The CCHS girls’ alpine ski team is going to state! Holding their runner-up Section 7 trophy is, from L-R: Emma Sexaur, Halle Lamb, Reilly Wahlers, Elsa Lunde, Sela Backstrom, Kalina Dimitrova and coach Charles Lamb. Photo courtesy of the team
On Tuesday, Feb. 5 Reilly Wahlers and Sela Backstrom continued their excellent senior ski seasons by qualifying for the state meet as individuals and helped lead their team to a second place and a state qualifying finish.
Reilly finished second at the Section 7 Alpine girls’ championship held at Giants Ridge on Tuesday, Feb. 5, while Sela placed 12th. Only 13 girls qualify in the individual category.
The field included 127 girls and 20 girls’ teams.
“Reilly Wahlers stood in the start gate and acted unaffected by the pressure,” said head coach Charles Lamb. “She threw down a flawless first run on the steep pitch of Helsinki. After the break, she was the second skier out of the gate and with no course report, she repeated it in her second run finishing the day on the podium in second place. Two years in a row she is the Section 7 runner up!”
“Sela Backstrom put the pedal to the metal completing both her runs in the ultra competitive field. Looking at the results board, the race was too close to tell if she qualified for state, so we all breathed a sigh of relief when they called her to the stage in 12th place. Only 13 girls advanced to state this year!
“Seinor Elsa Lunde overcame section nerves and rang the bell in a big way on this day completing two fast, clean runs. Seventh-grade rising star Kalina Dimitrova also had a great day, skiing her best on both runs. Exchange student Emma Sexaur completed both her runs and rounded out the girls’ team.
“I thought our girls were a long shot at best for state this year with the loss of Halle (Lamb, his daughter) due to injury.
“After the snow dust settled, looking at the results board it was too close to call but I figured we had a shot.
“There was a lot of suspense during the awards ceremony and the room went silent when they reached the top five girls’ teams. The Cook County contingent went crazy with excitement when they announced Duluth East in third place. That’s when our girls knew they had punched their ticket to state!
“After falling to Stillwater and Chisago Lakes and finishing in third place two years in a row, I can proudly say that the Cook County Girls’ Alpine Ski Team is the 2019 section 7 runner-up and is heading to state!
“Four very impressive girls stepped up in a big way at the right place and the right time!”
Boys
There was 21 boys’ teams and 126 boys competing at the section meet.
Junior Will Surbaugh had a good first run going but pushed a little too hard exiting a tough fall away hairpin on the icy pitch of Innsbruk. He slid out on his hip, missing a gate. After a quick hike he completed his run but lost precious time.
Will regrouped at the break and ran fourth in the second run. He pushed out of the gate and skied a difficult course on the icy pitch of Helsinki and threw down his absolute best in the ultra competitive field, landing an impressive (8th) place.
“There were a lot of crashes and DNFs from our competitors on the boys’ side due to the icy conditions, steep pitch and difficult course set in the second run,” said Lamb.
“ I did not think he would break the top twenty after the mistake in his first attempt,” Lamb said.
“This year 16 individual boys advanced to state. We were all stunned and I was pleasantly surprised to say the least, when they called Will Surbaugh to the stage, winning 16th place, barely making the cut and punching his ticket to state!
“I can’t compliment Will enough for the great sportsmanship, positive attitude and a fantastic second run. What he taught the younger kids on our team with his actions, surpasses anything a coach can teach.”
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