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Thursday, January 31, the Wildcat alpine ski team went to Giants Ridge ski area for the Grand Rapids Invite. In a race delayed one hour because of the frigid weather, the CL boys came in first of 13 teams. The girls were second, trailing Brainerd by just 2.5 points. "It was minus 11 when we started - not too bad," said Wildcat head coach Dan Raedeke.

The boys were led by Mark Sandgren, who was third individually. "This was Mark's best showing to date," Raedeke added. "He really stepped it up. It was fun to watch him." Simone Raedeke was the individual winner in the girls' race.

Team Results

Girls

Points Team

354.5 Brainerd

352 Chisago Lakes/St. Croix Falls

339 Virginia

324 Hibbing

289 Duluth East

284.5 Hermantown

255 Centennial

243 Duluth Marshall

213 Grand Rapids

204 Duluth Central

178 Cook Co.

No points Duluth Denfield

No points Central

Boys

402 Chisago Lakes/St. Croix Falls

382 Brainerd

377 Virginia

361 Duluth East

354 Centennial

314 Hibbing

306 Cook Co.

288 Hermantown

286 Grand Rapids

274 Duluth Central

211 Duluth Denfield

179 Duluth Marshall

No points Central

NWS Conference Meet

Friday, February 1

at Trollhaugen

The Wildcat alpine ski teams both finished first in the final Northwest Suburban Conference meet of the season. The wins secured conference crowns for CL/SCF. The boys were undefeated for the sixth consecutive year and the girls captured their eighth championship in as many years.

"The new season format, with all eight teams in the conference at each race, went well," said Wildcat coach Dan Raedeke. "It gave the racers the chance to compete against all the top races in the conference each week. I think it made the athletes better and stronger.

"The course the athletes race on is different every time. The athlete is given 30 minutes to study the course. The athlete must be both physically and mentally prepared. A race consists of two runs on two different courses. The times are added together to determine the winner," the coach added.

Mark Sandgren finished first of 80 racers to earn the first-place medal. Wildcats Tim Johnson and Allen Nickelson were ninth and 10th to capture meadals, also. Also placing high were Philip Bottjen (11), Steve Wagner (13), Joe Cartier (14) and Corbin Peterson (15) for CL/SCF.

Boys Team Results

Chisago Lakes 619

Centennial 590

Blaine 429

Coon Rapids 420

Champlin 376.5

Andover 360

Irondale 269

Anoka 40.5

Simone Raedeke finished with the first-place medal in the girls' division. Other Wildcat medal winners were Katy Garbe (2nd), Amanda Angel (5th), and Melinda Beyer with (6th). Other top spots went to Kate Wright (11th), Katie Rayer (14th) and Katy Boyer (20th).

Girls Team Results

Chisago 650

Coon Rapids 568

Centennial 532

Irondale 352

Andover 350

Anoka 322.5

Champlin 199.5

Blaine 35

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