First day of official high school fall practice is today

Here we go again!

The start of official high school practices for the 2023-24 school year begins today and the Minnewaska Area Lakers are set to commence with cross-country, football, soccer, swimming and diving, volleyball and girls tennis practices sometime today.

And, it won’t be long before the start of the fall season as the girls tennis team is set to play at Park Rapids, Friday and Saturday, and the Laker volleyball team is set to host a volleyball scrimmage in the main gym Friday morning.

Jared Lyle is back as the head coach of the football Lakers, while Michele Johnson is the head coach of volleyball, Sam Oeillien is back for her second year as head coach of the swimming Gators, longtime tennis coach Tara Reichmann returns as the girls tennis coach, Jennifer Johnsrud is back as the girls and boys cross-country coach, and David Vinje takes over as the new boys soccer coach, replacing longtime coach Ted Hill, who retired last fall after 27 years at the helm.

Among the other new coaches this fall at MAHS is Bailey Gronner, the new assistant volleyball coach; Caleb Greene (assistant) and Jarrid Jergenson (jr. high), assistant coaches with the soccer program; and Jeremy Christianson (assistant), Brian Gruber (9th grade) and Zach Traphagen (9th grade), who are assisting with the football program. 

Some important dates to look forward to this fall is Homecoming at MAHS, Friday, Sept. 29 when the Lakers host Rockford, and the Minnewaska Cross-County Invitational, set for Tuesday, Oct. 10.

A complete fall sports schedule for Minnewaska can be found on page 10B.