Posted: 2/19/03

Trio of Rangers earn Nordic all-state honors

Berk Brown

Sports Editor

While the Forest Lake boys and girls Nordic ski teams didnít show up in the team standings at the 2003 Minnesota State High School Championships, several individuals showed up toward the top.

Three members of the Forest Lake squads earned all-state status on Friday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik while a fourth narrowly missed the honor.

Junior Laura Edlund led the way for the seven Forest Lake individuals who qualified for the state meet. She placed second in the classic race, placed 11th in freestyle and finished fifth in pursuit with a total time of 37:53.

Her performance will make her the top returning placer in the state in both classic and pursuit next year. And after a season of really pushing herself, Forest Lake head coach Deno Johnson said the intense competitor Edlund can now take a moment to enjoy her success.

ìShe was really, really excited (about her performance),î Johnson said. ìShe can smile now.î

Based on Fridayís results, some of Edlundís toughest competition next season may come from a teammate.

Sophomore Sarah Wright placed eighth in classic, was seventh in freestyle and finished eighth in pursuit with a total time of 38:11, just 24 seconds behind Edlund.

Wright, the top sophomore competitor in the meet, drastically improved on her finish at state last year when she placed 42nd.

ìShe went out there and really grabbed the bull by the horns,î Johnson said of Wright.

Overall, Johnson said he was more than pleased with the way his two all-state girls competitors did.

ìThose two went out there and skied with a lot of confidence,î he said. ìThey took full advantage of the conditions and their conditioning. It was easily the best day of both their careers.î

Ruth Anderson finished 29th in classic for the Rangers in 20:48 and while she did not earn all-state honors, Johnson said Anderson should expect to in the future.

ìRuth really skied a great race. She was only 50 seconds behind Sarah,î Johnson said. ìIf she hadnít gotten her illness the last couple weeks, she would have definitely been all-state.î

And, hopefully having those three back next year with some improving younger skiers, Johnson said he thinks other teams will realize the Forest Lake girls will only be better next year.

ìI think some warning shots have been fired,î Johnson said.

In the boys competition, Lorin Skoglund continued his late-season success by placing fourth in classic, 36th in freestyle and 13th in pursuit with an overall time of 32:38.

ìLorin had the best race of his life,î Johnson said. ìHe finished only 22 seconds behind Tim Damrow (of Roseville) and Tim Damrow is one of the top skiers in the country.î

Ben Fick, the top freshman in the state in classic, just missed all-state in that discipline by placing 22nd in 17:13. He also was 52nd in freestyle and 34th in pursuit.

Peter Bailey finished 55th in classic, 53rd in freestyle and 54th in pursuit for the Rangers while Bill England was 67th in classic.

Johnson said those performances also bode well for the future of the boys team.

ìWeíve got a real good foundation with the group of guys we have coming back,î Johnson said. ìThere are a lot of good things in the pipeline for the future.î

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