Minnetonka Nordic Skiers Hope For Snow

MINNETONKA PATCH GAME OF THE WEEK

Nordic Skiing

CHEAT SHEET
SITE: Nordic Ski: Varsity Lake Conference Meet -- Elm Creek Park Reserve
TIME: 3:30 p.m. Thursday

ON THE LINE
The Skippers faces a talented field Thursday in the Lake Conference meet. Minnetonka head coach Mike Mason admits the mild weather has made it difficult for most Minnesota teams this winter. Their only meet this season was hampered by rain and many of his young athletes have yet to be on snow.

The Lake Conference is one of the top leagues in the state with several Nordic skiing standouts. Junior Harris Dirnberger of Hopkins is considered one of the metro areas top ten boys, while junior Sarah Benton from Hopkins, senior Hailey Hildahl, of Eden Prairie and Wayzata’s Alayna Sonnesyn are ranked among the top ten girls.

The Wayzata girls were ranked second and Hopkins girls fourth in the preseason rankings. The Minnetonka varsity is quite strong, according to Mason, with plenty of experienced skiers. The girls squad has good balanced, but is a young team with just five seniors. The girls lost just one senior, Megan Bailey, who made it to state last year. He feels that the future is bright for both teams with more and more students becoming involved with the program.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zach Goldberg – Minnetonka
The senior is working towards qualifying for Junior Nationals, according to Mason. He qualified for a state as a sophomore and missed by just .1 seconds last season.

Colin Touhey – Minnetonka
The sophomore is hoping to qualify for the Junior Nationals. He has been working hard in the offseason to continue to reduce his times.

Alissa Johnson - Minnetonka
The junior is one of four Skipper skiers that are capable of winning a meet among a balanced group, according to Mason. He said that their top four skiers (Johnson, junior Anne Haakenstad, sophomore Kaylee Martin and junior Caitlin McGoldrick, who is injured) are all good friends and very competitive.