Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Rankings - Round 3

With a holiday break in the racing action, we take another pass at the Minnesota high school rankings.

Commentary

The biggest data impacting this round of rankings is the Houghton Junior National Qualifying classic races the weekend before Christmas.  The classic format gave us a chance to see which skiers can swing both ways.  Cooper Lennox, Mora, showed no problems with striding as he once again was the top high school skier.  Roger Anderson, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, is making the push for the most improved skier, notching top results in both skate and classic to date.  Moving up this week, Isak Nightingale, MPA, with a strong classic result in Houghton.

On the gals side, it's the youngsters that we're keeping an eye on.   Molly Moening, St. Paul Highland Park, and Jordan Parent, Forest Lake, are having their own battle in the U16 races, and as they typically race shorter distances that the U18 kids, it makes it difficult to assess just how good they are.  Libby Tuttle, Stillwater, leaves little doubt about her top ranking as she was by far the best junior at Houghton.  A new skier in the rankings this week is Kaisa Bosek, Alexandria.   Bosek is a top class biathlete, and will be competing overseas this January but we've been told she should be back in time for sections and the State Meet.

Not a lot of data to apply to the team rankings, but Forest Lake and St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell squads continue to impress with solid scoring by squad members in the JNQs.

January is almost here, and the opening week has a lot of data rolling in with US Nationals competition back in Houghton and the giant Mesabi Invite next weekend, as well as the Loppet Invite.   Expect some big shakeups in the next round...

Coaches, please keep those high school meet results rolling in!

Boys Individual

1. Cooper Lennox, Mora, 12
2. James Schneider, Wayzata, 12
3. Roger Anderson, Robbinsdale-Armstrong, 11
4. Colin Freed, Wayzata, 11
5. William Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 12
6. Victor Sparks, Mpls Southwest, 11
7. Zach Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 12
8. Henry Snider, Mounds Park Academy, 12
9. CJ Young, Maple Grove, 12
10. Isak Nightingale, Mounds Park Academy, 10

Cusp: Jasper Johnston, Ely, 11; Magnus O'Connor, Prior Lake, 11; Ben Boelter, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, 12; Sam Stertz, Grand Rapids, 11; Adrik Kraftson, Stillwater, 10; Ethan Erickson, Forest Lake, 12; Noah Erickson, Forest Lake, 10; Drew Sampson, Forest Lake, 11; Zach Spears, Eden Prairie, 12; Stas Bednarski, Mpls Southwest, 11.

Girls Individual

1. Libby Tuttle, Stillwater, 12
2. Molly Moening, St. Paul Highland Park, 10
3. Lauren McCollor, Wayzata, 11
4. Jordan Parent, Forest Lake, 9
5. Ingrid Halverson, Wayzata, 11
6. Gretchen Haggenmiller, Duluth East, 12
7. Celeste Alden, St. Paul Highland Park, 11
8. Sydney Peterson, Stillwater, 12
9. Linnea Urban, Hastings, 11
10. Kaisa Bosek, Alexandria, 11

Cusp: Clara Kramer, Duluth East, 12; Anni Skillicorn, Winona-Winona Cotter, 12; Margaret Dalseth, Visitation, 11; Morgan Richter, Edina, 12; Margo Nightingale, Mounds Park Academy, 9; Izzy Quam, Mounds Park Academy, 11; Amelea Hauer, Forest Lake, 11; Sudie Hall, Mpls Southwest, 11; Elsa Viren, Grand Rapids, 11; Gabby Kraemer, Eastview, 12.

Boys Teams

1. Forest Lake
2. Wayzata
3. Ely
4. St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell
5. Mpls Southwest
6. St. Paul Highland Park
7. Prior Lake
8. Champlin Park
9. Mora
10. Mounds Park Academy

Cusp: Minnehaha Academy; Stillwater; Minnetonka; Robbinsdale-Armstrong; Grand Rapids; Coon Rapids; Cloquet-Esko-Carlton; Marshall School; Edina; Eden Prairie.

Girls Teams

1. St. Paul Highland Park
2. Stillwater
3. Forest Lake
4. Duluth East
5. Edina
6. Wayzata
7. Mpls Southwest
8. Eastview
9. Mesabi East
10. Maple Grove

Cusp: Eden Prairie; Ely; Brainerd; Hopkins; Mounds Park Academy; Mora; Robbinsdale-Armstrong; Winona-Winona Cotter; Grand Rapids; Coon Rapids.

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