It’s tourney time in Minnesota

This is the time of year I really enjoy covering high school sports. It’s tournament time, or “March Madness,” which high school sports fans know actually begins in mid- February.

As hard as it is to believe, three of the Trojan winter sports teams have already completed their seasons. The dance team competed at their section meet two weeks ago, and the girls hockey team was upset in the first round of the section playoffs. Last week, the Trojan gymnastics team competed in the Section 2AA meet and for the first time since the mid-1990s, New Prague will not have a competitor at the state meet. In fact this is only the third time in nearly 20 years that the Trojan team is not making the trip to state.

By the time this reaches most of our subscribers, the boys hockey team will have played its first playoff game against Bloomington Kennedy. They are hoping to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals against Delano.

Also on Friday and Saturday, the Trojan wrestling team competes in the Section 2AA individual meet in Waseca. New Prague lost in the semifinals of the team competition last week.

Three other teams are nearing the end of their regular seasons as well, and all three have hopes of making a tournament run. The girls basketball team expects to have a home game for the first round of the playoffs next Wednesday and a chance to play in the Mayo Civic Center. The adapted floor hockey team will have its state qualifying game the following week, and the Trojan boys basketball teamwill start their post-season quest on Wednesday, March 8.

New Prague’s growing enrollment has meant changes in some sports in the postseason. As one of the 64 largest schools in the state, New Prague has moved up a class in dance, basketball and gymnastics, meaning tougher competition faces the Trojans in the post season. The State High School League adjusts classes and sections every two years, and the section assignments for all sports for 2017-2019 is expected to be released within the next month. Since the high school’s enrollment figures continue to rise, it will be no surprise if the boys and girls hockey teams move up to Class AA and the wrestling team move up to Class AAA.

New Prague has enjoyed quite a run in sports over the past 10 years, with two and sometimes three sports advancing to state in the winter months. Those trips will be fewer and farther between for the next few years as the teams adjust to the higher level of competition.

Congratulations to all of the winter athletes for their efforts this season, and good luck to those teams and individuals who are still competing. We look forward to covering all the events.

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