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PREP ATHLETICS: MSHSL redraws section lines

MARSHALL — Around the state of Minnesota, schools are divided into competitive sections by the Minnesota State High School League using both enrollment numbers and geography. These sections are reassessed every two seasons.

On Thursday, the MSHSL board of directors approved the list of competitive section assignments for both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Among the 11 schools in the Marshall Independent coverage area, only three teams will change sections due to the realignment. However, many more changes in the broader region of southwest Minnesota will also affect these schools. Here’s a look at those changes, divided by seasons.

Fall

Coming off back-to-back trips to the 9-man state tournament, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton football team will move back up to the 11-man ranks and will play in Section 3A. This move puts the Knights in the same section as programs like Murray County Central, Wabasso and Adrian.

Also moving into Section 3A football are Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda and Martin County West. Those three programs will take the place of Cedar Mountain/Comfrey, New Ulm Cathedral and Minnesota Valley Lutheran. CM/C will switch to 9-man football and were placed in 9-man Section 2, while NUC and MVL were shifted over to Section 2A.

After four years at the 9-man level, MACCRAY will also return to the 11-man ranks and be placed in Section 5A. The Wolverines will take the place of Ortonville, which slides back down to 9-man football and was placed in Section 4.

The only regional change in volleyball involves Windom Area, which will move up from Section 3A to Section 3AA for the next two seasons.

In cross country, the lone regional change comes in Section 2AA. Joining Marshall in the section will be St. Peter, which competed in Section 2A this past season.

St. Peter is also one of two schools — Jordan the other — switching from Section 2A to Section 2AA in girls tennis.

On the soccer pitch, the Northfield girls soccer team moves out of Marshall’s section and up a level to compete in Section 1AA.

Winter

On the wrestling mat, the lone change in the coverage area is for Fulda/MCC, which will drop from Section 3AA to Section 3A. It will essentially swap places with Windom/Mountain Lake, which moves from Section 3A to Section 3AA. Also joining Section 3AA is Litchfield, which previously has competed in Section 6AA.

Only one regional change in Section 3A boys basketball, as Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg departs for Section 6A.

Martin County West will move down from Section 3AA to Section 2A in both boys and girls basketball. It’s part of a larger shift for MCW, which will compete at the Class A level in all sports.

Spring

The final change for a local team comes on the golf course, as the Minneota boys golf team will shift from Section 5A to Section 3A beginning in the 2020 season. The move doesn’t affect the Minneota girls golf program, which will remain in Section 5A. Also moving out of Section 5A is the Osakis boys golf team. In Section 3AA, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City joins the section from Section 4A.

In girls golf, West Central Area will switch from Section 5A to Section 6A, while Martin County West joins Section 3A from Section 3AA. Also leaving Section 3AA is Fairmont, which will compete in Section 2AA.

In baseball, KMS will move out of Section 3A next season to compete in Section 6A, while Section 3AA’s only change is MCW’s move to Section 2A.

Joining Section 3A in boys and girls track and field next year are Ortonville, Benson/KMS and ACGC. Ortonville and Benson/KMS will join from Section 6A, while ACGC has previously competed in Section 5A.

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