After the 2024-2025 basketball season, the Cannon Falls girls’ basketball players were feeling good, and looking forward to the seasons to come. Since graduating only one senior the previous year, and having many talented up-and-coming underclassmen, the girls and the fans of the program had a bright future to look forward to, with talent to be excited about. This year, the Bomber girls’ basketball team has been depleted by over half, leaving the remaining girls to become part of a co-op program.
Prior to the 2025 season starting, there were many unknowns. It was obvious that there wouldn’t be as many players as there were last year, but it wasn’t clear how many girls exactly would come out, or if there would be enough for a team. On October 27th, the decision was made that a co-op program with Randolph was going to take place.
Playing with a new team can be a big adjustment, but Blake Johnson says, “They were all so welcoming and all individually bring something positive to the team.” Before the season started, the captain’s practices were hosted in Randolph, so the girls could do team bonding and get to know each other before the season actually started.
Indie Myrvold, Livia Tennison, Blake Johnson, Lexie Marking, and Hailey Landon are the five girls from Cannon Falls that are playing basketball in Randolph this year. Johnson said; “I was going to play basketball no matter where the co-op was. I was bummed that we did not have a team this year, but I really love basketball, so I am happy that we have a team.” The co-op is a two year deal In the 2026 season the Cannon Falls girls will have to play in Randolph again no matter the numbers. Not only does this affect the girls that are currently playing, but this will also affect the current eighth graders.
This year the eighth grade girls basketball team has good numbers. They have eleven total players, returning most from last year. Even if the eighth grade numbers continue to stay high, they will have to play in Randolph next year.
When asked, Luke Winchell, member of the Cannon Falls school board shared his thoughts on how the girls program can be rebuilt. “A major part of our problem has been lack of numbers. Due to this, girls have had to play up multiple grade levels and not have a great experience,” He also mentioned how physical basketball is, and even skilled eighth graders playing on varsity will have a physical toll taken on their body. Keeping younger girls playing basketball will be key to having a team farther down the road.
Cannon Falls and CFYA has tried to encourage playing multiple sports, and taking breaks from them in the off season. “There are lots of studies that prove, being a multi-sport athlete can improve overall ability across all sports, reduce the risk of injury, reduce “burnout” and increase mental and social development,” adds Winchell.
On the positive side, many of the girls currently playing in Randolph are younger, so they may have a shot of being able to play in Cannon Falls again before they graduate. Although it is not ideal, the five basketball players involved in the co-op are thankful they have a place to play the sport that they love, no matter where they have to play.
