Winter sports tournaments: Your guide to 5½ weeks of action

ALPINE & NORDIC SKIING

When: Wednesday for Alpine, Thursday for Nordic

Where: Giants Ridge, Biwabik

New look atop podium: Whether you're a fan of the slopes or trails at Giants Ridge, the No. 1 spot on the podium — top 10 finishers — will feature four new medalists. For the third consecutive year, there won't be a repeat winner among the four individual champions. Neither of the boys' defending champions — Chanhassen sophomore Louis Nguyen (Alpine) and Bloomington Jefferson junior Zak Ketterson (Nordic) — will be participating in the state meet while both of the girls' defending champions graduated. Nguyen is sidelined with a knee injury while Ketterson made the U.S. 18-and-under national team, resulting in scheduling conflicts.

DANCE TEAM

When: Jazz on Friday, high kick on Saturday

Where: Target Center

Repeat routines?: When the music and cheering (both loud) are over, six champions will emerge in two divisions. All three of 2014's jazz champions — Yellow Medicine East (Class 1A), Benilde-St. Margaret's (Class 2A), and Eastview (Class 3A) — are back to defend their titles. The same is true in high kick, where last year's champions Aitkin (Class 1A), Totino-Grace (Class 2A), and Eastview (Class 3A) return. The Lightning are seeking a fifth consecutive high kick title.

GIRLS' HOCKEY

When: Feb. 18-21

Where: Xcel Energy Center

Only the strongest survive: This week's section playoffs will eliminate at least half of the teams ranked in the top 10 of the final Let's Play Hockey rankings. Eden Prairie earned the No. 1 spot. Minnetonka, Maple Grove, defending Class 2A champion Hill-Murray and Edina complete the top five.

Championship session: With a goal of increasing attendance, the Class 1A title game moves to 4 p.m. The Class 2A championship game is at 7 p.m. Fans can by one ticket good for both championship session games.

GYMNASTICS

When: Feb. 20-21

Where: University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion

Glamorous but gritty: Gymnasts who casual fans might see as pixies tumbling around in make-up and leotards are among the toughest athletes you'll find. They do backflips off of balance beams four feet high, handsprings off vaulting tables while running at full speed and backward twisting somersaults off of uneven bars 10 feet in the air. All with smiles on their faces. How's that for tough?

Returning champions: Roseville will likely be shooting for its fourth consecutive Class 2A team championship. Northfield's Bailey DuPay hopes to become the first three-time all-around champion in Class 2A.

WRESTLING

When: Feb. 26-28

Where: Xcel Energy Center

Best in Minnesota -- and the nation: Section meets still await but it's already a safe bet that fans will get the chance to see some of the country's best high school wrestlers. In Class A, Apple Valley junior 170-pounder Mark Hall will be shooting for his fifth state title while teammate Bobby Steveson, a 195-pounder, is looking for his second championship. Totino-Grace 195-pounder Lance Benick will try for his fourth Class 2A championship. All three are undefeated this season. Each is either ranked, or has been ranked, No. 1 in the nation.

Same teams, different year: Defending champions Apple Valley (Class 3A) and Simley (Class 2A) are likely to repeat. In Class 1A, Minneota looks like the team to beat.

BOYS' HOCKEY

When: March 4-7

Where: Xcel Energy Center

Small schools, big storylines: The perilous section playoffs can change everything but a tantalizing Class 1A final four could emerge, featuring defending champion East Grand Forks, perennial title game participant Hermantown plus metro-area powers Breck and Mahtomedi. The Zephyrs scored recent victories against Class 2A teams Hill-Murray and St. Thomas Academy. And don't forget Duluth Marshall, a top-five team moving up to Class 2A next season.

Title game showdown looms: In Class 2A, neither two-time defending champion Edina nor last year's runner-up Lakeville North have disappointed this winter. Lakeville North is 23-0, handing Edina its only loss.

BOYS' SWIMMING & DIVING

When: March 5-7

Where: University of Minnesota Aquatic Center

Following suit: Will the True Team state meet at the end of January be reflected in the race for the individual event championships? St. Thomas Academy (Class 1A) and Minnetonka (Class 2A) won the True Team crowns. The Cadets, seeking their fourth consecutive title, will be tough to unseed. On the other hand, the Skippers will have to improve on their fifth-place finish of a year ago. They last won the state crown in 2011.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

When: March 11-14

Where: Williams Arena, Target Center

Fourth time?: Is there a team in Class 3A good enough to dethrone DeLaSalle? The three-time defending state champion Islanders have plenty of talent and will be the overwhelming favorite. They have an experienced senior class, headed by Gopher recruit guard Jarvis Johnson, to go along with talented youngsters developing in the ranks. In all likelihood there will be new champions in the other three classes. The Class 2A tournament could be the most wide open of the bunch.

ADAPTED FLOOR HOCKEY

When: March 13-14

Where: Bloomington Jefferson High School

Parity time: After Anoka-Hennepin won state titles in three consecutive years, the cognitively impaired division seems to be experiencing more parity with two different champions in as many years. New Prague Adapted — a cooperative between New Prague, Tri-City United, Le Sueur-Henderson, Belle Plaine and Jordan — won the state title last year and, as of Feb. 9, sits undefeated at the top of the South Conference, ready for another potential run.

Robins of winter: In the physically impaired division, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/MoundWestonka has made its imprint, winning the last four state tittles and five out of the last six. The team sat in second in the North Conference as of this week with a 7-1-0 record behind Brainerd/Pillager, but its experience could be a difference maker at state tournament time.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

When: March 18-21

Where: Williams Arena, Target Center

Showdown looming: With high school players, nothing is ever a certainty, but the Class 4A title has long been shaping up to be a showdown between defending champion Eastview and perennial power Hopkins. Each has just one loss, suffered at the hands of the other. The must-see rubber-match would come on the state's biggest stage: the state championship game.

Bunched at the top: As many as five teams appear poised to make a run at the Class 3A title. Orono is ranked No. 1, defending champion Park Center is acquitting itself well in the mostly Class 4A Northwest Suburban Conference and New Prague and Hill-Murray are both dangerous. Look out for DeLaSalle, which has won 12 consecutive games after a 1-4 start.

RON HAGGSTROM, BETSY HELFAND, DAVID LA VAQUE, JIM PAULSEN, JACK SATZINGER