Endurance United: Junior Training Info Meeting May 4th
April 17, 2023Endurance United has scheduled an information zoom call on their Junior Programs for Thursday evening, May 4th. If you are interested in learning more or planning to join one of our many EU junior programs (summer, fall, D-team, JNQ support) for the upcoming season please mark your calendars and plan to listen in. Contact coach Liz Peterson for zoom call details.
Applications for 2023 Moose Valuable Skier Award Due April 23rd
April 4, 2023Four core values—Sportsmanship, Humility, Empowerment, and Integrity—define Moose Nordic and are the inspiration for the Moose Valuable Skier Award, an award dedicated to high school skiers who have an outsized impact on their team. If you know of someone who exemplifies these values, consider nominating them for this year's MVS Award. Nominations are being accepted through April 23rd, with the award being given to one high school male athlete and one high school female athlete.
Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association Award Winners
April 1, 2023The Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association has announced the Coach of the Year, Assistant Coaches of the Year and Section Volunteers of the Year for the 2022-2023 season. Recipients will be honored for their accomplishments at the MSHSNSCA meeting in Mora on Saturday, April 22nd.
Junior Nationals: Freestyle Mass Start
March 16, 2023Junior Nationals competition wrapped up Thursday at Birch Hill in Fairbanks, AK, with some incredible freestyle mass start races. Greta Hansen won the women's U20 division, crowned National Champion; Sydney Drevlow collected another podium with a third place finish in the U18 division. Other top performances - MU16: Logan Drevlow 6th; FU16: Anna Gilmer 24th; MU18: Oliver Miatke 6th, Daniel McCollor 9th, Davis Isom 13th, Tommy Simmonds 14th; FU18: Hanna Koch 4th, Lydia Kraker 5th, Fran Peterson 8th, Natasha Sortland 10th, Nina Fedje 15th; MU20: Ben Dohlby 7th, Ben Lewis 8th, Jonathan Saldin 9th, Victor Sparks 12th, Jonathan Clarke 13th, Aiden Van Straten 15th.
Junior Nationals: Freestyle Sprint Results
March 14, 2023Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska, continued Tuesday a full day of freestyle sprint competition. Midwest's Sydney Drevlow earned another podium, taking third in the FU18 division. Other top results included FU16: Anna Gilmer 17th; MU16: Logan Drevlow 17th; FU18: Nina Fedje 7th, Lydia Kraker 10th, Hanna Wilsey 15th; MU18: Miles Miner 11th, Davis Isom 12th; FU20: Greta Hansen 4th, Hailee Zimpel 15th; MU20: Benon Brattedo 8th, Jonathan Saldin 9th, Ben Lewis 11th. The final day of racing is Thursday with classic mass start races on tap.
Junior Nationals: Classic Results
March 13, 2023Junior Nationals competition got underway on Monday in Fairbanks, Alaska, with 7.5K classic interval start races. The Midwest came roaring out the door with a number of podiums: Sydney Drevlow won the FU18 title! Greta Hanson 2nd FU20, Logan Drevlow 2nd MU16, and Tommy Simmonds 2nd MU18. Other top performances: MU16: Quinn Holan 5th; MU18: Davis Isom 7th, Oliver Miatke 10th, Daniel McCollor 14th; MU20: Benon Brattebo 6th, Ben Lewis 9th, Jasper Johnston 10th, Andrew DeFor 11th, Ben Dohlby 15th; FU16: Helen Townley 10th; FU18: Lydia Kraker 5th, Hanna Koch 6th, Natasha Sortland 11th; FU20: Hailee Zimpel 6th, Lily Brown 8th, Jordan Parent 10th. Racing continues on Tuesday with freestyle sprints.
Junior Nationals Opens in Fairbanks
March 10, 2023Junior Nationals fires up Saturday in Fairbanks, Alaska, with opening ceremonies. The racing action is scheduled to begin on Monday with classic interval start distance events. Tuesday is freestyle sprints and then competition wraps up on Thursday with freestyle mass start races (no relays this season). Livestreaming is planned for all three races.
Junior National Teams Announced
March 6, 2023The full teams for the Midwest and Great Lakes Junior Nationals competition, March 11-16 in Fairbanks, AK, have been announced. Also posted are the teams for the Canadian Nationals.
Kortelopet Coverage
February 24, 2023Bright sunshine, rising temperatures and a beautifully groomed Birkie Trail made for another awesome Kortelopet event Friday in Hayward. As tradition, junior skiers reigned on the day! Peak Nordic's Ben Dohlby, hot off his distance championship victory at the Wisconsin State Meet, broke away after Mosquito Brook to solo in for the men's title with Lakeland's Casey Van Hefty second and Jace Haerter third. On the womens side, Anne Straka completed the Peak Nordic sweep of the freestyle titles, with Fran Peterson, Chippewa Valley, second and Della Bettendorf third. In the classic division, Mpls Ski Club's Benjamin Martin striding to first, ANST's Noah Jahnke second, and Eliott Swanson, Mpls Ski Club, third. The Duluth North XC duo of Greta Hendrickson and Lydia Kraker skied to a friendly photo finish with Hendrickson awarded first. Rochester's Natasha Sortland was third. In the Prince Haakon, Devon Byers and Anna Peikert had the fastest times. Results linked in, along with big photosets and video recaps from the Kortelopet.
Mayors Challenge Classic Coverage
February 19, 2023Another full day of racing at Theodore Wirth with an exciting array of mass start classic events for the Mayors Challenge on Sunday. Midwest World Cup stars shined brightly in the big 20K races as Zak Ketterson pulled away from the men's field and Alayna Sonnesyn topped the women's group. In the 10K races, State champion Benon Brattebo (U20) continued his winning form and St. Scholastica's Sophia Corkran (U20) cruised to victory. Top U18 times went to Daniel McCollor (3rd) and Natasha Sortland (2nd). In the U16 5K races, Logan Drevlow dominated the boys event and Helen Townley collected the girls title. Full results linked in, plus some big photosets.
Mayors Challenge Freestyle Sprints Results
February 18, 2023Racing on some fast conditions Saturday at Theodore Wirth, skiers competed in freestyle sprints as part of the CXC Cup and SuperTour. In the men's open, the final featured a battle of NMU past and present as NMU alumni and World Cup skier Zak Ketterson faced off against NMU and US Nationals sprint winner Kristoffer Alm Karsrud. Coming over the bridge and into the final stretch together, Karsrud pulled ahead of Ketterson for the victory. Logan Diekmann was third. The women's final was equally dramatic, with World Junior Championships sensation Sammy Smith leading through the major climb, but it was SMS T2's Loren Jortberg coming over the bridge first with Team Birkie's Renae Anderson taking second, and the UP's own Sarah Goble third. In the U18 heats (minus those that raced in the open divisions), Daniel McCollor and Tayah Anderson won the sprint finals. U16 titles went to Jack Dahlby and Helen Townley. Sunday will be mass start classical races.
Minnesota State Meet Day 2 Coverage
February 16, 2023A crisp morning with single digit temperatures felt much warmer as bright sunshine and light winds made for great spectating. In the opening classic, Ely's Zoe Devine took the classic leg just two seconds ahead of Hailee Zimpel, Elk River/Zimmerman, with Greta Hansen, MSA, another five seconds back. Prior Lake/New Prague's Tommy Simmonds surprised the field with the top time followed by Benon Brattebo, Eden Prairie, 14 seconds trailing, and Blaine's Ben Lewis and Edina's Andrew DeFor just another five seconds back. The afternoon freestyle pursuit races were truly nail-biters as both the girls and boys came down to photo finishes for the victory. Zoe Devine was crowned State champion by a sliver over Duluth East's Lydia Kraker with Greta Hansen coming in third just two second back. Benon Brattebo outstretched Ben Lewis for the boys victory with Andrew DeFor third. After finishing second last year, Duluth East left no doubt, sweeping the titles by a wide margin. Stillwater girls and Wayzata boys were second, St. Paul Highland Park swept for third. Results linked in, photos from the classic and freestyle races are posted.
Minnesota State Meet Day 1 Coverage
February 15, 2023A weather rollercoaster to kickoff the State Meet in Biwabik, with rain coming down the Tuesday night but fortunately cooling and even snowing a bit for the team sprint events on Wednesday. Duluth East kicked off their quest for the team titles, both girls and boys, by dominating the sprints, posting the best qualifier times and then taking the finals by a clear margin. In the girls race, the race for second went to St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA) with Stillwater third. On the boys side, Wayzata appeared to be giving Duluth East competition until the last leg when Duluth East pulled away and the rest of the field tightened up in a battle for second, Bemidji taking the photo finish in front of Minneapolis Southwest. Results linked in, video recaps posted.
Minnesota State Meet Preview
February 13, 2023The Minnesota High School season wraps up this week with the Nordic Championships at Giants Ridge on Wednesday and Thursday. We've got news and notes on the big event, along with our favorites and predictions, plus a guest article on ski life after high school.
Wisconsin State Championships Classic Pursuit Coverage
February 12, 2023The multi-day (and weekend) Wisconsin State Championships wrapped up on Sunday in Cable with classic pursuit distance races. The girls started the action with Chippewa Valley Nordic's star Fran Peterson taking the pursuit victory ahead of Anne Straka, Peak Nordic, and Greta Dickman, IWSC, in third. Ben Dohlby, Peak Nordic, went off first for the boys and stretched his lead in winning the pursuit title, with Joseph Stumpf, ANST, second and Casey Van Hefty, Lakeland, third. Combining points from the previous weekend's sprint to determine an overall champion, Fran Peterson earned the maximum 90 points for the gals, while Joseph Stumpf was crowned for guys. Team titles went to ANST boys and Lakeland girls, with Peak Nordic posting the best combined team score. Results linked in, and big photosets are up!
Minnesota Section 4 Championships Coverage
February 9, 2023An exciting Thursday of racing to wrap up the week as Minnesota High School Section 4 Championship was held at Battle Creek. Stillwater's duo of Lily Ward and Bailey Holmes overtook Forest Lake's Jordan Parent in the freestyle pursuit, finishing nearly tied as first and second, with Parent just a bit back in third. On the boys side, MPA's Eddie Snider had a strong skate leg to take the boys title, Carson Peterson, Stillwater, second, with Jacob Kensy, Forest Lake, third. Forest Lake girls and Moundsview Boys won the team sprints. Stillwater swept the team titles over rival Forest Lake, with only a single point separating the boys teams. Results linked in, plus photos from the classic races.
Wisconsin High School Nordic Championship Prediction
February 8, 2023Ken Schoville provides his annual breakdown on the Wisconsin high school Nordic skiing Championship contenders! With last weekend's sprints now factoring into the overall titles, things get crazy. The distance championships are this Saturday and Sunday at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable.
Minnesota Section 7 Championship Results
February 8, 2023Duluth East was an overwhelming force at the Minnesota High School Section 7 Championship Wednesday. Racing on the trails at Giants Ridge, Duluth East won the team sprints, took the top four boys pursuit places, four of the top five girls pursuit places, and of course, sweep the team titles! Zoe Devine, Ely, provided the only chink, taking the girls pursuit title with Rowan Bixler and Lydia Kraker second and third. The boys pursuit trio was Oliver Miatke, Aiden Van Straten, and Carl Morse. Mora boys and Ely girls also advance to State as the second place teams. Results linked in.
Minnesota Section 5 Championship Coverage
February 8, 2023Minnesota High School Section competition continued on Wednesday with Section 5 Championship at Theodore Wirth. One of the leading candidates for State, Hailee Zimpel, Elk River/Zimmerman, easily punched her ticket, winning the pursuit title by over two minutes. Teammate Claire Swanson was second, Maple Grove's Savannah Krull third. Blaine's Ben Lewis also had a strong performance in taking the boys pursuit victory by over a minute. Eliott Swanson, Elk River/Zimmerman was second, followed by Tyler Kyes, Champlin Park. Coon Rapids swept the team sprints. Teams advancing to State: Elk River/Zimmerman and Irondale girls, Blaine and Champlin Park boys. Results linked in, photos from the morning classic races posted.
Minnesota Section 3 Championship Coverage
February 7, 2023Sunny, warm weather accented the beautiful racing conditions at Battle Creek Regional Park for the first of the two Minnesota High School Section Championships being held on the new snowmaking trails. Section 3 was the feature on Tuesday and competitions didn't disappoint as many of the races were close. In the individual races, Greta Hansen, Math & Science Academy, laid down the fastest classic and freestyle times to cruise to a victory in the girls pursuit, while the Koch sisters, Hanna and Chloe of St. Paul Highland Park, collected the second and third positions on the podium, with Chloe coming from behind in the freestyle leg to clinch third place by just one second. Meanwhile, the boys race was a tight contest for all of the podium positions as Ben Martin of St. Paul Highland Park along with teammate Gavin Roberts and Cody West, Minneapolis South/Minneapolis Roosevelt, were each separated by just two seconds a piece in their respective first, second, and third place finishes. St. Paul Academy girls and Central boys took the team sprints. For the team titles, the boys and girls contests were close, but ultimately both podiums were made up of a group of four teams: first was collected by both the St. Paul Highland Park boys and girls, second went to the St. Paul Academy girls and Minneapolis South/Minneapolis Roosevelt boys, and in third was another doubleheader with the St. Paul Central boys and girls. Results posted, along with photosets from the classic races.
Minnesota Section 1 Championship Coverage
February 7, 2023Section 1 held their Minnesota High School Championships on Tuesday at Hyland Lake. The section features teams primarily from the south metro, with Winona/Cotter joining them from southeastern Minnesota. And a trip well worth it for Winona, as the girls team captured the section crown by just three points over Eastview/Rosemont, with Prior Lake/New Prague third. ISD 196 boys used for a strong team sprint victory to secure the boys title over Prior Lake/New Prague, with Winona/Cotter third. Eastview/Rosemount girls won the team sprint final. Winona's Anna Gilmer had the dominating performance of the meet, putting down the top classic and skate times in winning the pursuit title by over a minute. Emily Percival, Eastview/Rosemount, was second after overtaking Ava Pike, Winona/Cotter, who finished third. Evan O'Connor, Prior Lake/New Prague, had best times in both classic and freestyle to win the boys pursuit title, teammate Tommy Simmonds was second, followed by Samuel Folland, Northfield, in third. Results linked in, photos posted from the classic races.
Minnesota Section 2 Championship Coverage
February 7, 2023Fast conditions Tuesday as Section 2 competed for the right to advance to the State Meet in the Minnesota High School Section Championship at Theodore Wirth. The team sprints provided some exciting finishes with Minneapolis Southwest taking victories in both the girls and boys finals. The section showcased two of the top junior boys, Andrew DeFor, Edina, and Benon Brattebo, Eden Prairie. DeFor held a narrow three second lead after the morning classic, setting up a friendly pursuit stroll capped by a burst of power in the final 400 meters, with Brattebo taking the pursuit title. Bloomington Jefferson's Anders Westanmo collected third. The girls side was all Chloe Angerman of Minneapolis Washburn, as she posted the top classic and freestyle times to win just over 30 seconds. Eden Prairie's Courtney Fussy finished second with Nina Fedje, Minnetonka, moving up from sixth to grab third. Washburn girls scored the team victory with Eden Prairie advancing in second, and Minnetonka third. Eden Prairie boys were tops with Minnetonka earning a place at State, Bloomington Jefferson finishing third. Results linked in, photos from the freestyle pursuit posted.
Minnesota Section 6 Championship Coverage
February 6, 2023Minnesota High School Section Championships got underway Monday with Section 6 at Hyland Park. Team competition turned into a nail biter as both the boys and girls scoring leaned into their team sprint scores for the victory. The Wayzata girls held on to win the team title by two points over St. Louis Park, with Hopkins third. Likewise, the Wayzata boys topped the Armstrong boys by three points for the win with Orono third. Audrey Parham, Wayzata, launched a fast skate time to move up from third to win the pursuit title. Hanna Wilsey, St. Louis Park was second, Erica Kazin, Orono, third. On the boys side, Daniel McCollor,Wayzata, posted the top classic and skate times to secure the title, Miles Miner, Orono, second and Logan Drevlow, Hopkins, skated up to third. Results linked in and posts from the classic races posted.
Minnesota High School Sections Preview
February 4, 2023The Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing season ramps up this coming week with sectional championships. We've got the details on the section dates, locations and schedules (take note in the metro area, the snowmaking venues will be busy).