Athletes of the week

STEVE COOZENNOY

Forest Lake, Nordic skiing

Last year, Coozennoy was "a nobody."

"I was the fifth or sixth guy on the team," he said of his sophomore season. "I didn't expect much."

Then he finished 25th in the state meet.

"That was a shock," he said. "But it gave me a lot of confidence going into this year."

Now a junior, Coozennoy is ranked No. 4 in the state by the state coaches association after winning the Section 4 meet at Battle Creek Park last week. His time of 32:53 was the only one under 33 minutes for the meet and helped the Rangers to the championship.

"This has been such a huge change," he said. "This year, I'm one of the guys who matters, one of the guys the rest of the team counts on. It's amazing."

With the state meet coming up Friday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Coozennoy knows that things could go south this year just as quickly as they improved last year.

"This year, I've got something to prove," he said. "I'm coming out swinging. I have my whole team and all of Forest Lake behind me. I'm going to give it my all."

NICOLE DOOHER

Armstrong, basketball

The Falcons routed then-No. 2-ranked Hopkins and defeated Edina. Dooher, a senior guard, had 37 points, 13 assists, 12 steals and nine rebounds.

NASH FAULK

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, basketball

The Lakers junior guard was the key to a 2-1 week for the Lakers, including an overtime victory over Central Minnesota Conference leader Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. He had 80 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and 10 steals in three games.

LYNN DUIJNDAM

Roseville,

Nordic skiing

Considered the top girls' prep skier in the state now that Stillwater's Jessie Diggins is competing outside the country, Duijndam won the Section 4 meet in a combined time of 37:10, leading the Raiders to the title.

SAMMY HAUCK

Lakeville North, wrestling

With four victories -- three by pin -- last week, the senior 135-pounder became the winningest wrestler in Lakeville school district history. He has 136 career victories and is 25-4 this year.

BECCA LESHOVSKY

Rogers, hockey

The Royals concluded the regular season on a three-game winning streak, thanks to the freshman goalie. She played one period in a 9-2 victory over Holy Family and shut out Princeton and Orono in back-to-game games, stopping 27 total shots.

OLLIE WHITE

Mound-Westonka, basketball

The 6-6 senior post had 36 points and 16 rebounds in a victory over Big Lake, highlighting a week in which he had 80 points and 36 rebounds in three victories.

MEGAN SMITH

Lakeville North, Nordic skiing

The senior captain qualified for the state meet for the fifth consecutive year by winning the Section 1 meet at Valleywood Golf Course with a time of 35:25. She won both the Classical and the Freestyle events.

JIM PAULSEN