Skinnyski.com High School Rankings - Week 3

December 22, 2014

Commentary: 

While the high school racing action was a little sparse last week, in part in anticipation of the weekend JNQs, but also a serious shortage of race venues, the Michigan Tech JNQs provide some great head-to-head classic racing.  Zak Ketterson, Bloomington Jefferson, results the past 10 days continue to indicate his one loss was a mere anomaly. Cory Rouw, St. Cloud Tech, looks to be on solid form from the get-go this season and makes a major move up in the rankings.  Sean Cork continues to race well, indicating his early season results aren't just a flash in the pan.  But its tight throughout the top ten, as we bring in a number of hot skiers including youngsters Anders Sonnesyn, Wayzata, and Patrick Acton, Eagan.  The Forest Lake boys continue to pound out top results, week-in and week-out, making it hard to keep all four of them out of the top ten.  Keaton Long, Duluth East, falls from the top ten for now, but could return once he begins posting results.

Rocci Wohlk took her top ranking into the JNQs and shined brightly.  Wolhk posted the top U18 time in the sprint qualifiers before crashing in the heats, and then came back on Sunday to take second only to Vivian Hett in the classic race.  Hannah Rudd seems to be gaining speed, and watch for her to move up further with some additional head-to-head competition in January. Nicole Schneider, Wayzata, showed solid skate and classic times in December, and moves to number three.  Bumping in at number 10, freshman Ranna Kraftson from Stillwater who brought her team from behind to take the skate race at Holiday Relays.

Team rankings continue to be a real conundrum, with very few chances to compare teams directly, and many teams not racing their full complement of skiers.  Forest Lake remains the obvious choice for the boys, though St. Louis Park will undoubtly continue to their bid to unseat them.  We've not seen the full roster for Duluth East yet, making it very difficult to judge where they'll slot in this season.  Eastview girls move up, a little belated (with apologies).  Armstrong-Robbinsdale may soon show they have the firepower to unseat Wayzata for that top spot, and Stillwater is begging for a shot as well.  Grand Rapids girls may desire the nod over C-E-C and/or Ely, but we'll wait for another set of results first.

With the racing action on hold for the holidays, we'll take a break as well, picking things back up in early January.

Individuals

Boys

  1. Zak Ketterson, Bloomington Jefferson
  2. Sean Cork, St. Louis Park
  3. Cory Rouw, St. Cloud Tech
  4. Leo Hipp, Forest Lake
  5. Tamer Mische-Richter, Bloomington Kennedy
  6. Seth Prigge, Ely
  7. Anders Sonnesyn, Wayzata
  8. Davis Long, Forest Lake
  9. Patrick Acton, Eagan
  10. Isaac Wieber, St. Cloud Tech

Cusp: Quinn Duffy, Forest Lake; Liam Schmelzle, St. Louis Park; Reed Melicher, Mesabi East; Noah Baker, Brainerd; Tommy Babcock, Forest Lake; Keaton Long, Duluth East; Sam Hanson, Stillwater; Noah Poling, Winona; Nate Blichfeldt, Burnsville; Tom Norman, Armstrong; Shad Kraftson, Stillwater

Girls

  1. Rocci Wohlk, Forest Lake
  2. Margie Freed, Eastview
  3. Nicole Schneider, Wayzata
  4. Amanda Kautzer, Benilde-St.Margaret’s
  5. Sarah Bezdicek, Osseo
  6. Erin Moening, St. Paul Highland Park
  7. Hannah Rudd, Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  8. Michaela Keller-Miller, Wayzata
  9. Anna Johnson, Mesabi East
  10. Rana Kraftson, Stillwater

Cusp: Anna French, Wayzata; Abigail Drach, Eden Prairie; Kelly Koch, Burnsville; Hanna Torvi, Roseville; Megan Weaver, Stillwater; Maria Berg, New Prague; Ingrid Thyr, Breck; Claire Benton, Hopkins; Erin Bianco, Ely; Erica Fox, C-E-C;  Emma Stertz, Grand Rapids; Cela Peterson, Stillwater; Emma Greenlee, Mesabi East

Teams

Boys

  1. Forest Lake
  2. St. Louis Park
  3. Duluth East
  4. Stillwater
  5. Wayzata
  6. Mesabi East
  7. Brainerd
  8. St. Cloud Tech
  9. Winona
  10. Eden Prairie

Cusp: Andover, Minnehaha Academy, Irondale, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, Grand Rapids, Mora

Girls

  1. Wayzata
  2. Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  3. Stillwater
  4. Eastview
  5. Mesabi East
  6. Burnsville
  7. Eden Prairie
  8. Cloquet-Esko-Carlton
  9. Ely
  10. Hopkins

Cusp: Grand Rapids, Andover, Forest Lake, St. Cloud Cath/Sartell, Mora, Irondale

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