Senior Molly Rider, captain of the Cook County/ Silver Bay Alpine ski team, had a bittersweet end to her high school racing career. She took a tumble on her second run, but had earned the seventh fastest time on her first run against 40 of the state’s top qualifiers.
What a difference a week makes. Last week at the Section 7 qualifying meet, the race director was contemplating canceling the meet due to bitter cold conditions and wind. The race went on. After all, this is northern Minnesota. Fast-forward one week – afternoon temps reached 58 degrees under blue sunny skies and spectators were in short sleeves and wearing sunscreen. In one respect, it was a nice sendoff for our departing senior and team captain, Molly Rider.
Molly completed her high school career as a two-time individual state qualifier and Section 7 team champion the previous year. Molly’s career ending race was bittersweet.
The sweet side is that she had the 7th fastest first run competing against the state’s top 40 qualifiers. Impressive. The bitter side, she took a tumble on the second run. And as I’ve said so many times—that’s ski racing and that’s the brutal side of the sport. On the bright side Molly is now on to bigger adventures in life.
Ali Boettcher also ended her high school Alpine career with a trip to the State Meet at Giants Ridge.
Teammate Ali Boettcher of Silver Bay also finished up her high school career. Ali put together two complete runs and finished 31st of the 40 individual qualifiers and 59th overall in the field of 88 racers (there are eight teams with six racers on each team in addition to the 40 individual qualifiers for a total of 88 racers on the mountain that given day).
Silver Bay’s Katie Smedstad had a decent day finishing in the top 50 percent with an 18th place individual place and 37th overall. Katie will return as a strong veteran skier with hopes to lead Cook County/Silver Bay back to the state tournament next year.
Katie Smedstad had a decent day at the State Meet, finishing in the top 50 percent.
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