John Millea began covering Minnesota high school sports and activities as a reporter for the Star Tribune and continued on in a groundbreaking new role as a staff journalist for the Minnesota State High School League. Over more than 25 years as a prep sportswriter, Millea traveled to all corners of the state to find the most extraordinary stories about young athletes, their teams, and the communities that supported them.
Millea wrote about Joe Mauer when he was an 11th-grade superstar and Kris Humphries long before he married Kim Kardashian. However, many of his most cherished stories featured athletes who would never go on to fame and fortune in the sports world. Whether writing about giant metro-area schools with state-of-the-art facilities or embedding himself with a nine-man football team many miles away, Millea built a reputation as one of Minnesota’s preeminent storytellers — someone who looked beyond the wins and losses to find tales of community, courage, inspiration, and triumph.
Prepville, Minnesota is a collection of 42 of Millea’s favorite stories from his time at the Star Tribune and the Minnesota State High School League. Ranging from 1997 until Millea’s retirement in 2025, these stories capture a snapshot of Minnesota and the compelling young people who continue to impress and inspire.