News

Creating great experiences. Connecting students with caring adults. Teaching life lessons. These are what make the foundation of each athletic and activity team and club offered at Spring Lake Park High School.

With 14 girls’ sports, 14 boys’ sports and 40 student-based interest clubs and co-curricular activities, there is an abundance of opportunities for each student to find connection, belonging and purpose.

“I was thrilled to see our students, families and community fully back on the field, court, stage and stands throughout this fall season,” says Will Wackman, Director of Athletics and Activities. “With nearly 85 percent participation, we know how important these opportunities are for our students.”

There were many shining moments this fall season from high school students involved in athletics, co-curricular activities and fine arts. Check out some highlights.

Athletic team and individual highlights

• Boys' Soccer
  • Upset #4 rated team in section semi-finals
  • Abdual Akinola was named All-State
• Football – For the 4^th year in a row, the team won The Block against rival Irondale
• Tennis
  • All-Section players had at least two matches
  • Katrina Siskova finished 3rd place in section individuals
• Volleyball - Section semi-finalist
• Cross Country – Kaityln Finnegan was a state participant who finished 69th place
• NWSC all-conference - 19 student-athletes were named all-conference honorees
• National Signing Day - Six student-athletes signed their national letters of intent to continue their education and play their sport at the collegiate level
  • Logan Kinsey - Minnesota State University, Moorhead (Basketball)
  • Will Kinsey - Minnesota State University, Moorhead (Basketball)
  • Mason Roloff - University of Minnesota (Golf)
  • Abbey Johnson - Minnesota State University, Moorhead (Soccer)
  • Audrey Benderski - Le Moyne University (Softball)
  • Victoria LaBerge - Dartmouth (Track & Field)

Clubs and Co-curricular team and individual highlights

• Bowling – The Spring Lake Park Red Bowling Team won the 9th Annual Mankato Invitational High School Bowling Tournament, beating out 23 other teams for the title
• FCCLA – Three FCCLA members competed in the National FCCLA Fall Conference Skills event:
  • Evan Jefferson - 1st place in the Culinary Math Challenge 
  • Sofia Arana - 1st place in the Nutrition Challenge
  • Jace Bancroft - 4th place in the Culinary Math
• Trap/Skeet
  • Team placed 3rd in the conference
  • Mason Meyer finished 10th place at Skeet State
  • Makenna Fredrickson finished 4th place at conference in the female division
• Panther Mentors – Hosted Pizza on the Plaza during which gave freshman students a chance to interact while enjoying pizza and watching a football game together 

Fine Arts highlights

• Showcase 2021: “Made in Minnesota" – a concert that featured band and choir students as well as local guest artists
• SLPHS theater - "Shakespeare in Hollywood"
• Fine Arts Festival - Minnetonka Center for the Arts

Connection, belonging and purpose

Across athletics and activities, adult coaches and advisors work hard to create a sense of belonging and help strengthen connections students feel to school and peers. It’s about finding connection and also developing life skills.

Head Panther football coach John Stewart knows winning games is only a part of what student-athletes should be taking away from their football experience. Each season, the program fills out a Pyramid of Success where students map out their goals for the season – both on and off the field.

“By identifying the various goals they want to achieve, students are taking ownership of their season and are developing the mindset they need if they want to be successful,” says John Stewart. “The thinking behind the Pyramid of Success is that each tiny effort builds on the next so that brick by brick, magnificent things can be accomplished. As a coaching staff, we hope that thinking continues long after football and high school.”

The football team achieved many goals on the Pyramid of Success this fall, including winning The Block, having multiple players in the 230 weightlifting club and earning an academic team award.

For senior Carissa Roell, having an overall great team environment on the tennis team is what made her experience so positive.

I’ve been involved in other sports in the community and what sets it apart from my time on the SLPHS tennis team is how fun, positive and inclusive the team is, which makes it that much better to play. It has been an amazing experience and I hope the program continues to grow so others will get to be a part of those amazing experiences as well. Carissa Roell, senior

On to the next season

With a successful fall season in the rearview mirror, winter athletic and activities are now in full swing.

“It was a great fall season and I’m looking forward to what the winter season brings,” says Will. “We encourage everyone in the community to venture out and see the awesome things happening in athletics, activities and fine arts.”

Check out fall highlight photos