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East Division Te’a Armstrong BEA Marissa Benz BEA McKenna Dutton – BEA Kylie Rosenau – BEA Amelia Hildebrandt St. Peter Claire Nemmers Fairmont Briana Joseph – Fairmont Makiah Otto – New Ulm Lizzy Orth – St. Peter Emily Salfer – St. Peter Josie Wiebusch St. Peter Jayna Matejcek St. Peter Brooklyn Moldan – River Valley CeCe Huttemier – Waseca
Honorable Mention – All Conference: Addison Armstrong BEA Arika Howard – BEA Maggy Totzke – Fairmont Lauren Davis – Fairmont Emily Hagen – Fairmont Annika Southworth – St. Peter Sarah Robbins – Waseca Emily Farley – Waseca Tanika Johnson – Waseca |
West Division
Elise Jarchow – Luverne Rozilyn Oye – Luverne Lauren Versteeg – Luverne Gionna Parsa – Marshall Leah Schaefer – Marshall Olivia Lapthorn – Pipestone Payden Beran – Redwood Valley Ellie Becker – St. James Area Jaelyn Haler – St. James Area Gabriela Trapero – St. James Area Sailor Mohlenbrock – St. James Area Kessey Aljets – Worthington Honorable Mention – All Conference: Ainslie Robinson Luverne Liz Kelm – Luverne Olivia Wieneke Luverne Mariah Bergjord – Marshall Mackenzie Mandershied – Pipestone Skylar Mendro – Pipestone Mya Hanson – St. James Area Samantha Tetzloff – St. James Area Allison Bluedorn – St. James Area Mariah Darling – Worthington |
| Division Place
1- BEA 5-0 2- St. Peter 4-1 3- Fairmont 2-2* 4 Waseca 2-2* 5 – New Ulm 1-4 6- River Valley 0-5 |
Division Place
1- St. James Area 5-0 2- Luverne 4-1 3- Marshall 3-2 4 – Pipestone 2-3 5 – Redwood Valley 1-4 6- Worthington 0-5 |
Minnesota Department of Education issues updated guidance on spectators for indoor events
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. —- Using information released today by the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota State High School League updated member schools with information for spectators of indoor activities to align with the MDE guidance. Under the MDE revised guidance, two fans per participant will be allowed to attend indoor events. Prior to the updated guidance, no spectators were allowed.
The updated guidance is effective immediately, but member schools will determine implementation plans for their events. Member schools do have the option of implementing stricter guidelines.
MDE continues to stress that sporting events are high risk for COVID-19 transmission and are further high risk for activities that promote airborne particles of COVID-19.
The newly-released guidelines apply to all indoor sports, concerts, plays, competitions, performances, and any other similar events that have spectators. The guidance is specific to events that take place in a school building or facility where instruction takes place. Events held at these facilities must abide by the following parameters:
- Each team/group at an indoor event is allowed up to a total allocation of two spectators per participant. Consistent with other Stay Safe guidance, spectators must be separated by at least six feet between households/spectator groups and event spaces cannot exceed 25 percent of total capacity.
- For indoor events where 12 feet cannot be maintained between participants and spectators, participants must be included in the total capacity count. If spectators and participants can be clearly separated by at least 12 feet, then participants do not need to be included in the total capacity count. No venue may exceed a capacity of 250 spectators.
- In some situations, small venues may only allow for an allocation of one spectator or less per participant, depending on the size of the venue. Spectators are only allowed at official competitions or events. If the participants are young children that may need adult support to dress, use the restroom, or otherwise participate in a practice or rehearsal, each participant may have one support person attend. If a participant has a medical need for additional adult support, then that support person is allowed at practices or rehearsals.
- School districts and charter schools must require advanced reservations and/or ticketing (electronic or will call). Walk-up sales will not be allowed. The gathering of names, phone numbers and/or email addresses must be collected as part of the reservation so that quick notification can be done if an individual develops COVID-19.
- Schools must schedule arrival times for longer than their typical duration to minimize the congregation of spectators waiting. They must establish staggered admission times, entry times and durations to minimize overlap and congregating of spectators at access points, security check points, admission areas, concession areas, etc.
“School-based activities and athletics are an incredible experience for our students and we are excited that a limited number of family members will now be able to share in the experience of indoor activities, games and contests; we appreciate all that our member schools are doing in managing the academics and activities in this pandemic,” League Executive Director Erich Martens said. “This updated guidance is important in providing additional direction for our schools and their activities programs in how to administer spectators indoors. At the same time, it will be incredibly important that all spectators and participants follow all of the MDE and MDH safety guidance and protocols in working to keep everyone involved as safe as possible.”
Ensuring the safety of students and other event participants is the top priority of the Minnesota State High School League. The League continues to support member schools with updated guidance and information while continually working in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Education to provide the safest experiences possible.
The Minnesota State High School League: Education and Leadership for a Lifetime
Minnesota State High School League Press Release
The remainder of the Minnesota State High School League’s activities calendar came into view today during the Board of Directors Meeting that was held in a virtual format.
After a presentation by the League’s Return to Participation Task Force, the Board of Directors approved a maximized winter activities season that trims 30 percent of the contest dates. By keeping the length of seasons generally intact, member schools will have the flexibility for rescheduling if contests are postponed because of COVID-19 related outbreaks or other interruptions. As part of the approval, members schools will have the opportunity to use the final two weeks of the season to make up contests if the postponements were weather or COVID related. Scrimmages and preseason jamborees are not allowed under the approved decision.
Waconia High School Activities Director Jill Johnson, a former board member and chair of the task force, said the approved plan also reduces the overlap in seasons, which benefits the start of spring seasons, thus, providing a full experience in these sports while minimizing exposure risks.
“Extensive work was done within the Return to Participation Task Force, which provided the board with much needed information to make a decision moving forward in our calendar year,” said Board of Directors President Blaine Novak of New York Mills. “The board decision today provides a natural progression to opening up our activities in the safest manner possible, while providing the best opportunity for participation for all of our student participants.”
Here are the start dates for winter activities:
- Nov 9 — Dance
- Nov. 23 — Boys Hockey, Boys Basketball
- Nov. 30 — Adapted Floor Hockey, Alpine Skiing and Nordic Skiing, Wrestling, Boys Swimming and Diving, Girls Hockey
- Dec. 7 — Gymnastics, Girls Basketball
The Return to Participation Task Force, created in late July, favored a longer winter season, in part, because it believes a longer season allows athletes to stay together longer in a safety-controlled environment. On August 4, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation by the task force that followed guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health to shorten the fall activities season that trimmed 20 percent from the length of the season and 30 percent of the contests played. At that time, volleyball and football were moved to the spring in an effort minimize risks of exposure in those activities. On Sept. 21, in a special meeting called by Novak, the Board of Directors returned volleyball and football to the fall season following the same formula for length of season and number of contests as the other fall activities.
In the spring, most activities will be pushed forward one week from their traditional start dates. Softball and track and field will be pushed forward two weeks while lacrosse will stay the same.
“The thoughtful approach of our Board in considering ways to extend opportunities and continuing to maintain their focus on the safety of all who participate in MSHSL activities and athletics is evident in their decision-making.” said League Executive Director Erich Martens.
In other board action on Thursday:
- Approval of 2020-2021 Strategic Directions
- Approved the League Staff’s proposed plans for section tournament play in Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Cross Country and Girls Swimming and Diving
- Voted against a motion for post-section play for fall activities
- Approved updated streaming language to the Media Policy Manual
- Approved a one-time exception to Bylaw 208 and Bylaw 205 based on unique circumstances
The Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors today approved a reconsideration placement of fall activities, a decision that brings football and volleyball back to the fall season.
The plan, which fits within COVID-19 guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health, will have an approved football season beginning on Sept. 28 with the first of six regular season games scheduled for the week of Oct. 5. Since Sept. 14, member schools have had the option of participating in fall training sessions. In the framework that was adopted by the Board of Directors, a planned two-week football postseason will begin the week of Nov. 16.
Volleyball will begin an 11-week season on Sept. 28 and member schools may play their first matches on Oct. 8. In the framework that was approved by the board, two weeks of postseason play would begin the week of Nov. 30. Like football, member schools have had the option of participating in voluntary training sessions since Sept. 14.
“The Minnesota State High School League continues to work to provide educational opportunities for our student athletes in the safest manner possible for all involved,” said Board of Directors President Blaine Novak of New York Mills. “Coming into the meeting, we knew that every decision we make affects every other decision for the rest of the calendar year. Today’s decision, based on what we currently know and with the unknowns of what spring will bring, is based on the belief that playing now provides us the best opportunity to play a football and volleyball season.”
In a vote on Aug. 4, the board approved postponing football and volleyball until a spring season. But on Wednesday, Sept. 16, a day after a lengthy board workshop, Novak called for a special meeting of the Board of Directors to give reconsideration of returning the two activities to their traditional fall seasons. During the workshop, MDH shared updated information on COVID-19 analytics, spread and prevention. Board members also engaged in discussion with the Return to Participation Task Force, a group formed in late July to explore participation models and options for member schools and their participants during the COVID era.
“The decisions by our Board of Directors both provide opportunities for many student athletes and also require everyone’s responsible actions in keeping students and communities safe,” League Executive Director Erich Martens said. “It will be critical that our schools do their very best to enact protocols that maximize the safety of our students, coaches and officials.
“The amount of information that is considered, as well as the amount of discussion that takes place, is indicative of the challenges that each decision provides. We know that our activities support the mental health and physical well-being of our students and we hope that the initiation of these fall interscholastic seasons will provide outstanding and safe opportunities for our students.”
Six League activities are currently taking place: Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Soccer and Girls Swimming and Diving. Those activities began on Aug. 17 with additional safety protocols and practices as well as modified seasons, which decreased the length of the season by 20 percent and the number of contests by 30 percent.
In approving the moves in August, and again today, the Board of Directors used information and frameworks provided by the Return to Participation Task Force. The primary guiding principle during the process was to provide opportunities in the safest way possible in all League activities and athletics for the 2020-2021 school year. Throughout their work, the board stressed that all aspects of athletics, including practices, competitions, transportation, and facility usage must align with the requirements of the Minnesota Department of Education Return to Learning models, must follow the requirements from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Guidance on Youth Sports, and must include the required actions identified in the Governor’s Executive Orders.
At today’s meeting, the Board of Directors also discussed the League’s activities calendar for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, including information from League Staff on postseason options for the fall season. Approving the complete calendar for the remainder of the school year will be an Action Item at the Board of Directors’ next regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 1.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Schabert First row (l-r): Tony Geiger, Will Schabert, Nolan Hovland, Matt Sellner, Ivan Hovland, Mason Rummel, Devon Schwarzrock. Second row (l-r): Coach Bruce Woitas, coach Alan Woitas, Brody Sturm, Decker Scheffler, Chris Knowles, Nick Labat, Mason Cox, Jace Marotz, Kaden Zanoth, coach Aaron Nesvold. Not pictured: Teddy Giefer, Henry Scheitel, coach John Giefer.
The Sleepy Eye Golf Club would like to thank the (22) local businesses including Title Sponsor Mathiowetz Construction, meal sponsors Southpoint Financial and Beito & Lengeling Law who helped make this event a success
Presidential Flight
Steve Schultz 71
Logan Swann 73
Nate Stevermer 73
Vice Presidential
Levi Hauser 74
Jeff Asche 76
Kevin Weiss 77
Executive Flight
Paul Coners 83
Tim Weicherding 84
Doug Prins 86
Vice Executive Flight
Kyle Ott 85
Alex Bruggeman 91
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