Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Monday, March 20
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Sports»EPHS athletics navigate 2020-21 school year, positive future ahead
    Sports

    EPHS athletics navigate 2020-21 school year, positive future ahead

    By Ryan WilliamsonJuly 3, 2021Updated:July 3, 20213 Mins Read
    Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on EP Sports!

    Athletes see ups and downs of pandemic-stricken school year

    A high school sports season is broken up into three parts: fall, winter, and spring.

    This past school year, each one of these seasons proved to be much different. However, all of them manage to explain just how odd this past year was for sports, including at Eden Prairie High School. 

    Fall

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    It’s safe to say expectations are always high for the Eden Prairie football team these days.

    In 2019, EP suffered two losses in the regular season for the first time since 2012. Then, the Eagles failed to get past the round of 16 in the Class 6A playoffs.

    A year later, the Eagles passed every test in front of them in 2020. Mike Grant led a squad that went unbeaten in 2020. 

    Batchelder’s winning goal in overtime during the 2020 Eden Prairie boys hockey championship was a 2020 sports season highlight.

    But unfortunately for all fall sports teams in Minnesota, they never saw their state championship dreams come to fruition. Due to the pandemic, EP’s run ended in the section championship where the Eagles defeated Prior Lake 21-7.

    Despite the loss, things look bright for EP as it appears Grant is back to producing state-championship worthy teams.

    Winter

    After winning state championships in 2009 and 2011, the EP boys’ hockey team became a perennial contender in high school hockey.

    However, the Eagles had yet to add to their title haul for nearly a decade. That included consecutive state final losses in 2019 and 2020.

    With a core group of seniors, EP responded with another stellar season. The Eagles captured a conference and section championship. 

    In the state tournament, EP defeated Maple Grove in overtime to advance to the state final. Playing in front of a smaller crowd due to COVID, the Eagles did it again in the final against Lakeville South as Jackson Blake scored the game-winner for EP. 

    Much like the 2011 team, this group of Eagles was led by a core of seniors. This means that a new group will be charged with keeping up the current run of success the program is having.

    Spring

    Brooke Jones had to wait more than a year to start her run as head coach of the EP girls’ lacrosse team as the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.

    Once her first season started in 2021, she and the rest of the team saw their competition get much tougher. The Eagles struggled compared to previous seasons and fell to opponents such as Edina and Minnetonka for the first time.

    With a record around .500 heading into the postseason, EP stunned Minnetonka and

    top-seeded Chanhassen to reach the state tournament. 

    At state, the Eagles fell to Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 13-10. It was the first time ever EP failed to reach the semifinals.

    It appears that the once powerful Eagles girls’ lacrosse team now has a much tougher road to a state championship. However, a young coach such as Jones may be the person who may be up to the challenge.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleEP catalytic converter thefts continue to rise
    Next Article Making the post-pandemic rounds in EP

    More to READ

    16 Mins Read

    Summer camp options in and around Eden Prairie

    March 15, 2023
    5 Mins Read

    Annika Anderson: Eden Prairie’s Athena Award winner

    March 10, 2023
    4 Mins Read

    March Madness rolls on for Eagles girls and boys basketball in section playoffs this week

    March 7, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Pedestrian killed crossing Highway 5

    March 20, 2023

    Bud Grant remembered as ‘pillar’ at memorial service in Eden Prairie

    March 20, 2023

    Eagles capture third place at state with victory over Stillwater

    March 19, 2023

    Council to consider new flooring for gym

    March 19, 2023

    It’s been that kind of winter

    March 19, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

     

    Loading Comments...