Category Archives: Sports

Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: May 7-12

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**GAMES AND MATCHES MAY CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS**

For  a full calendar of events please refer to: http://www.stpaulcity.org

Spring Sports: Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Girls  Golf, Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Boys Tennis, Badminton, Track & Field

Activities the Week of  May 7-12

Monday May 7:

Varsity & B-Squad Softball @ Washington Tech. Magnet 4pm (Bus 2:45/5:45pm)

Varsity Girls Golf @ Phalen GC 2:45pm
Boys JV Golf @ Highland Park Nine-Hole 2:45pm
Varsity Boys Tennis vs. Como Park @ HP 3:15pm JV @ Como Park 3:15pm
Boys ‘Bobcats’ Lacrosse @ The Breck School 7pm

Tuesday May 8:
Varsity & JV  Badminton Twin Cities Tournament TBD @ St. Paul Site TBD

Girls JV Golf @ Cedarholm 2:45pm

Boys Varsity Golf vs. Johnson @ Highland National GC 2:45pm

Varsity & JV Boys Tennis Twin Cities Game 3:15pmTBD @ St. Paul Site

Co-Ed Track  True Team Meet @ St. Croix Lutheran 3:15pm (Bus 1:30/7:30pm)

Girls ‘Bobcats’ Lacrosse @ St. Croix Prep 5pm

Adapted PI Softball @ Rochester Century HS 5:30pm

Wednesday May 9:

Varsity & JV Baseball 5 Inning Double Header vs. Como Park @ HP 4pm (Bus 3:15/6pm)

Varsity & B-Squad Softball 5 Inning Double-Header vs. Johnson @ Phalen Rec. Ctr. 4pm (Bus 2:45/5:45pm)

Boys JV Golf @ Highland Nine-Hole GC 2:45pm

Girls Varsity Golf vs. Johnson @ Cedarholm GC 3:15pm

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Simley @ HP 3:15pm

Varsity & JV Badminton Conference Tournament @ Central 4pm

Girls ‘Bobcats’ Lacrosse @ Columbia Hgts. HS 6pm

Thursday May 10:

Varsity  & B-Squad Softball @ Como Park 4pm (Bus 2:45/5:45pm)

Girls JV Golf @ Cedarholm GC 2:45pm

Boys Varsity Golf @ Como Park GC 2:45pm

Co-Ed Track Varsity Meet @ HP 3:30pm

Varsity Badminton Conference Tournament  @ Humboldt 4pm  JV Conference Tournament @ Central 4pm

Varsity & JV Baseball vs. SPA @ HP 4:30pm

Boys ‘Bobcats’ Lacrosse vs. Minnehaha Academy @ Central 4:30pm

Varsity & JV Badminton Conference Tournament @ Central 4pm

Friday May 11:

Varsity & B-Squad Baseball vs. Washington Tech. Magnet @ HP 4pm 5 Inning  Double-Header (Bus 3:15/6pm)

Varsity Boys Tennis @ Henry Sibley 3:15pm  (Bus 3/5:15pm) JV @ HP 3:15pm

Girls ‘Bobcats’ Lacrosse @ Robbinsdale Cooper 6pm

Saturday May 12:

Varsity & JV Softball Tournament vs. De La Salle @ Bryn Mawr Park 10am (10:15am/3:30pm)

Boys ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse @ Grand Rapids HS 3pm

Go Scots!

Golf

Gabe Mattick golf profile

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By: Gabe Mattick & Riley Lumpkin

I have been playing golf on the Highland Park Varsity team since 7th grade, and I’ve lettered each year. Our team has also won conference 4 times since I have been on the team. I have had the privilege to be coached by Gary Podus, who has been the Highland Park golf coach for over 40 years. He has helped me become a better golfer with his instruction and guidance. As a team, Highland Park has done very little in sections, and I, as an individual, have never made it past sections.

This winter I have been hard at work trying to better the weaker parts of my game. I have been asking my uncle, Cameron Beckman, a former PGA tour pro, and a 3-time PGA tour winner, for advice and guidance. I have been asking him for advice on my putting and short game, as this is the area I feel I am the weakest, and where I feel I lose the most strokes.

Other than Highland Park golf, I am a junior member at Southview Country Club. I have been a part of the club since the summer of 2013, and it has helped me improve my game immensely. I have worked with the Assistant Golf Professional, Will Drestch, for the past two summers. I plan to work with him more this summer before I head off to Saint John’s next fall. He has helped me with my weight shift, in my golf swing, and to achieve better body rotation through my golf swing.

As of now, I am currently a 10.5 Handicap. I mainly base this off of my scores at Southview Country Club and Highland National Golf Course. I am going to work hard to lower my handicap this summer. My goal is to have a 3 Handicap by the time I am at Saint John’s this summer. It may be a lofty goal, but through determination and hard work, I believe I can achieve it.

Track & Field

Track and field

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By: Tray Garner and Mason Ferguson

The Highland Park track team has had 2 outdoor meets so far, and have done a good job in both.

photo courtesy of David

Highland’s first outdoor track meet was at Roseville High School. It was a good track meet; everybody did their best. Sprinters, long distance, jumpers, and throwers did as much as they could. Everyone was showing good sportsmanship, shaking the runners hands after a race, or the jumpers hand after a good jump. Since that was the first track meet, everyone was kind of rusty. Highland placed 5th out of 8 schools overall.

Highland’s recent meet was at Harding High School; Highland competed against Harding and Como. Highland’s boys and girl came out on top with the boys earning 85 points, and the girls earning 96 points. Harding came in 2nd place, and Como Park took 3rd. Each Highland team had the fastest results in each event including the: sprinters, distance, hurdles, relays, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, and discus throw.

100m Dash
HP-(G) 13.81 (B) 11.40
Harding-(G) 14.37 (B) 11.73
Como-(G) 13.91 (B) 12.02

100/110m hurdles
HP-(G) 18.94 (B) 19.72
Harding-(G) 20.35 (B) 16.12
Como-(G) 20.87 (B) 16.97

200m Dash
HP-(G) 29.44 (B) 23.70
Harding-(G) 31.07 (B) 24.67
Como-(G) 29.85 (B) 25.53

300m Hurdles
HP-(G) 53.72 (B) 46.69
Harding-(G) 1:02.85 (B) 43.51
Como-(G)1:00.96 (B) 43.12

400m Dash
HP-(G) 1:09.86 (B) 58.45
Harding-(G) 1:17.16 (B) 58.64
Como-(G) 1:14.77 (B) 1:05.32

800m Run
HP-(G) 2:48.36 (B) 2:11.07
Harding-(G) 3:35.95 (B) 2:19.72
Como-(G) 2:51.43 (B) 2:14.49

1600m Run
HP-(G) 6:01.16 (B) 4:44.85
Harding-(G) N/A (B) 5:20.96
Como-(G) 6:14.76 (B) 5:15.72

4x100m Relay
HP-(G) 1:02.59 (B) 51.44
Harding-(G)1:00.59 (B) 48.74
Como-(G) 57.08 (B) SCR

4x200m Relay
HP-(G) 2:13.29 (B) 1:46.09
Harding-(G) 2:08.10 (B) 1:43.99
Como-(G) 2:16.79 (B) SCR

4x400m Relay
HP-(G) 5:16.65 (B) 3:57.04
Harding-(G) N/A (B) 4:21.55
Como-(G) 4:53.87 (B) 4:06.06

4x800m Relay
HP-(G) 11:07.45 (B) 9:13.17
Harding-(G) N/A (B) 11:07.57
Como-(G) N/A (B) 12:55.62

Discus Throw
HP-(G) 62-02.50 (B) 108-07.50
Harding-(G) 84-05 (B) 92-10
Como-(G) 70-09.50 (B) 98-10

Shot Put
HP-(G) 33-00.00 (B) 35-11.00
Harding-(G) 25-05.00 (B) 37-07.00
Como-(G) N/A (B) 38-08.00

High Jump
HP-(G) 4-06.00 (B) 5-04.00
Harding-(G) N/A (B) SCR
Como-(G) N/A (B) 5-07.00

Long Jump
HP-(G) 14-02.00 (B)18-00.00
Harding-(G) 13-05.00 (B) 20-09.00
Como-(G) 13-07.00 (B) 14-03.00

Triple Jump
HP-(G) 34-00.00 (B) 39-04.00
Harding-(G) 24-02.00 (B) 42-03.00
Como-(G) 25-02.00 (B) DQ

 

Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: Apr 30-May 5

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**GAMES AND MATCHES MAY CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS**

For  a full calendar of events please refer to: http://www.stpaulcity.org

Spring Sports: Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Girls  Golf, Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Boys Tennis, Badminton, Track & Field

Activities the Week of April 30-May 5

Monday Apr. 30:

Girls Varsity Golf vs. Como Park @ Cedarholm GC 2:45pm

Boys JV Golf Match @ Highland Park Nine-Hole GC 2:45p

Varsity & JV Badminton @ Central HS 3:15pm (Bus 2:20/4:15pm)

Boys Varsity Tennis @ Central HS 3:15pm  (Bus 2:45/5:15pm) JV @ HP 3:15pm

Boys Varsity Baseball 5 Inning Double- Header @ Harding 3:45pm  B-Squad @ Conway Playground 4pm  JV vs. Nova Classical Academy @ Dunning Field 6pm (Bus 4:45/7:30pm)

Tuesday May 1:
Girls JV Golf @ Cedarholm 2:45pm

Boys Varsity Golf @ Highland National GC 2:45pm

Varsity & JV Baseball vs. Holy Angels @ Donaldson Park 4:15pm (Bus 3/6pm)      B-Squad @ HP 4:30pm (Bus 3/6)

Adapted PI Softball@ Bloomington -Kennedy 4:30pm

Boys ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse vs. Roseville Area HS @ Central HS 5:30pm

Wednesday May 2:

JV Boys Golf @ Highland Nine-Hole GC 2:45pm

Girls Varsity Golf @ Cedarholm GC 3pm (schedule says @Thompson Oaks 2:30pm) JV @ Cedarholm

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Harding @ HP 3:15pm  JV @ Harding 3:15pm (Bus2:45/5:15pm)

Varsity Baseball vs. Central  5 Inning Double-Header @ Toni Stone Stadium 4pm  B-Squad @ Jimmy Lee Rec Ctr. 3:45pm  JV @ HP 4pm

Thursday May 3:

Varsity, JV & B-squad Softball vs. Central @ HP 5 Inning Double-Header 4pm

Co-Ed Track & Field True team Meet @ HP 4:15pm

Badminton @ Como Park 3:15pm (Bus :20/4:15pm)

Girls JV Golf @ Cedarholm GC 2:45pm

Boys Varsity Golf vs. Harding @ Phalen GC 2:45pm

Friday May 4:

Varsity Baseball 5 Inning Double Header vs. Humboldt @ HP 4pm

Saturday May 5:

Go Scots!

Badminton

Badminton 2018

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This year’s badminton season started on March 9th, with 40 girls joining the team. The team consists of experienced players, along with new players. Most girls are freshmen, with seniors making up the smallest part of the team. The team has new singles players, and old doubles players, who have played on the team the year before. The team is split up into 3 different teams; varsity, junior varsity, and exhibition. Varsity is where the most experienced players are, and goes down from that to Junior Varsity, and Exhibition.

Practice starts at 2:20PM everyday until 4:00PM. Before going right into practice, the girls circle up and then do stretches. The stretches consist of push ups, bicycles, and running back and forth across the gym. During practice, players focus on new skills and work on getting better.

To figure out the lineup for matches, Mrs. Kramer and Mr. Chapman (coaches) hold challenges where people can challenge someone who is above them in line, to see if they can go up. The challenges are the same as an actual badminton match, you have to win 2 out of 3 games, depending on if you need to play 3 games. Each game is to 21 points, but the winner has to be 2 points ahead to be able to count it as a win.

Before going into conference matches, the coaches make non-conference matches so the new players will have a sense of what conference matches are like. Then, on the following week, conference matches start. So far, Varsity has won 2 out of 6 matches, and Junior Varsity has won 4 out of 4.

The coaches’ thoughts on this year’s team is that, everyone is hard working and dedicated, and they show up to practice everyday. They also come to just have fun and experience an athletic sport. The girls’ hopes for this year is to bring more wins, and to improve.

Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: Apr 23-28

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**GAMES AND MATCHES MAY CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS**

For  a full calendar of events please refer to: http://www.stpaulcity.org

Spring Sports: Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Girls  Golf, Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Boys Tennis, Badminton, Track & Field

Activities the Week of April 23-28

Monday Apr. 23:

JV Boys Golf @ Highland Park Nine-Hole GC 2:45pm Varsity @ Stillwater Invitational 1:30pm

Varsity Tennis @ Humboldt  3:15pm  (Bus 2:30/5pm)   JV @ HP 3:15pm

Varsity & JV Badminton @ Washington Tech. Magnet 3:30pm (Bus 2:45/4:30pm)
Varsity & JV Baseball @ Central 4:30  (Bus 2:45/5:15pm) B-Squad @ HP TBD
HP Middle School Track Meet @ HP TBD
Softball @ Harding 4pm (Bus 2:45/5:45pm)

Tuesday Apr. 24:
Girls JV Golf @ Cedarholm GC 2:45pm

Co-Ed Track & Field @ Roseville Area HS Invite 3:30pm (Bus 2:15/6:30pm)

Varsity & JV Badminton @ Johnson 3:45pm (Bus 2:45/4:30pm)

Adapted PI Softball vs. Dakota United @ Humbildt 4:30pm

Girls Lacrosse vs. St. Croix Prep @ Central 5pm

Boys Lacrosse Scrimmage @ Robbinsdale Cooper 5pm

Wednesday Apr. 25:

Boys Varsity Golf Conference Match @ Highland Nine-Hole GC 1pm

Girls Varsity Golf @ Cedarholm GC 2pm

Varsity & JV Badminton vs. Humboldt @ HP 3:15pm

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Washington Tech. Magnet @ HP 4pm   JV @ Washington Tech. Magnet 4pm (Bus 3:15/6pm)

Varsity & B-Squad Baseball vs. Humboldt @ HP 4:30 (Bus 3:15/6pm)   JV @ Humboldt 4:30pm

Thursday Apr. 26:

Co-Ed Track & Field@ Harding 3:15pm (Bus 2:15/5:30pm)

Adapted PI Softball @ Lakeville Kenwood Trail Jr. Hi. 4:30pm

Girls Varsity Lacrosse @ Hopkins HS 5:30pm

Boys Varsity Lacrosse @ Hopkins HS 7:30pm

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Johnson @ HP 4pm  JV @ Phalen Courts 4pm  (Bus 3:15/6pm)

Friday Apr. 27:

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Eagan @ HP 3:30pm

Co-Ed Track Elite Meet @ Hamline 5:30pm

Softball vs. Humboldt @ HP 4pm

Adapted Bowl @ Sun Ray 2:30pm (Bus 2:10/4pm)

Saturday Apr. 28:

Baseball @ Richfield  JV & B-Squad 12pm  Varsity @3pm

Go Scots!

Basketball

NBA Playoffs

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The NBA playoffs are starting. We will see round one matchups of: Rockets vs. Timberwolves, Thunder vs. Jazz, Warriors vs. Spurs, Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers, Raptors vs. Wizards, Bucks vs. Celtics, Cavaliers vs. Pacers, and Heat vs. 76ers.

This year’s playoffs should be much more interesting than last year’s. Last year, the playoffs were made up of predictable series, and a very predictable finals. Some series this year are very exciting. The Heat should be able to force the 76ers to 6 or 7 games, and New Orleans should have an interesting time trying to slow down Damian Lillard. I personally believe that we will see the Rockets play the Warriors in a very exciting 7 game Western Conference Finals series.

This may be the first time in four years where we will not see LeBron James in the NBA Finals. The Cavs will have a very difficult time trying to reach the Finals. They will likely have to face Indiana, Philadelphia, and a Toronto team that looks ready to redeem their last few playoff losses. We seem prepared to see Houston play talented teams such as Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Golden State.

NBA fans are gearing up for an interesting and unpredictable playoffs. With any luck, injuries will not ruin the postseason as they have the regular seasons. Injuries cost teams like the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Spurs, who were hampered by injuries. The NBA Playoffs will be very fun in 2018, and NBA fans will have a lot of fun watching.

Track & Field

Highland track meet canceled

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By: Tray Garner and Mason Ferguson

Track & Field.

There was supposed to be a relay track meet, last Thursday, April 12, but it was canceled due to the remaining snow on the Central track field. The head coach of the track & field team decided that since the meet was canceled, we should prepare ourselves for the outdoor season. It was going to be Highland’s first track meet outdoors, but it also was canceled.

image courtesy of Arrieal

Highland hosted a relay meet just for the Highland track team. The events included all the relays except the 4 x 100 or the 4 x 200 relay teams, because of a few lanes that still had a bunch of snow on them. So, we only had 3 lanes cleared that could be used, but the 4 x 400, 4 x 800, 4 x 1600, long jump, triple jump, and discus throw still happened.

It was a very good practice meet. We were able to get outside for the first time this season, and run or do our field events. As a team, we looked pretty good. There are some events we do need to improve in though. Long jump is one of those events. Many people did long jump, but honestly, not many put up good numbers. In order to go to state in long jump for boys, you need to jump 20 feet or longer to make it to sections/state. Many boys jumped about 14-18 feet, which isn’t bad, but it also isn’t good enough. You get points in long jump the farther you jump, so in order for us to win Conference again (5 years in a row) we need to improve on our long jump event.

Overall, the Highland track team is improving as a whole. Sprinters are getting faster, distance runners are getting better, and the jumpers are getting better too.

This track season is going to be worth coming to watch. Everybody is going their hardest.

Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Softball, Sports, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: Apr 16-20

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***Due to our ever-changing weather this spring season please refer to: www.stpaulcity.org  for up to date information.***

Spring Sports: Baseball, Softball, Boys Golf, Girls  Golf, Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Boys Tennis, Badminton, Track & Field

Activities the Week of April 16-21

Monday Apr.16:

Boys Varsity Tennis @ Henry Sibley 3:30pm ( Bus 2:45/5:30pm)

Varsity & B -Squad Softball vs. Washington Tech. Magnet @ HP 4pm- Postponed

Varsity Baseball @ Harding 4:30pm  JV @ Conway Playground 4:30pm  (Bus 3:30/6pm)

Tuesday Apr. 17:

Wednesday Apr. 18:
Boys Varsity Golf 9 -Hole Tournament @ Como GC 1pm

Girls Varsity 9-Hole Tournament @ Cedarholm GC 2pm
Varsity & JV Badminton vs. Como Park @ HP 3:15pm

Varsity & B-Squad Softball vs. Johnson @ HP 4pm

Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Johnson @ HP 4pm  JV @ Phalen Tennis Courts 4pm (Bus 3:15/6pm)

Varsity & JV Baseball vs. Harding @ HP 4:30pm

Thursday Apr. 19:
Varsity & B-Squad Softball vs. Como Park @ HP 4pm
Adapted PI Softball vs. Rochester Raiders @ Humboldt 4:30pm

Friday Apr. 20:
JV Softball Invitational @ No. St. Paul McKnight fields 3:45pm (Bus 2:45/5:30pm) Cancelled

Varsity & JV Badminton @ Harding 3:15pm (Bus 2:20/5pm)

Boys JV Tennis @ Mpls. Southwest 3:15pm (Bus 2:30/5:15pm)

Boys ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse vs. Coon Rapids @ Central HS 5:30pm

JV Baseball vs. Central @ HP 4:30pm   B-Squad @ Jimmy Lee Rec. Center 3:45pm (Bus 2:45/5:15pm)
 
Saturday Apr. 21:
Girls ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse @ Columbia Heights 11am

Varsity Baseball vs. Central @ CHS Field 7pm (Bus 5:45/8:45pm)

Softball @ McKnight Fields 9am (Bus 7/11:45am) Cancelled

Go Scots

Editorials/Student Voice, Sports

Rise of Highland Park athletics

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Ever since I have known about Highland Park Senior High, I have been aware of the Highland-Central rivalry. When I was 7, my cousin Stefan Landreau, started at HPSH and there came the football season. Stefan would report back to his parents, Charlotte and Carlos, disappointed at how Highland would lose most sports games to Central and other tough SPPS schools like Como. In particular, they would get trounced in football every year which seemed to be the most important game of them all.

Next, followed Stefan’s younger brother, Ian, who was even more socially involved and outspoken and therefore even more angered and disgusted with how poor Highland athletics were. Maybe it was out of luck, or Ms. Galligan, the former Athletic Director, worked some magic of her own behind the scenes, but something changed in/around 2014.

I was keen to flip the switch in the sports that I could: soccer. I played varsity tennis in 8th grade, and our tennis program has been at the top of the conference, along with Harding, as one of the state’s best in boy’s tennis for several years. The soccer team was a different story.

I know of, and am friends with, some guys from the middle school that entered in with me: Josh Aune, Charlie Weill, Declan Flynn, Gabe Nelson, Mohamed Bue, Charlie Dombrow, and Abdi Gutu just to name a few star athletes in my grade. I had a feeling with the guys above us heading into their sophomore years such as, Amitri, Dreem, Joe, and some upperclassmen that this continued lack of achievement in athletics was bound to change.

Every year since I have been here, the records of our teams have gotten better and better. In my freshman year on the varsity soccer team we had a record of 5-12-1; already better than the past years.

Sophomore year, we were about .500 and saw a coaching change.

These past two years, we have been under a fantastic coach, have really impressive records (as well as two consecutive appearances in the section semis in which we lost to the eventual state champions last year and runners-up this year), have won a conference championship, and a one game slip-up caused us the championship last year.

The rise has not just been in soccer though. We have beaten Central in football for two straight years now (lead by Josh Aune), have been contenders for basketball (lead by Mohamed Bue and Ian Gallagher) and football conference championships, as well as being in section championships for the past couple years as well.

Now, the gradual success does not stop there. In volleyball, we have now won the conference championship four out of the last six years, led by Ellie Egbert and Michaela McGough, and girl’s tennis has had significant improvement in conference play lead by Sami Linssen and Neesha Moore.

image taken from: https://www.spps.org/domain/2793

Boys track has now won three conference championships in a row, lead by Josh Aune and Abdi Gutu.

The boys lacrosse team, lead by Declan Flynn, has improved their record drastically during my time at Highland.

The biggest surprises, however, came in cross country running and skiing. Both have now won the conference championship six or seven times in the last decade, with many finishes in the top 15 of state in recent years.

This new wave of achievement is remarkable, yet not overwhelmingly surprising or unprecedented. Even with fewer people at Highland, continued work-ethic and persistence have paved the way for significant results building reputation. Highland did have success in the 90’s and 80’s but gradually declined toward the turn of the 21st century.

I am willing to bet that Ms. Galligan’s magic propelled the next wave of athletes into stardom rather than a random group of talented athletes enrolling Highland Park High School. At least, that’s this writer’s opinion.