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Chisago Lakes won its own performance competition last week for the first time in 12 years of hosting this event, called The Wishbone.

White Bear Lake took second. The Bears have taken the team championship at The Wishbone Performance Meet most of the meet's history, so this Wildcats' accomplishment was definitely one to savor.

Somerset, Wisconsin took third as a team last week. Somerset took The Wishbone trophy home in 2007 and 2008.

The competition is meant to assess the "total athlete" through several events that test agility (shuttle run), conditioning (jump rope), their vertical jump ability and strength. The weightlifting events are bench, parallel squat and clean weight.

Seven schools competed, filling the Chisago Lakers High School gym and weight room with 100-plus athletes.

It took over three hours for competitors to finish rotating through the stations. They enjoyed a taco feed in the high school cafeteria while officials tabulated scores for individuals in specific weight classes and determined team results. A host of volunteers kept scoresheets and helped run stations. The tee-shirts awarded were generously provided by the Lindstrom Fire Department.

Wishbone organizer Jeff Saueressig, science instructor at Chisago Lakes High School, said he purposely invites teams that Chisago Lakes athletes might not normally see in regular season conference competitions. Minneapolis Southwest #6, Rice Lake, Wisc.#5, Holy Family Catholic School #7 and St. Croix Falls #4 rounded out the team placing roster.

Chisago Lakes was the only school with female competitors participating in The Wishbone this year.

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