Tour of Tournaments: A Closer Look At The Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota State Tournaments
As General Manager of Prep Dig, I wanted to make an instant impact on the 2018 high school season. Being located out of Minneapolis, I made it a point to hit tournaments, week night matches, and the state tournaments in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. I wanted to get a general feel for what the best looked like in each state as we start to dive deeper into our rankings. I wanted to establish strong relationships with high school teams and club coaches in getting to know the programs beyond their record and numbers on a program. Over the past ten days, I did a grand tour, a tour of state tournaments that took me to Green Bay, Wisconsin for three days at the Wisconsin State Tournament, followed by a day and a half at the Iowa State Tournament in Cedar Rapids and coming back to the Minnesota State Tournament in St. Paul. This was quite a ride which included close to 60 teams and their devoted fan bases, hundreds of players, and lot of handshakes with old friends and new. Here is my analysis of each state tournament providing the facts, but of course a little bit of my two cents worth on what each state has to offer.
Wisconsin
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin at the Resch Center (Home of Green Bay Men’s Basketball and the Green Bay Gamblers Hockey Team)
How They Get To State: Wisconsin has four Divisions with D1 being the large schools, all the way down to the small schools in D4.
Division 1 (Large Class) – Geographically split into 8 sections where the Madison area will get one team, Northern and Northwest Wisconsin gets one team, Green Bay/Appleton gets one team, Oshkosh to Northern Milwaukee gets one team, Milwaukee Metro is split into three sections, and then Southeast Wisconsin gets one team. Sectional Finals are played at neutral sites, however this year three of those sectionals were played at the site of the number two seed in the section. Eight teams make it to state where the the top four teams are seeded based on a coaches vote and the next four are randomly placed.
Division 2-Division 4: The state is split into four parts with each section being seeded which usually is split into a Northwest section, a Madison/Western Milwaukee section, a Milwaukee/Lakeshore section, and a Central/Northeast Wisconsin section. Four teams make it to state in D2, D3, and D4 and are not seeded once they get to the state tournament.
Wisconsin State Tournament: Photos https://t.co/a3JbBh1BdP pic.twitter.com/snC7hJifLd
— Prep Dig Wisconsin (@PrepDigWI) November 9, 2018
The State Tournament Structure: All of the Division 1 teams will play their quarterfinals at the Resch Center on Thursday night, splitting the arena into two courts playing simultaneously. The same style of play continues on Friday with each division playing their semifinal matches starting at 10 AM. Fans must by a separate ticket for each division with tickets costing eight dollars. There are four session on Friday. For one person to attend all sessions on Friday, it would be $32. Fans are able to purchase a package from NFHS to stream the games online.
Pre game light show. pic.twitter.com/bROfaserLE
— Prep Dig Wisconsin (@PrepDigWI) November 3, 2018
The Championship: The Resch Center goes from two courts to one for the Championship, before the game there are highlights on the team on the scoreboard above center court of their competition throughout the state tournament. They introduce the non-starters, assistant coaches, followed by the starters and head coach with the lights off and spotlight on. After championship point, the players get introduced individually to receive a medal followed by the team trophy. All Tournament Team is decided by the WVCA (Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association) in which the coach has to be a member in order for their players to receive a vote. That is announced the following Monday.
Overall Thoughts: From the perspective of a fan who would just enjoy watching volleyball, that’s an expensive trip to spend a day at the state tournament, let alone a family. I know there are plenty of variables that go into this, but the seats that would be behind the hockey goal or a basketball hoop are blocked off, fans are sectioned off to be on the sideline. Would be great to see fans be allowed to sit anywhere in the arena and possibly combine sessions for more people to see multiple teams play, the arena always seems half full (if that). There are also conflicts this weekend with state football playoffs, sectional finals in boys volleyball, and state soccer. In Division 3, three of the four teams playing had football teams playing that night (luckily for Stratford their football team was playing just outside of Green Bay that night). I definitely felt bad for Waukesha West in the semifinal match. There was no student section and that is nothing against their students or fans, they had a playoff football game at the same time in their area so to drive two hours Green Bay or to go to a football game close to home is usually a no brainer for most students. What is exciting is the opportunity for change in Wisconsin. The Boys State Volleyball Tournament is coming to Green Bay to join the girls in 2019. With this I hope there could be changes in sessions and tickets along with live streaming to promote the game across the state, as well as more access for fans in the arena.
One area to take a look at is the Milwaukee area, especially in Division 1. There was one section where you had four top ten teams that just beat up on each other, where another that doesn’t have any ranked teams. I don’t have a correct answer, but in Wisconsin, it’s the elephant in the room. You want a balance of geography, but at the same time you want the best teams
Iowa
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the US Cellular Center (Location to many concerts and events Downtown Cedar Rapids)
How They Get To State: Iowa has 5 classes with 5A being the large school class down to 1A which is the small school class. Each year the road to state could be completely different depending on where the top teams are geographically. Regions are released at the beginning of October with “unofficial” seeding. The pairings are well thought out and rarely will you ever see two top ten teams playing to go to the state tournament. For example in Class 2A, Western Christian and Unity Christian ended up in the state championship game despite being from the same county. In Class 1A, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Janesville, and Tripoli all were in the state tournament despite being with in a twenty minute drive of each other. In Class 5A, West Des Moines Valley played Ankeny High and West Des Moines Dowling Catholic played Ankeny Centennial They were all sent in different directions, won their region, and all had a chance to play at state.
For any Iowa fans out there four separate student sections at the Class 4A state tournament joined in the I-O-W-A chant typically done after a Hawkeye Touchdown.@HawkeyeFootball @IowaVolleyball pic.twitter.com/xyPBmm6tKk
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 7, 2018
The State Tournament Structure: The IGHSAU is so detailed to make the experience for the athletes one of the best around. With a hot pink and black design for everything, when teams win their regional final they receive a banner that will go in their gymnasium as well as a enlarged state tournament ticket that says “Ticket Punched”. When they check in as a team at the state tournament there is a large pink and black entrance that says “The Road To State: Must Have Ticket Punched” to enter.
Team Check In At Iowa Girls State TournamentLike I said before the top spin jump serve is making a comeback. @IndeeVolleyball wins set two 29-27 pic.twitter.com/APv6A6umLx
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 7, 2018
The tournament runs Tuesday through Friday with Class 4A and 5A Quarterfinals being played on Tuesday afternoon/evening and Class 3A, 2A, and 1A competing on on Wednesday. Five classes with eight teams each, 40 teams total. The tournament is seeded and provides for some highly competitive matches with the best teams being represented at the state tournament. Admission is $10 where you can watch volleyball from 10 AM to 10 PM. There are plenty of casual volleyball fans with the cozy seating of the US Cellular Center which has been renovated in the past ten years with major upgrades. Only athletes, coaches, media, and staff are allowed on the floor which has the two courts separated by a large net. There is a second deck where the student sections and fans sit with another level above for the next round fans and students to sit as well as other fans of the tournament as well. What is nice for the players is that the arena is connected to a hotel convention center where there are two warm up courts where teams are found peppering or just playing tag.
The Championship: Like Wisconsin, the arena goes from two courts to one and teams are running onto the court with a fog machine and the whole works with introductions. The matches are televised on Iowa Public Television for the whole state to see. This is also the time where they honor the Hall of Fame with a video tribute and a plaque. At the conclusion of the championships match, the all tournament team is announced which seven players are selected with one of them being named captain of the all-tournament team which is essentially the MVP of the tournament. Teams are awarded their trophies, with the winning team receiving a large bouquet of roses, an Iowa tradition.
Overall Thoughts: Details make a big difference and the detailed work with the theme of the IGHSAU is very evident. From the signage, to the floor, the programs, and even the volleyballs there is pink and black everywhere, it is so sharp. A question I always have is the research and model behind the decision of what classes/divisions play at what time. In Iowa and Minnesota the largest schools always play in the morning. The smaller schools tend to play in the afternoon which in most cases for those small schools it means a day off or some type of altered schedule. I think what stands out most is that generally, the matches at state are very competitive and that comes from early and strategic seeding to get the best teams at the state tournament.
Minnesota
Location: St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center (Downtown St. Paul, home of NHL team The Minnesota Wild)
How Teams Get To State: With three classes and eight sections per class, the sections are the same for most sports with schools rotating every few years. The set up is very similar to Iowa and Wisconsin with the section final being held at a neutral site and in some cases those sites being a college campus such as Southwest Minnesota State University or at a city arena like the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Teams within a section will rotate every few years, but I’m still unsure of teams with in the same city or school district. Lakeville South and Lakeville North have been in the top five together the whole year as well as Stewartville and Kasson-Mantorville. South beat North by two points in the 5th set to knock off the defending state champions to advance to state and Kasson-Mantorville beat Stewartville 3-1 in the sub-section before defeating Lake City to get to state in Class AA.
Ready? Set? Spike! The @MSHSL Volleyball State Tournament has taken over #MyXEC for three days of high energy competition! ???? pic.twitter.com/fDLR9MplkI
— Xcel Energy Center (@XcelEnergyCtr) November 8, 2018
The State Tournament Structure: On Thursday, everyone plays their quarterfinal matchups starting at 9 AM with Class AAA (the large school class) and running every two hours with the the last match starting at 7:00 PM. Like Iowa, the admission for a day of volleyball is $10. I saw multiple volleyball shirts and teams who were not in the state tournament there to watch. As for the Class AAA student sections, they are absolutely massive. I know most teams will provide fan buses to the games and in some cases will even get a sponsor for a fan bus to cover the cots which helps build up the attendance. Almost every school will bring their pep band as well. Lakeville South’s pep band filled up a whole section and was similar to a Division 1 pep band.
When Friday rolls around, the schedule is identical to Thursday, however one court is for the semifinal matches where the other court is for the consolation semifinals. Yes, Minnesota plays consolation matches to determine 5th place (if teams do not win their second match they are out, no play out for 7th). Some of these teams are traveling hours from Northern Minnesota, to play multiple matches for them is such a bonus, as well as any player who gets one more match with their teammates.
Saturday starts at 9 AM with the Class A consolation championship and continues with consolation, 3rd place, and championship matches in all three classes.
Love this crowd for the Class AAA state championship between @eaganvolley and @cprebelsvball – @MNPrepSpotlight pic.twitter.com/m2JJSUDKxn
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 10, 2018
The Championship: As far as courts and structure, everything is kept the same. There are still two courts, but at the Xcel Energy Center there is so much room playing inside the boards of an NHL ice rink. There is a big black curtain in the middle to prevent any volleyballs going into play to the other side and plus without the curtain it would be a huge advantage for one side as far as depth perception come serving and passing.
At the conclusion of each match on Championship Saturday (including the consolation matches), teams stand facing the curtain and each player is called to receive a medal while a player on the opposing team comes over and shakes their hand. After each team has received their medals they are awarded their trophies. For the championship game, they have a ten member all tournament team with one player coming from the winner of the 5th place game, one from each team player for third, and three each from the teams playing for the championship.
When your little sister is playing in the State Tournament – you stream the game on the bus! Thanks @MNPrepSpotlight for all of your work to make this happen! #family pic.twitter.com/SNFVqe9KHr
— CSB Volleyball (@SaintBenedictVB) November 8, 2018
Overall Thoughts: I really like the consolation games in Minnesota. For some teams who make it to the state tournament in other states you get off the bus, play for two hours and all of a sudden it’s over. I understand all good things must come to an end, but fans of teams who were playing for consolation trophies were still very supportive.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how massive the Class AAA student sections were. They would take up a whole section and everyone was involved, chanting going on the whole game (some chants I did have to Google – @ Champlin Park Student Section ;). For the most part is was all in good fun, the administrators were there and even participating with them. These are kids having fun at a high school game supporting their classmates. Even members of the crowd were entertained by these fan bases with their creativity and overall support for their team. Who wouldn’t want to play in this environment and if you aren’t playing, how great would it be to be a part of that student section.
What really scares me is that someday more athletes will choose to sit out their high school season, just play club or personal train, and miss out on the opportunity to play in environments with student sections going back and forth and thousands of fans cheering (yes, Minnesota does have more than a thousand fans attend their tournament).
Bittersweet that the 2018 High School season is over. I was able to see teams, meet coaches, athletes, parents, and other media from multiple states. Beyond thankful for this opportunity at @PrepNetwork_ and @PrepDig – we’re only getting started! pic.twitter.com/VRBfiZ7Qt0
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 11, 2018
Final Thoughts:
In closing, I just have to say thank you to the players, coaches, parents, and fans who followed us throughout the season at Prep Dig. We take great pride in writing about the game and all who are involved. In getting to know some of these teams and their story I found myself living the highs and lows of their postseason. This past weekend seeing the final points of the Minnesota high school season come, it was bittersweet to think the season was over. I soon realized club tryouts were the next day, there were all state teams to write about, previews to write for the club season, and a whole lot more to come to finish 2018 and blast into 2019 with Prep Dig. Our best has yet to come 🙂
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