It was a winning weekend for Minot sports teams last weekend.

On the athletics side, Minot High’s football team won its first state title since 1980, becoming the 2023 NDHSAA Class AAA Football champions after defeating Fargo Shanley at the Dakota Bowl in Fargo.

Senior running back Tyson Ruzicka was named the 2023 NDHSCA Division AAA Football Co-senior Athlete of the Year and head coach Chauncy Hendershot was named the Division AAA Football Coach of the Year.

The Minot High winning was even more significant because it closed out a chapter in Minot High School history. This year’s team is the last unified team to compete at the varsity level before Minot North begins varsity play next year.

But that’s not all.

Last weekend turned out to be a winning weekend for Minot and area sports teams when Minot High’s cheerleaders won three state titles at the 2023 NDCCA Fall State Cheer Competition in West Fargo.

Haley Conklin, a member of the Minot High girls’ swimming and diving program, added another state title to the program’s history when she set a new state record in the diving competition over the weekend. The Majettes placed second at the state swim meet.

The Our Redeemer’s Knights girls were crowned the Region 6 champions at the Class B volleyball tournament on Nov. 9, and senior outside hitter Maya Vibeto was named the Region 6 player of the year.

How did all these teams win? They won the honors by working hard and competing together as a team.

It wasn’t only sports teams being honored in recent days.

Another team – the local community – was honored with a special recognition for its commitment and support to Minot Air Force Base and the military.

The community received the Barksdale Trophy, an honor given to the community with the most outstanding support to an Air Force Global Strike Command Base – Minot Air Force Base. The trophy was handed out at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, during the recent 2023 Global Strike Challenge.

“Minot, the surrounding area and Minot Air Force Base are one community. It was an honor and our very pleasure to accept this award on behalf of all the people who truly made this award possible,” said Bruce Christianson, who was one of several from Minot on hand to accept the trophy on behalf of the City of Minot.

“It’s an honor for our community to be recognized for providing the finest support to an Air Force Base associated with Air Force Global Strike Command. It is a team effort that makes Minot a great community deserving of the Barksdale Trophy,” said Mark Jantzer, chairman of Minot’s Task Force 21.

We extend a congratulations to all of these teams.