Above: The CCHS boy’s Viking ski team defeated 22 other ski teams to win the Section 7 title and will advance to the state ski meet. This is the first time in many years the boys have won the section title. The team from L-R: Eric Lawler, Ezra Lunde, Logan Backstrom, Will Lamb, Masen McKeever, and Will Surbaugh. Left: Three skiers qualified individually and will race for medals at state. The skiers are from L-R: Sela Backstrom, Will Lamb and Reilly Wahlers.
Cook County senior Will Lamb was near the top of the leader board after the first of two runs at Section 7 Alpine ski meet Tuesday, February 7 at Giants Ridge ski hill near Biwabik.
This is a position he has been in before. In ninth grade, Lamb advanced through sections and took 14th place at state. In tenth grade, he moved through sections and finished ninth at state. But he fell at sections last year and missed a three-peat, so this, his final year, was nerve racking. One fall, one bad bobble, and his chances to finish in the top 15 and punch his ticket to the state meet would be over.
“I was so nervous for his second run that I went over and helped some kid with his skis,” said Charles Lamb, the team’s coach, and Will’s father. “I couldn’t watch. Second runs can get crazy.”
When Will reached the bottom of the hill on that second run, he finished his two runs with a combined time of 1:15.63, good for a third place in a tight field. Will was just a couple tenths of a second behind the winning time of Chisago Lakes Area Senior Anders Brown (1:15.34) and second place finisher Austin Danelski of Hermantown who crossed the line in 1:15.56.
“Difficult course sets, icy conditions, falling and drifting snow worked to our team’s advantage,” said Coach Lamb, adding, “The action was intense and exciting, and my fingers were crossed for the whole day.”
Erik Lawler placed 20th in 1:22:69; Logan Backstrom was right behind in 21st in 1:22.74; Will Surbaugh placed 31st in 1:25.37; Ezra Lunde 34th in 1:26.86; and Masen McKeever placed 43rd in 1:29.88 to finish the Vikings’ team scoring at 345 points.
Cook County, with an enrollment of 154, defeated Stillwater, whose enrollment is 2,558, to take the boys’ team title. There were 119 boys and 22 boys’ teams competing at sections.
“Erik Lawler stepped up in a big way with two solid, fast runs and team veteran Logan Backstrom skied two quick, clean runs,” said Coach Lamb. “Will Surbaugh skied fast and stayed on his feet. Ezra Lunde and Masen McKeever both did their jobs and skied well.”
Only 11 boys advanced as individuals to state this year.
“There were a lot of crashes and DNF’s from our competitors on the boys’ side due to the icy conditions, steep pitch and difficult course set in the second run,” Coach Lamb said.
“At the end of the day, the race was too close to call by looking at the results board,” said the coach, “but the 4th scoring boy for Hermantown crashed and hiked in his second attempt which opened the door for Cook County.
“There was a lot of suspense during the awards ceremony, and the room went silent when they reached the top five boys’ teams. The Stillwater contingent went crazy with excitement when they were announced as the section runner-up,” Lamb said with a smile.
Girls place third
The Viking girls placed third with 345.5 points. Only the top two teams and top 15 individuals qualify for state. The Vikings finished 10 points behind the girls’ team from Stillwater, who grabbed that second spot behind the team from Chisago Lakes who won with 396 points. There were 122 girls and 24 girls’ teams competing at sections.
Reilly Wahlers placed fourth with a time of 1:26.73 and Sela Backstrom 13th in 1:30.98 to qualify for state. Tessa Trettel of Centennial won with a time of 1:25.63.
Other top Vikings were Halle Lamb 19th, Elsa Lunde 56th, Madysen McKeever 70th, and Hanna Borson 94th.
“Reilly Wahlers hit the ball out of the park in her first run (2nd), she did not play it safe in her second attempt and blew out slightly at the bottom of the Insbruk headwall, scrubbed some precious time and finished the race in (4th) and qualified for State,” Coach Lamb said.
“Sela Backstrom lit up both her runs skiing just fast enough, landing (13th), she made the cut and qualified for State. Fourteen girls advanced to State this year.
“Halle Lamb skied the best run of her career in her first attempt on the steep pitch of Helsinki (15th), she skied clean and fast in her second and ended the day in (19th).
“Also skiing and performing outstandingly for Cook County was Elsa Lunde, Madysen McKeever and Hanna Borson who rounded this year’s section team,” said Coach Lamb.
The state tournament is Wednesday, February 15th at Giants Ridge. The races start 10 a.m.
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