Tuesday was a busy evening for the Ramlall family of Rosemount, which includes four talented basketball players; a son in college at St. Cloud State and three daughters playing at Rosemount High School.
There are many ways to give back to local communities. But, for a local trio of female officials who made history Tuesday, they contribute to the functionality of area basketball.
The wrestling crowd was mighty and primed. You know it’s a big night when the place reverberates with screaming during the JV portion of the competition.
Roseau Memorial Arena is one of Minnesota’s most historic sites, and the building that was constructed in 1949 has been recognized with the honor of being named to the National Register of Historic Places.
"You will learn in the years ahead that many lessons from high school sports will be part of you forever. Hard work, supporting each other, never giving up, respecting the game, respecting officials, respecting your opponents."
There are newspaper people, TV people and radio people in the interview room, all striving to tell the story. And the stories, and lessons, can flow like water heading downhill.
Minneota's Ryan Meagher, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior bundle of speed and toughness, was the undisputed star on the first day of the Prep Bowl weekend.
Fans at the state football semifinals may have noticed something that was just a little bit different: A ponytail. The umpire for a 4A game was Linda Mills, one of 21 females who are certified to officiate high school football in Minnesota.
Jackson County Central advanced to Class 2A football state championship game. How they survived is a story of persistence, teamwork and using bailing wire and toothpicks to hold everything together.
“These two guys have been to the state wrestling tournament. We love that, and we have tremendous basketball players on our team and lacrosse players.”
The volleyball team from West Central Area wasn’t playing with one hand tied behind its back during the state tournament, but one of its star players has been competing with a broken hand.
Mayer Lutheran came in as the top-seeded team and Minneota is the No. 2 seed. They both won in the quarterfinals by 3-0 scores and in the semifinals by 3-1, and they will decide the state title Saturday.
From her first time at a state tournament when she was a ninth-grader at Marshall in the late 1970s, Alexandria volleyball coach Mary Byrne has seen it all as a player and coach.
What is it about playing at state? When the action takes place at Xcel Energy Center, it’s almost indescribable for the volleyball players who are competing this week.
