News

A new year of Panther athletics and activities brought an abundance of opportunities for each student to find connection, belonging and purpose.

“It was an exciting fall season for our students,” says Will Wackman, director of athletics and activities. “It’s great to see students thrive in our established offerings as well as dive into new opportunities available to them this year. It is also great to see our Panther community supporting students along the way.”

This year, there are 15 girls’ sports, 15 boys’ sports and 47 student-based interest clubs and co-curricular activities. Nearly 85 percent of high school students are involved in at least one sport, club or activity. The goal is for each of our students to engage and find something to participate in.

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

Athletic team and individual highlights

• Cross Country: Junior Reilly Kopp finished 99^th place at the state cross-country meet
• Football:
  • Section 6AAAAA section final runner-up
  • For the 5th year in a row, the team won The Block against rival Irondale
• Girls Swim & Dive:
  • Placed 1st at the Cambridge Invite
  • Placed 2nd at the Panther Invite
• Volleyball:  Varsity team earned a Silver Academic Award
• National Signing Day - Two student-athletes signed their national letters of intent to continue their education and play their sport at the collegiate level
  • Isaac Morton - Texas A&M (baseball)
  • Ashley Stewart - North Dakota State University (Track & Field)
• Girls Soccer Coach Mindy Daugherty: Section 5AAA Coach of the Year
• Former Boys Basketball Coach Grant Guzy: named 1 of 6 to be inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame by The MN Basketball Coaches Association.

Clubs and Co-curricular team and individual highlights

• Bowling Team:
  • The Spring Lake Park varsity bowling team won the Minnesota High School Bowling's 2022 Class AA Varsity State Tournament
  • The Spring Lake Park junior varsity bowling team won the Class AA JV State Tournament
• Math Team: Freshman Sam Kretzschmar competed in a National Math Competition at Berkeley
• Panther Mentors: Hosted a Respect Retreat for 9th grade students to practice positive leadership
• Trap Team:
  • Team Rank – 2nd in Conference
  • Individual conference Champion - Mason Meyer
  • Trap Male All-Conference (Top 10) - Mason Meyer, Jordan Rodenborg, Alex Taylor
  • Trap Female All-Conference (Top 10) - Makena Fredrickson
• Skeet Team:
  • Team Rank – 3rd in Conference
  • Skeet Male All-Conference (Top 10) - Mason Meyer, Caleb Marlowe
  • Skeet Female All-Conference (Top 10)- Makena Fredrickson
• Sporting Clays Team
  • Team Rank – 2nd in Conference/State
  • Sporting Clays Male All-Conference (Top 10) - Cole Thompson, Mason Meyer
  • Sporting Clays Female All-Conference (Top 10) - Makena Fredrickson

Fine Arts highlights

• SLPHS theater: Fall production of "Peter and the Starcatcher"
• Fine Arts Festival: Minnetonka Center for the Arts - a day designed to highlight the creativity of our students

New year, new opportunities

Along with other established sports and club offerings, there are a handful of new and exciting opportunities for students to get involved in this year.

Walking into a classroom at Park Terrace Elementary, excited chatter filled the air as Spring Lake Park High School and Park Terrace students partnered up and began to decorate their buddy folders. While the younger students colored and picked out stickers for their folder, the older students asked questions such as, “What did you do last weekend and “What was your favorite part of today?”

This gathering was possible because of Panther Buddies, a new student interest-based club that pairs a high school student with a student a Park Terrace who shares similar interests for a once a week meet up.

“The goal of Panther Buddies is to provide a positive role model for these younger students,” says Whitney Fenne, Panther Buddies advisor and social worker at Spring Lake Park High School.  

Freshman Priya Roopansingh joined Panther Buddies because she enjoys being around kids.

It brings me joy to put a smile on their face. I’m looking forward to meeting new people through the club and getting to know and see my buddy each week. Freshman Priya Roopansingh

Each week brings a new activity for the Panther Buddies pairs to dive into and connect.

“These weekly gatherings really foster community and are a space where our younger students can slow down and talk about what’s currently exciting them or maybe something that’s worrying them,” says Heather Deutsch, Panther Buddies facilitator and Park Terrace social worker. “These students all come from loving homes, and this is just another place they interact with someone who cares about them that isn’t an adult.”

Other new offerings include Alpine Skiing, Muslim Women's Society, Equestrian Club, E-Sports and Activities Club.

“We want each and every one of our students to get involved and find something that interests them,” says Will. “If there isn’t a current offering that sparks your interest and you would like to start your own club, stop by or reach out to our activities and athletics department - I am happy to have that conversation and see what we can do.”

On to the next season

With a great fall season in the books, we now look forward to the winter athletics and activities season.

“Our winter season is underway, and I can’t wait to see what our Panthers will accomplish,” says Will. “Our students, families and community members are welcome to join us as we cheer on students in athletics, activities and fine arts.”

Check out fall highlight photos