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Genevieve Silence Photos courtesy of Melissa Dressely
Rain, not snow or ice, would pose a problem at this year’s Minnesota State High School Alpine championships held at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik on February 14. Still, Cook County’s Ray Dressely handled the adverse weather nicely.
After a strong season that saw him either win or place very high in his ski meets, Ray Dressely was ready to have a big day at the state meet.
Last year, as a sophomore, Ray qualified, but he crashed on both runs. In ski racing, the winner and placers are determined by completing two challenging slalom courses and adding up those times to determine the places.
“Last year, I was nervous, and I think my nerves got the best of me,” Ray said. “This year I was as easygoing as I could be. I tried to treat it (state) like a normal race, and I think that helped me.”
A calmer, more focused Dressely let his skis do the talking. And those skis made quite a statement because when the meet was over, Ray finished in fourth place, the highest finish for a Cook County boy in many years.
Ben Obinger
Ray, a CCHS Junior, came into the state alpine ski meet as the Section 7 champion, but there are no guarantees of a good finish at the ultra-competitive state finale.
When asked to describe his race he replied, “I skidded out a little bit during my first run, but it was a good run. I’m not saying it was bad, it wasn’t, but I had that one mistake.”
After the first run, Ray was in fourth place, but then the weather changed.
“It was right around 32F, and it started to rain at the start of the second run, and the times got slower and slower. So, I wasn’t very aggressive on my second run. I just wanted a clean finish,” he said.
When the two race times were added up Ray remained in fourth place, a remarkable finish in a state loaded with great slalom skiers.
Was this your best race ever? He was asked.
“Yeah, I would have to say so. I beat some kids who usually blow me out of the water, so that was nice.”
Sophia Blank
Ray has one bigger race coming up and then it will be time to get surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury from football. He had surgery on his right labrum last year. “I’m getting operated on earlier this year, which is too bad because I will have to miss baseball, but I want to recover earlier.”
Ray missed several football games last year because his labrum operation was later in the year. Still, he said whether he plays football will depend upon his health.
Oh, one last question. Did your left shoulder hurt through this ski season? He was asked.
“Yeah, it hurt. It bothered me but…”
Meanwhile, Cy Oberholtzer had some tough luck. Cy, who placed third at sections also had a great year, but he crashed. Finn Taylor also did not finish, a disappointing end to an excellent season for both skiers.
Freshman Goshi Dimitrov placed 62nd in 1:27.84. Ben Obinger finished in 1:31.27 to place 67th. Graham Oberholtzer was the 70th finisher in 1:34.95.
Josh Nelson of West Lutheran won the state boy’s title with a time of 1 minute, 14.33 seconds, three-tenths faster than Stillwater junior Cash Jaeger. Minnetonka won the team title for the second year in a row, while the Vikings finished sixth out of eight teams.
Girls place 7th.
The smallest girls’ team in the state didn’t have their best meet but they still managed to beat Duluth East and finish seventh out of eight teams which is darn sure a lot to cheer about.
Kalina Dimitova placed 19th to lead all Northland girls at the state meet. Kalina’s combined time for the two runs was 1:20.54.
This was Kalina’s fourth trip to the state meet and her highest finish, and it came in a year where she watched most races, sitting out while she was recovering from an injury.
Kalina, a junior at Cook County High School I.S.D. 166 missed much of the season due to a broken arm, but when she was able to compete, she got better every week. As a freshman, she qualified for the state alpine meet, placing 58th out of 88 skiers. Like Ray Dressely, Kalina is a multi-sport athlete, competing in volleyball and softball.
Genevieve Silence has a lot of podium finishes this year, but this wasn’t her best meet.
Sophia Blanck placed 49th with a time of 1:26.32. Anabelle Silence placed 64th, crossing the finish line in 1:32.87. Genevieve Silence placed 67th in 1:35.24 and Ruby Gulstrand was right behind Genevieve in 68th, finishing with a time of 1:38.39.
Liv Hedstrom skied a good first run of 45.14 but couldn’t navigate the rain slicked second run and was a DNF.
With the conclusion of the state alpine meet most kids put their racing skis away, but not Kalina, Ray and Cy who have a big meet to prepare for.
Taylor Voigt, a freshman from Hill-Murray, not only won the 2023 Girl’s Alpine Skiing State title with a time of 1 minute, 15.32 seconds, but she led her team to the state championship.
Up next. Kalina, Ray, and Cy Oberholtzer qualified to participate in the Western High School Championships, as they placed in top three individually at Sections.
The top 12 boy and girl athletes in the State of Minnesota are headed in early March to Mt. Hood, Oregon to compete against the top 12 skiers from California, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon, and Michigan.
It should be a great competition for the kids, and a great day for the Cook County High School Alpine Ski program.
Commenting on the state meet Viking Head Alpine Ski Coach John Oberholtzer said, “It was a fun day, despite the warm/rainy conditions. Terrific experience for the kids. Fun to go over and stay the night before. Teams, by organization of the MSHSL, get to stay at Giants Ridge Lodge which is slopeside. Lots of cheerful gathering happens at the bottom: tents form for the teams with food and fires going. The kids finish right into that area: some smile, some groan – all part of the drama of slalom skiing at the State Tourney!
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