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West metro teams celebrate winter season success

There was no shortage of successful teams and athletes coming from the West metro during the winter sports season. Here's a quick look at some of the best of the west.

By Jim Paulsen

March 26, 2014 at 12:14PM
Hopkins Amir Coffey (13) led the victory celebration after he launched a shot from behind the half-court line at the end of the fourth overtime to give Hopkins the victory. ] Class 4A Boys Basketball Tournament. Hopkins vs. Shakopee. Hopkins won in four overtimes 49-46.(MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com)
Hopkins Amir Coffey (13) led the victory celebration after he launched a shot from behind the half-court line at the end of the fourth overtime to give Hopkins the victory. ] Class 4A Boys Basketball Tournament. Hopkins vs. Shakopee. Hopkins won in four overtimes 49-46.(MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

60 feet to heartbroken

º Photo by Kyndell Harkness

Hopkins experienced the both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in the Class 4A state tournament. Sophomore Amir Coffey made a 60-foot basket as time expired to give the Royals' a 49-46 quadruple-overtime victory over Shakopee in the semifinals. Two days later, the Royals gave up a four-point lead in the final 22 seconds of play, falling to Lakeville North 84-82 in the championship game.

this one's for you, dad

St. Michael-Albertville's Mitchell McKee, right, wrestled Blaine's Malik Stewart in the 3A 120 lb championship match. McKee won the match. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE
(Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Marlin Levison

After a rough finish to the 2013 season, in which he was upset in the state tournament semifinals and found out a few days later that his father, Steve, was battling a cancerous tumor, St. Michael-Albertville sophomore Mitchell McKee dedicated his season to winning a state championship for his father. With Steve sitting matside after having spent the week in extensive chemotherapy just to get the chance to watch his son compete, Mitchell reached his goal, winning the Class 3A 120-pound state championship.

family of champions

Tommy Thorn of St. Michael-Albertville celebrated his victory in the 3A 126lb championship match. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Marlin Levison

Another St. Michael-Albertville wrestler, senior Tommy Thorn, concluded a stellar career by making history. Thorn won the Class 3A 126-pound championship, his fourth career individual championship. Combined with the individual titles won by older brothers Mike (three) and David (four), the Thorns' 11 individual championships made them most successful wrestling family in state history.

power through powder

The boys' and girls' Nordic Ski State Meet was held Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. Bloomington Jefferson's Zak Ketterson celebrated his boys' Nordic skiing state championship as he crossed the finish line after the classical race Thursday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ø Photo by Jeff Wheeler

Minnesota has proven to be fertile territory for cross-country skiing talent. Bloomington Jefferson sophomore Zak Ketterson has been heralded as the next potential nationally prominent skier, and he showed why at the boys' Nordic ski racing meet at Giants Ridge. Despite skiing through 6 inches of new powder, Ketterson blew away the rest of the field in the freestyle portion of the race and cruised through the classic portion to win his first state championship.

class masters, by far

Edina celebrated at the end of the game.
(Dml - Dml - Star Tribune Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Marlin Levison

With a talent-stuffed roster and a history of postseason excellence, Edina proved itself to be far and away the best boys' hockey team in the state, winning its second consecutive Class 2A state championship. The Hornets outscored their three opponents by a combined score of 17-4. Including the championships won by Edina East in the 1970s and '80s, Edina has won a state-record nine championships.

Skippers repeat

The 2014 State High School Alpine Skiing Meet was held Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Minnetonka's Megan Greiner took first place in the girls' Alpine comptetition with a combined time of 78.28. She's shown on the Innsbruck course during her afternoon run, where she ran a 42.52.
(Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Jeff Wheeler

Chanhassen freshman Louis Nguyen and Minnetonka senior Megan Greiner, above, owned the hills at Giants Ridge Ski Area in Biwabik, each taking home championship medals in the individual races. Greiner and senior teammate Erin Olejnik, who finished second overall, led the Skippers' girls to their second consecutive team championship.

blake leaves no doubt

Blake School's Carly Bullock, front left, celebrates her assist with teammates on a goal by Sylvie Wallin (13) that tied the game at 2-2 during the second period against East Grand Forks High. Blake won on a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over East Grand Forks High Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Xcel Energy Center In St. Paul, MN.
(Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by David Joles

Blake officially became the most successful girls' hockey program in Minnesota by winning a record-setting fifth state championship. Sylvie Wallin scored two goals in the third period to lift the Bears to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over top-seeded East Grand Forks in the Class 1A championship game. It was Blake's second consecutive state title.


The boys' and girls' Nordic Ski State Meet was held Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. Bloomington Jefferson's Zak Ketterson celebrated his boys' Nordic skiing state championship as he crossed the finish line after the classical race Thursday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com
The boys' and girls' Nordic Ski State Meet was held Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. Bloomington Jefferson's Zak Ketterson celebrated his boys' Nordic skiing state championship as he crossed the finish line after the classical race Thursday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Tommy Thorn of St. Michael-Albertville celebrated his victory in the 3A 126lb championship match. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com)
Tommy Thorn of St. Michael-Albertville celebrated his victory in the 3A 126lb championship match. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The boys' and girls' Nordic Ski State Meet was held Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. The Wayzata girls' Nordic team held the team championship trophy Thursday afternoon after winning the award for the second year in a row. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com
The boys' and girls' Nordic Ski State Meet was held Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. The Wayzata girls' Nordic team held the team championship trophy Thursday afternoon after winning the award for the second year in a row. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Edina players celebrate Tyler Nanne's (2nd from left) 3rd goal of the game in first period action. ] Boys State Highschool Hockey Tournament - Class 2A - Stillwater Ponies vs. Edina Hornets. (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com)
Edina players celebrate Tyler Nanne's (2nd from left) 3rd goal of the game in first period action. ] Boys State Highschool Hockey Tournament - Class 2A - Stillwater Ponies vs. Edina Hornets. (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnetonka's Megan Greiner skis on her way to first place in the girls' alpine skiing competition in Biwabik, Minn., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler) ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; SOFT OUT MINNEAPOLIS-AREA TV NOT TV; MAGAZINES OUT
Minnetonka's Megan Greiner skis on her way to first place in the girls' alpine skiing competition in Biwabik, Minn., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler) ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; SOFT OUT MINNEAPOLIS-AREA TV NOT TV; MAGAZINES OUT (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Carly Bullock, front left, celebrates her assist with teammates on a goal by Sylvie Wallin (13) that helped The Blake School win its second straight state title in 2014.
Blake School's Carly Bullock, front left, celebrates her assist with teammates on a goal by Sylvie Wallin (13) that tied the game at 2-2 during the second period against East Grand Forks High. Blake won on a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over East Grand Forks High Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Xcel Energy Center In St. Paul, MN.](DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE) djoles@startribune.com Girls' hockey, Class 1A championship game Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Xcel Energy Center In St. Paul, MN.**Carly Bullock, Sylvie Wallin,cq (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Malik Stewart, who had just been defeated in a championship wrestling match by Mitchell McKee, hugged Mitchell’Äôs father, Steve McKee, during the state high school tournament in St. Paul this month. Steve McKee, who is battling cancer, said: ‘ÄúI couldn’Äôt have been prouder at the moment of my son, Mitchell. But after Malik gave that hug, I said to the guy I was sitting next to, ‘ÄòThat’Äôs a class act right t
Malik Stewart, who had just been defeated in a championship wrestling match by Mitchell McKee, hugged Mitchell’s father, Steve McKee, during the state high school tournament in St. Paul this month. Steve McKee, who is battling cancer, said: “I couldn’t have been prouder at the moment of my son, Mitchell. But after Malik gave that hug, I said to the guy I was sitting next to, ‘That’s a class act right there.’ ” MANDATORY CREDIT: Vanessa Schlueter/Special to Star Tribune (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Mitchell McKee of St. Michael-Albertville hugged his dad Steve McKee after winning the 3A 120lb championship match. Steve McKee left a hospital bed where he is under going treatment for cancer to watch his son wrestle. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com)
Mitchell McKee of St. Michael-Albertville hugged his dad Steve McKee after winning the 3A 120lb championship match. Steve McKee left a hospital bed where he is under going treatment for cancer to watch his son wrestle. [ Prep State Wrestling Individual Championships (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Jim Paulsen

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Jim Paulsen is a high school sports reporter for the Star Tribune. 

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