New Class A State Tournament Format Idea

[ClassAGuy]

To improve the Class A Tournament how about this idea

Use the current 8 MSHSL section to create 4 Super Regions
Region One
Section 1 & Section 4 (Southeast and Metro East)

Region Two
Section 3 & Section 2 (Southwest and Metro West)

Region Three
Section 7 & 5 (Northeast and Mid state Wast)

Region Four
Section 8 & 6 (Northwest and Mid state West)

Play it out Section Bracket Style Until normal Section Finals but instead create a "Sweet 16" of Cross Section Bracket games within the 4 Regions (example 1 seed 1A plays 2 seed in 4A) @ Netutral sites

This year example (Assuming Top rated teams in each section won first two rounds)
Region One "Final 4"
1A Northfield vs 4A Chisago Lakes @ Rochester Rec Center, Rochetser, MN
4A Mahtomedi vs 1A Rochester Lourdes @ Aldrich Arena, Maplewood, MN

Region Two "Final 4"
2A MPLS vs 3A Mankato East @ Ridder Arena, Minneapolis, MN
3A New Ulm vs 2A Delano @ Gustavus Arena, St. Peter, MN

Region Three "Final 4"
5A Little Falls vs 7A Duluth Denfeld @ Furniture and Things Arena, Elk River MN
7A Hermantown vs 5A St Cloud Cathedral @ Amsoil Arena, Duluth MN

Region Four "Final 4"
6A Alexandria vs 8A TRF @ Mac Arena, St Cloud MN
8A Warroad vs 6A Fergus Falls @ Sanford Center Bemidji, MN

2022 Class A State Tournament
Region One Winners- Chisago Lakes & Mahtomedi
Region Two Winners- MPLS & Delano
Region Three Winners- Hermantown & Duluth Denfeld
Region Four Winners- Alexandria & Warroad

2022 Class A State Tournament Matchups
1 seed Hermantown vs. Chisago Lakes
2 seed Warroad vs Duluth Denfeld
3 seed Delano vs Alexandria
4 seed Mahtomedi vs 5 seed MPLS

Just an idea to try and stop the first round blowouts I believe there are always 8 good teams this could be a way to work with in the MSHSL Sectional Model just have the Sweet 16 based into Regions before Elite 8 make the Trip to St Paul.

Thoughts ??

[Brodziak Fan Club]

Absolutely love this.

[Puckguy19]

To improve the Class A Tournament how about this idea

Use the current 8 MSHSL section to create 4 Super Regions
Region One
Section 1 & Section 4 (Southeast and Metro East)

Region Two
Section 3 & Section 2 (Southwest and Metro West)

Region Three
Section 7 & 5 (Northeast and Mid state Wast)

Region Four
Section 8 & 6 (Northwest and Mid state West)

Play it out Section Bracket Style Until normal Section Finals but instead create a "Sweet 16" of Cross Section Bracket games within the 4 Regions (example 1 seed 1A plays 2 seed in 4A) @ Netutral sites

This year example (Assuming Top rated teams in each section won first two rounds)
Region One "Final 4"
1A Northfield vs 4A Chisago Lakes @ Rochester Rec Center, Rochetser, MN
4A Mahtomedi vs 1A Rochester Lourdes @ Aldrich Arena, Maplewood, MN

Region Two "Final 4"
2A MPLS vs 3A Mankato East @ Ridder Arena, Minneapolis, MN
3A New Ulm vs 2A Delano @ Gustavus Arena, St. Peter, MN

Region Three "Final 4"
5A Little Falls vs 7A Duluth Denfeld @ Furniture and Things Arena, Elk River MN
7A Hermantown vs 5A St Cloud Cathedral @ Amsoil Arena, Duluth MN

Region Four "Final 4"
6A Alexandria vs 8A TRF @ Mac Arena, St Cloud MN
8A Warroad vs 6A Fergus Falls @ Sanford Center Bemidji, MN

2022 Class A State Tournament
Region One Winners- Chisago Lakes & Mahtomedi
Region Two Winners- MPLS & Delano
Region Three Winners- Hermantown & Duluth Denfeld
Region Four Winners- Alexandria & Warroad

2022 Class A State Tournament Matchups
1 seed Hermantown vs. Chisago Lakes
2 seed Warroad vs Duluth Denfeld
3 seed Delano vs Alexandria
4 seed Mahtomedi vs 5 seed MPLS

Just an idea to try and stop the first round blowouts I believe there are always 8 good teams this could be a way to work with in the MSHSL Sectional Model just have the Sweet 16 based into Regions before Elite 8 make the Trip to St Paul.

Thoughts ??

Yes, you are on to something here. Four relatively competitive games. Nice geographic balance. May propose some alternative sites (Moorhead Sports Center, HBNHC, Verizon Center, & the Little Ralph)

[ClassAGuy]

Just think this could as it works within the existing idea of geographic sections and divides them out into 4 parts.

Section play would look just like now and play out until each Section has the last two seeds left.

Sweet 16 Regional Games are still geographic and MSHSL could make sure the stream the Regional Sweet 16 Games make it a big deal.

Region One (South/Metro East)
Sections 1 & 4
Netural site Sweet 16 Regional Games- could use Rochester Rec, Roseville, Aldrich, New STA rink when buit etc.
1A Top Seed vs. 4A 2nd best & 4A Top seed vs 1A 2nd best

Region Two (South/Metro West)
Neutral site Sweet 16 Regional Games- Could use Gustavus, Ridder, Mankato State, St Louis Park etc.
2A top seed vs 3A 2nd best & 3A best vs. 2A 2nd best

Region Three (North/Mid State East)
Neutral site Sweet 16 Regional Games- Could use SCSU, MAC Arena, Amsoil, Elk River
5A top seed vs 7A 2nd best & 7A top Seed vs 5A 2nd best

Region Four (North/Mid State West)
Neutral site Sweet 16 Regional Games- Mini Ralph, MAC Arena, Sanford Center, SCSU, etc.
6A top seed vs 8A 2nd best & 8A top seed vs 6A 2nd best

Get 8 solid teams to the Xcel to avoid the Wednesday Blowouts in 3 games... Will it fix everything no but I think Class A needs to look at doing things differently to have the depth of the AA tourney, Still going to have 8 teams from the 4 corners of the State at the Tourney and I think would actually work really well and create more interest for Wednesday get the Lower Bowl full eventually for all A games would be the goal.

Also the Sweet 16 Regional Games would be unique to Class A and could be something fun and different they do to maybe get some media attention and eyeballs that normally are only in AA.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Or just have a 4 team tournament.

[goldy313]

I like it but see Title IX issues.

It also probably takes away the possibility of a repeat of the greatest Class A tournament game of all time…..Luverne taking Hermantown to overtime.

The MSHSL needs to think outside the box, not just adding more classes. We just finished the state wrestling tournament, teams are a different story but imagine if we one state champion at every weight. California does this! California!

[The51]

I like it but see Title IX issues.

It also probably takes away the possibility of a repeat of the greatest Class A tournament game of all time…..Luverne taking Hermantown to overtime.

The MSHSL needs to think outside the box, not just adding more classes. We just finished the state wrestling tournament, teams are a different story but imagine if we one state champion at every weight. California does this! California!

I'm sure this question comes from my lack of knowledge of the depths of Title IX... but why would this create an issue with it?