Minnesota Sections Preview

An incredible winter has provided one of the best seasons of racing in many years.  The Minnesota high school sections are here with races occurring over four days.  Weather looks quite good so expect some awesome competition!  We'll post any updates we receive in our Racing Outlook.

A couple of notes for coaches and skiers:

• Make sure you are aware of the waxing restrictions for sections and the state meet.  There are also restrictions on classical pole length: poles used in the classical races must be no more than 83% of skiers height measured in ski boots, from floor to pole handle strap attachment. 
• Skiers, must sure you review the rules on classical technique violations.

Here's our spectating guide for sections ...

• Section 1 Tue Feb 4 at Hyland Lake (Bloomington)
  This should be a highly competitive section this year as a number of teams are on the rise!  Prior Lake and Hastings will make for an exciting battle for the boys title while the Eastview girls appear to be the best of the bunch, with Rosemount and Winona not far behind.  Hasting's Trevor Caflisch and Prior Lake's Magnus O'Connor lead the boys field.  Winona's Anni Skillicorn has been the girls perennial favorite, but expect a strong challenge from Hasting's Linnea Urban as well as Lakeville South's Brianne Brewster.
  
  
• Section 2 Mon Feb 3 at Theodore Wirth (Minneapolis)
  The Minneapolis Southwest boys have held reign on this section for a while, and look to continue this season.  Closest competition is expected from Eden Prairie and Minneapolis Washburn.   On the girls side, there should be a much tighter battle as Minneapolis Washburn piqued Southwest by a single point in their conference championship, with Eden Prairie hoping to break up that party.   Southwest's Victor Sparks and Jacob Rochell-Share will have Eden Prairie's Zach Spears to challenge for the boys title.  Edina's Morgan Richter is the returning section champ for the girls, but Southwest's Sudie Hall should make for an exciting pursuit race.
  
  
• Section 3 Tue Feb 4 at Theodore Wirth (Minneapolis)
  St. Paul Highland Park -- just fill it in everywhere.   The team should sweep the titles with the Minnehaha Academy boys and St. Paul Central girls the likely second place teams.  Molly Moening's strongest competition will come from her own teammates, as the Highland Park girls could possibly post a perfect score.  Cole Johnson, St. Paul Highland Park, should be on the top step of the section podium, with Minnehaha's Will Carlen a strong contender.
  
  
• Section 4 Wed Feb 6 at Hyland Lake (Bloomington)
  Always a great battle with powerhouses Forest Lake and Stillwater, but this year Forest Lake has been consistently putting together the stronger squad.  Expect Forest Lake to sweep the team titles with Stillwater second.  While Stillwater's Libby Tuttle slipped from the top ranking a few weeks ago, she should conquer the section with MPA's Margo Nightingale and Forest Lake's Jordan Parent the pair on her heels.  On the boys side, the competition could be fierce.  Stillwater's young Adrik Kraftson has grown accustom to the top spot in the Forest Lake/Stillwater competition, but MPA brings two top ten skiers in Henry Snider and Isak Nightingale that could bump him down - expect an exciting afternoon pursuit race!
  
  
• Section 5 Wed Feb 5 at Theodore Wirth (Minneapolis)
  On paper, it's looking like a great race between Champlin Park and Maple Grove for the boys title.  On the girls side, Maple Grove, Elk River and possible Coon Rapids and Mora, could all be in the mix.  Mora's Cooper Lennox no longer appears to be the dominant favorite for the boys title, and CJ Young, Maple Grove should make him earn a section repeat.  The race for the girls title is more wide open with Abby Ellenbecker, Coon Rapids, and Christina Bolcer, Maple Grove, two of the front runners.
  
  
• Section 6 Thu Feb 6 at Theodore Wirth (Minneapolis)
  Wayzata should sweep the team titles, with a more wide open battle for second place teams.  Top ranking Lauren McCollor, Wayzata, is expected to cruise to the girls title.  The boys race should be a little closer as Robbinsdale-Armstrong's Roger Anderson will face some competition from Wayzata's Colin Freed. 
  
  
• Section 7 Thu Feb 6 at Giants Ridge (Biwabik)
  The northern powers race on the State Meet course giving them an early leg up on the rest of the state.  Ely and Duluth East continue their annual competition, this year the Ely boys and Duluth East girls the team favorites, with their counterparts expected in second.  Ely's Jasper Johnston is the easy candidate for boys champion but the girls side should provide for an exciting pursuit race as Duluth East's Gretchen Haggenmiller will have Ely's young Zoe Devine to contend with, along with Clara Kramer, Duluth East and Lydia Skelton, Mesabi East.
  
  
• Section 8 Tue Feb 4 at Maplelag Resort (Callaway)
  This section is always a tough one to read.   The Nemeth brothers power a strong St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell team that is heavily favored to win.  Perhaps Brainerd the favored girls team.  Zach and William Nemeth, St. Cloud Cathedral-Sartell, are expected to be battling for the boys title.   Wren Scott-Lumbar, St. Cloud Tech, one of the best of the girls contenders.

Notes: 

* Team tie-breakers use the total time of the top four skiers.  If a tie remains, they go to the fifth, etc. up to seventh.
* View the full High School Racing Calendar for more event details, plus access race updates, trail reports, and eventually results.

Watch for same day results and hopefully coverage from all the sectionals!