(KNSI) – There are big changes in store for some local sports teams as the Minnesota State High School League begins reclassifying squads for the next two years.
Enrollment cutoffs for each class by sport have been released, and they will add some fuel to an already hot hockey rivalry. Sartell High School’s projected enrollment is 1,173 students, which would facilitate a move down to Class A. They will almost certainly share a section with St. Cloud Cathedral, which has made back-to-back state title game appearances. Sauk Rapids-Rice will also be in Class A on the ice with 1,163 students.
Cathedral’s enrollment will lead to a drop to Class AA in football. At 307 students, it misses the cutoff to stay up a level by six kids. In recent years, Cathedral’s schedule had already included games against Holdingford and Eden Valley-Watkins.
One of the more notable changes will happen on the gridiron. St. Cloud Tech football is moving down to Class AAAA after it appealed to the MSHSL for an exception. The Tigers have had a rough go of it in recent seasons, winning a total of four games since 2021. They were 2-7 a year ago. The move mirrors a drop down in competition level for St. Cloud Apollo. They had played in AAA on a two-year trial basis, which has been extended.
Playing at a lower competition level is not necessarily a cure-all. The Eagles were 1-8 in both 2023 and 2024, losing to squads like Cathedral and Foley. The Tigers will probably take on state powerhouses such as ROCORI and Becker in the years to come.
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