Posted: 1/11/06
Fick takes 4th at nationals, headed to Finland
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Forest Lake High School nordic skiing sensation and defending state champion Ben Fick earned a trip to Voyr, Finland to represent the United States at the World Junior/Scandinavian Cup after a fourth place finish in the U.S. Cross Country Championships 15K classic race in Soldier Hallow, UT.
At the U.S. Cross Country Championships Fick took fourth place, making him one of seven junior skiers under the age of 18 to qualify for the U.S. Ski Teamís trip to Voyr.
Fick was skiing against the 100 best junior nordic skiers in the nation. Fick may have had a better finish had he not fallen down and nearly broken his thumb.
Prior to competing in Soldier Hallow Fick spent two weeks on the road preparing for the race skiing in West Yellowstone, MT. Fick was joined by Rangers head coach Deno Johnson in Soldier Hallow for the race.
Team effort
Back in the Midwest the rest of the Rangers nordic ski team competed at the Mesabi East Invitational at Giants Ridge. The boys team who was Fickless placed second out of 59 teams and the girls placed 18th out of 58 teams.
The boys team finished with 54 points, six points behind the winners from Hayward, WI.
ìIím really pleased that they beat all the Minnesota schools,î Johnson said.
Leading the way for the boys was Zac Clark who finished seventh with a time of 16:11, followed by Travis Strike (33rd at 17:07) and Jamison Hull (46, 17:27) to round out the top three.
ìIím pretty sure that if Ben were there the boys would have taken first,î Johnson said.
The girls were led by Annie Dehmlow who finished eighth in a time of 19:11. Kristi Buerkle was 14th with a time of 19:39 and Megan Gooley (93rd, 22:56) rounded out the top three.
Grand Rapids won the girls race with 23 points. The Rangers scored 200 points in the race.
The Rangers next race is today, Thursday, when they race at Cottage Grove Ravine-skate at 3:30 p.m.
ìWe race today, Saturday, Tuesday, next Thursday,î Johnson said. ìNow the racing season really kicks off.î
Forest Lake Times
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