February 29, 2024
from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
If you are active on Facebook and Instagram, you have probably seen the news that Delaney Cunnington was the state champion in gymnastics. Congratulations, Delaney! We are incredibly proud of you. Delaney’s success is a testament to her dedication and hard work, as she has spent countless hours practicing and demonstrating exceptional discipline.
You may be surprised to learn that MPA has a gymnastics team. We are fortunate to have established a cooperative agreement with Cretin-Derham Hall and Minnehaha Academy, allowing the three schools to field a gymnastics team. Cooperative teams are becoming more common and enable schools to offer sports that they might not be able to sustain individually. At MPA, students benefit from several cooperative agreements designed to provide opportunities for athletic competition while still benefiting from our rigorous college preparatory curriculum. MPA has 20 cooperative teams, including hockey, golf, and more.
MPA is proud to offer 43 competitive sports for grades 5-12, a significant number for a school of our size. Most schools our size offer 12-15 athletic programs. Programs such as tennis, golf, alpine, nordic, gymnastics, and lacrosse are programs that other schools do not offer. Our athletes and teams have achieved 11 team state championships and 27 individual state championships. Furthermore, 69% of Upper School students participate in sports.
While larger schools may have a larger pool of student-athletes and more competitive teams, there are advantages to being a small school. Regardless of the school’s size, only five players start in basketball and 11 in soccer. At MPA, student-athletes are more likely to have playing time, participate in practice, and have fun, all contributing to a fulfilling athletic experience.
A key aspect of the MPA athletic program is our no-cut policy, which allows all students to participate in a sport, no matter their ability. While this policy does not guarantee equal playing time, especially at the varsity level, it does provide opportunities for students to enjoy the sport, develop their skills, and be part of a team. Our no-cut policy promotes inclusion and sportsmanship and creates lasting memories for our students.