Victor C. Dunder Award Deadline Extended May 1, 2008 The application deadline for the Victor C. Dunder awards have been extended to May 16th. The annual Victor C. Dunder Ski Equipment Awards help support first year high school skiers with equipment awards.
Minnesota Coaches Association Spring Meeting Recap April 29, 2008 Minutes have been posted from the Minnesota Coaches Association Spring Meeting held back on April 19th in Mora. Discussions included uniform markings, State Meet date change, and State Meet team scoring.
MSHSNCA Spring Meeting Update April 15, 2008 The MSHSNCA Spring Meeting is this Saturday, April 19th. Paula Anderson provides details on the uniform rule discussion, a call for new officers, and plea for more members.
Junior Nationals: Relays March 15, 2008 Junior Nationals in Anchorage wrapped up Saturday with the always exciting relay event as the Midwest crew rebounded with some nice results. In the J1 girls race, Jessie Diggins hammered out a dramatic anchor leg that catapulted the strong team of Libby Ellis and Lynn Duijndam from fourth place to first! The J1 boys had a great performance, taking third with the team up of Hans Nygren, Joe Dubay, and Chris Bowler. The boys OJ trio of Zach McGill, Kyle Fredrickson, and Doug Debold just missed the podium, finishing fourth. Related: Photoset from Cees Duijndam: J2 Relays - 9 photos, Girls OJ/J1 Relays - 21 photos, Boys OJ/J1 Relays - 23 photos Results: Relays
Copper Country's Mike Young Named Ski Coach Of The Year March 14, 2008 The Great Lakes Winter Trails Council (formerly The Great Lakes Nordic Ski Council) has named Mike Young of Hancock, Michigan the 2007 Ski Coach of the Year.
Junior Nationals: Classical March 14, 2008 Friday featured the big mass start classical races at Junior Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska and it was a tough day for the Midwest team. Jessie Diggins once again lead the way, taking third place in the girls J1 race. The other other top ten finishes of the day were Chris Bowler 6th MJ1, Leif Nordgren 9th MOJ. Junior Nationals wraps up Saturday with the exciting relay events. Related: Photoset from Cees Duijndam: MOJ - 12 photos, MJ1 - 24 photos, FOJ - 8 photos, FJ1 - 19 photos, MJ2 - 5 photos, FJ2 - 6 photos Results: Classical Mass Start
Junior Nationals: Freestyle March 12, 2008 Junior Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska, resumed on Wednesday with skate format racing on a modified race course due to continued warm weather. Minnesota State Champion Jessie Diggins was the far-and-away star of the day, dominating the girls J1 field with nearly a 30 second margin of victory! Other top Midwest results: Chris Bowler 4th MJ1, Hans Nygren 10th MJ1, Matt Pierce 10th MOJ, Sharmila Ahmed 7th FJ2, Jen Rolfes 8th FJ2, Libby Ellis 10th FJ1. Related: Photoset from Steve Hoffman: Girls J1/OJ Freestyle, Boys J1/OJ Freestyle, J2 Freestyle Results: Freestyle
Junior Nationals: Classical Sprints March 10, 2008 The first day of Junior Nationals kicked off with classical sprints. Reaching the top of the podium, Joe Dubay collected the victory in the MJ1 sprint final. Second place finishes were scored by Jessie Diggins, FJ1, and Doug Debold, MOJ. Other top Midwest results: Summer Ellefson, 3rd place B final FJ2; Melanie Hoffman, 1st place B final FOJ; Chris Bowler, 2nd place B final MJ1. Related: Photoset from Cees Duijndam: Classical Sprints - 23 photos Photoset from Steve Hoffman: Sprint Qualifying, Sprint Heats Video from Jonathan Sanborn: Joe Dubay Climbs in Front Results: Classical Sprints
Junior Nationals: First Impressions from Anchorage March 10, 2008 CXC reports on the arrival of the Midwest Junior Olympic Team in Anchorage, Alaska, for the week-long series of races. Snow conditions are a bit sparse, but organizers have been working to prepare the best course possible.
Michigan High School Championships Results February 19, 2008 The Michigan State Meet was held last weekend at Boyne Valley Lodge. Superiorland Ski Club's Tom McFadden dominated the boys races, sweeping the entire set of races. Olivia Orr, Copper Country, won the girls title, taking victories in the freestyle, pursuit and sprint events. Copper Country won the combined team title. Related: Michigan State Meet Wrap Up Ski Tigers Win Third State High School Title
Minnesota State Meet Coverage February 15, 2008 After being delayed an hour and half do to cold temperatures, the State Meet got underway at 11:30 this morning as temperatures just creeped past the -4F threshold. Half time update: At the half way point, we've got the possible makings for a major upset in the boys division. Lakeville South's Hans Nygren skied the race of his life, finishing one second ahead of favorite Joe Dubay in the freestyle race! Bob Gertin, of St. Thomas-Academy has pulled off an incredible race as well, finishing third. In the girls race, things are going a bit closer to plan as Jessie Diggins, Stillwater, dominated the field, winning the freestyle race by over a minute! Libby Ellis, Minneapolis Southwest, and Grand Rapids Addie Byrne wrap up the top three. In the team race, the Burnsville girls are leading over Stillwater in a race separated by less than 10 points! The Forest Lake boys have a commanding leading going into this afternoon's classical pursuit. Update 2:20 pm: Joe Dubay passed Hans Nygren in the classical pursuit and skied in with a comfortable margin to repeat as the boys state champion. Nygren finishes second, Ben Brodin, Forest Lake, moved to up to take third. Update 3:20 pm: Jessie Diggins skis a victory tour to capture the second straight state title of her young career. Libby Ellis and Addie Byrne hold their positions to take second and third. Based on some very rough calculations, it looks like the Forest Lake boys and Stillwater girls have taken the team titles. Full results and early photosets online now. Photosets from David Harrington, Cees Duijndam, Ron Kutsi, Dave Johnson and Bob Dalberg now posted. Related: MSHSNSCA 2007-2008 Award Winners
State Meet is On! February 14, 2008 As of 9:15 Thursday morning, officials announced they are going forward with the Minnesota State Meet on Friday. Because of cold weather, the start will be delayed to 11:30 am. Friday update: The races started on time at 11:30 am, with dual interval starts. Paul Anderson was named the Coach of the Year at the State Meeet Banquet on Thursday evening. Related: WELY - Live radio updates from the State Meet Biwabik Hourly Weather Graph
Minnesota State Meet Preview February 12, 2008 The huge Minnesota State Meet is this Friday, with the usual cold weather rolling in just in time. Check out our annual breakdown on the favorites along with our predictions for the top of the podium.
State Meet Coaches Meeting Agenda February 11, 2008 The Minnesota State Meet is this Thursday and Friday at Giants Ridge. Thursday night is the Coaches Meet and State Meet Banquet, this year at Giants Ridge.
Final Minnesota High School Rankings February 10, 2008 While Joe Dubay and Jessie Diggins remain the top ranked skiers going into the State Meet, the teams have shuffled up. Forest Lake boys and Stillwater girls are the favorites in the final Coaches Association rankings.
Wisconsin State Meet Results February 9, 2008 Switching to a single day format to avoid Sunday's predicted freeze out, Wisconsin high school skiers competed on the trails of Minocqua Winter Park for the State Championships. Hayward continued their dominating run, sweeping the team titles with Waukeska West and Lakeland filling out the podium. In the boys race, Chris Bowler, Wausau-Newman, took the early lead winning the classical race, but it was Hayward's Matt Pierce that overtook Bowler in the freestyle race to win the pursuit title. Corrine Malcolm, Hayward, captured both the striding and skate titles to be crowned the girls champion.
State Meet Banquet February 5, 2008 The Minneosta State Meet Banquet will be held on Thursday, February 14 at the Chalet at Giants Ridge. Tickets support the coaches association.
Section 5 Coverage February 8, 2008 The Minnesota sectionals wrapped up on Friday with the Section 5 events at Camp Ripley. In the section with the returning state champion Joe Dubay, it was a bit surprising that the most dominating performance of the day came from someone other than Dubay. Eleanor Magnuson sailed through the girls field, taking the classical race by 1:52 and then extending that lead in the freestyle race to collect the pursuit title by nearly three minutes! Dubay looked tuned up for the state meet, taking the boys pursuit by just over a minute. Robbinsdale Armstrong swept the team titles in close races against Andover and Anoka.
Section 2 Results February 7, 2008 Racing at Camp Ripley, Section 2 featured a battle of Central Minnesota powers. Hannah Sanborn, Maple Grove, provided some serious thrills as she stormed back from a 30 second deficit after the morning's classical race to catch Buffalo's Ingrid Leask and capture the girls pursuit title by a single second. Wayzata's Anders Bowman and Kasey Bacso proved a powerful duo as they easily took first and second honors in the boys event. Wayzata walked away with both the girls and boys team titles.
Section 1 Coverage February 7, 2008 Enjoying nearly perfect conditions and weather, Section 1 skiers competed for State Meet placements at Valleywood Golf Course on Thursday. The girls team bid was an exciting three way the horse race with less than 10 points separating the teams. The young Lakeville South girls took the victory in front of Park Cottage Grove and Winona. Lakeville South and Apple Valley had an equally close race for the boys title, Apple Valley winning the team trophy by just 4 points. Nicole Westphal, Park Cottage Grove, and Hans Nygren, Lakeville South, captured the individual pursuit titles. Related:
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Section 7 Results February 7, 2008 Racing at Giants Ridge, Section 7 decided their state qualifiers on Thursday. There is a changing of the guard in the boys division, as 8 of the top 12 boys today were all 9th or 10th grade skiers. Leading the youth charge was Raleigh Goessling of Cloquet-Esko-Carlton. Goessling, recently back from his biathlon racing in Germany, hammered the field in winning by nearly a minute and a half. Alena Tofte, Duluth East, overtook teammate Marian Lund in the classical leg to take the girls pursuit. Duluth East swept the team titles.
Section 4 Coverage February 7, 2008 Section 4, racing on the State Meet trails at Giants Ridge Tuesday, featured a number of the perennial favorites in Minnesota high school Nordic skiing. The Forest Lake boys dominated the team competition, with Moundsview's Brandon Piechowski the only obstacle in preventing the perfect score as Forest Lake swept the top three places. Stillwater girls had a very close race with nemesis Roseville, winning the team title by just 10 points. Number one ranked Jesse Diggins, Stillwater, fresh from her overseas "tour", used a strong classical race to pull away from Roseville's Lynn Duijndam and take the girls title. Forest Lake's Ben Brodin held off teammate Ryan Wright's blazing classical leg to win the boys pursuit crown by a mere second.
Section 6 Coverage February 7, 2008 On paper, Section 6 looked to be one of the toughest matchups as three of the top 10 ranked teams battled for the right to advance to the State Meet. Racing on fast conditions at Troll Hollow Tuesday, the section lived up to its billing: The battle for the boys team title came down to the virtual tie between Minneapolis Southwest and Hopkins, with Southwest winning the tie-breaker based on total time. The Southwest girls had a slightly easier path, advancing with a 14 point victory over Eden Prairie. Southwest's Libby Ellis crushed the girls field, winning by over a minute and half. Erik Fagerstrom, Eden Prairie, took the boys field ahead of Chaska's Andy Keller.
Section 8 Coverage February 6, 2008 Camp Ripley hosted the Section 8 races Wednesday under sunny skies and temperatures rising into the mid 20s. Bemidji boys won a close battle over Otter Tail Nordic and Grand Rapids for the team title. The Little Falls girls had an easier road, placing four girls in the top seven overall for the team victory. Lars Ellefson continued his strong section record, sweeping the classical and freestyle races. Grand Rapids Addie Byrne won the classical but was nearly upset by a hard charging Missy Erickson, Alexandria, who came from 6th in the classical finish 2nd in the pursuit, just four seconds behind Byrne.
Section 3 Results February 5, 2008 The trail to the Minnesota State Meet started Tuesday with Section 3 competing at Troll Hollow in Dresser, Wisconsin. Burnsville was the dominate force, taking both the girls and boys team titles. Maria Tinebra, Burnsville, had the performance of the day posting the top classical time and then holding off Bloomington's #4 ranked Danielle Berndt by four seconds to take the overall title. St. Thomas Academy's Bob Gerten used an impressive skate race to overtake SPA's Ben Greenwald to win the top boys pursuit.
Unsung Heros of Successful Sports Teams January 31, 2008 Dave Johnson offers up another article on high school skiing, this time writing about the parent/volunteer involvement in sports teams.
Minnesota High School Rankings January 28, 2008 Minnesota State High School rankings for the last week in January. State Meet is just weeks away now!
Minnesota High School Rankings January 22, 2008 The Minnesota State High School rankings have been released. No big shakeups at the top as Mpls Southwest still holds the team rankings and Joe Dubay and Jessie Diggins are the top individuals.
High School Racing Highlights January 18, 2008 Some of this week's high school highlights include: Hayward skiers racing at double O, showdown of central Minnesota top girls at Camp Ripley, and an updated on Jessie Diggins racing plans.
J2 Relays - 9 photos
Joe Dubay Climbs in Front
Photosets from David Harrington, Cees Duijndam, Ron Kutsi, Dave Johnson and Bob Dalberg now posted.