On Sunday March 8, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) made changes to the existing sections for all sports. The new sections will be in place starting in the 2015-16 school year and last through the 2016-17 school year.

According to their website, the MSHSL makes changes every two years based on new information involving school enrollments and if they cut or added sports programs. They try to make as minimal changes as possible, but start over from scratch every six years.

This year happens to be one of those “start over from scratch” years. Chris Franson, an employee at MSHSL, was responsible for making every section assignment in all classes across the state. The success of schools in a particular sport has no effect on what section they are placed in.

Here is an example of next years boys and girls basketball section:

HHS

Minneapolis South High School

Minneapolis Southwest High School

Minneapolis Washburn High School

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School

Robbinsdale Cooper High School

St. Louis Park High School

Wayzata High School

In contrast, this years boys and girls basketball sections are as follows:

HHS

Eden Prairie High School

Edina High School

Minnetonka High School

Minneapolis South High School

Minneapolis Southwest High School

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School

St. Louis Park High School

The noticeable changes in the section is the lack of Lake Conference teams in the new section and that, for basketball, the new section seems like an easier road to state than the current section.

Here is a link to the MSHSL section re-assignment page to find out what section your sport will be in next year: http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/SectionAssignments.asp