Cold temperatures and lots of snow can mean only one thing for Minnetonka student athletes—winter sports season! Since November, Minnetonka High School winter sports teams have been putting in countless hours of practice.
Out on snowy race course, the Minnetonka High School Nordic Ski Team has been striding hard and skiing fast. "The season has been great!" says Tonka Nordic Racing (TNR) Head Coach Sean Kern. "We've had great snow, which helps us to get out and practice more often. Everyone has been training hard, and early results show that our team is right in the mix for the Lake Conference Championship."
"We are incredibly lucky to have a lot of depth and to have some truly amazing coaches who have helped us to improve our technique and grit in preparation for our championship races later this winter," says MHS junior Greta Weeks, TNR Captain.
Even in a non-contact outdoor sport, COVID guidelines for Nordic skiing are still in place. Skiers are required to wear masks at all times except for when racing. Nordic practices have also been more organized than they have been in years past, with skiers divided into pods and each pod assigned a coach. Races consist of only two or three teams instead of the usual five, and skiers start in waves of seven, another change from previous years. "We are adjusting to the new normal and things seem very good," says Coach Kern.
As they look to the end of the season, Coach Kern has big hopes. "My goal for both the boys and girls teams is to win the conference championship," he says. "This is a tall order, because we race some of the fastest teams in the state. However, we are in a great place to make it happen this year if we continue working hard."
With all that is going on in the world around her, Weeks is most grateful to be back with her teammates. "It's amazing to be able to ski with my team again, she says. I delight in going to practice every day, even when it's really cold! With the loss of many organized practices this past year, it's been a huge blessing to be able to be able to train and support others again, in-person."
In the warmer gymnasiums of Minnetonka High School, the girls basketball team is halfway through their season. "It's been a really good start," says Minnetonka Girls Basketball Head Coach Leah Dasovich. "We're playing a tough schedule, so I'm pleased with where we're at right now."
Per MSHSL rules, all players must wear a mask and contact has been limited. "We don't high five the other team, our benches are separated, we can't use locker rooms, and sometimes we have to provide our own balls for games," says Sophie Haydon, a senior on the team.
"COVID protocols make things a bit different, but all things considered, we're trying to function as normally as possible," says Coach Dasovich. "Ultimately the girls have adjusted to it quite nicely."
The Skippers fell to Lake Conference leaders Hopkins, but are looking to make a comeback next week against Eden Prairie. "Our goal is to finish out the regular season without any more losses, win our section, play at state and hopefully win the whole thing," says Haydon, who recently reached an impressive career milestone: 500 rebounds. Another player, Desire Ware, reached an impressive milestone scoring 1000 points.
No matter what happens, the team has been grateful for the opportunity to play this season. "I know so many people who didn't have seasons or there was no state tournament. Despite all the restrictions, my teammates and I are still able to play the game we love with each other and we are lucky to have the opportunity to do so," says Haydon.
"We know we're lucky to have gotten a season, so we aren't taking a single day of practice or competition for granted," adds Coach Dasovich. For her, the only thing missing from this season is fans. "[I just wish] we could have a student section because we are pretty fun to watch."
Another team making a splash this season is the Minnetonka boys swim & dive team. "The swim season has been going well, even though it's definitely been different from what we've experienced in the past," says Jayanth Kurup, a senior on the team. "Our team is just happy to be with each other and race again."
COVID-19 restrictions for swim & dive include shortened practices and weight training sessions, divided practice groups and masks when not in the water. In addition, only four swimmers are allowed per lane in the pool.
The boys have shown impressive swimming throughout the season, and Head Coach Kristen Phillips is excited for what more is to come. "There are so many great teams in our sections, we are confident that we will be ready to go to defend that title," she says. At the end of March, the team will head to the University of Minnesota for the state meet where they hope to win big.
Last season, the Minnetonka boys swim & dive team won third in the state tournament. This year, they hope to continue their legacy of winning. "Our goals are to win our section, and put up a good fight at State against Edina, and possibly beat them," says Kurup.
Coaching this team has been an incredible ride for Coach Phillips. "This group of boys has been amazing, our seniors have done a nice job setting the tone for this season," she says. "They have been so much fun to coach because they are committed and driven and want to succeed. I am really looking forward to seeing what they can do at the end of the season."
"I'm just glad that I can swim again with the boys," says Kurup. "It's unfortunate that we can't have our team bonding like previous years, but we're still out there racing and having a good time."
Congratulations to all MHS student-athletes for their hard work during the winter sports season and good luck on the rest of the season!
