Big Changes in MBSLA in 2012

The 2012 lineup of teams in the Minnesota Boys Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MBSLA) looks decidedly different than 2011. The MBSLA is a lacrosse league composed of club lacrosse teams that are not sanctioned varsity sports by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) at their respective schools. The MBSLA has recognized state champions in lacrosse since 2004, two years before the MSHSL sanctioned lacrosse as an official varsity level sport.  The MBSLA also runs the spring leagues for 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and JV level teams throughout the entire state, including teams that presently participate in the MSHSL.

In another great sign of the growth of the sport of lacrosse in Minnesota, there will be 26 teams competing in the MBSLA in 2012 up from 20 in 2011.  Nine new club lacrosse teams will be participating in the 2012 MBSLA lacrosse season.  This is a great indicator that lacrosse is growing throughout the State of Minnesota.  To emphasize this point, most of the new teams come from areas outside the traditional hotbed of the Twin Cities metro area.

Grand Cities lacrosse players after scrimmage with Fargo

In the North, the new teams include Grand Cities and Proctor.  Grand Cities is made up of players from Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN including surrounding communities.  The new Grand Cities team has shown impressive organization and they look to be building their program quickly.  They also have the distinction of being the furthest north and most remote lacrosse team in the MBSLA and state.  The new Proctor team sprouted quickly after a large group of inspired students decided they wanted to form their own team in the Duluth, MN area.  The team now has a coach and a schedule and they are preparing for their first season of club lacrosse in the MBSLA.

In the East, traditional athletic powerhouse Cretin-Derham Hall (Joe Mauers alma mater) makes their entrance onto the Minnesota lacrosse scene.  Cretin-Derham Hall will begin their first season of lacrosse under the direction of experienced lacrosse coach Pat Donaghy.  Henry-Sibley moves from the East conference to the South.

In the South, Henry-Sibley comes in from the East, St. Louis Park comes in from the West, and two new teams make their first foray onto the lacrosse scene.  Waconia, with youth lacrosse teams already participating in youth leagues, will now field their first MBSLA high school lacrosse team.  Northfield also makes their entrance onto the Minnesota lacrosse scene with their first MBSLA team in 2012.

St. Louis Park vs. Hastings 2011

The West conference will see the most growth in 2012 with 4 new lacrosse teams coming on the scene.  St. Michael-Albertville will field their first high school level lacrosse team in 2012.  In 2011, St. Michael-Albertville participated in the MBSLA middle school season.  Rogers will be participating in their first MBSLA season in 2012.  Rogers has also had youth level lacrosse teams participating in the Youth Lacrosse Minnesota leagues.  Becker will be fielding their first MBSLA team in 2012.  The fourth new team in the West conference will be Providence Academy.  2012 will mark Providence Academy's first participation in organized competitive lacrosse.  St. Louis Park, last years state runner-up, will move from the West conference to the South.

While 9 new teams entered the MBSLA, two teams left for the MSHSL for the 2012 season.  Both Orono and Hastings will be fielding their first sanctioned varsity level teams in 2012.  The only other change in the MSHSL in 2012 will be the separation of Eastridge and Park.  Park will now field their own MSHSL team this season.  With the additions of Orono, Hastings and Park, the MSHSL will now have 57 teams.  The only other change in the MBSLA is the elimination of Centennial's club team.  Centennial will still be fielding a varsity level MSHSL team.

Exciting things are happening in lacrosse in Minnesota as the sport continues its meteoric growth in the state.  It will be exciting following the new MBSLA teams this season and also watching Orono and Hastings, two former MBSLA teams, compete in their first MSHSL seasons in 2012.