Braving the Cold: Scott West Nordic Skiers Shine at Section 1 Championships
By Hub News Staff Reports
The Section 1 Nordic Ski Championship on Tuesday at Hyland Lake Park Reserve proved to be an unforgettable day, defined by frigid conditions, strategic wax decisions, and record setting performances from both the girls' and boys' teams. The snow was as squeaky as styrofoam with temperatures plunging to a -14 windchill at the start, athletes braved the cold to deliver personal bests and set new team records.
Girls' Classic Race
The girls' team showcased their resilience from the start. Tirzah Juaire broke the 5K classic team record, finishing in 18:45 and securing 18th place. Addy Giles powered through the uphills to clock a PR of 20:51, finishing 29th. Sophia Schwingler (21:55) and Elsa Schwingler (22:12) also notched PRs, placing 37th and 39th respectively—an impressive feat for the only two seventh graders competing in the section meet. Bekah Stiemke capped off the girls' classic race with a PR of 22:51, finishing 40th.
Boys' Classic Race
The boys' team came out strong against top competitors ISD 196 and Winona. Isaac Bemmels joined Juaire in breaking the 5K classic team record on the boys side, finishing 7th with a time of 14:56. Caden Riga clocked a PR of 15:19 to place 12th. Ben Pint improved by nearly a minute, skiing 16:17 for 17th place. Wilson Menden (17:47) and Owen Dahnert (17:51) followed closely behind, placing 25th and 26th with significant PRs.
Sprint Relays & Pursuits
In the boys’ relay, Jackson Nagel and Elias Newson posted a 13:35 pre-lim time, setting a new team record. They went on to place 4th overall in finals with a time of 13:44. The girls’ relay team, Izzy Haugen and Anayah Hill, battled through tough conditions, finishing second in their heat and 7th overall, setting a new relay record of 15:42 on the Hyland course.
The skate pursuit event saw aggressive performances across the board. Juaire climbed from 18th to 17th, setting a new 5K skate team record of 16:06 and a new team pursuit record of 34:52. Giles finished 28th, cutting 50 seconds from her previous skate PR, while Elsa and Sophia Schwingler secured spots in the top 10 all-time pursuit list. On the boys' side, Bemmels fought through the pack to finish 7th, earning a state qualification with a 12:43 skate time, setting another team record.
Final Results
The girls placed 7th out of 11 teams, while the boys secured 3rd out of 10, narrowly missing a state team qualification by just 27 points. Isaac Bemels will be making the trip to Biwabik next week to compete in the MSHSL Nordic pursuit state championships. The day was a testament to the team’s dedication, proving that perseverance and preparation lead to extraordinary results.