Nordic Skiing: Warrior boys disappointed but not in effort

BIWABIK - Unlike the Brainerd girls Alpine team, which won the state championship Wednesday at Giants Ridge, the Warrior boys Nordic team probably wasn't anticipating a state title or a podium finish.

But they were expecting to finish better than 16th in a 16-team field.

"We were here (Wednesday) training when (the Alpine team) won," Warriors co-head coach Mary Claire Ryan said. "We were hoping for a better result but we're not disappointed at all because of what they've done all season."

Noah Baker led Brainerd in 63rd place followed by Robb Pike 84th, Evan Schreifels 127th, Ben Hanson 131st, Landon Bruggeman 135th, Connor Gunsbury 137th and Gabe Raguse 141st.

Freshman Hunter Zupko of Little Falls was the top lakes area boy or girl in 26th in the boys race. But at press time there was a debate as to whether Zupko was 26th or 25th. According to the Minnesota State High School League website, Zupko finished in 31:06.6. Alex Larson of Bloomington Kennedy, in 25th place, finished in 31:06.7.

"Hunter was the top finishing ninth-grader in the state so he's pretty pumped about that," Flyers coach Terry Wasland said. "He started out after the skate race in 27th place so we knew he had two spots to make up (top 25 are all-state). There was a bunch real tight at that time frame. He hung in there well. At one point he was 25th but in the final sprint he dropped one place.

"I was real happy with how Hunter raced today. He did a great job."

This was the first year of an expanded state field from eight to 16 teams. Ryan said that made the meet even more competitive.

"We worked so hard to get here," Ryan said. "Our top scorers didn't have as good a day as some of our younger guys. Our goal was to have the team all come together at the same time. It didn't happen for us today but everyone had the same cold conditions and slow snow.

"Am I disappointed? Yes, but I'm certainly not disappointed in the effort our kids put out. This is a tough place to get to. Certainly we weren't where we wanted to be today but some days are not your best days."

Section 8 champion St. Cloud Tech finished ninth with 296 points. Brainerd, the Section 8 runner-up, scored 178.

"Look at the difference between Tech and us normally and look at the difference today," Warriors co-head coach Chris Hanson said. "It was incredible. There was no margin for error in a field where every single body counts. That's a big factor.

"Our young guys saw what it's all about. They're already making plans for their next race, training and next year."

Baker battled illness Thursday but finished this year. In 2014, he was disqualified and did not finish.

"I've been feeling under the weather since a couple weeks ago," he said. "It only affects me when I'm racing. Normally I have a spark and I can just go but not today. I was literally trying as hard as I could."

Brainerd senior Gaby Haire finished 68th in the girls race in her first state meet.

"To be honest I gave it all I could," Haire said. "I was pleased with the way I matched up with the girls in our section. I wasn't close to being all-state but I finished and giving it my all is all I really cared about."

Haire was one of 157 skiers in the girls race.

"These are the top skiers in the state of Minnesota," Ryan said. "Gaby beat some kids she has not beaten this year. She topped off her career with a top-notch effort. It was a great finish for her."

Little Falls' Kendal Hendrickson finished 85th in the girls race. She placed 58th last year.

"Kendal struggled in the first race then she came back," Wasland said. "She would have liked to have done better in the classic as well but she skied hard.

"It was evident we hadn't spent nearly enough time on hills this year which was an impossibility for most of us. The teams that have been able to be on snow, hills and courses certainly had better results than some of us who did not."

BOYS

Team scores: 1-Forest Lake 416, 2-Duluth East 388, 3-Stillwater 377, 4-Mesabi East 352, 5-St. Louis Park 346, 6-Eden Prairie 338, 7-Wayzata 328, 8-Andover 325

9-St. Cloud Tech 296, 10-Minneapolis Southwest 296, 11-Minnehaha Academy 268, 12-Winona/Cotter 266, 13-(tie) Eagan & Irondale 255, 15-St. Paul Central 183, 16-Brainerd 178

Individual winner: Leo Hipp (Forest Lake) 28:32.0

Brainerd results: 63-Noah Baker 32:32.5, 84-Robb Pike 33:21.4, 127-Evan Schreifels 34:34.2, 131-Ben Hanson 34:48.1, 135-Landon Bruggeman 35:12.1, 137-Connor Gunsbury 35:16.2, 141-Gabe Raguse 36:03.3

Little Falls results: 26-Hunter Zupko 31:06.6

GIRLS

Team scores: 1-Wayzata 415, 2-Robbinsdale Armstrong 386, 3-Stillwater 383, 4-Eden Prairie 368, 5-Forest Lake 344, 6-Eastview 327, 7-Hopkins 306, 8-Mesabi East 304

9-Duluth East 291, 10-Burnsville 289, 11-St.Cloud Cathedral-Sartell 260, 12-(tie) St. Paul Highland Park & Roseville 252, 14-Irondale 228, 15-Mora 190, 16-Lakeville North 179

Individual winner: Sarah Bezdicek (Osseo) 34:16.5

Brainerd results: 68-Gaby Haire 40:12.5

Little Falls results: 85-Kendal Hendrickson 41:05.7

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5861. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bertsballpark .