When Minnesota students participate in extra-curricular activities, an array of opportunities await. The Minnesota State High School League ranks in the nation’s top 10 for participation with more than 240,000 students active in athletic opportunities. Combine Minnesota’s participants in the Fine Arts of speech, debate, one act play, music, cheerleading and visual arts that number climbs to more than 320,000.
State tournaments are held, and champions crowned in more than three dozen various athletic and fine arts competitions. Debate, which began in 1901, is Minnesota’s longest-running state tournament event. Clay Target, which just completed its fourth season, is one of the League’s newest events. In between are state tournament events that have created a rich history of performances, traditions and legends in Minnesota high school lore.
Minnesota was the first state association in the nation to sanction Girls Hockey, Adapted Athletics, Robotics and Clay Target. The League’s boys hockey state tournament, which draws more than 100,000 fans each season, remains the premier high school state tournament in the country.
In the fall, state tournaments are offered in Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Cross Country Running, Volleyball, Girls Swimming and Diving, Adapted Soccer and Football. The winter is the busiest state tournament season with Debate, One Act Play, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Dance Team, Girls Hockey, Girls Gymnastics, Boys Swimming and Diving, Wrestling, Boys Hockey, Girls Basketball, Adapted Floor Hockey and Boys Basketball. In the spring, the opportunities include Speech, Adapted Bowling, Robotics, Adapted Softball, Boys Tennis, Softball, Boys and Girls Track and Field, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys and Girls Golf, Baseball and Clay Target.