District 196 Just Won Three State Championships This Spring

District 196 Just Won Three State Championships This Spring — Here's Every One

TLDR

Rosemount baseball won its first-ever state title, beating Champlin Park 4-1 at Target Field.
Eastview boys volleyball finished a perfect 34-0 and swept Eden Prairie for the crown.
Rosemount girls flag football went 14-0 and beat Rogers 45-12 in the final.
The flag football coach asked families to help push the state to make the sport official.

At the June 22 District 196 school board meeting, three teams got the spotlight for winning state championships this spring. It's a rare thing for one district to pull off in a single season. Here's how each one happened.

Rosemount Baseball: First Title Ever

The Rosemount Irish won the program's first Class 4A state baseball championship, beating Champlin Park 4-1 at Target Field. Coach Chris Swansson told the board the team finished 25-5 and was the No. 1 seed in its section.

What makes it sweeter: to win it, Rosemount knocked off both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the state tournament. One of the best stories of the run was pitcher Evan Boll, who took a line drive off his face in May and came back to pitch in the tournament. Freshman Keagan McDermott and junior Oliver Anderson were big factors too.

"Out of many, we are one," Swansson said of the team's motto. You can read the Star Tribune's recap of the title game here, and the official MSHSL bracket here.

Eastview Boys Volleyball: Perfect Season

Eastview ran the table. The Lightning finished 34-0 and won the state title by sweeping Eden Prairie 3-0 in the final. This is only the second year boys volleyball has been a sanctioned sport in Minnesota, and Eastview finished third last year — so this was the jump from "close" to "champions."

Coach Ryan Dehnel's team didn't just win, they dominated, dropping only four sets in 34 matches. Senior Colin Nathan pounded 18 kills in the championship match, and star hitter Jay Thammavongsa is headed to play at the University of Minnesota. The coach told the board his group might be one of the best sets of teammates he's ever coached.

Boys volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country right now, and the momentum is everywhere — Minnesota is even getting two pro volleyball teams in 2027. Here's the Star Tribune's coverage of Eastview's title.

Rosemount Girls Flag Football: 14-0 Champs

The Rosemount Irish girls flag football team went 14-0 with seven shutouts and won the 2026 state championship, beating Rogers 45-12 at the Vikings' TCO Stadium in Eagan. Junior quarterback Talia Vescio threw seven touchdown passes in the final alone.

Rosemount was one of the first four schools to bring girls flag to Minnesota back in 2024, and they won that first season too. The sport has exploded since — from 51 teams to 104 across the state in just three years. Here's the Vikings' recap of the championship.

And They Want Your Help

Here's the part the coach really wanted the board to hear. Girls flag football still isn't a fully sanctioned state high school sport. It's up for "emerging sport" status, which is the first step, but the state high school league pushed that vote to this fall.

Coach Jeff Erdmann asked the board, and families, to speak up. His message was basically: call your school's athletic director and your school board members and tell them you want this. "Our female athletes have gone far too long without having the opportunity to play this game," he said. You can read more about the sanctioning push and the delayed vote here.

The Bottom Line

Three state titles in one spring is a huge deal for District 196, and the board made sure each team got its moment. If you care about girls flag football sticking around as a real varsity sport, this fall's state league vote is the one to watch. And if you just love local sports, this district has quietly become one of the best in the state — Rosemount also won the girls basketball state championship this year.

FAQ

Did Rosemount baseball really never win state before? Right. This was the program's first-ever state championship in baseball. They beat Champlin Park 4-1 at Target Field.

How good was Eastview volleyball this year? Perfect. They finished 34-0 and lost only four sets all season. They beat Eden Prairie 3-0 in the final.

Where did the flag football title game happen? At TCO Stadium in Eagan, the Vikings' practice facility. Rosemount beat Rogers 45-12.

How do I help make girls flag an official sport? The Rosemount coach suggested contacting your school's athletic director and school board members to voice support before the state high school league's vote this fall.

Are these all the same district? Yes. Rosemount, Eastview (in Apple Valley), and Eagan high schools are all part of District 196.