March 9, 2009
2009 Minnesota State High School Championships
2009 Minnesota State High School Championships
By Mitchell Seidenfeld
Eagan High School is the 2009 Minnesota State High School Table Tennis Team Champion! Their coach, Scott Nichols, can finally relax after regaining the crown that his team has won three of the four years that the competition has been organized . Eagan avenged last year’s heartbreaking (8-7) loss to Eden Prairie H.S. by defeating the Minnesota high school sports powerhouse in this year’s final (8-6). They also overcame a tough challenge in the semi-finals by defeating a hungry, young Wayzata team (8-5).
Carl Rickard – Wayzata
Eagan’s success stems from the fact that the tournament format rewards teams for developing depth rather than just having the best player or two. A 10-person team must win eight matches out of 10 singles and 5 doubles matches to win a team tie. Each player is capable of supplying, at most, a point and a half for their team. Wayzata senior, Nancy Chen, is the Minnesota Women’s State Champion and an AAU Junior Olympic gold medalist, but she knew from her team’s 9th place finish in last year’s tournament that she had to develop her team’s other nine players for them to have any chance at winning a medal this year. She added extra team practices, scheduled scrimmages with other schools, and encouraged several of her teammates to attend coaching sessions at the local table tennis club. The extra effort paid off in the form of a bronze medal when Wayzata defeated Lakeville South (8-2) in the battle for third place.
Edina Team
This year’s tournament brought with it many signs of improvement. Life Time Fitness in Bloomington, MN reserved both of their gyms for the entire day on Sunday, February 8th, to accommodate 16 Butterfly tables, 148 athletes, and the many coaches, volunteers, and spectators that make this event so special. Every team was outfitted in school colors and several teams performed spirited school chants and unifying rituals. Most encouraging was the addition of six new high schools: Mpls. South, Mpls. Southwest, St. Paul Harding, St. Louis Park, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and Chaska. Benilde-St. Margaret’s won the consolation bracket with their victory over St. Paul Harding (8-0).
2009 Minnesota High School
Table Tennis Rankings
1. Eagan
2. Eden Prairie
3. Wayzata
4. Lakeville South
5. Mpls. Southside A
6. Edina
7. Burnsville
8. St. Louis Park
9. Benilde-St. Margaret’s
10. St. Paul Harding
11. Chaska
12. Academy of Holy Angels A
13. Mpls. Southside B
14. Academy of Holy Angels B
Lakeville South
Mpls. Southside coach, Thor Truelson, imparts some wisdom to his team.
Benilde-St. Margaret's won the consolation bracket.
St. Paul Harding high five.
Burnsville
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