Minnesota State Meet Preview

February 10, 2009

The Minnesota High School State Meet this Friday, February 13th at Giants Ridge, will bring a host of changes to the 2009 edition.  By far the biggest change is the reversing of the technique order along with new courses.  In recent years, the order has been individual freestyle starts in the morning on the hilly Silver trail, followed in the afternoon with classical pursuit starts using the Cedar/Gold trails.   Starting this season, the morning races will be classical individual starts on the same Silver course used previously for skate.  Then in the afternoon, the freestyle pursuit will use a new course that features the gradual climb up the Summit trail and descending back along the Gold trails.  This new pursuit course should offer wider skate lanes and improved opportunities for passing (and hopefully more competitive team racing), while still providing a challenging course.  Critics of the changes cite the challenging Silver trail which seems to favor strong climbing skills over superior classical technique.  For the spectators along the trail, the circular nature of the freestyle course will offer less opportunity to view the led changes first hand.

Besides the shake ups in the courses, the other major change is the guaranteed crowning of new state champions.  Two-time champion Joe Dubay is going to school and racing in Finland this season.  Similarly, Jessie Diggins was competing at World Juniors which kept her from qualifying for state.

Perhaps another change will be the weather:  Two of the last three State Meets have suffered with some of the coldest weather of the season, frequently delaying the start.  This year's forecast (as of Tuesday evening) was calling for ideal weather with temperatures in the teens in the morning rising to the 20s for the afternoon pursuits.

Individuals

One of the more exciting aspects to the 2008-09 season has been the lack of a truly dominate skier in either the boys or girls field.

Boys

Erik Fagerstrom, Eden Prairie
Kasey Bacso, Wayzata, has survived with the number 1 ranking pinned on his back for most of the season.  Bacso has been dominating in most of his meets and even gave Joe Dubay a run for his money at the Giants Ridge Invite in early January. But Eden Prairie's Erik Fagerstrom has been posting impressive JOQ results all year and should be on par to give Bacso everything and then some. There is a trio of boys who all hope to have something to say in this matter:  Steve Coozennoy, Forest Lake, Gabe Hanson, Stillwater, and Conrad Roberts.  Coonzennoy has  continued to get stronger as the season progressed.  Hanson's freestyle race could put him with the leaders on Friday.  And Robert's tuned up for the State Meet with an impressive third place finish in the 35K Mora Vasaloppet on Sunday.

Prediction:  Fagerstrom and Bacso bring it down to the wire with Fagerstrom taking the sprint.

Girls

Annie Hart, SPA
This one has all the signs of being a three way battle.  Libby Ellis, Minneapolis Southwest, has been the on the doorstep the last two seasons, finishing second to Diggins.  Ellis qualified for State after rushing back from international competition, and now rested, should be ready to give it her all.  Roseville's Lynn Duijndam signaled she was determined to cap her senior year at the top of the podium when she finished less than five seconds behind Diggins at the Giants Ridge Invite.  Annie Hart, SPA, has been besting many of the top skiers on the JOQ circuit and most likely will have the lead coming out of the classical leg.  A dark horse in the mix is Grand Rapids Addie Byrne,  Byrne has consistently been in the top of the State Meet fields, and competes on the Junior Biathlon team as well.  Byrne could surprise the field and glide away to victory on the Gold trail downhills.

Prediction:  Duijndam, Ellis, Hart, 1, 2, 3.

Teams

Besides insuring new State individual champions with the absence of Dubay and Diggins, their departure also generates some shockwaves through the team standings.  Both the Andover and Stillwater teams may have favorites for the State Meet team title with their state champions in the mix.

Boys

Hopkins boys climb to the top
The team rankings have been juggling some this season, and rightfully so.  Forest Lake has consistently cranked out top teams and even more, seems to peak for the State Meet very well.  Wayzata is number one ranked and Bacso gives them that extra edge in the points.  But perhaps Hopkins is the one to watch, with three solid skiers, a strong performance from one of the fourth place skiers could push them into first.

Prediction:  Forest Lake, Hopkins, Wayzata, in that order, and separated by less than a fifteen point spread.

Girls

Burnsville girls in pursuit
On paper, this one appears to favor Minneapolis Southwest.  Led by their stars Ellis and Rosie Frankowski, the team has a solid group that should take them to victory barring any major problems.  Right behind, the Stillwater and Burnsville teams will be there to make Southwest earn it.  Roseville has a long history of producing top teams, like the Forest Lake program, and this year's composition features four strong performers whose consistency might just break Southwest.  Burnsville has an incredible trio of lead skiers but will need a great race from the fourth place scorer to step to the top.

Prediction:  Minneapolis Southwest, Roseville, Burnsville.

 

Put on your warm boots, hike out to a nice trail location, and enjoy on of the most exciting State Meets in recent history.

 

Helpful Links: