Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Whether they're looking at this year or next season, Nordic ski coaches from across the state must see what the Forest Lake boys team did at the conference meet on Jan. 31 and think, Uh-oh.

The Rangers were without their senior captain Leif Nordgren, who as one Forest Lake parent said, "He's out of town -- in Italy," but were still able to trounce the competition and win the Suburban East Conference with a team score of 457. In second place was Mounds View with 442 points.

"I'm proud of my boys," head coach Deno Johnson said. "It's not easy to win an SEC championship when you are under-strength. They showed some real tenacity and a real desire to take it home."

Coming through in a huge way during Nordgren's absence was junior Ben Brodin. Going into the race, Johnson said Brodin was making major improvements, and that was definitely on display at Trollhaugen.

Brodin posted the fastest skate time and went from 22nd overall in 2006, all the way up to second place on Wednesday.

Making an even bigger leap was sophomore Ryan Wright, whose hard work has vaulted him from 60th place last year, to an almost hard to believe, seventh. Pushing Wright the entire way was junior Travis Strike, who wasn't feeling well, but still mustered an eighth place finish.

"He learned what it was like to be a team player," Johnson said of Strike. "You have to race hard, and sometimes it's not fun, but he came through big time."

Also earning all-conference honors were junior Shawn Wright (13th), 9th grader Steve Coozennoy (18th), senior Dave Kasl (19th) and junior Roman Morris (20th).

For those keeping score at home, that means the Rangers won the SEC for the fourth consecutive year, with one senior missing the competition, and the other senior taking 18th place.

Adding to the Uh-oh factor for opposing coaches was seeing 9th graders Mike Howe and Mitch Woehlk place 26th and 27th, respectively, and junior Sven Schaurhammer finish in 40th.

"Sections are coming and we're just starting to rev the engines," Johnson said.

GIRLS GET 4th

While the boys were showing their dominance, the girls were trying to surpass the powerful Stillwater and Roseville programs, but that will have to wait for another year.

Stillwater finished in first with 475 points, Roseville had 459 for second place, Woodbury jumped over the Rangers for third with 420 points and Forest Lake took fourth with 400.

Much like the boys though, the girls are loaded with team members who will be back next year.

Leading the list is junior Annie Dehmlow, who earned all-conference with an eighth place finish. Not far behind Dehmlow was 8th grader Liz Peterson in 12th place.

"Liz (above) is the fastest 8th grader around. We're working a lot on her technique, and when she gets it down, lookout!" Johnson shared.

Helping with the team's total score were 9th grader Amber Anderson (23rd), junior Kate Babbitt (32nd), 8th grader Jen Scott (34th), sophomore Megan Gooley (36th), senior Bridget Holmes (37th), 8th grader Julia Hipp (38th), junior Lauren Marosok (45th) and 8th grader Amy Wilcox (58th).

The section meet that Johnson mentioned was on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Trollhaugen.

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