Athletes of the week: Travel agenda works out fine for St. Louis Park skier

SEAN CORK, St. Louis Park • Nordic skiing 

Cork, a senior, spent most of last week in Houghton, Mich., taking part in the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Championships, his first exposure to competition at a national level.

He said his trip back to Minnesota on Thursday took far longer than usual — “about 8½ hours because of white-out conditions” — but it didn’t stop him from making the trip to Biwabik the next morning.

Good thing he did, too, because he skied his best race of the season. He won the Classic Race on Saturday at the prestigious Mesabi East Invite at Giants Ridge.

“I wasn’t worried if I would underperform at Mesabi,” Cork said. “I was more worried if I’d be too tired. But when I got out there, I felt good. I pushed it a little and I did really well.”

Not only did he win the race by more than 47 seconds, his performance helped the Orioles take the boys’ team championship.

“I was more happy with the team [result],” Cork said. “Winning an individual race is fun and makes you feel good, but being part of a team victory is more satisfying.”

SACAR ANIM, DeLaSalle • basketball

The 6-4 senior wing has become one of the leading scorers in the state. Last week he scored 81 points in three victories, including 31 in a 74-66 come-from-behind victory over Morgan Park (Ill.). That bumped his average to 26.9 points per game. 

TEMI CARDA, Lakeville North • basketball

The 5-6 sophomore point guard, who leads the Panthers in scoring at 13.2 points per game, had a career-best 30 in a 75-57 rout of Shakopee. She made five of six three-pointers, 15 of 17 free throws, grabbed six rebounds and committed only one turnover.

GEORGE FARMAH, Eastview • wrestling

The senior 126-pounder improved to 11-2 on the season with a 6-0 week. His biggest victory was a 7-3 decision over No. 3-ranked Tanner Cole of Owatonna, clinching the championship of the Mounds View Duals. 

OLIVIA GRASKEWICZ, Hill-Murray • basketball

Last Tuesday’s 76-41 rout of Tartan was a milestone game for the senior guard. She made a school-record eight three-pointers en route to a 28-point evening and surpassed 1,000 career points. She added 16 points Friday night in a 66-43 victory over Mahtomedi. 

ELIJAH HANNAH JR., Minneapolis Roosevelt • basketball

Healthy after not playing for six months because of a torn labrum, the junior guard had 31 points in a 67-51 victory over Minneapolis Henry, 18 in an 87-23 victory over Minneapolis Edison and 12 in a 60-36 victory over Totino-Grace. 

ROCCI WOHLK, Wayzata • Nordic skiing

The state’s No. 1-ranked female Nordic skier lived up to her reputation at the Mesabi East Invitational. The senior won the classic-style race in 17 minutes, 44.4 seconds, 47 seconds ahead of the runner-up.