Minneapolis boasts a rich tapestry of athletic programs spanning high schools and colleges, offering numerous opportunities for students and community members to engage in sports.
High School Athletics
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) provide a comprehensive athletics program with 34 high school sports for students in grades 7-12. These programs aim to enhance athletic skills, foster self-discipline, and promote teamwork. Middle school students with the requisite skills can also participate in high school teams through the ‘playing up’ policy, allowing them to join teams at their designated community high schools. For instance, Anthony Middle School students can join teams at Southwest High School, while Andersen United Middle School students can participate at South High School.
Several high schools in Minneapolis offer diverse sports programs:
- Minnehaha Academy: Offers sports across all seasons, encouraging multi-sport participation. Fall sports include cross country, football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls’ swimming, tennis, and volleyball.
- DeLaSalle High School: Provides a range of athletic programs, including baseball, boys’ golf, boys’ lacrosse (in cooperation with Minnehaha Academy), and boys’ volleyball.
- Roosevelt High School: Offers a variety of sports such as adaptive soccer, cheerleading, cross country, football, girls’ swimming, boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls’ tennis, and girls’ volleyball.
- Edison High School: Provides fall sports including adaptive soccer, cheerleading, boys’ and girls’ cross country, football, girls’ swimming, boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls’ tennis, and volleyball.
College Athletics
The University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, located in Minneapolis, is the largest college in the state, with over 54,000 students. The university’s athletic teams, known as the Golden Gophers, compete in the Big Ten Conference and offer 25 Division I men’s and women’s sports. Notable facilities include Huntington Bank Stadium for football, Williams Arena for basketball, and 3M Arena at Mariucci for hockey.
Supporting local high school and college sports not only fosters community spirit but also provides young athletes with encouragement and recognition. Attending games, volunteering, or contributing to athletic programs are excellent ways to get involved and support Minneapolis’ vibrant sports culture.