Bloomington Kennedy senior Tamer Mische-Richter has one thing on his mind: Keep the Nordic skiing championship medal in the suburb. It would be a fitting way to acknowledge Bloomington Jefferson junior Zak Ketterson, the boys' defending individual state champion.
"It sure would be nice to finish in that top spot," said Mische-Richter, who competes Thursday in the state meet at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. He is teammate of Ketterson's during the regular season before the two schools split up at section time. "I think Zak will be pretty happy as long as one of his buddies wins it."
Ketterson earned a spot on the U.S. under-18 national team. Its schedule overlapped with high school sectionals and he wasn't able to qualify for the state meet. He finished third in the state meet as a freshman.
"We don't have to chase the rabbit that's way out in front of everybody this year," Mische-Richter said. "It's nice to know everybody has a chance now."
The national under-18 team also came into play on the girls' side. Wayzata senior Nicole Schneider and Eden Prairie senior Abigail Drach both made the squad, but both of their teams advanced to the state meet even with their absence. So they qualified for the event via that route. Ketterson's team didn't advance.
Wednesay's Alpine boys' competition also will be missing its defending individual state champion.
Chanhassen sophomore Louis Nguyen tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees while competing in a USSA event Jan. 25 at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. He had finished no lower than seventh place in the past three state meets.
Nordic meet
Mische-Richter was ranked third, behind Ketterson and Forest Lake senior Leo Hipp, in the final state poll. Fellow seniors Cory Rouw of St. Cloud Tech and Sean Cork of St. Louis Park were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
"We are each other's competition throughout the season," Mische-Richter said. "It's pretty wide open."
Hipp is the top returnee, finishing third last year. Rouw, Mische-Richter and Cork finished fourth through sixth, respectively. Cork's St. Louis Park squad is the top-ranked team.
"The state meet is a big deal for me," Mische-Richter said. "It's something I really look forward to. I'm going to go out and have some fun."
Wayzata, the top-ranked girls' squad, is the overwhelming favorite to win its third consecutive team championship. The Trojans have three skiers ranked in the top 10 — Schneider (No. 1), senior Anna French (No. 2) and junior Michaela Keller-Miller (No. 4).
Other medalist contenders are Eastview junior Margie Freed (No. 8) and Forest Lake senior Rocci Wohlk (No. 3). Freed finished sixth in last year's state meet, Wohlk seventh.
Alpine meet
Two skiers in the same grade as Nguyen — Anders Brown of Chisago Lakes and Luke Doolittle of Eastview — are the top returning finishers from a year ago. Brown finished eighth and Doolittle wound up 10th. The other seven top-10 finishers all graduated, leaving it wide open for the No. 1 spot.
The top two finishers in the girls' race a year ago also graduated, but a strong field still exists. Top challengers include Hermantown senior Madison Danelski and junior McKenzie Bremel, Blake junior Maddie Dekko and sophomore Nellie Ide, Rochester Century senior Kate Hanson, Orono sophomore Rosie Hust, Mounds View junior Juliana Damberg and Lakeville North sophomore Bailey Servais. All finished in the top 13 a year ago.
The Blake boys and Minnetonka girls are both seeking their third consecutive team titles.
