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“We need to do better. Our community needs to hear these things. It starts the conversations that have to happen and the change that has to go with it.”

Brad Wendland wants you to do something, no matter who you are, where you live or where you work or go to school. Wendland, the head football coach at Waseca High School, knows he is lucky to be alive and he wants others to have the second chance he’s getting.

Roseau and Warroad are only 22 miles apart, within earshot of the Canadian border, and high school hockey is a binding agent, a cultural touchstone and darn near a religious experience.

“It was definitely different to wrestle other girls when I’ve been wrestling mostly boys all season. I’m not exactly the strongest girl around, but it’s been much more competitive wrestling a girl than wrestling a guy.”

Farmington first Victory Day celebration was an opportunity for cognitively and physically impaired children to play football or cheer and have their moment in the sun. It was spectacular.

Long road trips are standard for teams in northern Minnesota, especially those from large schools that need to pack a lunch -- and a dinner -- in order to travel to schools of similar size.

“It’s important to me to make sure it’s a big deal,” coach Dylan Boettcher said. “I’m hoping this can be a jump start for adapted sports in Mankato. I’ve fallen in love with the people involved in activities for special needs kids.”

Proving that life comes with twists and turns, Jason DeRusha became coach of the debate and speech teams at Maple Grove High School.

“We were big rivals, like we almost couldn't stand each other. It's crazy how you can judge someone, then once you get to know them, they're just great people and you're having fun with it.”

Marshall Behrens is one of the most well-known and respected officials in Minnesota high school sports. He officiates football and volleyball in the fall, girls and boys basketball in the winter, and baseball and softball in the spring.

You name the sport and Hastings' Nick Tuckner has been there. He has called approximately 500 hockey games, missing very few. One came on the day he married his wife Erica; the announcement that the Raiders had defeated Bloomington Jefferson drew a big cheer at the wedding reception.

Elissa Reinsma Wieneke would never refer to herself as a pioneer, as others do and will. The 29-year-old, however, feels pride in knowing that the 2022 state wrestling tournament includes a division for girls.