A Handful of Richfield, Holy Angels Teams Change Section Assignments

Every two years the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) takes a look at high school sports class and section assignments and many times implement changes, according to Todd Olson, athletic director at Richfield High School (RHS).

The changes that happen are largely the result of changes in school enrollment, Olson said. Generally, schools are classified based on size which ideally levels the playing field.

In addition, the section assignments are done geographically so that schools are near each other.

The following are the changes for RHS and Holy Angels:

Five Richfield High School athletic teams are shifting not only their sectional classifications, but also their respective classes, with one other Spartans' program shifting from one section to another in the same one-class format, in the new MSHSL competitive section assignments.

Football From 3AAAA to 2AAA

The Richfield football team is moving down a class as of next fall, as the Spartans depart Section 3AAAA for Section 2AAA—changing in former rivals like neighboring Holy Angels for a batch that includes Minneapolis Washburn. Other than Washburn and St. Paul Highland Park, many of Richfield's new 3AAAA competitors are from outside the metro area, including: Waconia's Holy Family Catholic, Jordan, Saint Peter, Belle Plaine and Waseca.

Dance From 1AA to 2A

and high kick dance teams will move down from Section 1AA to Section 2A in the new alignment, meaning the Spartans will no longer compete sectionally against neighboring Holy Angels. Like with football, Richfield's new closest sectional rival will be Washburn and a majority of the Spartans other 2A competitors coming from outside of the metro.

Gymnastics from 6AA to 5A

With its two state participants graduating this spring, the moves down from Section 6AA to Section 5A. The Spartans will trade Minneapolis South and Southwest for North, Patrick Henry, Roosevelt and Washburn as those four schools comprise the bulk of the 5A grouping along with Breck, Delano, Mound-Westonka, Orono and Rockford.

Volleyball from 6AAA to 4AA

Swapping postseason opponents such as Eden Prairie, Edina and Hopkins for city school teams from Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Richfield volleyball team will go from Section 6AAA to Section 4AA next fall. Also joining the Spartans in 4AA are a number of smaller private-school teams and one charter school squad.

Wrestling from 6AAA to 5AA

The , which co-oped with Edina during its pre-sectional schedule this past season, is slated to move from Section 6AAA to Section 5AA. Richfield joins Minneapolis Edison, Roosevelt and Washburn, along with private-school programs Benilde-St. Margaret's and Totino-Grace, among others in the grouping.

However, coaches and athletic directors are working with MSHSL to form an official co-op between Edina and Richfield. If this happens it would place Richfield in Section 2AAA with Edina, according to Josh Burhans, Edina wrestling coach.

Alpine Ski From Section 6 to 4

Alpine skiing, a sport with only one class, is the only instance where Richfield changes section—from 6 to 4—without eliminating an "A." Section 6 is a large one, with 21 teams spanning the south and east metro in a crescent from Minneapolis Southwest all the way to White Bear Lake. The Spartans' previous section was made up mostly of schools from the south and west metro.

Holy Angels found its sectional assignments largely unchanged—save mostly for two teams that are not only moving to new sections, but new classes—while one other Stars' program shifts from one massive section to another.

Girls Hockey From 2AA to 5A

The will be moving down from Class AA to Class A as it exchanges its spot in Section 2AA, where it shared a bracket with state runner-up Edina, for a position in Section 5A. Holy Angels will share 5A with neighboring Richfield, yet will also have to contend with small-school powers Blake and Breck.

Volleyball From 4AA to 3AAA

Holy Angels' volleyball team moves up from Section 4AA to 3AAA after facing a number of big-school opponents in its regular-season schedule last season. The Stars are the only non-public school team in their new classification, a meat-grinder of a bracket that includes defending state champion Lakeville North.

Alpine Ski From Section 6 to 4

Alpine skiing, a sport with only one class, is the only instance where Holy Angels changes section—from 6 to 4—without adding or eliminating an "A." Section 6 is a large one, with 21 teams spanning the south and east metro in a crescent from Minneapolis Southwest all the way to White Bear Lake.The Stars' previous section was made up mostly of schools from the south and west metro.