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Apr. 4—On Thursday, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Board of Directors met and finalized the competitive section placements for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. Friday, the League released the decisions they made.
For reference, according to the MSHSL, here is how it is broken down:
MSHSL enrollment is determined by the schools Minnesota Department of Education enrollment in year one in grades 9 — 12 minus 40 percent of their educational benefit (free and reduced lunch).
According to the MSHSL: The class member schools are placed to perform and compete during the postseason. A member school's MSHSL enrollment determines classification. Schools have the option to both opt up or appeal, if they qualify, down in team sports every two years. Classification is determined on odd-numbered years every two years.
Determined every two years, like classification, member schools are placed by enrollment and geographic location in sports and activities where they compete for postseason play.
With that being said, here is what schools from southeast Minnesota broken down by the respective sport went up or down or changed sections these next two years. Football districts will be finalized in June.
View all competitive sections at MSHSL.org.
The football sections will look a little bit different this year. The Post Bulletin has already mentioned the changes involving Mayo dropping back down to Class 5A, Stewartville going back up to Class 4A and Lourdes dropping down to 2A.
Here are some others:
Lewiston-Altura is now in Section 1-1A, dropping down from Class 2A. That same section will see Southland go up from 9-Player and also the addition of New Richland-H-E-G and United South Central. Rushford-Peterson moves up to Class 2A, while Blooming Prairie not only moves up to Class 2A but will be playing in Section 2. Triton moves from Section 2-2A back to Section 1-2A.
Winona Cotter will be playing in Section 1-3A — up from 1-2A. Meanwhile, Cannon Falls moves from Section 1-2A to Section 4-2A.
There will also be some changes to volleyball sections next season. Blooming Prairie will move up to Section 1, Class 2A from Section 1, Class 1A. Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson will do the same, jumping from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Lewiston-Altura is shifting down to play in Section 1-1A from 1-2A. Red Wing is moving down from Section 1-3A to 1-2A.
Northfield will move sections but stay in the same class, going from Section 6-3A to 1-3A. New Richland-H-E-G is moving sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Medford is moving from Section 1 to Section 2 but will stay in Class 2A.
Over on the pitch, four-time defending Section 2-1A champion Pine Island/Zumbrota boys team and the two-time defending section champ girls squad will be moving back to Section 1 and also move up to Class 2A. Austin boys and girls will be moving up to Section 1-3A after being in 1-2A. Cannon Falls boys and girls soccer moves to Section 2-1A.
Red Wing girls move down to Section 1-1A from 1-2A.
Arguably the biggest news comes in regards to wrestling.
Simley will be moving back to Section 1-2A after spending the last four years in Section 4. Simley had been in Section 1 the previous four years before that, capturing the section title each of those four years. The Spartans had won six consecutive state titles until this year. This means Kasson-Mantorville — the four-time section champs and Class 2A runner-up three of the last four years — and Simley will once again square off in sections along with the perennially strong Cougars of Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Z-M returns most of a lineup that finished as Section 1-2A runner-up last year. It will result in one of the top wrestling programs across the state not making it to the state tournament. It will also make individuals extremely tough.
Winona will now be in that section as well, moving down from 1-3A.
Other notable notes when it comes to Section placement in wrestling is Kenyon-Wanamingo, Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland and Triton moving over to Section 2-1A from Section 1-1A. Section 1-1A will welcome back Caledonia/Houston and La Crescent-Hokah. Caledonia/Houston was the state Class 1A runner-up in 2023.
With Winona moving down, Austin will be moving up to 1-3A.
As for girls wrestling, it is believed they will align with the boys. There is also hope that each of the eight sections will have its own tournament this year. Each of the last three years, there had been four section tournaments with two sections combining.
If this is true that means Grand Meadow — one of southeast Minnesota's largest girls wrestling programs — will be moved to Section 2. That also means reigning 100-pound state champion Adriana Kunz of Triton will be in Section 2.
It is expected girls wrestling placements will be finalized by June.
As for boys basketball adjustments, Blooming Prairie will move sections but remain in the same class, going from Section 1-1A to 2-2A. Two-time defending Section 1, Class 1A champion Goodhue will now play in Section 1-2A, moving up a class.
Rushford-Peterson is moving up to play in Section 1-2A from 1-1A. Lewiston-Altura will shift down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Red Wing will play in Section 1-2A, down from 1-3A.
Medford will move sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Albert Lea will also move both section and class, heading out of 1-1A to 2-2A.
In girls basketball, Goodhue is moving up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Blooming Prairie will play in Section 2-2A, switching section and class from 1-1A. Kenyon-Wanamingo and Rushford-Peterson will play in Section 1-2A, up from 1-1A.
Meanwhile, Lewiston-Altura moves down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Red Wing drops from Section 1-3A to 1-2A. Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy will drop classes from Section 1-2A to 1-1A.
Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons is moving sections to 1-1A from 2-1A. New Richland-H-E-G is shifting sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Albert Lea is moving to Section 2 from Section 1 but will remain in Class 2A.
Austin is the only boys hockey school that will compete in a different section or class next season. The Packers are moving up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A.
While Austin boys hockey is moving up, Austin girls hockey will move down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Winona is shifting up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A.
South Central will move down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Mankato East will move sections and classes from Section 1-2A to 2-1A.
Austin will move up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. The Packers finished 18th out of 31 teams at this year's Class 1A state swimming and diving meet and seventh of 9 at the Section 1, Class 1A meet. They are now in the same class as Century, Mayo and John Marshall.
Fillmore Central, Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson will jump from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Cannon Falls will remain in Class 2A but will shift from Section 1 to Section 2. Red Wing drops from Section 1-3A to 1-2A.
Randolph will stay in Class 2A but will move from Section 1 to Section 2. Medford, New Richland-H-E-G and Water-Elysian-Morristown will now play in Section 1-1A, moving from 2-2A.
On the softball diamond, Section 1-2A goes from 15 to 17 teams with Fillmore Central, Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson all moving up from 1-1A. Red Wing moves down from 1-3A to join Section 1-2A as well. Cannon Falls and defending Class 2A state champ Randolph will be moving over to Section 2-2A.
Section 1-1A goes from 15 to 13 teams. Blooming Prairie moves from Section 1-1A to 2-2A with Cannon Falls and Randolph. The Section also welcomes New Richland-H-E-G and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
There was less movement when it comes to track and field.
Pine Island boys and girls teams move up from Section 1-1A to Section 1-2A. Plainview-Elgin-Millville boys and girls teams move down to 1-1A.
Tri City United will no longer be in Section 1.
Continue reading...
For reference, according to the MSHSL, here is how it is broken down:
MSHSL enrollment is determined by the schools Minnesota Department of Education enrollment in year one in grades 9 — 12 minus 40 percent of their educational benefit (free and reduced lunch).
According to the MSHSL: The class member schools are placed to perform and compete during the postseason. A member school's MSHSL enrollment determines classification. Schools have the option to both opt up or appeal, if they qualify, down in team sports every two years. Classification is determined on odd-numbered years every two years.
Determined every two years, like classification, member schools are placed by enrollment and geographic location in sports and activities where they compete for postseason play.
With that being said, here is what schools from southeast Minnesota broken down by the respective sport went up or down or changed sections these next two years. Football districts will be finalized in June.
View all competitive sections at MSHSL.org.
The football sections will look a little bit different this year. The Post Bulletin has already mentioned the changes involving Mayo dropping back down to Class 5A, Stewartville going back up to Class 4A and Lourdes dropping down to 2A.
Here are some others:
Lewiston-Altura is now in Section 1-1A, dropping down from Class 2A. That same section will see Southland go up from 9-Player and also the addition of New Richland-H-E-G and United South Central. Rushford-Peterson moves up to Class 2A, while Blooming Prairie not only moves up to Class 2A but will be playing in Section 2. Triton moves from Section 2-2A back to Section 1-2A.
Winona Cotter will be playing in Section 1-3A — up from 1-2A. Meanwhile, Cannon Falls moves from Section 1-2A to Section 4-2A.
There will also be some changes to volleyball sections next season. Blooming Prairie will move up to Section 1, Class 2A from Section 1, Class 1A. Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson will do the same, jumping from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Lewiston-Altura is shifting down to play in Section 1-1A from 1-2A. Red Wing is moving down from Section 1-3A to 1-2A.
Northfield will move sections but stay in the same class, going from Section 6-3A to 1-3A. New Richland-H-E-G is moving sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Medford is moving from Section 1 to Section 2 but will stay in Class 2A.
Over on the pitch, four-time defending Section 2-1A champion Pine Island/Zumbrota boys team and the two-time defending section champ girls squad will be moving back to Section 1 and also move up to Class 2A. Austin boys and girls will be moving up to Section 1-3A after being in 1-2A. Cannon Falls boys and girls soccer moves to Section 2-1A.
Red Wing girls move down to Section 1-1A from 1-2A.
Arguably the biggest news comes in regards to wrestling.
Simley will be moving back to Section 1-2A after spending the last four years in Section 4. Simley had been in Section 1 the previous four years before that, capturing the section title each of those four years. The Spartans had won six consecutive state titles until this year. This means Kasson-Mantorville — the four-time section champs and Class 2A runner-up three of the last four years — and Simley will once again square off in sections along with the perennially strong Cougars of Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Z-M returns most of a lineup that finished as Section 1-2A runner-up last year. It will result in one of the top wrestling programs across the state not making it to the state tournament. It will also make individuals extremely tough.
Winona will now be in that section as well, moving down from 1-3A.
Other notable notes when it comes to Section placement in wrestling is Kenyon-Wanamingo, Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland and Triton moving over to Section 2-1A from Section 1-1A. Section 1-1A will welcome back Caledonia/Houston and La Crescent-Hokah. Caledonia/Houston was the state Class 1A runner-up in 2023.
With Winona moving down, Austin will be moving up to 1-3A.
As for girls wrestling, it is believed they will align with the boys. There is also hope that each of the eight sections will have its own tournament this year. Each of the last three years, there had been four section tournaments with two sections combining.
If this is true that means Grand Meadow — one of southeast Minnesota's largest girls wrestling programs — will be moved to Section 2. That also means reigning 100-pound state champion Adriana Kunz of Triton will be in Section 2.
It is expected girls wrestling placements will be finalized by June.
As for boys basketball adjustments, Blooming Prairie will move sections but remain in the same class, going from Section 1-1A to 2-2A. Two-time defending Section 1, Class 1A champion Goodhue will now play in Section 1-2A, moving up a class.
Rushford-Peterson is moving up to play in Section 1-2A from 1-1A. Lewiston-Altura will shift down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Red Wing will play in Section 1-2A, down from 1-3A.
Medford will move sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Albert Lea will also move both section and class, heading out of 1-1A to 2-2A.
In girls basketball, Goodhue is moving up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Blooming Prairie will play in Section 2-2A, switching section and class from 1-1A. Kenyon-Wanamingo and Rushford-Peterson will play in Section 1-2A, up from 1-1A.
Meanwhile, Lewiston-Altura moves down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Red Wing drops from Section 1-3A to 1-2A. Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy will drop classes from Section 1-2A to 1-1A.
Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons is moving sections to 1-1A from 2-1A. New Richland-H-E-G is shifting sections and classes from Section 2-2A to 1-1A. Albert Lea is moving to Section 2 from Section 1 but will remain in Class 2A.
Austin is the only boys hockey school that will compete in a different section or class next season. The Packers are moving up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A.
While Austin boys hockey is moving up, Austin girls hockey will move down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Winona is shifting up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A.
South Central will move down from Section 1-2A to 1-1A. Mankato East will move sections and classes from Section 1-2A to 2-1A.
Austin will move up from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. The Packers finished 18th out of 31 teams at this year's Class 1A state swimming and diving meet and seventh of 9 at the Section 1, Class 1A meet. They are now in the same class as Century, Mayo and John Marshall.
Fillmore Central, Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson will jump from Section 1-1A to 1-2A. Cannon Falls will remain in Class 2A but will shift from Section 1 to Section 2. Red Wing drops from Section 1-3A to 1-2A.
Randolph will stay in Class 2A but will move from Section 1 to Section 2. Medford, New Richland-H-E-G and Water-Elysian-Morristown will now play in Section 1-1A, moving from 2-2A.
On the softball diamond, Section 1-2A goes from 15 to 17 teams with Fillmore Central, Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson all moving up from 1-1A. Red Wing moves down from 1-3A to join Section 1-2A as well. Cannon Falls and defending Class 2A state champ Randolph will be moving over to Section 2-2A.
Section 1-1A goes from 15 to 13 teams. Blooming Prairie moves from Section 1-1A to 2-2A with Cannon Falls and Randolph. The Section also welcomes New Richland-H-E-G and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
There was less movement when it comes to track and field.
Pine Island boys and girls teams move up from Section 1-1A to Section 1-2A. Plainview-Elgin-Millville boys and girls teams move down to 1-1A.
Tri City United will no longer be in Section 1.
Continue reading...
