Mike Bialka
Brainerd Dispatch
Brainerd, MN, United States
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Past articles by Mike:
Athletics: Ho ho ho: Thank you, Mom
He's back. → Read More
Athletics: Smith was one of Brainerd’s basketball stars
More than three decades before the advent of the 3-point line in Minnesota high school basketball, Jim Smith was a prolific scoring machine for the Brainerd Warriors. → Read More
Athletics: Bialka a big fan of state titles
During a sports writing career that spanned parts of five decades at The Brainerd Dispatch, I don’t remember experiencing anything close to what we are currently enduring with this pandemic. → Read More
End of an era: Stolski steps down after 45 years as Brainerd head coach
Stolski, who coached in Minnesota for 58 years overall, departs with the second-most career victories and as the longest-tenured head coach in Minnesota State High School League football history. → Read More
High School Football: Warriors’ sideline will feature new faces next fall
Between them they have 144 combined years of coaching football. All three came to Brainerd at roughly the same time. → Read More
Brainerd's Ron Skolski resigns after 58 seasons coaching football
Stolski, a head coach whose career spans 58 seasons, coached at Kensington, Slayton, Princeton and Park Center before coming to Brainerd in 1975. His career victories are the second most in Minnesota history. → Read More
High School Football: Stolski resigns as Brainerd Warriors head coach
Stolski, a head coach whose career spans 58 seasons, coached at Kensington, Slayton, Princeton and Park Center before coming to Brainerd in 1975. His career victories are the second most in Minnesota history. → Read More
Warriors Athlete of Week: Storbakken races to 3 Nordic skiing victories in 5 meets
When he's on skis, Evan Storbakken can be like a NASCAR driver.In the second race this season, the Detroit Lakes Invite Dec. 11 at Maplelag, Storbakken was neck and neck with a Bemidji skier who caught him on the last lap on the last uphill. But Storbakken prevailed for one of his three wins."We... → Read More
Commentary: Logging out, shutting down my computer for the final time
I believe it was Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett who, when asked why he was retiring, said: "Because I can still hit .300."In... → Read More
Commentary: Sports Santa: Ho-ho-ho, 1 more time
I tossed and turned many nights.I couldn't sleep before making one of the most difficult decisions of my life.When I finally made the decision to retire as... → Read More
Girls Hockey: Warriors roll to 7th victory in last 8 games
Thanks to her teammates, eighth-grader Breya Sawyer made a successful and a relatively stress-free debut as a starter in net for the Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors. The... → Read More
Boys Hockey: 3 unanswered goals give Alexandria victory over Brainerd
Despite maintaining a 32-14 edge in shots, leading 10-5 in quality scoring chances and having five power plays, the Brainerd Warriors couldn't find the back... → Read More
Warriors Athlete of Week: Center 2-way player for Brainerd/Little Falls girls hockey team
On a team loaded with skilled players, Lindsey Booth has risen to the top of the list in scoring.But that's not all she brings to the table. As a center for the Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors, she plays both ends of the rink. → Read More
Girls Alpine Skiing: Warriors will have new No. 1 skier this winter
For the first time in years, the Brainerd Warriors will not have a Pequot Lakes student as their No. 1 skier.Savannah Stone was the first Patriot to be the... → Read More
Boys Alpine Skiing: Brainerd returns one state qualifier
As a freshman, Brainerd's Brandon Neifert qualified for the 2017-18 state Alpine meet but was unable to ski due to an injury. → Read More
Girls Basketball: Otters run past Warriors 56-49
In a game that featured bursts of scoring, the Brainerd Warriors finished one run short. Trailing 54-42 with a little more than two minutes left, Brainerd... → Read More
Warriors Athlete of Week: Sauer's 'crazy' game ties long-standing Brainerd school record
Joey SauerSport: BasketballPosition: ForwardYear: SeniorAge: 18Height: 6-4Career highlight: Scoring school-record-tying 41 points vs. Sauk Rapids-Rice Friday,... → Read More
Wrestling: Brainerd wrestlers cap productive Warrior weekend
It was a school record-tying, and school record-breaking, weekend for Brainerd Warrior athletics. Friday, Dec. 7, Joey Sauer tied a school record set 57 years... → Read More
Wrestling: Brainerd wins first Paul Bunyan Invite title since 1988
The Brainerd Warriors captured their first Paul Bunyan Invitational team title since 1988, and only the second title in program history, Saturday, Dec. 8, at... → Read More
Boys Hockey: Second period pushes Red Knights past Brainerd
A 3-goal second period guided the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights to a 3-1 victory over the Brainerd Warriors in the North-South Classic at Essentia Health... → Read More