Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Rankings - Final Round

February 11, 2019

Sections are in the books and the State Meet is almost here.   We take our final crack at the rankings, with a State Meet Preview and predictions coming out Wednesday.

Commentary

Nothing like sections to humble the rankings...  

Morgan Richter

Revelations: There were definitely some surprises at sections this year.  Perhaps you can chalk it up to the conditions (especially with all the snowy sections), but these athletes came out to take some names and deserves some serious respect:  Morgan Richter, Edina, has been in the shadow of the McCollor girls from Wayzata in the Lake Conference all season, but at sections she clearly showed her grit in taking both the classic and freestyle races.  Similarly, Minnetonka's Luke MacKinnon kept his foot on the gas to take the section title and earn a spot in our top 10.  Linnea Urban, Hastings, deserves some recognition as well -- she's been flying under the radar most of the season, but she made Winona's Anni Skillicorn earn that section title.  

Luci Anderson with Mara McCollor closing

Rock Solid: Many of the top ranked skiers had strong sections, showing they are ready to dish it out at the State Meet.  Undoubtedly, the Nemeth boys of St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell showed their power, with Alex leading the way.  Peter Moore, SPA, cruised through his section.  Mara McCollor, Wayzata, and Luci Anderson, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, gave us a possible State Meet preview.  Stillwater's Libby Tuttle continues to prove her top ranking. Molly Moening, St. Paul Highland Park, left no doubt she's ready.  Blaine's Sarah Olson looks like she is peaking at the right time.  And from the Northland, Duluth East's Gretchen Haggenmiller, showed she is the snow queen.

Vulnerable:  Sections also provided some surprising "under performances", which were hard to judge -- was it the weather, was the skier "coasting" into the State Meet?   Wayzata's James Schneider gave up a decent deficit in his freestyle race, but put the rockets on for the classic to win his section.   Returning State champ Garrett Beckrich opened a huge lead in the section skate race, but gave up almost half of that in the classic while still taking the pursuit title.  Minneapolis Southwest appeared to struggle with the snowy section conditions, but that could be simply holding some reserve for State.

Other notables:  Aidan Ripp, CEC, is one to watch, appearing to bring his fitness into shape for February.

A lot of shuffling, as usual, in the final rankings.

Boys Individual

  1. Alex Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 12
  2. Garrett Beckrich, Grand Rapids, 12
  3. Peter Moore, SPA, 12
  4. Cooper Lennox, Mora, 11
  5. James Schneider, Wayzata, 11
  6. Matthew Bourne, MPA, 12
  7. Charlie Reinhardt, Mound Westonka, 12
  8. Aidan Ripp, CEC, 12
  9. Luke MacKinnon, Minnetonka, 12
  10. Henry Hall, Mpls Southwest, 12

Cusp: Jasper Johnston, Ely, 10; Tryg Solberg, White Bear Lake, 12; Zach Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 11; William Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 11; PJ Rubin, Edina, 12; Ethan Erickson, Forest Lake, 11; Henry Snider, Mounds Park Academy, 11; Victor Sparks, Mpls Southwest, 10; Sam Stertz, Grand Rapids, 10; Andrew Haines, Forest Lake, 12.

Girls Individual

  1. Mara McCollor, Wayzata, 12
  2. Lucinda Anderson, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, 12
  3. Libby Tuttle, Stillwater, 11
  4. Molly Moening, St. Paul Highland Park, 9
  5. Regan Duffy, Forest Lake, 12
  6. Sarah Olson, Blaine, 12
  7. Mae Barnes, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, 12
  8. Lauren McCollor, Wayzata, 10
  9. Olivia Schwintek, White Bear Lake, 12
  10. Amelea Hauer, Forest Lake, 10

Cusp: Leah Rudd, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, 12; Celeste Alden, St. Paul Highland Park, 10; Gretchen Haggenmiller, Duluth East, 11; Morgan Richter, Edina, 11; Charlotte Brown, Benilde-St.Margaret’s, 11; Margo Nightingale, Mounds Park Academy, 8; Anni Skillicorn, Winona-Winona Cotter, 10; Elsa Viren, Grand Rapids, 10; Kaelin Jackson, Hopkins, 11; Linnea Urban, Hastings, 10.

Boys Team

  1. St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell
  2. Forest Lake
  3. Mpls Southwest
  4. Stillwater
  5. Wayzata
  6. Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  7. Ely
  8. Mounds Park Academy
  9. Eden Prairie
  10. St. Paul Highland Park

Cusp: Marshall School; Minnetonka; Cloquet-Esko-Carlton; Champlin Park; Grand Rapids.

Girls Team

  1. Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  2. St. Paul Highland Park
  3. Forest Lake
  4. Wayzata
  5. Stillwater
  6. Duluth East
  7. Grand Rapids
  8. Mpls Southwest
  9. Andover
  10. Edina

Cusp: Ely; Mounds Park Academy; Eastview; Winona-Winona Cotter; Mora.

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