Jets History

JETS (BULLETS) History (As of Spring 2014)

The league was MSISA (Minnesota Special Interscholastic Association), an affiliation of MAAA (Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association). MSISA states in it’s philosophy that it is modeled after the Minnesota State High School League to enable students with cognitive impairments the same opportunities as other students to enjoy the benefits of a quality sports program. MSISA seeks the endorsement by and eventual integration within the Minnesota State High School League. The goal of MSISA is to become fully supported by the school districts as an integral part of each school’s total ports program.

MAAA had been in existence for about 10 years with a league for athletes in schools for physically handicapped. South Suburban has the ‘Flyers’.

Interscholastic sports are the most competitive of all sports programs at the high school level and are the only sports sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Adapted Athletics are interscholastic sports that are just as competitive as football, hockey or any other high school varsity sport. Adapted Athletics emerged and developed to this point over the last 20 years with considerable input from many sources including coaches, educators, former players and high school league officials. In fact, it was the players themselves that wanted an opportunity to play in a sports program that was "just like the programs offered to their classmates".

The goal of the program has always been to provide sports experiences for high school athletes with disabilities in the same manner that they have been provided for non-disabled athletes. The organization wanted to provide interscholastic sports opportunities where none previously existed. This has been achieved in the state of Minnesota. Minnesota is the first state where adapted sports have been officially sanctioned by a state high school league. The following indoor sports are offered by the MSHSL: Adapted Soccer (Fall), Adapted Floor Hockey (Winter), Adapted Softball (Spring) and Adapted Bowling (Spring).

Value of Adapted Athletics

Interscholastic adapted athletics is definitely an important dimension in the education of the whole person. Students with varying types of disabilities compete co-educationally while representing their school district or combination of school districts. Students who participate on a school team assume an obligation to model exemplary behavior not only for themselves, but also for those whom they represent. Athletic awards earned by an athlete with a disability, represent not only participation by the student in a specified amount of interscholastic play, but also good citizenship which is expected of all athletes. Interscholastic athletics are intended to give student athletes the opportunity to discover and/or improve the following:

*Goal setting

*Friendships

*Competitiveness

*Physical condition/wellness

*Commitment and dedication

* Pride and self-confidence

* Leadership and teamwork

* Graciousness (win or lose)

* Concentration and intensity

*A sense of community and belonging

It is the belief of the MAAA Board that the mental and physical attributes that student athletes acquire through participation will help them lead more productive and well-rounded lives.

First Year 1989-90!!!

Winter 1989-90

First teams started... There were 4 teams in first sport of Floor Hockey. Teams were Robbinsdale, St. Paul, Anoka and Bloomington. Ed Scinto, Bloomington’s Adapted Physical Education supervisor was instrumental in formulating this league and in Bloomington joining. Full support of Bloomington’s District Athletic Director Sonny Carlson helped develop program. First season had 1-3 record and 9 athletes from Bloomington.

Athletes picked the team name of “Bullets”, with the thought of bullets are FAST.

*Co-Head Coaches were Mary Jo Norine and Bruce Mulder.

Spring 1990

Started 1^stIndoor Softball team. Record was 2-4. Edina’s Adapted Athletic coordinator Marie Moilanen was on MAAA board and involved in starting the league. She sends an athlete from Edina to join the team. Marie is Adapted Athletics Coordinator for Edina for many years.

1990-91

Fall 1990 saw the addition of first Indoor Soccer team. Edina joined as a cooperative and total athlete count was 19. This first soccer team saw Bullets as League Champ, but lost championship game to Anoka in the State Tournament.

During this year (1990-91), MSISA name was dropped by Board of Directors and became part of MAAA with two divisions: POHI and MH. It was felt this would help with integration into Minnesota State High School League.

Winter 1990-91 an athlete from Eden Prairie joined the team and spring 1991 had two athletes from Richfield.

*Head coach Mary Jo Norine and assistants Barb Moen and Brad Van Bergen. Winter –Assistant coach Marcus McCleery.

1991-92

More Eden Prairie and Richfield athletes joined for a total of 29 Athletes. Could only have 20 on a Varsity roster, so it was split with a Junior Varsity team.

Soccer League Champs and State Champs

Floor Hockey League Co-Champs (8-1) and State Champs Softball- undefeated season of 4-0

*Head coach Mary Jo Norine and assistants Barb Moen and Marcus McCleery

1992-93

South Suburban name added to team name under direction of new Bloomington District Athletic Director Joe Dolan. Joe was very instrumental in working with the MSHSL to include Adapted Sports. Linda Sandell is district Athletic Secretary.

**(See more information on Joe Dolan and a scholarship in his name further in this history.)

Soccer started with 36 athletes. Team scored 122 goals with 27 against. Soccer- league champs and State Champs.

Coach Norine resigned after soccer season to be home with young family. Coach Barb Becker takes over as head coach at Floor Hockey season and continued as head coach for 17 years.

Floor Hockey- league champs and State Champs Softball undefeated, conference champions

* Varsity Head Coach Mary Jo Norine (Soccer), Barb Becker (Hockey and Softball) and assistant Barb Moen

*JV: Deb Hoesley and Marcus McCleery

Winter of 1992-93 Minnesota State High School League accepted MAAA into it’s affiliation, to start Fall of 1993

1993-94

Started first year as part of Minnesota State High School League with State Tournament. Soccer- 2^ndPlace

Floor Hockey- 1^stPlace, League Champ

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Barb (Moen) Ostrowski *JV: Cheri Carlson

1994-95

Floor Hockey- 1^stPlace, League Champ

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Barb (Moen) Ostrowski (Soccer and Hockey), Chuck Varley (Softball)

*JV: Cheri Carlson

August 1995 Barb Becker receives plaque in recognition of outstanding leadership and dedication to Bloomington Schools Adapted Athletics Program

1995-96

Soccer- 3^rdPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Dana Nelson *JV: Cheri Carlson

1996-97

Floor Hockey- 2^ndPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Dana Nelson *JV: Cheri Carlson

Interim District AD for the year is Jack Born when Joe Dolan is Kennedy High School Assistant Principal. Joe Dolan returns to AD Fall of 1997 until his retirement in 2004. Liz Holman is Athletic secretary from 1996 to 2009 when District #271 Athletic Director position is eliminated and support comes from the Activities Director at each high school. Liz is very instrumental in support of Adapted Athletics and of our athletes!

1997-98

Soccer- 3^rdPlace

Floor Hockey- 6^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Dana Nelson *JV: Kate Smith, Cheri Carlson

1998-99

Soccer- 4^thPlace

Floor Hockey- 2^ndPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Dana Nelson (Soccer), Kelly Doyle (Hockey and Softball)

*JV: Kate Smith, Cheri Carlson

Name changed to “JETS” at Softball season

1999-2000

Soccer- 2^ndPlace

Floor Hockey- 4^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Kelly Doyle *JV: Kate Smith, Cheri Carlson

2000-01

Soccer- 1^stPlace

Floor Hockey- 5^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Chris Tomberlin *JV: Kate Smith, Cheri Carlson

2001-02

Soccer- 3^rdPlace

Floor Hockey- 2^ndPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Chris Tomberlin *JV: Kate Smith

Adapted Athletics supervisor from Edina is Jackie Awsumb, who will continue through fall of 2011.

*Spring 2002 Coach Barb Becker, Prodigy Award (Individual) from Bloomington Education Foundation. Awarded for coaching of Jets, nominated by athletic secretary Liz Holman.

2002-03

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Chris Tomberlin (Soccer) Mary Jo DeSt Hubert (Hockey and Softball)

*JV: Kate Smith

2003-04

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert *JV: Kate Smith

2004-05

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert *JV: Kate Smith, Libbie Doyle, Jeff Richley

Ted Schultz replaces retiring Joe Dolan as District #271 Athletic Director, then continues as Jefferson Activities Director when district AD position is eliminated in 2009.

2005-06

Soccer – 7^th/8^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert *JV: Kate Smith, Jeff Richley

*Coach Barb Becker wins Coach of the Year from MN Adapted Coaches Association! Barb is also recognized by the MSHSL. Congratulations Barb!

2006-07

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert

*JV: Head coach Jeff Richley (Soccer) Mary Jo Norine (Hockey and Softball), Asst- Ben Wellumson

2007-08

Soccer- 5^thPlace

Floor Hockey- 4^thPlace Softball- 5^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert *JV Head Coach Mary Jo Norine, Asst- Ben Wellumson

2008-09

Soccer- 5^thPlace

Floor Hockey- Consolation Champs Softball- 4^thPlace

*Varsity: Head Coach Barb Becker, Asst Mary Jo DeSt Hubert *JV Head Coach Mary Jo Norine, Asst- Ben Wellumson

2009-10

Soccer- 2^ndPlace (OT Shootout!!)

Floor Hockey- Consolation Champ

Softball- 3^rdPlace

*Varsity: Head Coaches- Aaron Walton (Soccer, Softball), Andy Meinhardt (Soccer, Softball),

Floor Hockey- Head Coach Chris Tomberlin, Asst. Darren Nelson

*JV Head Coach Mary Jo Norine, Asst- Pat Meinhardt

District Athletic Director position eliminated. Support of Jets Adapted Athletics is at high school level, Activities Director Ted Schultz.

2010-11

Soccer- 7^th/8^thPlace