After crossing the line with the seventh fastest time in her first run, Cook County’s Reilly Wahlers was eyeing a top 10 finish at the State Alpine ski meet held Wednesday, February 10 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.
But the freshman straddled a gate on her second run and hiked back to go around it, finishing at the back of the pack. While her team’s chances for a high finish pretty much ended with Reilly’s finish, the Vikings’ next five skiers continued to ski well and the team ended up in seventh place, one spot ahead of Eden Prairie, the second largest school in Minnesota.
“We were soundly in fourth place after the first run,” said Alpine Head Coach Charles Lamb. “But with the loss of Reilly we ended the day in seventh.”
Still, it was no reason for the girls to hang their heads. Their run to claim the Section 7A title and advance to state as a team was nothing short of phenomenal!
All told there were 88 girls in the field. Cook County/Silver Bay was competing against Blake School, Orono, Mankato West, Minneapolis Southwest, Minnetonka, Stillwater and Eden Prairie, all much larger schools than the combined Silver Bay/ Cook County squad.
Conditions were cold, said Lamb, with an overnight low of -17F and -8F at the start of the race. But as the day wore on, Lamb said, “It was really sunny and a high of 3F. On a positive note, it was one of those days the weatherman says is -5F but feels like 10 above. Cold was not an issue for Cook County.”
Fast skiing for individual racers
Lamb said Sela Backstrom had a solid first run and a faster second run to finish 42nd. Alyssa Martinson had a faster first run, made a mistake in her second run and finished 44th. Haley Yoki (Silver Bay) had two great runs to finish 53rd while Madysen McKeever placed a great 74th.
“There are 80-plus teams in Minnesota Alpine skiing,” said Lamb. “Finishing 7th in the State is very respectable.”
In the boys’ field, Logan Backstrom, the team’s lone qualifier, “skied a solid first run but tried to crush the second run and almost blew out and finished 34th,” said Lamb.
The overall girls’ winner was Maddy Dekko of Blake and the boys’ winner was Tommy Anderson of Eagan. The Blake school won the girls’ crown while Edina took home the boys’ team title.
“I want to say how proud I am for the girls stepping up and winning the Section 7 championships,” Lamb said. “Their commitment to our practice and race schedule was commendable. They gave up every Saturday and any holiday breaks for training.
“How fun it is to work with them hard at practice and become better friends throughout the season. They have become great all-around skiers!
“I also want to say how thankful I am for the support of the parents, School District 166 and Lutsen Mountains,” said Coach Lamb.
Cook County/Silver Bay only had one boy who qualified for state. With a great group of skiers coming back, and some very talented younger skiers coming up through the ranks—and great volunteer coaching in Charles Lamb and Rick Backstrom (and others)—both the girls’ and boys’ teams should be contenders once again for state.
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