Thorpe & Trainers, Best of the Midwest, Hawaiian Seeds

#1 posting 5.15.2006

HAWAIIAN SEEDINGS
The Hawaiian state tournament begins tomorrow and continues through Friday. The D1s are at the University of Hawaii and Punahou has the #1 ranking. D2 is at McKinley HS and Kalani is #1. Find out more on who plays when and what seed is what with the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star Bulletin
Molokai is the Cinderella of the tournament. They lost their last four games of the year, but bounced back to beat their nemisis St. Anthony in the Maui tournament. Here is more on their late season run in the Molokai Island Times

AAU NEWS
MN
North Tartan traveled to Illinois last weekend to take part of the Best of the Midwest Invitational Challenge - Geneva, IL
* North Tartan (69) v. Illinois Lady Lightning Platinum (53) - W
* North Tartan (79) v. Full Package (IL) Silver (53) - W
* North Tartan (84) v. Wisconsin Fastbreak Select (64) - W
* North Tartan (74) v. Chicago Hoops Express (57) - W
Future Gopher Brittany McCoy played in the tournament
Thanks for the report.

MN STATE AAU TOURNAMENT
Here is the MN State AAU brackets. The tournament will be held at Forest Lake next weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
19s, 16s, 15s, 14s

COACHING NEWS
College
Akron has a new coach and it is Jodi Kest who was the coach at Texas-Corpus Christi. TX-CC has been an independent D1 school and will move into the Southland conference next year. Kest had a 73-40 record in four years. Article is from the Corpus Christi Caller Times or the Cleveland Plain Dealer if you want a different view. Of course the Akron Beacon Journal has its say. There are a couple of MN players on the Akron roster yet: Mandy Holzer, Jordan 07; and Allison Schoff, Bloomington Kennedy '09.

Here are the latest job openings
http://gbbrecruit.blogspot.com/2006/05/coaching-openings.html

THORPE ON A SOAP BOX

Today Thorpe muses about trainers

The other day I was up early and driving my golf cart to softball when my cell phone rang. It was from a very good friend of mine, Willie Jett. He informed me he was the named the new principal at Hopkins High School.

What a good choice for Hopkins and a great opportunity for Willie.

We talked of who I knew there and right away I thought of Osseo's previous athletic trainer, Scott Westerman. I also thought that if there is any group that often gets overlooked and deserves credit it is this group. I remember Hana Peljto( Osseo class of 2000) after a State Tournament game saying how much the trainer did for her. In addition to the taping, treating and evaluating injuries, athletes appreciated having an adult other than a coach to talk with and vent their feelings after a frustrating practice. Scott was there for them.

I know how school districts are struggling so if cuts come I hope they will see the importance of the athletic trainer to their program. I am certain coaches, athletes and parents appreciate all they do.

Hopkins just won two State Basketball Tournaments in both boys and girls and they have two more winners in Willie Jett and Scott Westerman.

Dave Thorpe

Here is an added new feature all the Thorpe on a Soap Box you want

Thanks for all that feed me news and information. Keep up the good work.
Next up: tonight with the Metro Stars 19s vs Minnesota Total Package 15s from the Saturday Midtown Y event