Rock Ridge Public Schools

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Rock Ridge Public Schools is a school district based in Virginia, Minnesota and Eveleth, Minnesota.[1] It is assigned the designation of Independent School District (ISD) 2909 by the State of Minnesota.

Ground was broken for the new Rock Ridge High School on August 5, 2020.[2] It is set to open in the fall of 2023. Rock Ridge Superintendent Noel Schmidt claims this new school will be the most impressive school north of St. Cloud. The mascot for the district is a Wolverine.

Rock Ridge Public Schools
Rock Ridge Public Schools Logo.png
411 S 5th Ave
Virginia, MN
, 55734, 55741, 55777, 55792, 55710, 55751, 55768
District information
MottoesFiercely United
GradesPK-12
Established2020
SuperintendentNoel Schmidt
Chair of the boardStacey Scholz
Schools
  • Eveleth-Gilbert Senior High
  • Eveleth-Gilbert Junior High
  • Nelle Shean Elementary
  • Franklin Elementary
  • Virginia Secondary
  • Roosevelt Elementary
  • Parkview Elementary
Budget$178 Million
District IDMN-012909
Students and staff
Athletic conferenceIron Range
Colors    Green and Black
Other information
Websiterrps.org

High Schools[]

Junior High School[]

  • Eveleth-Gilbert Junior High (Gilbert) serves grades 7-8.

Elementary Schools[]

  • Franklin Elementary (Eveleth) serves grades K-4.
  • Nelle Shean Elementary (Gilbert) serves grades 5-6.
  • Parkview Elementary (Virginia) serves K-2.
  • Roosevelt Elementary (Virginia) serves grades 3-6.

Administration[]

  • Superintendent - Dr. Noel Schmidt
  • Principal (Gilbert Campus) - Todd Griepentrog
  • Principal (Eveleth Campus) - Angie Williams
  • Principal (Virginia HS Campus) - Lisa Perkovich
  • Principal (Virginia Elementary Campus) - Sheena Stefanich
  • Principal (Virginia Elementary Campus) - Dan Johnson
  • Dean of students (Eveleth Campus) - Nicole Young

Sports[]

  • All Eveleth-Gilbert & Virginia sports teams will be combined by the opening of the new Rock Ridge High School. As of Summer 2021 Track, Swimming, Tennis, Girls' Golf, and Girls' Hockey are already combined. Boys' Hockey, Football, Cross Country, and Dance will all be combined before that point. A new ice arena in Virginia Iron Trail Motors Event Center, which opened in September 2021, will be the home of the combined hockey team.
  • The Eveleth Hippodrome, known as "The Hipp," is Minnesota's oldest hockey arena still in use. The facility hosted its first hockey game on New Year's Day 1922.[3] The Hipp has birthed careers of hockey luminaries like Frank Brimsek, John Mariucci and John Mayasich. The 2017-2020 period found standout Elliot Van Orsdel scoring 85 points through his high-school career, a memorable latter-day success story from the Hipp. The Hipp, owned and operated by the City of Eveleth, will continue to be the home ice for the E-G youth hockey program.
  • Athletic Directors are Chad Hazelton for Eveleth-Gilbert & Josh Lamppa for Virginia.

Boys' Hockey[]

Virginia and Eveleth both have a rich hockey heritage dating to the turn of the Twentieth Century. Before consolidation, the Golden Bears & Blue Devils were regular and spirited Iron Range Conference and MSHSL Section 7A rivals. The January 2020 Virginia/MIB vs. Eveleth-Gilbert game was one of the most-viewed hockey games on the Iron Range. The Eveleth Hippodrome was at full capacity and over 3,000 people had viewed the game. The game was also the occasion of the unveiling of the Rock Ridge moniker, logo, and hockey jerseys.

The last hockey game played in Virginia's Miners Memorial arena before its demolition also ended up being the final matchup between the two teams before their merger.[4] At the time of the game, a Section 7A quarterfinal matchup played in front of a pandemic-limited crowd and many others viewing online on March 20, 2021, fans believed the two teams would have one more independent season, but subsequently the Rock Ridge school board voted on May 10, 2021 to make the consolidation effective in the 2021-2022 season. The program will be a cooperative that also includes the adjacent Mountain Iron-Buhl and Mesabi East school districts.

Coaches[]

Eveleth-Gilbert 2020-2021 Season Coaches[]
  • Jeff Torrel - Head
  • Paul Coombe - Assistant
  • Jared Anderson - Assistant
  • Steve Troutwine - Assistant
Virginia-MIB 2020-2021 Season Coaches[]
  • Cale Finseth - Head
  • Evan Friedlieb - Assistant
  • Chris Westin - Assistant
Rock Ridge 2021-2022 Season Coaches[]
  • Ben Johnson - Head


Essentia Health All-Star Game[]

The first Essentia Health All-Star Boys' Hockey Game, featuring standouts from across the Arrowhead region, was played at the end of the season in 2020. Players from both Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia/MIB played in the game including Elliot Van Orsdel, Will Troutwine, Nick Beaudette, and Gage Everson from Eveleth-Gilbert, and Ryan Scherf from Virginia/MIB. Jeff Torrel from Eveleth-Gilbert was the head coach for the White Team. In 2021 from Eveleth-Gilbert Brandon Lind, Kolton Bajda, and Nick Troutwine were selected. From Virginia/MIB Ian Kangas, Ryan Scherf, and Tom Nemanich made the team. The White Team was coached by Jeff Torrel, Paul Coombe, and Jared Anderson, all from Eveleth-Gilbert.

References[]

  1. ^ Reusse, Patrick (January 25, 2020). "Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert to consolidate into Rock Ridge, and make Mel Brooks proud". startribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  2. ^ Whitefoot, Adelle (August 5, 2020). "Three Iron Range communities celebrate the groundbreaking of new high school". duluthnewstribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  3. ^ "Eveleth Hippodrome". Vintage Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Virginia/MIB Boys Hockey to Face Rivals Eveleth-Gilbert in Final Game at Miners Memorial Building". FOX 21 News. Retrieved 9 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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