MLPS, MLC, CPS review spring sports pairing between the schools
Combine athletic talents.
Season well with coaching tips and participant training.
Sprinkle generously with player and coach camaraderie.
Add supportive schools and fans.
Mix well.
Serve up and enjoy.
Those ingredients and recipe provided a successful spring sports season for the athletes and coaches participating in the inaugural year of Mountain Lake Area-Comfey (MLA-C) Wolverine pairing in softball, baseball and golf.
This was the consensus of all the representatives from the trio of schools participating in this pairing during a special Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board meeting held tonight (Monday, June 5).
On hand at the meeting were:
- Representing MLPS – Superintendent Bill Strom, Board Chair Chad Pedersen, Board Director Doug Standerwick and Board Director Tim Swoboda.
- Representing Mountain Lake Christian (MLC) – Administrator Dr. Michael James and Board Chair Wayne Klassen
- Representing Comfrey Public School (CPS) – Superintendent Kirsten Hutchison, Board Chair Pete Samuelson and Board Vice-Chair Brad Nachreiner.
“Well, how was it?” opened Strom.
Hutchison and Samuelson began the commentary, echoing that each, “has heard only good things.” Samuelson continued, “I can’t think of anything negative.”
Nachreiner added, “I asked a parent that was ‘on the fence’ at the beginning, and the response I received was, ‘It was excellent.'”
Strom responded that, on the MLPS end, comments have also been, “nothing but good.”
“Baseball was great; there were no issues with the kids,” shared Head Baseball Coach Tim Snyder.” Snyder inserted into the discussion that it would be good to see the Junior Varsity play all of their games at Comfrey next spring in order to allow them to play more innings; not just squeeze in a few innings on the Munson Field diamonds. He concluded that, “There was great communication and cooperation.”
Pedersen, also the Head Golf Coach, noted that he was pleased to have three team members from Comfrey; two junior high age. “We had not problems. The kids mixed well together.”
Pedersen spoke on behalf of Head Softball Coach Brian Hopwood whose message mirrored the positive ones already presented. Hopwood included in his comments his appreciation for the athletes and their parents.
Assistant Softball Coach Shawn Naas stated that connections between the girls on the softball team extended beyond the ball field. “There were Mountain Lake and Comfey girls going together from grad party-to grad party-to grad party. I would also like to thank Brian (Longerbone), CPS Dean of Students/Activities Director, who was also in the audience at the meeting, for going beyond the call of duty. Even after away games at a great distance, like Adrian, the Comfrey girls wanted to ride the bus back with the Mountain Lake girls for the interaction, rather than heading back with their parents. Brian allowed them to make that choice and came to Mountain Lake at 9:30 p.m., 10 p.m. at night to pick up the players and bring them back to Comfrey.”
“It was really fun to see the three schools working together,” inserted Standerwick. “As a board member, it was good to see it was a successful spring.”
“We (MLPS) thought it would be a good fit, hoped it would be a good fit – and it was a good fit,” summarized Superintendent Strom.
All parties agreed that, looking ahead to next spring, either softball or baseball practice be moved to practice in the Comfrey gym for the first couple weeks of the season in order to free up enough gym space until the weather cooperates for outdoor play.
Discussion also included continued communication on playing softball or baseball games at any level at either MLPS or CPS diamonds, depending on the weather conditions at each field.
The superintendents of the schools have also talked about organizing “getting-to-know-you” events for the parents of the athletes because, as Strom explained, “When you make it better, it just gets better.
The inevitable question posed by Strom was, “What about the future?”
Samuelson and Nachreiner both spoke up to share that they have already been asked about the possibility of pairing in other sports.
Superintendent Hutchison put it on the line, “If the conversation came up, is Mountain Lske open to further pairing?”
The MLPS Board reps at the meeting were all affirmative in support of that idea.
If, as Strom laid out, the boards decide to take “baby steps” in additional sports pairing, boys and girls cross country could be considered in the fall, along with adding track and field to softball, baseball and softball in spring 2018.
Other activities addressed included trap shooting and speech, with Hutchison stating CPS was also open to basketball. While boys basketball numbers are good, Boys Basketball Head Coach Shawn Naas stated that he was open to it, as did Girls Basketball Head Coach Wayne Klassen.
Head Football Coach (and Assistant Baseball Coach and Activities Director) Tim Kirk explained that, due to current Minnesota State High School League requirements, football would not be currently the table, as CPS numbers would put the total over the 9-man limit. Numbers used now are taken from 2015. Kirk quickly interjected, “If Comfrey would come in, and we could stay 9-man, I’d sign up right now. We are just not a good fit to go back to 11-man.” He did also note that changes in number requirements are coming in the future, as more schools are switching to 9-man squads.
MLPS is currently working to add MLC to the district’s pairing agreement for wrestling with Windom Public School, a possibility for CPS as well.
Samuelson also raised the possibility of academic pairing, focusing on agriculture and FFA. Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Principal Michelle Larson raised the possibility of adding art to the MLHS curriculum, with the availability of the CPS art teacher. While Samuelson stressed that, “While we are not talking about next school year, we want to get this opened up.”
As far as procedure as to the way forward, Strom detailed that the MLPS School Board would wait for an invitation from CPS to begin deeper discussions. “Kirstin (Hutchison) and I, however, will begin the conversation and crunch the numbers.”
CC in fall,
Trap shooting
