BEMIDJI — There weren’t many surprises when Bemidji High School athletics administrators were shown the 2025-27 Minnesota State High School League section realignments on Thursday.

Two years ago, activities director Kristen McRae, along with several BHS coaches, voiced their frustrations about the MSHSL to the Pioneer. This time around, the tensions have simmered.

That’s because there was less hope that the Lumberjacks would move down from the top class in each sport.

Competitive section placements are determined by enrollment and geography — as determined by MSHSL Board policy — with a balanced number of schools in each section at the time of placement. The MSHSL board of directors reviews and approves classifications and competitive section placements for postseason play in MSHSL-sponsored sports activities every two years.

MSHSL enrollment is determined by the school's Minnesota Department of Education enrollment in year one in grades 9 through 12, minus 40% of their educational benefit (free and reduced lunches).

Each school's enrollment number determines what class they are placed in for each sport. Once they are placed in a class, a school is then given a section based on its location.

In the last two years, BHS saw its MSHSL enrollment number grow from 1,211 to 1,331.

“We are a big school in a small town in a remote location,” McRae said. “Our numbers at the high school are bigger than they’ve ever been in the last couple of years. … There wasn’t any huge shock; it was more what they were going to do with the sections and how they would balance them out.”

On Thursday, McRae witnessed the realignment process for the second time as activities director. She was hired to replace Troy Hendricks in September 2022.

In 2020, Bemidji was widely seen as a 3A school, competing in the second-biggest class the MSHSL offers in most sports, with exceptions to less populated activities like Nordic skiing, hockey, gymnastics, etc.

However, BHS was bumped up to 4A status in 2021. Over the last four years, Bemidji athletics programs have not only seen a step up in competition but also travel and expenses.

The MSHSL does not require schools to play teams in their respective sections during the regular season, meaning if a school like Bemidji wants to play equally-sized competition, the Lumberjacks have to hit the road.

For schools like St. Michael-Albertville, which share multiple sections with Bemidji, it’s easier to fill out a schedule without dipping down several classes to do it.

While Bemidji didn’t change sections in any sport except girls tennis — the MSHSL added a third class to girls tennis — the Jacks’ schedules over the next two years will surely look different.

The MSHSL placed Alexandria in 13 more of Bemidji’s sections. Monticello was newly placed in 11 of them. Sartell and Sauk Rapids-Rice were bumped down a class in almost every sport, while Buffalo was moved to a different section.

Buffalo was a commendable school in terms of its willingness to travel to Bemidji while sharing a section with the Lumberjacks. McRae expects that to stay the same with Monticello.

“Travel-wise, it’s maybe a little bit further, but it’s a pretty easy drive,” McRae said. “Monticello is really good at return trips. … Buffalo has been good about coming here. Maybe a few years back, it was harder to get (section teams) to drive up here. But they’ve been awesome at reciprocating trips recently.”

Bemidji already plays Alexandria in multiple sports, though McRae is seeking more. She noted that Bemidji is currently working on adding Alexandria to its boys soccer schedule. Many programs wait to finalize their schedules for the following season until the placements are revealed.

“Talking with Alexandria, our boys basketball team has played them, and while we for sure want to get one game against them with the boys, we for sure want one for the girls, too,” McRae said. “Some of these schools have to do some restructuring with their current schedule to pick up these new opponents. Monticello reached out already and we will have games against them.”

McRae also said that there was speculation of Bemidji moving to Section 7. Bemidji is in Section 8 for all sports except dance, which only offers four three-class sections.

While some coaches and programs accepted their 4A fate, others held out hope.

The BHS dance team was preparing to appeal being a Class 3A team. However, Bemidji’s enrollment placed dance just outside of the appeal zone.

A school can appeal that a team sport should be in a different class if their enrollment number is within 10% of the class cutoff line. The mark of dance is 1,204, putting the Blue Angels at 10.5% above the line.

“(The MSHSL) draws their line when they make these classes,” McRae said. “We looked at dance, and we were right on the bubble. We were just a little bit above it. But I understand that the MSHSL has a specific criteria that you must meet to apply for an appeal. So when you look at it and think that 10.5% is not that much over 10%, it opens up a can of worms for everybody else trying to wiggle.”

BHS was not eligible to appeal for any individual sport. Schools can only appeal placements for team sports, meaning programs like boys and girls swimming, track and field and cross country don’t get an argument if they are within 10%.

The MSHSL does not factor in travel and expenses for greater Minnesota programs that land outside the appeal zone. McRae said she’s interested in changing that.

“It comes down to changing policies already in place,” McRae said. “It probably can be done, but there’s a process and a procedure to do it correctly. We have to figure out what that is and how to do it correctly.”

In most sports, Bemidji is independent from conference play. Its proximity and size compared to other schools and conferences in northern Minnesota make joining a conference a challenge.

However, there are benefits to being in a conference when it comes to scheduling. If Bemidji gets an invite, it would likely come from the Central Lakes Conference that includes Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Rocori, Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice, St. Cloud Apollo, St. Cloud Tech and Willmar.

“Conferences have been a discussion for Bemidji athletics since at least 2010 and probably earlier,” McRae said. “It’s still a topic. I’ll be honest, we are in a district that has to look very closely at finances and budgets and what we can afford. I’d love to see Bemidji in a conference. I think lots of people would. You’d get stability in scheduling and give opportunities for kids to win athletic and academic awards.”

Despite the logistical challenges of playing prep sports at Bemidji High School, McRae is continuously impressed with Lumberjack athletes for not only their willingness to abide by their demanding schedule but also their ability to perform in the classroom.

“I get emotional talking about it,” McRae said. “If you saw our team GPAs, considering how much time we spend on the road. It would blow your socks off. Our kids excel in all realms. When you think about this whole situation, it sucks the wind out of your sails a little bit. But they just pick it up and go. … We do the best with what we got in our means and ability, and these kids just keep lacing up their shoes and step out on the court.”