I second Stangers thoughts here. There are two ways of doing this, one way is the predetermined section approach where the MSHSL pre-allocates teams into sections based on several factors: Geography (primary), program size (rather than school size), and long term success rate which relates to program success. If one creates a rating profile and plots the graph (y=axis rating value & x-axis school increment) one generally ends up with a curve looking like an "S" lying on its side. By dividing this plot into 3 three divisions (D1, D2 & D3) and 8 geographical sections per division, it is possible to create 24 highly competitive groups for the playoff season without overloading the logistical demands of administering a state tournament process. There are other (hockey participation) growth benefits that can occur given the right circumstances with a three-class system. The other way of doing this is to have a 'March-Madness" type selection weekend at the end of each regular season to sort teams into three divisions based on an unbiased numerical rating system (could be a combination of various techniques and algorthims). Either way, one might end up with a 3 division alignment such as below:
Code: Select all
A proposed Minnesota High School section alignment scheme
based on a 3-Tier system considering strength of program/ratings and Geo location.
Ver #3
D1 --> Top 52 teams 35%
D2 --> Middle 49 Teams 33%
D3 --> Bottom 48 Teams 32%
GEO Div-Sec Teams
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SE Minn D1-1 LakevilleSouth, LakevilleNorth, Farmington, Hastings, PriorLake, ParkofCottageGrove
WS Metro D1-2 EdenPrairie, HolyFamily, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Chaska, Shakopee
SE Metro D1-3 St.ThomasAcademy, Eagan, Eastview, Rosemount, Burnsville, EastRidge, Woodbury
NE Metro D1-4 Cretin-DerhamHall, Hill-Murray, WhiteBearLake, Mahtomedi, Stillwater, GentryAcademy, ForestLake
NW Metro D1-5 Blaine, Andover, MapleGrove, ElkRiver, STMA, Centennial, Rogers
SW Metro D1-6 Edina, Blake, BSM's, St.LouisPark, HolyAngels, Breck, Totino-Grace
NE Minn D1-7 DuluthEast, Hermantown, GrandRapids, Cloquet, St.CloudUnited, DuluthDenfeld
NW Minn D1-8 Moorhead, Roseau, Warroad, EastGrandForks, St.CloudCathedral, ThiefRiverFalls
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SE Minn D2-1 NewPrague, Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna, RochesterMayo, RochesterCentury, DodgeCounty
SC Minn D2-2 MankatoEast, MankatoWest, Hutchinson, LDC, RiverLakes, Sartell-St.Stephen
SE Metro D2-3 Tartan, St.PaulJohnson, SouthSt.Paul, St.PaulAcademy, Simley, AppleValley
NE Metro D2-4 Roseville, MoundsView, Irondale, CoonRapids, Osseo, St.Francis
NW Metro D2-5 Anoka, ChamplinPark, Orono, Delano, Buffalo, Monticello
WS Metro D2-6 Minneapolis, Armstrong/Cooper, BloomingtonJefferson, Hopkins, MoundWestonka, ProvidenceAcademy, SWC/Richfield
NE Minn D2-7 DuluthMarshall, Hibbing/Chisholm, Eveleth-Gilbert, Virginia, Bemidji
NW Minn D2-8 LittleFalls, Alexandria, FergusFalls, DetroitLakes, Brainerd, NorthernLakes
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SE Minn D3-1 Austin, LaCrescent, AlbertLea, Winona, RochesterLourdes, RochesterJohnMarshall
SW Minn D3-2 Luverne, Fairmont, RedwoodValley, Worthington, Windom, Marshall
SE Metro D3-3 St.PaulHighlandPark, MinnehahaAcademy, HenrySibley, RedWing, PineCityArea
EC Minn D3-4 Cambridge-Isanti, SpringLakePark, Mora/Milaca, ChisagoLakes, Princeton, NorthBranch
WC Minn D3-5 Becker/BigLake, Willmar, PrairieCentre, SaukRapids-Rice, Wadena-DeerCreek, Morris/Benson
SC Minn D3-6 NewUlm, Waseca, Waconia, MinnesotaRiver, Chanhassen, BloomingtonKennedy
NE Minn D3-7 InternationalFalls, Ely, Greenway, NorthShore, Proctor, MooseLakeArea
NW Minn D3-8 KittsonCentral, Crookston, LakeoftheWoods, ParkRapids, RedLakeFalls, Bagley/Fosston, Breckenridge/Wahpeton
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) We have aired a couple of your broadcasts and I am impressed with the production quality from an all student crew.
#GoHuskiesWOOOOO