Early-game fist pumps turned to sagging shoulders as Duluth East's Class 4A quarterfinal game against Osseo dragged on Wednesday at Target Center. After the Greyhounds lost, coach Chuck Tolo kept the locker room door closed for nearly 15 minutes.
He emerged still wearing the black T-shirt with the name and number 32 of suspended 7-foot center Akolda Manyang.
The junior allegedly violated a Minnesota State High School League rule that kept him out of the Section 7 playoffs and Wednesday's game. Tolo accompanied him to an appeal with Duluth East administration on Monday. As of Wednesday afternoon, he had yet to hear any information on the ruling.
"That is very unprofessional," Tolo said. "It's just not the way you do things with kids."
Of the T-shirts worn by players and coaches, Tolo said, "The kids wanted to make sure [Manyang] was here."
The veteran coach paused to collect his emotions while speaking with reporters. Asked if he would coach next season if Manyang isn't back, he said, "I'm so disillusioned with the system I'm in right now, that I don't even know if they want me back."
A Rocori legend When Rocori High School built a gymnasium and named it after the only coach in school history, Bob Brink knew he had to stick around long enough to enjoy it.
"It's a palace," said Brink, who coached his final game at Rocori in the Spartans' loss to Minneapolis Washburn.
