Volleyball practice began this week at ISD 166 with about 24 girls showing up for practice. The Vikings are scheduled to play 14 games this season with parents and fans watching the home games through the Internet as no one will be allowed to attend because of the COVID-19 rules meant to keep people safe. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
ISD 166 Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Mitch Dorr took time out of his hectic schedule this week to sit down with the paper to describe, in part, the genesis to revive high school football and volleyball across the state, and here in Cook County as well.
“There were a lot of hoops to jump through to make it all happen,” noted Dorr after the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) reversed its August decision to move football and volleyball to the spring due to COVID-19 concerns. The MSHSL made its decision to start the two sports on September 21, leaving athletic directors to scramble to assemble sports schedules in a shortened season.
Football will have six games and volleyball 14, said Dorr, that is if there aren’t any COVID-19 cases. “We expect some games will be canceled because of COVID-19,” said Dorr, adding that those games probably won’t be rescheduled.
Cook County will have ten home games for volleyball, but no fans or parents will be allowed to attend the games. “We will Livestream the games. It’s tough because we have so many home games. The Booster Club will take a big loss because there won’t be any revenue from the food stand sales. The lack of fans at games crushes our booster sales.”
Football games will have 250 fans, but the tickets will be pre-sold, with the home team getting 150 and the visiting team 100. “We don’t want long lines for people buying tickets, and there will be spacing for those who do have tickets and come to the games,” noted Dorr, adding, “We will also have porta-potties set up for visiting team fans and our team fans.”
As for setting up protections for the kids at practice, Mitch pointed out that there are a lot of protocols for the players to follow, “but the buy-in from the kids is tremendous. They just want to play and their attitude has been tremendous.”
Volleyball players will wear masks during practice and football practice is spread out into small groups of kids. Because so much room is needed to ensure safe spacing, there won’t be any junior high football or junior high volleyball this fall. However, eighth-grade girls will be allowed to play and practice on the junior varsity team.
“Kids are the driving force behind these decisions. They just want to play so bad. Our coaches and the kids are excited to start. It won’t be the same as in other years. There won’t be any state playoffs, but there will be sectional playoffs. We are lucky to be in a league that works so well together. We already have the schedule set up for volleyball and football. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of extra hours, but it’s been well worth it.”
Let the games begin!
Volleyball schedule
Thursday, October 8, 6:30 p.m. Esko at Cook County.
Monday, October 12, 6:30 p.m., South Ridge at Cook County.
Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. away at Silver Bay.
Thursday, October 22, 6:30 p.m., away at Two Harbors.
Tuesday, October 27, 6:30 p.m., Wrenshall visits Cook County.
Monday, November 2, 6:30 p.m., Proctor visits Cook County.
Thursday, November 12, Lakeview Christian Academy visits Cook County.
Tuesday, November 17, 6:30 p.m., Floodwood visits Cook County.
Thursday, November 19, 6:30 p.m., away at McGregor.
Monday, November 23, 6:30 p.m., Silver Bay at Cook County.
Tuesday, November 24, Cromwell visits Cook County.
Football schedule
Friday, October 9, 7 p.m., Cherry plays at Cook County.
Wednesday, October 14, 7 p.m. away at Ely.
Friday, October 23, 5 p.m. away at South Ridge.
Friday, October 30, 4 p.m. Silver Bay comes to Cook County.
Thursday, November 5, 5 p.m., away at Northeast Range High School.
Wednesday, November 11, 4 p.m., Cromwell comes to Cook County.
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