Tribune Notebook: Two Willmar Cardinals earn Central Lakes Conference award

Story byWest Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn. Tom Elliott, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn. Fri, February 13, 2026 at 11:37 PM UTC·4 min readFeb. 13—WILLMAR — Alex Hoppe has emerged as a key a contributor for ateam with a legitimate chance at winning a section title. Carlee Brown is an established leader for a Willmar gymnastics team that is host to the Section 6A championships at noon Saturday. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoth have been named Central Lakes Conference Performers of the Week. Hoppe is a 6-foot-2 junior who scored 30 points and accumulated 21 rebounds and five steals in two games last week, a 75-56 win over Hutchinson and a 67-53 victory over Sauk Rapids, both at the Big Red Gym. Willmar plays Tuesday at Brainerd, Thursday at Sartell and then has a home game against St. Cloud Apollo at 2:45 p. m.