Outside Looking In
Magic water
In the iconic Field of Dreams baseball movie, Terence Mann, played by James Earl Jones, delivers an emotional and inspirational speech. If a few of the words were changed, this speech could be about Minneota high school sports instead of the baseball message Mann was giving.
The speech goes:
"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
Now, let's remove and chance a few of the words and replay the speech.
"People will come. They'll come to Minneota just to see how these sports team keep winning. They'll arrive at the games as innocent as children, longing for the answers. Of course, we don't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $6 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it's money they have but titles they lack. They'll sit in the bleachers and watch the games, hoping to find where the Vikings' sports teams get the magic waters that they dip themselves in. People will come. The one constant in Minneota through all the years has been winning. The Vikings have rolled over opponents like steamrollers. The sports seasons have been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But winning has marked the time here. This school, these programs: it's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that was good and will be again. Oh ... people will come. People will most definitely come."
There have been individual sports team dynasties, such as Edina's long string of tennis titles, New London-Spicer’s perennial trips to the state tournament in girls’ basketball, Warroad in hockey, and Eden Prairie in football, to name a few. But none of them consistently have also won state titles in other sports at the same time.
Rochester Lourdes has amassed 48 team championships over the years. There are others schools who also boast 40-plus team championship, but these larger schools also offer other sports such as boys and girls tennis, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls hockey, and gymnastics that smaller schools like Minneota doesn't.
In the the modern era, no one can match the consistent state championship appearances or state titles like Minneota does. The girls' basketball, football and volleyball teams were even headed to possible state titles when COVID reared its ugly head in 2020 and cancelled state tournaments.
The Minneota volleyball and football teams each reached state title games last season, only to each lose to Mayer Lutheran. Many observers felt those teams would not be back because they each lost several key performers to graduation.
But here they both were again, steamrolling their way to another state title.
So, what is the secret? Well, it's a combination of several things. Coaching plays a big part. Minneota is blessed with having quality and dedicated head and assistant coaches. The athletes, obviously, are another big part. They are not only talented, but hard-working, dedicated and have an understanding of how vital teamwork is. Feeder programs also are a part of the equation, as well as parents and their desire to live out of a vehicle for many years when toting their children to various sporting events before they reach high school age.
It also just might be what many opposing fans have thought for years .... there's something in the water in Minneota.
So, if you happen to see out-of-towners filling their water jugs from the banks of the Yellow Medicine River that runs through Minneota, you'll know why.
Football absent
It's hard to believe, but for 15 years there was no football played in Minneota due to the protests of many taxpayers who felt it was unnecessary to spend money for a second athletic program (besides boys' basketball). So, from 1914-1929, Minneota did not field a team as it has prior to the 1914 season.
When football resumed in 1929, the Vikings opened the season in late September at Ivanhoe and were clobbered by a score of 73-0. Still, Minneota fans took solace in that the team held Ivanhoe to only three touchdowns in the second half after they had produced eight in the first half.
That was also the first game coaching for Ivanhoe's Horace Frisby, who would go on to enjoy a 40-year coaching career.