Lake Conference officials clearly were surprised by the MSHSL’s placement of Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Wayzata into their league, beginning a year from this fall. A letter from the Lake heirarchy to principals and athletic directors — advising them of Monday’s meeting to decide whether to appeal the MSHSL decision — includes these words:

“This placement is quite surprising and certainly not our desired outcome.”

Monday’s meeting has one purpose: to make a decision on appealing the MSHSL placement move (an appeal almost certainly will happen). The bigger question concerning the future of the Lake, however, is what happens post-placement? The Dakota County league, which is uppermost in all forward-looking minds, would splinter the Lake, of course. The letter to Lake members asked that they hold off on those discussions until the fall, which is easier said than done.

A few other facts and observations …

–Appearing before the MSHSL placement committee, the Lake said it was willing to accept two Classic Lake schools.

–One reason the placement committee didn’t put any schools in the Northwest Suburban makes total sense. The Northwest Suburban has already accepted Armstrong from the Classic Lake as a new member in 2010. Remember, the dissolution of the Classic Lake began when Armstrong was booted out by the other four members. So why add any of the homeless Classic Lake schools to a league that will include a school they didn’t want to have in their previous league?

–MSHSL executive director Dave Stead’s letter to the Lake, which confirmed that all four Classic Lake schools would be placed there, ended with these words:

“It is my understanding that an article appeared in today’s Star Tribune regarding the placement of the schools. I assume that the article was based on speculation because the committee members were asked to remain silent until the final report was released.”

Speculation? Nope. 

John Millea is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stribjohnÂ

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