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. Following the 2022-2023 school year for Virginia Secondary and Eveleth-Gilbert High School they have been demolished. Virginia Secondary has been replaced with North Star Elementary.

Contents

Ground was broken for the new Rock Ridge High School on August 5, 2020. [2] It opened their doors in 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
SuperintendentDr. Noel Schmidt
Chair of the boardTim Riordan
Schools
  • Eveleth-Gilbert High School
  • Virginia Secondary
  • North Star Elementary
  • Laurentian Elementary
  • Parkview Elementary
  • Rock Ridge High School
Budget$178 Million
District IDMN-012909
Students and staff
Athletic conferenceIron Range
Colors   Green and Black
Other information
Websiterrps.org

High schools [3]

Current

Former

To be torn down in fall of 2023

Elementary schools [4]

Administration

Sports

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. [6] 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. Rock Ridge had their first ever season in 2022, and had four players selected: Dylan Hedley, Keegan Ruedebusch, Brennan Peterson, and Nick Troutwine. The blue team was coached by Ben Johnson, Ryan Cobby, and Evan Friedlieb, all from Rock Ridge.

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References

  1. Reusse, Patrick (January 25, 2020). "Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert to consolidate into Rock Ridge, and make Mel Brooks proud". startribune.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  2. Whitefoot, Adelle (August 5, 2020). "Three Iron Range communities celebrate the groundbreaking of new high school". duluthnewstribune.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  3. "Schools". Rock Ridge Public Schools. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. "Schools". Rock Ridge Public Schools. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. "Eveleth Hippodrome". Vintage Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. "Virginia/MIB Boys Hockey to Face Rivals Eveleth-Gilbert in Final Game at Miners Memorial Building". FOX 21 News. Retrieved October 9, 2021.