By Chad Koenen

Publisher

One year after she was part of the first-ever Henning High School girls team to make it to a state tournament, Megan Rinicker added another first to the volleyball program’s history books—an all-state player.

“This is a huge accomplishment,” said Henning High School volleyball coach Megan Rinicker. “I’m pretty pumped.”

On a team that is typically dominated by Twin Cities metro schools, Rinicker was joined by Bailey Schaefer of Brandon-Evansville as the only two Section 6A players who were named as all-state first team and honorable mention. Schaefer was named to the honorable mention team.

One year after Rinicker helped the Hornets advance to its first-ever state volleyball tournament, and first Henning only girls team to qualify for state, the middle hitter was dominant as Henning finished with a perfect 11-0 record. Henning ended the season as the sixth ranked team in state before COVID-19 forced an earlier-than-expected end to the Hornets season. All 11 games this season ended by a perfect 3-0 score. 

Rinicker, who is the daughter of Shawn and Anji Redfield, said she recently received an excited phone call from Finck to let her know she had made either the first team all-state or honorable mention team. They gathered in Finck’s classroom at school to watch an awards program that named both teams. Even being nominated for one of the two teams was something both the coach and player will remember for a long time. 

“It was really exciting because I wasn’t expecting it,” said Rinicker. “I really thought I was going to get honorable mention so when they went to all-state that was really exciting.”

Finck said having someone named to the all-state team has been one of her coaching goals through the years, one she can finally check off her list. 

“You look at all of the good players we had in the past, but Megan just did some great things,” said Finck. “It’s a proud moment to be able to coach someone on the first team. It’s amazing. 

While her senior season of volleyball was anything but ordinary due to COVID-19, and the governor shutting down all youth sports in November, Rinicker said she was just happy to be able to share the court with her teammates and friends one last time this fall.

“I can’t complain because we got to play some games and be with some of my friends,” she said.

Next fall Rinicker is planning to attend Central Lakes College in Brainerd to play volleyball for the Raiders. 

In addition to Rinicker, members of the first team all-state include: Kinsey Cronin, middle hitter, Medford; Abby Hennen, outside hitter, Minneota; Karsee Kampsen, setter, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa; Kenidi McCabe, outside hitter/setter, Mabel-Canton; Haley Muenchow, middle hitter, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; Kylie Pittmann, outside hitter, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Ellie Ready, setter, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Hannah Reichensperger, middle hitter, Northeast Range; Toryn Richards, outside hitter, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Natalee Rolbiecki, outside hitter, Minneota; Tezra Rudzitis, middle hitter/setter, Legacy Christian, Claire Vekich, outside hitter, Greenway; and Lilly Wachholz, middle hitter/outside hitter, Mayer Lutheran.