It was court chaos in a good way as the MYAS boys Grade State basketball championships were being played.
“We know we run the largest tournament in the state of Minnesota,” said Dawson Blanck who runs MYAS. “We run one of the largest tournaments in the nation.”
Spring Lake Park was one of 30 host venues in the Twin Cities for an event that spans three separate weekends.
“This tournament starts at 7 am,” said Kyle King, President of the Spring Lake Park booster club. “It will go until 9 pm and we’ll do it all again tomorrow.”
MYAS – Minnesota Youth Athletic Services – is a non-profit based in Spring Lake Park that has become a staple on the youth sports scene. For over three decades MYAS has run baseball and basketball tournaments that give high schools a chance to raise funds.
Humble beginnings
MYAS has made quantum leaps since their humble beginnings 33 years ago.
“In 1991 there were 15 boys teams and eight girls teams,” Blanck said. “Now today we have 1,029 boys teams and 645 girls teams.”
“We just appreciate what MYAS does,” King said. “They could probably change their business model, but they believe in growing the sport and helping out programs throughout the state. We’re very thankful for that.”
Tournaments like this have become a windfall for local prep athletic departments when it comes to raising money.
Said Blanck: “Ultimately our events are fundraising mechanisms for the local community.”
For Spring Lake Park, MYAS events are a cash cow.
“We beg for it,” King said. “We beg for it.”
The Panthers raise between 16 and 18k each year, which is 65 percent of their budget..
“Between the boys and girls program we get about nine grand out of this tournament,” King said. “Next tournament we’re going to make about seven grand.”
“They’ve been a host of ours for at least a decade and it’s probably longer,” Blanck said. “They’re just are a great central location within earshot of our MYAS headquarters in Spring Lake Park.”
Trickle down effect
The money raised benefits Spring Lake Park in many ways.
Said King: “We rely on it.”
There is a trickle down effect that impacts the Panthers and the Spring Lake Park area.
“Those funds are actually used for on-court activities as well as off-court activities,” King said. “We do scholarships for colleges for the seniors who graduate. We do on-court stuff like apparel and other things for the programs, then we also do social things for the boys to build camaraderie and spirit together whether it’s carbo loads, after game parties, those kind of things.”
“In this case concessions, admissions and portions of apparel go back directly into the Spring Lake Park community,” Blanck said. “Primarily the high school program.”
One reason Spring Lake Park is an annual host site for MYAS tournaments, is because the Panthers have top-notch facilities and a fan-friendly set-up.
“They have five great courts, all in close proximity,” Blanck said. “They have a nice central area where everybody can congregate between games. It’s just a great atmosphere.”
Hoop dreams
On gameday, each court morphs into its own basketball ecosystem, as grade school teams from the Twin Cities and outstate Minnesota get a chance to live out their hoop dreams.
“We just had senior night,” King said. “Every one of the kids that are seniors, they all talked about how their best memories are from these youth days, playing with their teammates, competing, and building a passion for the game. That’s what MYAS does for kids at all different levels.”
“I think it’s great to see this culminating event and how it’s grown over the years,” Blanck said. “The participation not just from the Twin Cities but the entire state.
Yes this is March Madness on the youth level – chockfull of action, excitement and even some bracketology.
“It’s an amazing program,” King said.
The tournament also benefits the North Metro in an economic way. Multiple teams traveling to Spring Lake Park can be good for local business.
“They’re staying the whole weekend here,” King said. “Going out to restaurants, staying in hotels. Hopefully enjoying themselves in Blaine and Spring Lake Park, seeing what the area has to offer.”
Everybody’s staying in hotels,” Blanck said. “They’re going to eat. They’re having get togethers with their team or multiple teams from their association if they’re traveling a distance to celebrate the end of the season.”
The MYAS is Minnesota’s largest multi-sport organization and has over 150,000 young athletes participating in programs each season.
