June 15, 2021
Mounds Park Academy won its first state team championship in any sport in school history thanks in large part to Bryan Kelly.
In the 2005 Class A state tennis tournament, Kelly faced an opponent from The Blake school with the state championship tied at 3-3 in the best of seven contest. What followed was a three and half hour long battle that ultimately resulted in a 4-3 Mounds Park Academy victory. “It was one of the most fun atmospheres I’ve ever had an opportunity to be a part of and I’ll never forget the feeling of helping my team accomplish our ultimate goal,” says Kelly. Read More
Caitlin Coomes ‘01 starred in both soccer and track and field at Mounds Park Academy. Her experience playing at MPA nurtured her love of athletics in general, which stayed with her through her entire playing career. Much of that love she credits to one source. “The quality of the coaching at MPA was excellent,” Coomes said.
An MPA lifer, Chad Hanson grew up watching a variety of Panthers’ sports. As he got older, Hanson had the opportunity to try out a number of those different including cross country running, basketball, golf and football. But baseball was his true love, and by the time he entered Upper School, he was playing virtually year round.
Cooper Olson is among the most talented and accomplished basketball players in Mounds Park Academy history, yet ask his teammates, coaches, classmates or teachers, and they’re more likely to bring up who he is off the court than his achievements on it.
The youngest of three Dahlberg siblings, Declan Dahlberg watched his older brother and sister grow up as three sport athletes at MPA. When he got his turn in blue and white, he made the most of it. A cross country running, Nordic skiing and track and field athlete, Dahlberg’s name dots the record books in each sport.
For Dylan Merchant ’16, there wasn’t too much more special than winning the state team golf championship with his closest friends as a senior. “I really enjoyed the moment in every event, and played really well. I made my first hole in one, I won the section championship and placed second in state individually, and I really made some great connections with other athletes outside of MPA.”
Dylan Saul ’11 was the all-important fifth runner on MPA’s first ever state qualifying cross country team in 2008. Just a sophomore, Saul’s tenacity and selflessness helped bring home a sixth place finish at the class A state cross country meet for the Panthers.
Emma Stacy ‘15 embodies the student athlete at Mounds Park Academy. As a competitive swimmer, she knew that without the right balance of athletics, arts, and academics, plus a healthy dose of joy, she could be susceptible to an early burn out. It was no surprise that Stacy, who swam for Metro United, MPA’s co-op swim team, always made sure to make swimming fun. “My favorite memory was carpooling to the pool with other MPA swimmers and jamming to songs in the car to get pumped up,” she said.
With an older brother considered one of Minnesota’s most accomplished distance runners in recent memory, Evan Ferlic had some big shoes to fill. But with a list of accolades that looks like his brother Mason’s, Ferlic has proven he is up for the challenge.
Late October nights in Minnesota tend to be cold and dark. Soccer players competing in section tournament games, played under the lights, bundle up any way they can.