2015 Season History

2015 Teams

July 6-18, 2015 Northern Lights Europe Trip

From July 6-July 18 Northern Lights will be touring Europe visiting Amsterdam, Paris, Pula Croatia & Venice playing various European Youth teams and participating in the European Global Challenge in Pula Croatia.

A day-by-day journal of the trip can be found by clicking here.

• Day 1 – Arrive in Amsterdam
  • Makenzie & Bre at the windmill village.
  • Alyssa & Erin talk about Day 1.
• Day 2 – Groningen Netherlands
  • Some play against Groningen Univeristy team.
• Day 3 – Papendal National Sport Center
  • Some play against the Dutch Youth team.
  • Brynn & Jasmyn at the Papendal National Sport Center
• Day 4 – Papendal National Sport Center
  • BMO & Anna in Arnhem
  • Erin & Brynn golfing at Papendal Chip & Putt course
• Day 5 – Papendal to Paris
  • The bus ride to Paris
  • Claire & Kenzie in Paris on the Seine River
  • The Eifel Tower at night from the Seine River
• Day 6 – Versailles
  • Erin at Versailles
  • Anna & Alyssa on the train back to downtown Paris
• Day 7 – Paris to Pula & Opening Ceremonies
• Day 8 – Pula – Global Challenge Tournament
  • Playing in Pula against Croatia Youth National Team at the Global Challenge
  • Brynn & Alyssa at the Pula Coliseum
• Day 9 – Pula – Global Challenge Tournament & Cliff Jumping
  • Cliff Jumping in Croatia
  • Halle talks about our 2nd day in Croatia while at the park
• Day 10 – Pula – Global Challenge Tournament
  • Playing in Pula against Hungarian Youth National Team
• Day 11 – Pula – Global Challenge Tournament
  • Bells in Rovinj
• Day 12 – Venice
  • Video Fun in Venice

June 23-July 1 USJNC’s New Orleans

Northern Lights had 7 teams competing in New Orleans for the US Junior National Championships. Three of the teams missed getting into the Gold Championship Bracket by just a couple of points, and they easily won the Silver brackets. Overall it was a great year for Northern Lights medaling a total of 7 teams, and having 24 All Tournament selections in the two summer National Tournaments.

Northern Lights USJNC All Tournament Selections

June 14-25, 2015 – AAU National Championship Trip

Northern Lights placed 16 teams in the Gold Championship Brackets at the AAU National Championships and Medaled 7 teams. Three teams have been in the finals, and NL teams have won 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals.  Also Thanks to the 220+ players and parents for supporting the 15-2 & 13-2 teams in the finals and also thanks to the 16Black, Red & Zinc teams for supporting the 16-White team in their finals. NL had 23 AAU All American selections.

Mizuno Northern Lights 15-2 place 1st at the AAU National Championships 15 Premier

Mizuno Northern Lights 16-White place 2nd at the AAU National Championships 16 Classic

Mizuno Northern Lights 13-2 place 2nd at the AAU National Championships 13 Classic

Mizuno Northern Lights 17-2 place 3rd at the AAU National Championships 17 Premier

Mizuno Northern Lights 16-2 place 3rd at the AAU National Championships 17 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 16-Black place 3rd at the AAU National Championships 16 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 12-1 place 3rd at the AAU National Championships 12 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 18-Red places 5th at the AAU National Championships in 18 Classic

Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 place 5th at the AAU National Championships 17 Open

Mizuno Northern Lights 17-Black place 5th at the AAU National Championships 17 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 15-Black place 5th at the AAU National Championships 15 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 place 5th at the AAU National Championships 14 Open

Mizuno Northern Lights 14-2 place 5th at the AAU National Championships 14 Club

Mizuno Northern Lights 13-1 place 5th at the AAU National Championships 13 Club

23 Northern Lights AAU All American Selections

June 11, 2015 – Northern Lights Year End Banquet

The 2015 Northern Lights Year End Banquet was a huge success with 893 people attending. The 18-2’s winning team video was somewhat fishy, the new HD Video Screens made the shows awesome, the 2015 scrapbook pages were very impressive and we gave away 20 raffle prizes including a weekend at Madden’s Resort, and a signed Brett Favre picture. Thanks to everyone who helped with the banquet and congratulations to Blythe Rients the winner of the 2015 Northern Lights Quilt.

We also would like to extend our congratulations to Mira Grinsfelder who was voted by the coaches to receive the 2015 Maurice Batie Award of Excellence at the Banquet. The award was presented to Mira by Greta Geist, last year’s winner. Pictures of the banquet can be viewed by clicking here.

You can view a couple of the banquet shows from this year either on YouTube or by clicking here (it will ask you to download a special viewer).

Northern Lights wins 3 Divisions at the National Junior Classic in Chicago!

Northern Lights sent 9 teams to the National Junior Classic Tournament in Chicago. Six of the nine teams were in the Gold Championship brackets/pools, and 2 were in the Silver Brackets.

Congratulations to the 15-1 team for winning the 15 Open division of the NJC. Ellie Koontz, & CC McGraw were named to the All Tournament team and Tara Lee was named MVP.

Congratulations to the 15-2 team for winning the 15 Club division of the NJC. Kennedy Brady & Ella Ratzloff were named to the All Tournament team, and Lizzy Stark was named MVP.

Congratulations to the 17-Black team for winning the 17 Club division of the NJC. Ellie Veldman and Mimi Marion were named to the All Tournament team, and Ella Heinemann was named MVP.

Congratulations to the 16-3 team for placing 3rd in the 16 Club division of the NJC. Elena Lewis was named to the All Tournament team.

Northern Lights Wins the SMV Spring Tournament

Northern Lights sent its 10-1’s 11-1’s and our 12 Black teams to Rochester for the one-day, SMV Spring Tournament, and they placed 1st, 2nd, and 8th in the tournament.

Congratulations to the 12-Black team for winning the 12’s Division. They played the 11-1 team in the finals. The 10-1’s finished 8th overall. That’s a pretty impressive finish for these young Northern Lights teams!

6th Annual 12’s Cup

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 12-1 team for winning the 6th Annual 12’s cup. The Northern Lights 12-2 team finished 2nd and the Northern Lights 12-Black team finished 3rd. The 11-1 team finished 4th by winning the Silver Division.

Northern Lights wins 16’s & 14’s Divisions of Molten Cup with our 14’s teams!

Congratulations to the 14-1 team for winning the 16’s age division of the Molten Cup.

Congratulations to the 14-2 team for winning the 14’s age division of the Molten Cup.

17 teams in the Gold and 7 teams Medal in the Mizuno NL Qualifier!

Congratulations to the 17-2 team for winning the Northern Lights National Qualifier 17 USA Division by defeating Madfrog 17 Black in the finals. The 17-2 team has now “double qualified” for the USJN Championships in New Orleans late this June.

Congratulations to the 18-1 team for placing 2nd in the 18 USA Division.

Congratulations to the 15-1 team for winning the Northern Lights National Qualifier 15 Open Division by defeating Dynasty in the finals. The 15-1 team has now “double qualified” for the 15 Open Division of the USJN Championships in New Orleans late this June.

Congratulations to the 15-2 team for winning the Northern Lights National Qualifier 15 USA Division by defeating PVA 15 Elite in the finals. The 15-2 team has now “double qualified” for the USJN Championships in New Orleans late this June.

Congratulations to the 13-1 team for winning the Northern Lights National Qualifier 13 American Division.

Congratulations to the 15-Red team for placing 2nd in the 15 American Division.

Congratulations to the 14-1 team for placing 3rd in the Northern Lights National Qualifier 14 Open Division. The 14-1 team has now “double qualified” for the 14 Open Division of the USJN Championships in New Orleans late this June.

17 of our 33 teams who played in this event were in the Gold Brackets/Pools and 7 were in the Silver Brackets.

NL 18’s teams travel to Italy

The Northern Lights 18-1, 18-2, 18-Black, & 18-Red teams will be traveling and competing in Italy from March 29- April 7 with BringitUSA. They will be spending the first few days sightseeing in Rome, Milan, and Venice. After that they will be competing in a high level tournament in Pordenone Italy (18-1), Falconara (18-2), Milan (18-Black), and Verona (18-Red) with Junior teams from Italy and around the world. The team’s written journals, pictures and videos can be seen by clicking here.

NL wins 6 divisions & places 2nd or 3rd in 6 divisions of the Omaha President’s Day Tournament

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 18-2 team for winning the 18 Cub Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. The 18-2’s defeated Club One in the finals.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 17-2 team for winning the 17 Club Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. The 17-2’s defeated Conway Jrs in the finals.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 16-1 team for winning the 16 Open Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. The 16-1’s defeated KC Power in the finals.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 15-1 team for winning the 15 Open Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. The 15-1’s defeated Nebraska Impact in the finals.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 15-2 team for winning the 15 Club Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. The 15-2’s played and defeated Nebraska One in the finals (who they had previously lost to earlier in the tournament.)

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 14-1 team for winning the 14 Open Division of the Omaha President’s Day tournament. They defeated Topeka Impact in the finals.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 16-Black team who finished 2nd in their division, and to the 18-1, 17-1, 14-2, 13-1, & 12-1’s who all finished 3rd in their divisions.

Northern Lights placed 17 of it’s 25 teams into the Gold Brackets of the tournament. This was an excellent showing for all Northern Lights teams!

Local Minneapolis President’s Day Tournament

Northern Lights had 8 of our younger teams in the local Presidents Day tournament, and placed 2 of those teams in the Gold Brackets.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 12-2 team for winning the 12’s Division of the NCR President’s Day Tournament.

Congratulations to the Northern Lights 13-Black team for placing 2nd in 13’s Division of the NCR President’s Day Tournament.

All of the teams participated in the highest divisions of this local event.

Congratulations to our January Thaw Champions

Congratulations to these teams for winning their respected club divisions at the January Thaw:  15-2s, 13-1s, and 12-1s.  All of the teams did great.

December 16-23, 2014 Northern Lights Amsterdam Trip

From December 16-23 Northern Lights will be in Amsterdam Netherlands playing in a Christmas tournament with our 16-2 team.

A day-by-day journal for the trip can be found by clicking here.

• Day 1 – Arrive in Amsterdam
• Day 2 – Amsterdam
  • Eliza and Anna with Santa in Amsterdam
  • Lucy, Alivia, Taylor talk about our flight over and windmills
  • The clean plate club by Katie and Anna
• Day 3 – Amsterdam to Alkmaar
  • Payton & Alivia on the train to Alkmaar
• Day 4 – Alkmaar Tournament
  • Some playing at the tournament
  • Julia & Olivia talk about our day playing while at the pool
• Day 5 – Alkmaar Tournament
  • Eliza warming up for a match
  • Bowling in Alkmaar, Julia, Eliza, & Olivia who gets a spare
• Day 6 – Alkmaar Tournament
  • One good thing about the tournament
  • Warming up for the Alkmaar Dance

Northern Lights Tryouts completed and a new season is underway!

Congratulations the 335 players who were selected to play for one the Northern Lights 33 teams this year. We are looking forward to a great season with all of you.

Congratulations to Samantha Swenson, 2014 Baden Ms. Volleyball

Congratulations to Samantha Swenson who was selected by the MN Coaches Association as the 2014 Ms. Volleyball. Samantha plays for Hopkins High School. Last year she played for NL 18-1 and will be heading to college at the U of M this winter.

November 5, 2014 – Congratulations to “All State” Players

Northern Lights would like to extend our congratulations to all of the High School Players in Minnesota who were selected for the MN Coaches Association All State teams. 15 players from Northern Lights were at the banquet and received their award, they are:

November 5, 2014 – Congrats to Star Tribune & Pioneer Press “All Metro” Players

Northern Lights would also like to extend our congratulations to the 14 Northern Lights Players who were selected to either the Star Tribune All Metro Teams and/or the Pioneer Press All Metro teams.

November 2, 2014 – Congratulations to State Tournament Participants

Northern Lights would like to congratulate the 24 players from the club who qualified for the Minnesota High School State Tournament. Have a great tournament!