The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) announced yesterday that it will be cancelling the spring sports regular season and postseason. The following statement was issued by the MSHSL.

“Consistent with Executive Order 20-41 issued by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on April 23, 2020, to extend the Distance Learning Period through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors has declared that effective immediately:

• Minnesota State High School League spring athletics and fine arts have been cancelled for their remainder of their seasons. This includes all participation in MSHSL events including, but not limited to, practices, tryouts, scrimmages, contests, and competitions as well as postseason tournaments.

• With this cancellation, all athletics are out of season. The provisions of Bylaw 208-Non-School Competition and Training are in effect.

At its meeting on Friday, April 24, 2020, the MSHSL Board of Directors will review related rules, policies, and bylaws that impact participation based on this cancellation. Additional information and guidance for schools will be provided. The MSHSL strongly encourages all students, coaches, advisors, officials and directors to adhere to all aspects of the Stay-At-Home order and participate fully in all recommended safety practices including social distancing, hand washing, covering their coughs and sneezes, and limiting unnecessary contact with others.”

We are disappointed that spring activities have officially ended. Our hearts break for our seniors who may not have the opportunity to perform or compete again. Information regarding prom, graduation, and the academic awards ceremony will be sent out in the coming days from the high school office.

Full refunds will be issued for spring activities. If the fee was paid by credit card, fees will be refunded back to the card. For those that paid with check or cash, checks will be mailed directly to families using addresses found in Infinite Campus. If these addresses are incorrect, please contact Jordan Paula and Kristi Davis at 507-934-4212 or jpaula@stpeterschools and kdavis@stpeterschools.org. Expect processing to take two to three weeks. 

Again, our thoughts are with the class of 2020 and all impacted families of ISD 508. Saints Nation will come back stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Jordan Paula
Activities Director
Saint Peter Public Schools

SPHS wins two of three trials during state competition in St. Paul

Congrats to the Saint Peter High School Mock Trial team which placed fifth out of 16 schools at the Minnesota State Mock Trial Tournament held at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul this past Thursday and Friday.

Team members include (listed alphabetically), John Borgmeier, Erin Hill, Rahima Jamac, Rahma Jamac, Anna LoFaro, Sophie Matarrese, Paige Meyer, Charlie Redmond, and Miranda Seham. Coaches are Dan Clark and Kyle Hilding along with the team's special legal counsel, Judge Allison Krehbiel, Jim Dunn and Joe Bergstrom.

In addition to the fifth-place team finish, Rahma Jamac and Rahima Jamac were named All-State Attorneys while Erin Hill was named All-State Witness.

The Saints won two of three trials at state, defeating Northfield in the first round and Lakeville South in the third round. The only setback for the locals was a close loss to eventual state champion, Nova Classical Academy in the second round. 

The fifth-place finish ties for the second-best finish in SPHS history at state. The 2012 Saints team tied for third and the 2015 SPHS squad also placed fifth at state.

For more information on the state tournament scoring results go to https://www.mnbar.org/docs/default-source/mock-trial-forms/2020-power-matching-worksheet---final.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Congrats to the SPHS Varsity Mock Trial team for earning a trip to the Minnesota State Mock Trial Tournament by defeating Rochester Century in the Region 5 championship on Friday.

Team members pictured here, include:. front row, Miranda Seham, Paige Meyer, Rahima Jamac; back row, Rahma Jamac, Anna LoFaro, John Borgmeier, Charlie Redmond, Erin Hill, and Sophie Matarrese. The Saints' Mock Trial team's head coach is Dan Clark with Kyle Hilding serving as a teacher coach, and special team legal counselors includes Judge Allison Krehbiel, Jim Dunn and Joe Bergstrom.

The Saints advance to the state tournament in St. Paul on March 5-6 and will compete against Cloquet, Albany, Watertown-Mayer, Luverne, Northfield, Nova Classical Academy, Visitation, Eastview, East Ridge, Apple Valley, Breck, Eden Prairie, Lakeville North and Lakeville South.

For more information on the Minnesota State Mock Trial Tournament go to https://www.mnbar.org/public-resources/mock-trial/state-tournament.

There will be a Saint Peter High School/Middle School parent-athlete-coach meeting on Monday, March 9, in the SPHS gym at 5:30 p.m. for all spring sports for grades 7-12. Attendance is not required, but highly encouraged.

There will be a brief large group meeting regarding eligibility and general athletics information and then it will break off to sport-specific meetings to meet coaches and talk through sport-specific scheduling and expectations. All meetings will conclude prior to the 7th and 8th grade band concert that evening.

Parents are encouraged to register their students in their activities prior to attending the meeting at https://stpeteractivities.cf.affinetysolutions.com/

Sports Include:

Adaptive Bowling - Head Coach Kris Voeltz

Boys Track and Field - Head Coach Keith Hanson
Girls Track and Field - Head Coach Jeff Portugue
MS Boys Track and Field - Head Coach Kris Glidden
MS Girls Track and Field - Head Coach Bill Stuewe

Baseball - Head Coach Kurt Moelter
8th Baseball - Head Coach Andy Viker
7th Baseball - Head Coach Ryan Timmerman

Softball - Head Coach Heidi Niemeyer
MS Softball - Head Coach Abby Whritenour

Boys Tennis - Head Coach Aaron Rothenberger

Boys Golf - Head Coach Neil Doose
Girls Golf - Head Coach Pat Klubben

If you have any questions, please contact the Activities Office at 507-934-4212 Ext. 6025

Saint Peter High School’s speech team continued a busy stretch of the 2020 season with varsity meets at Mankato West (Feb. 15) and Mankato Loyola (Feb. 8) recently.

The Saints won the team title at West’s Scarlet Invitational out of 12 teams and during the previous weekend placed second out of 17 teams. 

Breeley Ruble (Drama), Josh Ellerbeck (Humorous), and Sky Gassman (Poetry) took home first-place honors in their respective categories at the West meet while Ellerbeck (Humorous), David Marlow (Creative Expression), and Liliana Hughes (Storytelling) earned individual titles at Loyola. 

Runner-up finishers at West included Marlow (Creative Expression), Megan Beran (Extemporaneous Reading), and Obet Alcantara Alvarez (Humorous), while Beran (Extemporaneous Reading) and Rahma Jamac (Original Oratory) placed second at Loyola.

SCARLET INVITATIONAL

Team results (top 5 of 12) - 1. St. Peter 162; 2. Fairmont 144; 3. Mankato Loyola 62; 4. Mankato West 58; 5. Mankato East 44.

Saints individuals
Creative Expression - 2. David Marlow; 6. Tara Harbo
Drama - 1. Breeley Ruble
Duo - 5. David Marlow & Uwumborge Baji
Extemporaneous Reading - 2. Megan Beran; 3. Madelyn Tollefson; 4. Paige Meyer
Extemporaneous Speaking - 4. Elliot Schrumpf
Great Speeches - 3. Hannah Wohlers; 4. Lillie Sund; 5. Miranda Seham
Humorous - 1. Josh Ellerbeck; 2. Obet Alcantara Alvarez; 6. Maddie Doose
Original Oratory - 1. Eva Kracht; 4. Vanessa Krueger
Poetry - 1. Sky Gassman; 3. Aubry Landsom; 3. Rahima Jamac
Prose - 2. Anders Taylor; 4. Piper Ruble

CRUSADER CLASSIC

Team results (top 5 of 17) - 1. Fairmont 154; 2. St. Peter 120; 3. Mankato Loyola 48; 4. Mankato East 44; 5. Mankato West 38.

Saints individuals
Creative Expression - 1. David Marlow
Extemporaneous Reading - 2. Megan Beran; 3. Paige Meyer; 6. Madelyn Tollefson
Great Speeches - 4. Lillie Sund; 5. Hannah Wohlers; 6. Miranda Seham
Humorous - 1. Josh Ellerbeck; 4. Obet Alcantara Alvarez
Original Oratory - 2. Rahma Jamac; 3. Eva Kracht; 5. Vanessa Krueger
Poetry - 3. Rahima Jamac; 4. Sky Gassman
Prose - 4. Anders Taylor; 5. Shelby Beaudoin
Storytelling - 1. Liliana Hughes

SPHS REMAINING VARSITY SPEECH SCHEDULE
Feb. 29 - at Medford
March 7 - at Shakopee 
March 14 - at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton
March 17 - Sub-Section meet at Mound-Westonka
March 19 - Big South Conference meet at Marshall
April 4 - Section 2AA meet at Mankato East
April 17 - MN State AA Tournament at Wayzata