Cook County high school football and volleyball players received some good news this week when the Minnesota High School League (MHSL) reversed an August 4 decision to postpone both sports until the spring.
The MHSL board voted 14-4 to allow a six game football season this fall, with practices beginning September 28. Games would start October 9 with the season concluding November 28, likely without state tournament play.
Volleyball was approved by a 15-3 vote. Practices began on Monday and the 11-week season matches will start October 8.
As far as fan interaction, no fans will be allowed to attend the indoor volleyball games and only 250 fans will be allowed to attend the high school football games.
The MHSL board changed their decision after a parent-led group called “Let Them Play MN” brought public pressure through social media. It was also noted that there is no guarantee that waiting until the spring will lesson the chance of catching COVID-19.
Proper COVID-19 protocols will be followed at practice and at games.
ISD 166 Athletic Director Mitch Dorr said all of the tickets for the football games will be “spoken for before the event happens. We will have a list with the names on it from both schools and check fans in one at a time.”
As far as playoffs, Dorr said there would be sectional playoffs, but no state tournaments this year.
The MHSL also approved 12 practices for baseball this fall.
Baseball will begin practicing October 5.
Vikings Head Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson ran the VFW baseball program this summer and his teams did a great job of following the COVID-19 guidelines. However, baseball games won’t be played until next spring.
“I’m not sure about the baseball practices now,” said Dorr. “We will get an update at the end of the week. We will not have conflicting practices, so kids will not have to choose between two sports.”
With the immediate start of volleyball and football, athletic directors across the state are scrambling to fill schedules for games. Dorr is one of those athletic directors working to set up teams to play against, and more will be printed next week about the game schedules.
For now, just who and when the Viking football team and volleyball team will face isn’t known yet, but one thing’s for sure, the kids are happy to take the field and play the sport they love.
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