By Matt Browning
There was one thing Minneapolis’ Sydney Parks wanted to accomplish this season: make it to the 3A Tournament.
After the Lions defeated Beloit in the regional championship, Parks’ mission was complete.
“The one thing I really wanted to accomplish this year was go to state,” Parks said. “We had a good chance of making it through our regional this year and we had been working hard all year.”
Beating Beloit again was especially sweet for Parks. The Trojans and the Lions have a rivalry, so beating them three times and the final time with a state bid on the line, was especially satisfying for Parks.
“Most of the girls on my team now were also on my team when we were younger and we have always had a rivalry with Beloit,” said Parks, who was an honorable mention all-league selection last season and is on her way to a first team all-league selection in 2025. “To beat them (Beloit) in high school, especially senior year, was a really fun experience.”
Parks, her teammates and coaches have a long history together and those relationships mean so much.
“My teammates and coaches mean a lot to me,” Parks said. “My current coaches also coached me when I was first starting softball and many of my teammates and I have been playing together since then too.”
