Alpine Skiing: 2024 State Meet Advance Release
Posted: Monday, February 12, 2024 - 8:10 AM
A six-week run of Minnesota State High School League winter state tournament events begins on the Iron Range when snow-starved skiers converge at Giants Ridge near Biwabik for the Alpine Skiing state meet on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Despite unseasonably warm conditions and snow depths that struggled, the meet will continue as planned.
More than 170 participants and 16 teams in both boys and girls have qualified for the annual event. The event is held on the Helsinki and Innsbruck race courses on the west side of the resort area.
In the girls’ competition, three of the top four finishes from last season’s two races return looking to move up in the rankings. Minnetonka senior Marissa Witte was the runner-up to Hill-Murray’s Taylor Voigt a year ago. Blake junior Viven Pihlstrom was third overall and St. Cloud Area senior Ella Dols was fourth. Only Voigt from last year’s top group is not returning.
Prior Lake/Farmington, runner-up to Hill-Murray last season in the team chase, is the pre-race favorite to win the team crown.
On the boys’ side, Minnetonka is seeking a three-peat of team championships. St. Thomas Academy was the last member school to win three consecutive titles, a feat recorded from 2009-11.
As in the girls’ races, three of the top four finishers return with the exception of West Lutheran’s Josh Nelson, who won the crown in his senior year. Stillwater senior Cash Jaeger, runner-up to Nelson a year ago, is the pre-race favorite. Hastings senior Jackson Reents was third overall in 2023 and Cook County/Silver Bay senior Ray Dressley was fourth.
Qualifying girls teams: Minneapolis Washburn, Minneapolis Southwest, Minnetonka, Brainerd, Prior Lake/Farmington, Edina, Duluth East, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton.
Qualifying boys teams: Hill-Murray, Minneapolis Washburn, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Mankato West, Rosemount, Cook County/Silvery Bay, Duluth East.
Results: Unofficial Alpine State Meet results are available at www.live-timing.com . Official results will be posted following the final race of the day and the awards are announced.