Every two years, it seems like the MSHSL shifts enough schools around and we have a domino effect in our Section. With three subsections, it is challenging to keep the size of the subsections equitable. To keep things similar in size, many schools are criss-crossing or traveling greater distances. With Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart and LeCenter-Cleveland being added for 2012, our northern subsection needed significant change. Schools like MVL, NUC would go to 6, St. Clair, Madelia and MCW would go to 5, and Waseca would go to 7. Establishing a N/S subsection would allow things to be fairly consistent from year to year.
Some of the current problems with 3 subsections involve having single-sections of categories where there really is no competition for Section spots. For example, in Sub 5, all 4 Great Speech kids advanced automatically this year. Over the past few years, this has been the case with other categories. Having 13-14 schools in a subsection should get all categories to at least two rooms of competition. Based on our numbers over the past decade, each subsection would have about 200 kids, which is still a small tournament compared to most regular season events. The N/S subsection change would also give more significance to the six subsection medals. Now, only the top four matter. With the N/S subsection, all six medals would mean the student has advanced to Sections. 5th place would no longer be a downer. This would make tie-breakers important to get six into subsection finals, and situations where 7 or 8 make finals would increase the drama for that final spot.
North Subsection
Host: JWP
North Subsection (13)
St. Peter
Loyola
River Valley
JWP
MVL
NUC
BL-H-S
Waseca
WEM
Kenyon-Wanamingo
Cedar-Mountain
LeCenter-Cleveland
Cannon Valley
South Subsection
Host: Fairmont
South Subsection (14)
Fairmont
Windom
Maple River
MCW
BEA
Blooming Prairie
Jackson County
USC
NRHEG
MLBO
Mountain Lake Christian
Madelia
St. Clair
Alden-Conger
Proposed Alignment
Every two years, it seems like the MSHSL shifts enough schools around and we have a domino effect in our Section. With three subsections, it is challenging to keep the size of the subsections equitable. To keep things similar in size, many schools are criss-crossing or traveling greater distances. With Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart and LeCenter-Cleveland being added for 2012, our northern subsection needed significant change. Schools like MVL, NUC would go to 6, St. Clair, Madelia and MCW would go to 5, and Waseca would go to 7. Establishing a N/S subsection would allow things to be fairly consistent from year to year.
Some of the current problems with 3 subsections involve having single-sections of categories where there really is no competition for Section spots. For example, in Sub 5, all 4 Great Speech kids advanced automatically this year. Over the past few years, this has been the case with other categories. Having 13-14 schools in a subsection should get all categories to at least two rooms of competition. Based on our numbers over the past decade, each subsection would have about 200 kids, which is still a small tournament compared to most regular season events. The N/S subsection change would also give more significance to the six subsection medals. Now, only the top four matter. With the N/S subsection, all six medals would mean the student has advanced to Sections. 5th place would no longer be a downer. This would make tie-breakers important to get six into subsection finals, and situations where 7 or 8 make finals would increase the drama for that final spot.
North Subsection
Host: JWP
North Subsection (13)
St. Peter
Loyola
River Valley
JWP
MVL
NUC
BL-H-S
Waseca
WEM
Kenyon-Wanamingo
Cedar-Mountain
LeCenter-Cleveland
Cannon Valley
South Subsection
Host: Fairmont
South Subsection (14)
Fairmont
Windom
Maple River
MCW
BEA
Blooming Prairie
Jackson County
USC
NRHEG
MLBO
Mountain Lake Christian
Madelia
St. Clair
Alden-Conger