemidji State

Kate Rapp, Woodbury, Sacred Heart

Kayla Schweich, Farmington, St. Cloud State

Lena Wilcox, East Ridge, Hampton

Julia Wigley, Rosemount, Bemidji State

Swimming and Diving, Men’s

Grady Evenson, Lakeville South, Wisconsin-Green Bay

Swimming and Diving, Women’s

Ellie Bina, Mounds View, Notre Dame

Ana Clemon, Lakeville South, Illinois-Chicago

Addison Forshee, Woodbury, South Dakota

Malea Johnson, East Ridge, Northern Iowa

Kami Karel, Mounds View, Nebraska-Omaha

Caroline Mulrooney, Rosemount, Notre Dame

Track and Field, Men’s

Kavari Flowers, Rosemount, South Dakota State

Track and Field, Women’s

Aly Hollister, Mounds View, Colgate

Vanessa Oguamanam, Farmington, St. Thomas

Isabelle Russell, River Falls, Southwest Minnesota State

Eva Welsch, Lakeville South, Duke

Volleyball, Men’s

Will Berran, Eagan, Jamestown

Tate Sorensen, Mounds View, Lewis

Volleyball, Women’s

Romi Chlebecek, Lakeville South, Denver

Olivia Doerre, River Falls, Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Madi Kraft, Eagan, Minnesota

Victoria Kurilov, Mounds View, Wisconsin-Green Bay

Marisa Michaelis, New Life Academy, South Dakota State

Kendall Worwa, Woodbury, North Dakota State

Wrestling, Men’s

Aidan Carlson, Mahtomedi, Minnesota State Mankato

Spencer Lee, Eastview, Minnesota State Mankato

JD Minder-Broeckaert, Hudson, Augustana

Davis Parrow, Farmington, Nebraska

Kamdyn Saulter, Rosemount, Upper Iowa

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The Sonder hotel chain — which operates extended-stay hotels in downtown St. Paul, multiple locations in Minneapolis and at least 38 additional cities globally from Nashville to Rome — abruptly shut down Monday night following a licensing dispute with parent company Marriott Bonvoy.

Marriott International issued a statement Sunday indicating that its licensing agreement with Sonder Holdings “is no longer in effect due to Sonder’s default. As a result, Sonder is no longer affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, and Sonder properties are not available for new bookings on Marriott’s channels.”

In downtown St. Paul, Sonder’s The Fitz apartments at 77 9th St. E. carried a printed sign on Nov. 11, 2025 that read: “The Sonder Property is now closed. All operations have ceased as of November 10, 2025. If you have an active reservation for this property, please contact Marriott Customer Care…”

Some guests were given a single night, or even as little as 15 minutes, to vacate at locations throughout the world, according to CNN and other reports.

In downtown St. Paul, Sonder’s The Fitz apartments are located at 77 E. Ninth St., adjacent to Minnesota Public Radio. Previously home to the Naomi Family Residences for women and children, the Union Gospel Mission sold the eight-story building in 2022. On Tuesday, the front door carried a sign that read: “The Sonder Property is now closed. All operations have ceased as of November 10, 2025. If you have an active reservation for this property, please contact Marriott Customer Care.”

A statement on the Marriott Bonvoy website encouraged guests “to take advantage of other available properties within our portfolio.” Guests with upcoming prepaid reservations were asked to initiate refunds through their credit card-issuing bank and contact customer care to switch reservations to other Marriott Bonvoy properties.

Hotel Investment Today reported that the apartment-style rental company, which was once hailed as a competitor to Airbnb and operated more than 7,700 rooms in 142 Marriott Bonvoy properties, plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.

Valued at more than $1 billion in 2019, Sonder went public in 2022 but struggled to become profitable. In 2024, the company signed a licensing deal with Marriott International and rebranded as Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy.

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While watching the Wild struggle out of the gates this season, fans of the team could comfort themselves by looking ahead a little bit.

“We’ll be OK when Mats Zuccarello gets back,” they could tell themselves. Or, the faceoffs will be less of an issue when we get Nico Sturm.

John Hynes couldn’t play that game.

“You’re aware of when players are going to come back, but in this league, and in this job, you have to be so focused on the present,” the Wild coach said Tuesday.

The Wild went into Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks at Grand Casino Arena having won four of their past five games to get themselves out of an early funk. The last two games included Zuccarello, who missed the first 15 games after having surgery to repair a lower body injury.

“I tried not to do the surgery, but at some point it’s just better to do it and come back and try and get healthy for the rest of the season rather than playing hurt the whole season,” Zuccarello said after Tuesday’s morning skate at TRIA Rink. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the game.”

Playing his seventh season in Minnesota, Zuccarello, 38, was missed during a 5-7-3 start. Even when he isn’t scoring goals, he is making the other players on his line better, and his vision on the ice — particularly as it pertains to setting up Kirill Kaprizov — is preternatural.

In his previous four seasons in Minnesota, he averaged 46.5 assists. He had one in his first game back, a 5-2 victory in Long Island last Friday, and was back on the top line with Kaprizov and center Marco Rossi for Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Calgary in St. Paul.

Hynes would have liked Zuccarello to start the season, but he couldn’t spend time dreaming of his return. Same with center Sturm, out with an upper body injury, and defenseman Zach Bogosian, week to week with a lower body injury.

“It’s the guys that you have, not the guys you don’t have,” Hynes said. “That’s all you can control. You try to get the team prepared with the players you have available to you that night against that opponent.”

Sturm has been skating on his own for a few days, and Bogosian started on Tuesday. Bogosian remains week to week, Hynes said, but Sturm could return as soon as the end of this month.

Zuccarello said he had a productive, and healthy, summer but when he began skating in training camp, “I kind of felt something that wasn’t right.” The veteran right wing said he had surgery for a similar injury “four or five years ago.”

“I guess it didn’t work,” he quipped.

Zuccarello’s sense of humor clearly didn’t suffer during his rehab. Tuesday’s comments were his first since returning to the lineup, and he was asked if he missed the media.

“Of course,” he said, “every day. That’s why I worked hard to get back.”

Briefly

Wing Marcus Johansson played his 1,000th NHL game in Sunday’s victory over Calgary but was feted before Tuesday’s game against the Sharks, presented with a custom silver hockey stick created by Logan Sports Group of East Gwillimbury, Ontario. … Defenseman David Spacek was called up from AHL Iowa on Tuesday but didn’t make his NHL debut, a healthy scratch.

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St. Paul’s reparations commission plans to contract with a research company for a “harm study” examining the impact of “historic and ongoing harms” suffered by the city’s Black descendants of chattel slavery, an undertaking budgeted for up to $250,000.

While the city council appears to be on board, the evaluation process surrounding competing research proposals recently drew objections from some of the city’s Black elders, as well as the city council’s two Black members, who were of opposite minds about a full restart.

The city’s request for proposals for a researcher closed on Oct. 3 after being extended in September because it had drawn just a single response. Three research companies have since responded to the solicitation, though details have yet to be made public. While a single appointee from the 11-member reparations commission served on the evaluation committee, the contract selection — which has been made but not finalized — is otherwise being led by city staff according to the city’s procurement guidelines, which include scoring and ranking, and will ultimately be finalized by the city council.

Marvin Roger Anderson, chair of the Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions, wrote to the city on Nov. 4 that many Black-led organizations like his own were not aware of the RFP until it was published.

“It is troubling that city staff — representing institutions directly tied to historic policies of displacement and exclusion — are solely responsible for administering and evaluating proposals,” Anderson wrote. “This creates a conflict of interest that compromises the credibility and independence of the study.”

Regina Jackson and Arthur Ray McCoy, who both serve on the reparations commission, recently called for the city council to put the request for proposals on hold and redesign the selection process, which is almost complete.

“There’s been a selection made, but there hasn’t been a contract put in place,” said council member Anika Bowie, in an interview Monday. “I’m not objecting to who got selected. But the city should have been guiding that process, not the one that makes that decision for them. That selection should have been made by the reparations commission, not by city staff.”

Selection process

The prospect of redesigning a selection process at more than mid-stream has alarmed city staff and raised concerns about legal exposure.

On Nov. 5, Bowie presented the city council with a resolution that would have established a citizen-driven review committee to evaluate the proposals, with members largely recruited from community groups, as well as staff or interns from her Ward 1 office and council member Cheniqua Johnson’s Ward 7 office.

Her resolution was effectively voted down by the city council, at Johnson’s urging. Instead, it was replaced on a 6-1 vote with the original timeline and staff-driven review process recommended to the council by the commission itself.

Johnson noted that the 11-member reparations commission, appointed by the council in 2023, adopted a framework and scope of work around the request for proposals in April and the city then published the request for proposal in August with a traditional review process in mind.

Confusion for city staff

Bowie’s resolution, which would upend the selection process already underway, “created so much confusion for staff and for my community,” Johnson told the council last week. “It poses a real legal, financial and procedural risk that if left uncorrected, could jeopardize our entire (project).”

Bowie’s proposal had called for the reparations commission to appoint five community members who are not city staff to the evaluation committee, including at least one descendant of the Rondo neighborhood. They would join a legislative aide from the Ward 7 office, a graduate intern appointed by the Ward 1 office, the city council staff director, the executive assistant to the reparations commission, and an appointee of the commission chair. Under her resolution, the committee’s recommendation would be due back to the commission by Dec. 31.

Johnson’s “version two” resolution — which eliminates long sections of the Bowie text and replaces it with her own — drew the support of the rest of the city council, which voted 6-1 to adopt it as an amendment to Bowie’s resolution, over Bowie’s objections.

Among the differences, Johnson’s resolution calls for the city council to hire the study partner, making the final selection after city staff ensure the proposals have been reviewed according to the city’s formal scoring and procurement process, with input from the reparations commission.

The timeline

Bowie said key voices in the Black community were unaware of the request for proposals until the selection was almost complete and had been left out, including the African-American Leadership Council, the St. Paul NAACP, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center and the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Those groups “were not even aware of the timeline,” said Bowie, during last Wednesday’s council meeting. “They have never seen the RFP. … How is it that we are having a harm study report that’s based on reparations, but yet the community that’s been most impacted are not even made aware?”

Bowie said the city council itself had not been kept abreast of the harm study, and even some members of the reparations commission had been surprised to discover late in the process that reparations chair Trahern Crews had appointed commission member Jeremie English onto the evaluation committee.

Johnson and fellow council members Nelsie Yang and HwaJeong Kim said they’d received individual updates about the harm study and felt it was time to move forward.

Confident in the process

Crews, in a phone interview Monday, agreed that further delay would impede progress.

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“We did our job getting the word out about the RFP,” Crews said. “(The RFP deadline) was at least extended by two weeks. … We’re excited the way things are going.”

On Friday, council President Rebecca Noecker noted that Johnson has been “very engaged in the work of the commission” and she was comfortable with the outcome of the vote.

“I take issue with many of the things that were said at the table about the lack of process or lack of fairness,” Noecker said. “I feel really confident in the process that we’ve run.”