Minot North is still a young school, only two years old, but this year has already shown what happens when determination lines up with talent. From the volleyball court to the pool to the turf at the Fargodome, Sentinel athletes have pushed harder, stepped up in tougher moments, and proved that Minot North is not just building a program. It is building a standard.
Volleyball has been one of those sports where you can see the growth happening in real time. The girls battled through a tough WDA schedule and took on strong non conference matchups that forced them to adjust, learn, and stay competitive. Their coaching staff is strong and the players have clearly committed to building something that lasts. Even without a WDA title yet, the progress is obvious. Every match looks a little more controlled, a little more confident, and a lot more connected. It is the kind of slow burn that eventually turns into a breakout season.
Girls’ swim has been on a similar path. The record does not tell the full story, and honestly it never does for a developing program. These athletes have been grinding through a stacked conference and still chasing personal best times with real consistency. You can see the potential, especially with how hard the group trains and how locked in the coaching staff is. They did not bring home a WDA championship, but they showed up at every meet ready to fight for better results, while individually qualifying many swimming for WDA, and that matters just as much right now. It is a team that is clearly building toward future state contenders.
Then there is sentinel football, which completely changed the conversation around Minot North athletics. Their run to the Dakota Bowl was the kind of story that does not feel real until you are watching it play out in the Fargodome. An 11 and 1 season with a perfect record in WDA play, a dominant defense that shut down almost everyone they faced, and a level of discipline that felt way beyond the age of the program. They took down Red River in the quarterfinals, outlasted Central Cass in a tight semifinal, and punched their ticket to state for the first time in program history. Even in the Dakota Bowl, they fought until the last second. A late touchdown, an onside kick attempt, and one final shot at the end zone showed exactly who this team is. They did not leave quietly, but with a roar. Devils Lake took the title, but Minot North proved something just as important, getting second place with such a stellar record. They belong on the biggest stage in North Dakota high school football.
What ties everything together is the identity forming across all Minot North sports. The sentinels do not fold. They do not get intimidated by older programs. They are willing to grind through the hard seasons to get to the historic ones. Volleyball is sharpening. Swimming is building. Football set the bar. And the momentum is not slowing down. The Sentinels are only getting started.
