N Suburban Wins MN State 7s
N Suburban Wins MN State 7s
North Suburban won the Minnesota Girls High School State 7s Championship, bettering longtime powerhouse Armstrong 29-10 in the final. Armstrong had defeated Hopkins 36-7 in the semifinals, while North Suburban blanked a combination side of Orono, South Metro, and Minnetonka 51-0 for the title berth. The finalists have formed a friendly but competitive rivalry in recent years, as both programs’ head coaches also lead the state all-star team and know each other’s squads well.
“It definitely resonates with the girls,” 15s coach Mikayla Miller said of the victory over Armstrong. “They like winning in general, but when they can beat a rival opponent, it’s that much sweeter.”
Miller works to breed that spirit of competition throughout the 15s season, and Terry Helmer is responsible for keeping it alive during the summer. Helmer, the assistant coach during the spring, is the 7s head coach in the summer. So what separated the state champs from the rest of the field?
“The ability of the athletes to make all the practices throughout the summer and play as a core team on defense,” Helmer explained. “With their solid defense and explosive offense, they were able to finish the season 11-0, outscoring their opponents 338-94.”
Senior captains Allie Stellpflug and Sabrina Mellema led the charge, and allowed Marisa Hall, Brooke Miller and Tatum Johnson – Helmer’s choice for MVPs – to really stand out during the championship. Johnson and Miller are very important on the 15s team and regular Minnesota Tundra players.
“Tatum started with us as a 7th grader and is one of the most athletic, talented kids I’ve had the pleasure to coach,” Miller said of the now-sophomore. “She’s a good leader on and off the field, which takes a lot of people by surprise because of her age. She’s been one of our top playmakers and try-scorers since she’s been with us.
“Brooke is similar in terms of leadership qualities, but she has a different style than Tatum,” Miller added. “She’s our quiet leader on the field and has been one of our top try-scorers the last few years.”
Hall comes from East Metro’s program, which couldn’t field a full 7s team this summer, so she joined North Suburban. 2015 has been a breakout year for the center/wing, who joined Tundra this year and turned heads in Las Vegas.
“She is easily one of the best athletes in the Minnesota player pool,” Miller asserted.
The state 7s championship marks the end of competitive play for 2015, and many of these players will pursue other sports in the fall - an option that North Suburban supports. Those looking for a higher-level playing opportunity will look toward the Tundra, which is planning another trip to Kansas City, Mo., before year’s end.
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