| State Adapted Bowling Tournament |
CI Division
Lake City claims fifth title; Kennedy of Minneapolis North Community defends doubles crown
Lake City, which won its first team title in 2000, won its fifth championship with a final score of 1,746. This year’s winning team members were seventh-grader Brittany Plank, ninth-grader Eric Harvey, sophomore Riley Huppert, and junior Jenny Huppert. Harvey had the Tigers’ highest score of 159. In addition to 2000, Lake City also won titles in 2002, 2003, and 2005. Teams from Albany (1,652) and Simley of Inver Grove Heights (1,645) placed second and third, respectively. Senior Patrick Takeda of Alexandria bowled the two highest games of the day; a 171 and 173, respectively.
St. Paul Johnson junior Veronica Hodges won her first championship in the girls’ singles competition with her 473 total. Anoka-Hennepin sophomore Elena Chamberlain was the runner-up with a 472 total, and Wayzata/Minnetonka senior Sarah Dahlin was third at 457. Chamberlain rolled the high game (185) among the competitors.
In the boys’ singles event, St. Paul Johnson senior Dwight Johnson claimed his first championship with a 508 total. Minneapolis North Community senior Ronnie Kennedy, who earned a doubles crown with Jerick Sands last year, was the runner-up with a total of 502. Isaac Kuether, a ninth-grader from Detroit Lakes, placed third at 475. Spring Lake Park junior Tyler Engel rolled a 189 to lead all of the bowlers in the field.
Senior Ronnie Kennedy of Minneapolis North Community successfully defended his doubles crown with his new partner, sophomore Dushon Spicer. The duo’s final score was 869. The Lake City tandem of seventh-graders Lana Parsons and Matthew Bignell claimed runner-up honors with 681 pins. The Alexandria team of eighth-graders Austin Ganun and Abby Neale was third with 859 pins. Monticello senior Dustin Schwarzkopf bowled a 164 for the highest score of the day.
PI Division
Simley wins first team title; Campanaro defends singles title
Simley of Inver Grove Heights won its first title with an impressive 1,885 total. The same four team members – senior Abby Cochran, and sophomores Kayla Wamstad, Paul Stokke, and Mazin Hasabelrasoul – placed fourth in 2012. Hasabelrasoul bowled the high game for the Spartans with a 135. The defending champions from St. Paul Humboldt placed second at 1,858, and Alexandria was third at 1,743. Senior Tony Campanaro of St. Paul Humboldt rolled the highest score of the day at 255.
Senior Abby Cochran of Simley won her first girls’ singles title with her 518 total, just three pins better than her sophomore teammate Kayla Wamstad. It was also the second consecutive runner-up showing for Wamstad. Defending champion Rachel Cook, a ninth-grader from Austin, finished ninth this year at 428. Alexandria seventh-grader Lily Hjelle was third with a 474 total. Cambridge-Isanti junior Vicki Koukol rolled a 158 game for the highest mark of the field.
In boys’ singles, senior Tony Campanaro of St. Paul Humboldt successfully defended his title with a 503 total, becoming only the second repeat champion in boys’ singles history. Dominic Slattery of Cambridge-Isanti was the first to accomplish the feat, winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Junior Zach Lehman of St. Michael-Albertville and sophomore Paul Stokke of Simley placed second and third, respectively. Lehman bowled a 487 and Stokke finished with a 471. Campanaro rolled a 227 for the highest mark of the field.
For the first time a duo from Austin won the doubles competition. Sophomore Kaylee McDermott and ninth-grader Rachel Cook combined for a 901 total. The Wayzata/Minnetonka team of senior Drew Balls-Barker and ninth-grader Ben Carlson earned runner-up honors with 894 pins. Carlson also had the highest score of the day at 162. Sophomores BJ Hanks and Nicole Turnquist of North of North St. Paul placed third with a final score of 865.
The tournament was conducted May 17 at Brunswick Zone in Brooklyn Park.
Complete results are posted on the League Web site --- www.MSHSL.org.
|
|
|
| State Robotics Tournament |
Flying discs, pyramid climbing focus of challenge; King Robota is coming
Plastic discs will be flying and pyramids will be climbed at Williams Arena on Saturday, May 18, with the action undertaken by robots designed, built and controlled by 30 teams of Minnesota high school students.
The Minnesota State Robotics Tournament is in its second year and was the first of its kind in the nation sponsored by a high school activities association. It will be conducted on the famous raised floor of “The Barn.” Students on 30 teams throughout Minnesota will compete to claim the state championship.
Ultimate Ascent is the name of the game, the same game that robotics teams throughout the country played this year. Designed and managed by FIRST, — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — the game involves two competing alliances of three teams attempting to score as many discs into their goals as possible in a two minute and 15 second match using their remote-controlled robots they designed and built.
The game is played on a level, enclosed area 27-by-54 feet in dimension. The matches begin with a 15-second autonomous period in which the robots operate independently of drivers. Discs scored during this period are worth extra points. The goals are placed at different heights and the higher the goal, the higher the score.
The matches conclude with student drivers attempting to guide their robots up pyramids placed on each half of the competition area. The higher a robot climbs, the more points are earned.
The qualified teams represent the top 30 Minnesota teams from various FIRST regional competitions. Minnesota has the third largest FIRST Robotics Competition state contingent in the nation with 180 teams, surpassing even Texas which currently ranks fourth. Minnesota has the most teams per capita of any state in the nation. There are more FIRST Robotics teams in Minnesota than boys' hockey teams (155).
Here is an alphabetic list of the 30 qualified teams, preceded by each team's FIRST-designated number: 3313 Alexandria, 4607 Becker, 2225 Champlin Park/Anoka STEP, 2531 Chaska, 3056 Crookston, 2512 Duluth East, 2220 Eagan, 3130 East Ridge of Woodbury, 2502 Eden Prairie, 1816 Edina, 4539 Frazee, 2705 The International School of Minnesota of Eden Prairie, 2052 Irondale of New Brighton, 2977 La Crescent-Hokah, 2526 Maple Grove, 2175 Math & Science Academy of Woodbury, 2538 Morris Area, 3102 Nevis, 3276 New London-Spicer, 2501 North of North St. Paul, 3038 North Branch/Chisago Lakes Area, 4624 Owatonna, 2169 Prior Lake, 3747 RiverBend Academy/Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, 3244 St. Cloud Schools, 2518 Simley of Inver Grove Heights, 3007 Tartan of Oakdale, 3277 Thief River Falls, 4656 Two Harbors, and 2177 Visitation of Mendota Heights.
Admission to the tournament is free. The schedule: Opening Ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.; Preliminary Rounds involving randomly drawn alliances from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.; Semifinal Rounds in best 2-out-of-3 competition involving the top four teams after choosing their own alliance partners begins at 3:15 p.m.; the Championship, also best 2-out-of-3, follows the semifinals after a short break; Awards will be presented at about 4:30 p.m.
The inaugural 2012 State Robotics Tournament was won by the three-team alliance led by Park of Cottage Grove with the Prior Lake and Stillwater Area teams as alliance partners. The 2012 challenge was Rebound RumbleSM and involved the robots shooting mini basketballs and attempting to balance robots on pivoting bridges.
Additional fun facts about Minnesota robotics:
The growth of robotics programs in the state has been exponential. In 2006 there were only two teams; 16 in 2007; 54 in 2008; 81 in 2009; 105 in 2010; 131 in 2011; 153 in 2012; and 180 in 2013, a 15 percent increase over the year before.
Roughly half of Minnesota's teams are located outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and 56 percent of Minnesota's high school students have access to a FIRST Robotics team at their school or at a partnering school.
The 10,000 Lakes/North Star Double-Regional is one of the largest FIRST Robotics events outside of the World Championship, with a combined total of 123 teams that competed March 28-30 this year at Williams and Mariucci arenas. Ninety-seven teams competed at the combined Lake Superior/North Star Double Regional March 7-9 this year at the DECC in Duluth.
Edina is in its eighth year of competition, the longest running robotics program in the state. The program was initiated by a junior who built the robot in his dad's kitchen. Eighty percent of Edina's robotics team graduates pursue higher education in either engineering or science.
Event sponsor, Digi-Key Corporation, based out of Thief River Falls, Minn., is the global leader in electronic component selection, availability and delivery with more than 3 million products from over 650 quality name-brand manufacturers at http://www.digikey.com. Digi-Key's special guest, King Robota (www.kingrobota.com), an 8-foot tall robot that interacts with humans, is also making an appearance at this year's event. Digi-Key is also sponsoring the Innovator of the Year awards and souvenir programs for all participants.
League staff conducted a workshop about Minnesota's inaugural state tournament at the 2012 annual summer conference of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Several states have followed up with inquiries and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletics Conference (League counterpart) became the second state association in the country to sponsor a state tournament. It was held May 11 in Hartford and involved 41 teams. At least five other state associations are at various stages of consideration of similar events.
|
|
|
| MSHSL Hall of Fame - Class of 2013 |
Mayasich, McDonald, Stolski among next class of Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony set for May 19 at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel
 Bob McDonald and Ron Stolski, the Minnesota high school basketball and football coaches, respectively, with the most victories, along with all-time hockey great John Mayasich headline the Minnesota State High School League 2013 Hall of Fame class.
Both McDonald and Stolski have each coached more than five decades. McDonald will continue his coaching legacy at Chisholm High School by taking to the hardwood for the 58th time next season. Stolski will begin his 52nd season of coaching football at Brainerd High School this coming fall.
The others slated for induction are: Stillwater's George Thole, sixth on the victories list for football coaches; retired swimming and diving official, Roger Cersine of Edina; Becky Leuer, former North Branch Area High School coach and activities director; perennial all-state hockey player and former Gophers coach Doug Woog of South St. Paul; and fine arts directors R. Kent Knutson of Minnetonka and Dennis Swanson of Eagan.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony for these 10 outstanding individuals is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel. The public is invited to attend. For event tickets, contact the League office at 763-560-2262 or go to the League website — MSHSL.org — and click on the 2013 Hall of Fame Invitation link on the home page.
The League's Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo, was started in 1991. The 2013 class is the 20th group to be inducted. The inductees were chosen through a multi-level selection process that included League member schools and a committee of athletics, fine arts, and educational leaders. This year's class brings the Hall of Fame membership to 196.
The League will also present Awards of Merit to John Washington, former Athletic Director of Minneapolis Public Schools, Don Wicklund, retired track and field official from Prior Lake, and the late Bob Laufenburger, softball and baseball umpire from Redwood Falls.
Here are brief biographies of the 2013 Hall of Fame Class members:
Roger Cersine, Swimming and Diving Official
Roger Cersine is known across the state at high school and college swimming pools as the "wise guru" of rules! He retired in 2012 after devoting close to half a century as a well-respected swimming and diving official, making hundreds of meets at the college, high school, and country club levels run smoothly and efficiently.
Cersine has managed high school girls and boys section and state meets for 26 years. He served as the Minnesota State High School League Swimming and Diving Rules Interpreter for 35 years. His skills, knowledge and experience catapulted him to the national level, serving during the 1980s on the National Federation Swimming and Diving Rules Writing Committee.
Thanks to his passion for these sports, Cersine helped organize the Minnesota Swimming Officials Association in 1972 with the purpose of improving the quality of officiating at both the high school and collegiate levels. He has served in many leadership roles in that association and is currently the state liaison for the Collegiate Swimming Officials Association.
On the college level, he has officiated men's and women's swim meets at the University of Minnesota, Big Ten Women's and Men's Championship Meets, and Division I, II, and III NCAA Championship Meets, as well as meets for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
In 2011 the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association commended Cersine for his achievements. Roger Cersine is also a member of the Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame.
R. Kent Knutson, Fine Arts Director
Fine Arts Director Robert Kent Knutson inspired hundreds of young actors throughout his 38-year career at three metro area high schools. Nominators call Knutson "the premier director on the high school stage," who single-handedly elevated theatrical performances across Minnesota.
Knutson is credited with directing 27 starred performances at the League's State One Act Play Festival for Blaine, Anoka and Minnetonka high schools since 1974. Knutson had a reputation for setting "the standard" in the competition "by selecting current challenging and sometimes controversial material" for his theater arts students.
Minnetonka set a box office record when its students performed "Les Miserables" at the American High School Theatre Festival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The Anoka and Blaine theater programs, while under his direction, were recognized with the Kennedy Center "Young Performing Artists Showcase Awards." His musical productions at both Anoka and Minnetonka were honored with numerous Hennepin Trust Spotlight Awards. One of his students won the coveted "Jimmy" Award for best performance by an actor and actress, a Minnesota first.
Recognition of his achievements and contributions include the Communications and Theatre Association of Minnesota "Outstanding Individual in Theatre" Award, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award, and Minnetonka Enrichment Advisor of the Year, an honor he has received four times. Though he's no longer teaching, Knutson remains Theater Director for Minnetonka High School.
Jimmy Lee, Athletic Official
Most sports historians believe that Jimmy Lee was Minnesota's first African-American high school sports official. Whether he is or not, one thing is for certain — he paved the way for other aspiring officials.
Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lee's legendary officiating career began in the 1930s and spanned three decades. He migrated north to St. Paul in the 1920s, graduated from high school and made himself a name playing for two renowned Black baseball teams of the time — the Uptown Sanitary Shop and the Twin City Colored Gophers. St. Paul Recreation Director Jerry Flathman gave him his first break as an athletic official, hiring Lee to umpire softball games. Flathman quickly recognized Lee's special talent and assigned him to officiate basketball, football and baseball games.
Soon Lee was in demand, officiating high school and college games around Minnesota and across the upper Midwest. He officiated in 20 of the League's 32 district basketball tournaments and six of eight region tournaments. He umpired Gophers baseball games and became the first African-American from Minnesota to work in Big Ten baseball and the NCAA regional baseball tournament. Lee also officiated in the Southern Minnesota Semi-Pro Baseball League, and when Negro League baseball teams traveled to the state, he would work their games, too.
Lee, who died in 1979, was formally recognized for his pioneering achievements in 1972 when he was inducted into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. In 1982 the St. Paul City Council renamed Oxford Playground the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center. That same year Lee was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame.
Becky Leuer, Activities Director/Coach
Throughout her 34-year career, Becky Leuer was a champion for the advancement of girls and women in sports. Right out of college she was hired at North Branch Area High School and began making her mark as a coach. She coached nearly every girls' sport the school offered — gymnastics, track and field, softball and volleyball. Her volleyball teams won 363 games, five conference titles, two section championships, and made back-to-back trips to the state tournament in 1993 and 1994. Leuer was chosen three times as the Region 7AA Volleyball Coach of the Year and she's a member of the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.
In 2000 Leuer became the activities director at North Branch. Her leadership was known at every level, from the Rum River and North Suburban conferences to the Minnesota State High School League. She served on the League Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008, the Representative Assembly, the League's Foundation Board of Director and the Region 7AA Committee, which she chaired in 2003. Leuer twice-served as president of the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association and is a member of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association 25-Year Club, which is another organization she led in 2011-2012.
Aside from managing the athletic programs at North Branch, Leuer was also a champion of the school's robotics and dance team programs. She served as the robotics team advisor and was instrumental in the partnership between the national robotics organization FIRST and the Minnesota State High School League.
Among her many awards, Leuer has received the Region 7AA Athletic Director of the Year, the Marie Berg Award for excellence in education, and the George Haun Award for outstanding leadership and service in the coaching profession. Coach Leuer retired in 2009.
John Mayasich, Athlete
His name will be forever linked to amateur hockey in Minnesota. John Mayasich is simply one of the greatest players ever to lace up skates in the state. At Eveleth High School he set his reputation in stone, playing on four state championship teams from 1948 to 1951, setting 10 individual state tournament records that remarkably still stand today. He scored a record total of 46 points, 36 goals, and 7 hat tricks in four tournaments. In 1951 he scored the most goals in one tournament — 15, including a record seven goals in one game. The Eveleth team's four consecutive championships also still stands as a tournament record. The team went an undefeated 69-0 over that four-year stretch.
Mayasich continued his stellar career at the University of Minnesota. From 1952 to 1955 the perennial All-American became the Gophers' all-time leading scorer with 144 goals and 154 assists in 111 games. His 298 points remains the most in school history.
Mayasich set scoring records and won many WCHA and NCAA tournament honors, including MVP and Player of the Year. He was a member of the 1956 silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team and the 1960 gold medal team.
This Minnesota all-time hockey great has been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the National High School Hall of Fame and the "M" Club Hall of Fame. The Gophers retired Mayasich's No. 8 jersey, the only former Golden Gopher to be so honored.
Bob McDonald, Basketball Coach
Without a doubt, Coach Bob McDonald of Chisholm is a Minnesota marvel. He has chalked up more wins than any coach in Minnesota history and is six victories shy of reaching an unprecedented 1,000 victories. Nationally, McDonald ranks 13th in career wins, but he is No. 1 in career wins among active coaches.
McDonald recently completed his 57th year of coaching basketball, 52 of those years at Chisholm High School. He coached the school's track team for four decades starting in 1961, leading the team to the state championship in 2001. But he continues to make state history with Chisholm's boys' basketball team. McDonald led the school's team to three state championships in 1973, 1975 and 1991. His basketball players have made 11 state tournament appearances, most recently in 2011.
With 994 career wins and a host of section and conference championships, McDonald has received numerous state and national awards. You'll find his name in the University of Minnesota-Duluth Hall of Fame, the Minnesota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He was named the State Coach of the Year four times. In 2008 he was named National High School Basketball Coach of the Year.
McDonald is a lifetime member of the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association and has chaired the association's hall of fame committee.
Ron Stolski, Coach
He's considered the "ultimate" football coach in Minnesota. Coach Ron Stolski's record of 343 wins is more than any high school football coach in state history. He's spent more than half a century as head football coach in five Minnesota high schools. His longest stint has been at Brainerd High School where he remains head coach of the Warriors. Stolski was also the athletic director for Brainerd from 1975 to 2000.
Stolski has taken nine Brainerd teams to the state football tournament, most recently in 2010. Four of his teams reached the semifinals, knocking off several Twin Cities football powerhouses. The Warriors also own 13 conference titles and nine section titles.
Stolski's contributions to the professional organizations that represent coaches and athletic directors are numerous. He is the executive director and past president of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. He held roles as president of the Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and was a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association's Board of Directors.
Stolski's many honors include the 1996 Minnesota High School Athletic Director of the Year Award and the 1997 Nike Minnesota Athletic Director of the Year. He is in five halls of fame. In 2009 he was named Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Vikings and in 2011 the Minnesota Football Coaches Associations named him Coach of the Year.
In 2005 Stolski received the most prestigious honor in the country for a high school football coach — the American Football Coaches Association's Power of Influence Award. It's given to a deserving coach who makes a positive impact on players, school and community.
Dennis Swanson, Fine Arts Director
You could fill a stage with all of the actors who have gone on to work professionally in theater and film, including on Broadway, after they were inspired, guided and taught by Dennis Swanson. It speaks to the powerful role Swanson has played throughout his career in thousands of students' lives.
For Swanson, the curtain opened at Mankato West High School in 1971 where this would-be actor started his teaching/directing career. He also coached the speech team with great success. Twenty-eight students advanced to the Minnesota State High School League's State Speech Tournament and several became champions.
Swanson established theater programs at three new high schools — Apple Valley High School, Eagan High School and Lakeville South High School — and became a "giant" in the world of Minnesota high school theatre. In all, Swanson was the theater director for more than 150 competitive and community productions. Twenty-one of the 25 productions he directed for the State One Act Play Festival received the highest possible award of "starred performance."
Swanson has served numerous times on the League's One Act Play Advisory Committee. For decades he has judged and managed subsection and section speech and one act play contests. He's often asked to judge the state speech tournament.
Among numerous honors this director and teacher has received is the Communication and Theatre Association of Minnesota's Outstanding Individual in Communication and Theatre Award; the Lake Conference Distinguished Service Award; and the District 196 Outstanding Service Award. He is inducted into the halls of fame at both Apple Valley and Richfield High School, his alma mater.
George Thole, Coach
Ever wonder how a football dynasty is created? Just ask the guy who could write that book, retired Stillwater Area High School Coach George Thole.
He kicked off his coaching career in 1965 by taking over a losing program at Central Cass High School in Casselton, North Dakota, where he scheduled practices around his players' farm chores. Being flexible worked because his teams chalked up a perfect 27-0 record.
Thole gained more coaching know-how as an assistant at the University of Minnesota, and later at Richfield High School. In 1971 he moved to Stillwater High School where he quickly began building the Ponies into a football powerhouse. By 1975 the Ponies had won their first state championship. They were champions again in 1982, 1984 and 1995, and state runners-up in 1977 and 1989. In 28 seasons at Stillwater Thole guided his teams to the state tournament a record 17 times, while winning 17 conference championships and 12 section titles. His amazing 285-69-2 record ranks him sixth in the state for victories, and his 80 percent game-winning percentage is one of the best in the country.
Thole was named conference Coach of the Year 13 times, section Coach of the Year 12 times and state Coach of the Year three times. He recently received the John Gagliardi Legacy Award from the National Football Foundation. Thole's entrance into the League's Hall of Fame is the seventh Hall that bears his name.
Now in retirement, Thole generously shares his coaching wisdom with his peers through his writing, by lecturing at universities and speaking at numerous football clinics.
Doug Woog, Coach/Athlete
Doug Woog was considered one of the premier amateur athletes of his era. At South St. Paul High School he earned nine varsity letters in football, baseball and hockey, but it was on the hockey rink that he dominated. The perennial all-state player led the Packers to four state hockey tournaments from 1959 to 1962. The team's best finishes came in 1961 and in 1962 when the Packers finished second and third, respectively. Woog's superior tournament play earned him a place on the all-tournament team three times.
Following high school, the star athlete attended the University of Minnesota to play under legendary coach John Mariucci. Woog led the Gophers in scoring in his junior year. As a senior he was named the team's Most Valuable Player and also received All-American honors.
Woog returned to South St. Paul High School in 1977 to coach the boys' hockey and soccer teams. The soccer teams he coached from 1977 to 1982 won four conference titles and played in four state tournaments, twice finishing as runners-up. He guided the Packers hockey teams to three state tournaments in his six seasons as head coach. The team finished third in 1978 and fourth in 1979. Woog's reputation landed him a stint as special assistant coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.
In 1985 he was named head hockey coach at the University of Minnesota, leading the Gophers to new heights. The team made 12 NCAA appearances in 14 seasons, six NCAA Final Four appearances, and Woog became the university's all-time winning coach with a 389-187-40 record. He resigned the post in 1999.
In 1989 Woog coached the U.S. Olympic Festival South Team to a gold medal. Woog is in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the South St. Paul High School Hall of Fame. He was awarded the American Hockey Coaches Association's John MacInnes Award for his work with youth and amateur hockey.
|
| 2013 Visual Arts Exhibition and Reception |
State’s best high school student artwork now on exhibit
It’s like going to a state championship - but for artists! The work of Minnesota’s award-winning young artists from the Minnesota State High School League Visual Arts Festivals is now on display at the Minnesota State Visual Arts High School Exhibition through May 19. The exhibition is at the Perpich Center for Arts Education.
The Minnesota State High School League has long been the governing body for all high school sports and other fine arts activities like debate, one act play, music and speech. Similarly, every spring talented high school students from throughout Minnesota participate in visual arts festivals at the section level. The competition involves judging of specific criteria for either Excellent or Superior ratings. In addition, one piece of artwork in each of nine categories is chosen as a Judge’s Choice, earning a Spotlight on the Arts Award.
Students may submit one artwork in one or more of the following categories: Media Arts, Drawing, Painting, Crafts, Sculpture, Printmaking, Ceramics, 2D Mixed Media/Collage, and Graphic Design. The judges are experienced professional artists and designers.
The Judge’s Choice winners are invited to display their work in the Minnesota State Visual Arts High School Exhibition held at the Perpich Center for Arts Education. The school is hosting the 2013 Minnesota State Visual Arts High School Exhibition with assistance from the Art Educators of Minnesota and support from the Minnesota State High School League. The exhibition is an opportunity for these exceptionally talented students from all over Minnesota to have their achievement recognized.
The exhibition is open through May 19, with Public Gallery Hours Wednesday through Friday 3-7 p.m. and Saturday noon-4 p.m. A reception will be held Sunday, May 19, 1-3:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. The Perpich Center for Arts Education is located at 6125 Olson Memorial Hwy in Golden Valley.
The reception will begin at 1:00 p.m. for student check-in and public viewing of the exhibition. The Awards presentation will begin at 1:30 at will consist of recognition of the students and a discussion about transitioning from high school to art school or whatever may come next. Attendees can speak with the students about their work beginning at 2:30 and the exhibition will close at 3:30 with students encouraged to take their works home with them.
|
|
|
|
| The Big Three Pays Off For New Life Academy’s Softball Team |
Posted by John Millea (jmillea@mshsl.org)- Updated 5/21/2013 12:38:26 PM
|
By Brian Jerzak
John’s Journal correspondent
As in most Christian high schools, a credo of faith, school and then athletics is followed by the athletes and coaches in the softball program at New Life Academy of Woodbury. The difference between the Eagles and the much of the rest of the state is the success that formula has brought the program.
Since 2006, head coach Mick Ramey, his staff and athletes have advanced to the Class 1A state tournament every year. They are gearing up for what they hope will be their eighth straight section championship. If they get there, they will tie the Minnesota record for consecutive section championships. During this stretch they won a state-record four straight state titles between 2008 and 2011. One of the keys to maintaining such a long run of excellence goes back to sticking with a system that is based in faith, school and sports.
 Ramey started his coaching career in the Cottage Grove Athletic Association, coaching his kids in various sports. He was also a longtime board member for the association. He started coaching his boys and then as his girls got older he moved more toward their sports and eventually the sport his girls gravitated to – softball.
“I have coached 85 teams over the last 20 years,” said the longtime youth coach, “but every time I took away something about encouraging players, maximizing their strengths, minimizing their weaknesses and helping them relax.”
He became the New Life head softball coach in 2006. Although the team was young, the players had previously worked with Ramey so they all knew the system.
“That first year when we went to state, we had no seniors, one junior and the rest were sophomores all the way down to seventh graders. Because the girls were playing summer ball they were ready for the varsity scene. We just started playing good solid fundamental ball.”
With such a young team early on, it laid the foundation for the extended run of championships. The Schmidt sisters, first Danelle and then Rebecca, set the tone and the program has had a number of good pitchers -- especially during the four straight championships. The turning point for the program occurred while defending their first state championship. During a season that would end up with state title number two, the Eagles entered a regular-season tournament that put them up against the best team in the state.
“We played Burnsville and they were ranked number one in AAA that year,” said Ramey. “They were 20-0 and we played them in the opening game of the North St. Paul tournament. We played into the 11th inning and they hit a walk-off home run to beat us 3-2. That was the turning point for our program. That gave us the confidence that we could be a special team.”
 In order to maintain that confidence, execution needs to be second nature. In practice the team focuses on what Ramey calls the Big Three.
“We don’t do many drills very long. We do a lot of drills for short periods. We do a lot of situations. Our girls are so aware of the Big Three. Always know your outs, always know where the runners are and always know the score and the situation. We drill that in every practice. We go through situations time and time again. We call out things like one down, girls on first and second, so every girl has been through this every practice.”
The Big Three has paid off. New Life has had a remarkable run of victories in one-run games. Ramey estimates they have had 25 one-run games over the years and have won about 21 of those games.
Another reason the girls have been so successful in the close games is that they are used to tough competition. Ramey schedules a number of bigger schools to go along with his conference schedule. His “iron sharpens iron” philosophy started out of necessity.
 “For years St. Bernard’s was in our conference. I think they still lead the state in state tournament appearances so our section has always been strong,” said Ramey. “To be stronger we had to play those games and also schedule those AAA and AA schools.”
Maintaining such a high level for so long is a tribute to the coaching staff the Eagles have in place.
“We have so many good coaches in place that I can actually miss a practice or even a game and the machine still runs,” said the head coach of eight years. “We have had the same routine every year.”
One of the impressive aspects of this run of championships has to do with the small pool of athletes that New Life has to pull from. Sometimes they don’t have any players from a certain class on the team. After winning their first two titles they almost couldn’t field enough players to form the team that would ultimately win the third straight title. The system Ramey has in place has helped maintain enough numbers. Since he does not work in the school system, he has had to rely on the kids.
“I have had great captains over the years and they have been the foot soldiers that go out there and get kids to come out,” he said. “We have always been able to find a spot for everyone. Everyone has a role on the team.”
This year’s team was able to build on an unexpected playoff run last year.
“Last year was a rebuilding year,” Ramey said. “We were hoping to go .500. We were three or four games above .500 and had a tremendous run in section play. We beat a lot of good teams we maybe shouldn’t have. That first game at state we squeaked out a 2-1 win that maybe we shouldn’t have. It gave us a little more confidence going into this year. We didn’t have anyone graduate last year and we set some higher goals – one of them being winning it this year.”
Each year the veteran players do a great job of teaching the younger kids the system, making Ramey’s job easier. As Ramey said, it is the responsibility of the older girls to pay it forward and help the program not just during the current year, but down the road.
This year’s team – like countless others – has been aided by that “pay it forward” system and some of the players have grown into great leaders. Val Hohol and Malorie Gierie are the main pitcher and catcher, Chloe Westlund is the leadoff hitter, Amanda Heidmann has been manning third base for three years and Nicole Johnson is the team’s leading power hitter.
It’s yet to be determined of New Life Academy will win another state championship this year. But if the Eagles stick to both of their Big Threes – in softball and in life – they are sure to be in the mix for years to come. |
|
|
More of John's Journal
|
|
|
|