There’s a lot of pride in Hayfield the past few weeks – and for good reason.

Friday, March 23, 2001

There’s a lot of pride in Hayfield the past few weeks – and for good reason. The Hayfield High School boys basketball team has done something no other in their community has done since 1968 – they took their team to state competition.

The pride in Hayfield obviously spills over to Brownsdale, a community in the Hayfield School District. The blue and gold T-shirts that have been selling for $3 are everywhere in the two communities.

The Vikings faced a tough game on Tuesday against DeLa Salle of Minneapolis, a team more accustomed to state finals. Tonight, the Vikings take on Glencoe in the state semifinals. If – and we could take some heat from Hayfield fans in putting it that way – the Vikings win tonight at the Xcel Energy Center, they move on to the finals on Saturday. And if – OK, when – they win that game, a state champion will be crowned.

If for some reason – any reason – the Vikings don’t win tonight, they still go to the consolation game on Saturday.

The team spirit in Hayfield is contagious. The entire community is behind these young athletes – a team steeped with seniors and a first-year coach, Chris Pack, who is only 25 years old.

We salute not only the players on this year’s Viking lineup but the fans who have backed the team and followed them all the way to state. There are only winners in the Hayfield School District.