
Hill-Murray players celebrate their boys' hockey Class 2A state championship in March
When state tournaments roll around, how private schools fit into the current system devised by the MSHSL is always a topic of debate.
In the 2018-19 school year, private schools (not charter or home schools), which make up approximately 14 percent of MSHSL member schools, won 28 percent of state team championships. Is that a fair and equitable percentage? Do private schools have an advantage?
On the other hand, the very nature of private schools is such that they need to attract students to make up a student body. They don't have established youth athletic programs that become natural feeder systems for public high school athletic programs. Are they judged unfairly?
And what about perennially successful public programs? Should they be held to a similar standard?
We asked for your thoughts on this topic: Should private schools be held to a higher or different standard for postseason play? We received a strong response, through Twitter and email. Here are some of your thoughts.
"What is a fair percentage for us to win? When I came to Minnehaha in 99-00, they had won 2 State Titles - 1986 Tennis and 1998 Girls Soccer. 2 Banners in our Gym, and no one from the public, media or MSHSL cried a single tear. Now that we're winning with regularity we're demonized. Hopkins, Lakeville North, Edina, etc. also get off way too easy in this debate. They wall-paper entire gymnasiums with their banners - Randolph, Mound-Westonka and Irondale do not. Separate Sections for the perennial winners from Public Schools? Are they equals to SP Harding and Minneapolis Roosevelt? My point is go ahead and open up this can of worms again, but don't bury the inequality between the Public Schools as well." Josh Thurow, Athletic/Activities Director, Minnehaha Academy
"Are public schools at a disadvantage? I don't think so. The belief that private school kids get to go places to play sports with scholarships is a rarity, and honestly, probably more of a myth this day and age. Even the top boarding schools are limited in what they offer strictly for athletics.