South Suburban skiers claim state titles

The season's first state tournament featured a host of South Suburban Conference talent, and in the end two from the first-year league were alone at the top.

Burnsville's Sharmila Ahmed and Ben Saxton of Lakeville North claimed individual titles in the Nordic ski meet.

It was the first state title for each.

Saxton, a junior who finished second last winter at Giants Ridge, was out to make a statement in the freestyle portion of the race after finishing fifth in the morning classical race.

"You always have a chance to come back," he said. "And I hate to lose."

For Ahmed, a senior, last week's victory was never in doubt. She had a 7-second lead after the freestyle race, and that cushion ballooned to nearly 30 seconds by the time the 5K classical race was over.

Ahmed said she felt the pressure even with her big lead.

In the state Alpine ski race also at Giants Ridge last week, Apple Valley senior Dane Jensen was runner-up to St. Thomas Academy's Dylan Thomas for the boys' title for the second year in a row.

"I'll take it," Jensen said. "This was a good way to end to my career."

Mat ratsApple Valley secured its 30th state tournament berth in wrestling -- and 29th in a row -- by defeating Hastings 62-3 in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship Friday. Eagan and Burnsville fell victim earlier in the day, losing by a combined 147-3.

The Eagles are one of the most dominating high school programs in the country in any sport, and it showed against the Raiders, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A.

In the section championship match, Apple Valley wrestlers registered five pins and three major decisions over Hastings. The Raiders also forfeited two matches meaning 10 of the 14 weight classes featured bonus points for the Eagles.

In Class 2A, Simley also advanced back to state. The Spartans are going for a fourth consecutive state championship.