The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)  voted by a 10-8 margin on Thursday, October 1, that the State cross country competition would not take place his year due to COVID-19.

Cotter’s cross country  team was not pleased with the result or how long it took the MSHSL to come to a decision on the issue.

” I felt very depressed and angry because we have worked so hard!,”  Ellie Glodowski said.

“I am pretty sad considering how well the team has been doing with no cases, but we can just hope better is to come,”  Claire Ebertowski said.

“I’m disappointed because I’m confident our girls team would qualify and the top boys really trained hard this summer, too, but I understand  the risks and the pressure the State has been under trying to come up with solutions. We knew that anything could happen this fall so we have been treating each practice like it could be the last,”  coach Mike Costello said.

There wasn’t a clear explanation of the logic behind the decision, though cost and the added difficulty of hosting events during the pandemic were rumored to be the main reasons for the decision.  Other fall sports, such as soccer and tennis, also had their State events canceled.

“Honestly, I don’t understand why they cancelled it because we’ve been having a season as it is. Sure, it’s not the normal season that we’re used to, but nothing is this year,” Glodowski said.

” I think it was cancelled because of COVID-19, but I honestly think if Sections can happen so could State,” Claire Ebertowski said.

” To be honest, with the way things were going in our region,  I’m glad we have been able to have a season. We have had a nice influx of young runners and I love our group of seniors.” Coach Costello said.

There also was a question of whether these sort of cancelllations would happen to winter and spring sports in 2020-2021.

“I’m guessing this will happen to other sports to come,” Glodowski said.

“To be honest, there will likely be a winter spike and I hope it is contained.  While a full season and State are important, the most important thing to me was the chance to practice as a team.  I think it has been very beneficial for all our runners to exercise outdoors with their peers.  The winter will be a whole different challenge.  I treasure the time we have had together as a team, and hope the other sports have the same opportunity. If circumstances change we will have to make the best of it, I believe our community will support Cotter in making the best plan for our situation,” Costello said.

The cross country season will come to a close with the boys section meet on Thursday, October 15, and the girls section on Friday, October 16.  The meets will be held at Northern Hills Golf Course in Rochester.

.