Much like other high schools around the country and around the world, Minot High has had to navigate through their fall sports activities in uncharted waters as it relates to COVID-19 restrictions.

Under such unprecedented circumstances, Minot activities director Mitch Lunde, now in his eighth year at Magic City, says one of his main goals is to provide student-athletes an opportunity to continue competing in their sport of choice while also leaving room to alter the activities schedule as needed. With 18 total years of experience as a school administrator, Lunde understands the need to preserve after-school functions even as the pandemic continues. “In the state of North Dakota, these activities are very important, not only for the student-athletes, but for the entire community in general,” Lunde tells the Minot Daily News via telephone. “It’s a way people can bond and build relationships, and I feel bad for those that can’t come to our games due to the restrictions that are in place.”

With the fall sports season winding down, the MHS activities director states that while there were some events that needed to be rescheduled due to the coronavirus, he feels satisfied that each Minot team was able to complete full seasons of games thus far. Lunde admits he had his doubts about playing a full sports schedule back in August. “Before the season, I would have been happy to get in two or three football games. So to get in seven games was terrific. We also played full seasons of soccer, tennis, golf and cross country. All things considered, everything has gone as well as we could have hoped for.”

On Thursday, governor Doug Burgum announced Ward County was one of eight counties that went from moderate coronavirus risk to high risk. The change in risk levels went into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday. That being the case, fan attendance at Magi events will be reduced from 100 to 50 people moving forward.

As the sports calendar will soon be making the transition into winter sports, Lunde remains hopeful the upward spike in active coronavirus cases in Ward County trend downward soon. In the meantime, the MHS administrator expresses gratitude for the compliance he has received from Magi student-athletes, coaches, parents and faculty thus far. “I just want to thank everyone who has been involved, and I urge them to keep up the fight and do their part to stay safe. This is not fun for anyone, but we are trying to work through this the best way we can.”