Skinnyski.com High School Rankings - Week 5

January 20, 2014

Commentary: 

Telemark Chase JNQ, January 18, 2014 (Credit: Ann Syverson Touhey)

With US Nationals out of the way, Junior National qualifiers are back on the front burner, impacting the racing and rankings this week.  Some of the top skiers spent part of last week either recovering from Nationals or resting up for the JNQs.  

Highlights:  

Vivian Hett continues to warrant her top ranking, putting in back to back hard efforts and top results at the Telemark JNQs.  Alayna Sonnesyn showed why she is the U18 National Skate Champion, finishing third overall in a tough 10K mass start race at the JNQs.  Mattie Watts finally hammered out a top classical result, coming within seconds of topping Hett in the classical JNQ.  Those three girls continue to set themselves apart from the field (though a couple are making inroads).

In the boys rankings, rising stars sustained their upward trajectory.  Nick Gardner continues to improve and slides into the number 2 spot with some excellent weekend results.  Not to be outdone, Leo Hipp showed his Mesabi East victory was no fluke, posting results that put him on par with Gardner and good enough to push him into number 3.   A bit outshined by Gardner and Hipp, Zak Ketterson appears to be hitting on all cylinders again, proving he is the one to beat with great times at Telemark.  More shuffling in the remaining ranks, as much of the boys field continues to be in flux. 

Teams remain mostly unchanged, though we tweaked the cusp list, bringing in the Edina boys and bumping up the Eden Prairie girls.

Up next, another round of weekend JNQs along with conference races  ... less than a month til the State Meet!

Girls Teams

  1. Wayzata
  2. Stillwater
  3. Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  4. Duluth East
  5. Eden Prairie

On the cusp: Irondale, Mesabi East, Burnsville, Minneapolis Southwest, Roseville

Boys Teams

  1. Forest Lake
  2. Duluth East
  3. Minneapolis Southwest
  4. St. Louis Park
  5. Eagan

On the cusp: Edina, Stillwater, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, Andover, Mounds View

Girls Individuals

  1. Vivian Hett, Burnsville
  2. Mattie Watts, Irondale
  3. Alayna Sonnesyn, Wayzata
  4. Rocci Wolhk, Forest Lake
  5. Caroline Brisbois, Roseville
  6. Sarah Bezdicek, Osseo
  7. Hannah Rudd, Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  8. Allison Ternes, White Bear Lake
  9. Anna Johnson, Mesabi East
  10. Anna French, Wayzata

On the cusp:  Maria Hauer, Little Falls; Margie Freed, Eastview; Elowyn Pfeiffer, Highland Park; Erin Moening, Highland Park; Megan Weaver, Stillwater; Abby Drach, Eden Prairie; Ashley Herman, Duluth East

Boys Individuals

  1. Zak Ketterson, Bloomington Jefferson
  2. Nick Gardner, MPA
  3. Leo Hipp, Forest Lake
  4. Steve Hokanson, Mounds View
  5. Scott Harrison, Mound-Westonka
  6. Sam Sinkler, Minneapolis Southwest
  7. Jon Delaney, Robbinsdale-Armstrong
  8. Andrew Egger, Benilde-St.Margaret's
  9. Sam Johnson, Mesabi East
  10. Tamer Mische-Richter, Bloomington Kennedy

On the cusp:  Quinn Duffy, Forest Lake;  Keaton Long, Duluth East; Sean Cork, St. Louis Park; Joey Martin, Elk River; Jake Ajax, SLP/St.Anthony; Josh Podpeskar, Eagan

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