1 week Ago By Jeremy Millsop
BRAINERD — After multiple years of success, the Brainerd Warriors are getting noticed. Both Brainerd teams are in the Minnesota High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association preseason top 10 with the boys’ team landing in the top spot to start the season. The girls are ranked seventh in the preseason poll.
Junior Annelise Baird is ranked ninth in the individual girls’ poll and Gabe Hallgren is ranked 10th on the boys’ side. ADVERTISEMENT First-year head coach Tessa Capelle admitted her No. 1 priority will be to maintain those high expectations.
“The boys are ranked No. 1 and that’s a little blessing and a curse,” Capelle said. “We’ve talked about why they’ve earned that ranking.
They continue to show up year to year and are excellent skiers. They’re smart racers and competitive every season and consistent. That ranking was definitely earned, but they also have the potential to be there.
They would love to be on the podium this year. Anything above that is gravy. “We started goal setting early.
We’re trying to bring it back to the purpose of why they ski. We’re focusing on the team and not the individual. ” In the Section 8 finals, Taite Knapp and the graduated Lance Hastings won the sprint relay in 13:29.
9 and then won the state title in 11:55.94. “One thing I appreciate about Taite is he is willing to do whatever will help his team,” Capelle said.
“Wherever he feels or wherever we think is the best fit for him to help his team is where he’ll be happy to be. He’s a very well-rounded skier and strong in both classic and skate so it’s going to be interesting to see where everything falls when we get closer because we have such a deep and talented team again. “Taite is powerful and has been skiing for a long time.
He’ll do well wherever we put him.” In the section pursuit, Hallgren placed second followed by Owen Robertson in sixth, Alex Lelwica in seventh and Joe Neumann in ninth. That helped Brainerd to a convincing team victory.
ADVERTISEMENT “Gabe did lots and lots of training in the offseason," Capelle said. "He’s a quiet leader and focused. He has personal goals, but he also has awesome goals for the team.
He’s healthy and is determined and driven. He has goals to be on the podium with his team and also has goals to return to that All-State placement.” At state, Hallgren earned All-State honors with his 24th-place time of 25:42.
1. Neumann placed 45th, Lelwica 63rd and Robertson placed 68th despite breaking a pole. “Owen is motivated,” Capelle said.
“He’s an excellent skier. He’s stronger and faster than he was last year. He worked hard in the offseason.
Anybody can break a pole or have an issue and, unfortunately, it happened to him last year. He was right there. Everyone knows how amazing of a skier he is.
We have faith in him. He’ll be right up there.” Neumann is a co-captain with Hallgren this season.
He placed fourth in the Central Lakes Conference meet. “He was roller skiing in the offseason,” Capelle said. “One thing I appreciate about Joe is he is always smiling.
He works hard and pushes himself, but he’s also a great team leader. It’s hard to differentiate between the boys because they’re all working so hard and pushing each other. They’re always willing to do a little bit extra.
“Alex is such a powerful skier. Especially with starts. His goal is to try to help the team wherever we feel like we need to put him to have the most successful team.
He would be an awesome pursuiter, but he would also be an amazing sprinter, too. He’s just so powerful out of the blocks.” Brainerd did graduate team MVP Elias Knapp and Hastings.
However, Capelle said it best that Brainerd’s depth is a luxury few programs possess. She said she has a roster of skiers who would be team leaders in other programs. Two of those are junior Wyatt Brown and senior Triston Kubista, who was named the boys’ Rookie of the Year last year.
ADVERTISEMENT Kubista placed fifth in the CLC. Silas Osborne finished seventh. The senior is another contender to fill the postseason roster.
Annelise Baird won the Section 8 title with a 29:15.48 pursuit time. Maev Storbakken finished 21st to help Brainerd to the section title.
First-year skier Madi Miller teamed with the graduated Bridget Collins to win the sprint relay in 17:12.7. At state, Isabelle Smith couldn’t compete because of illness so sophomore Sophia Lundy stepped in and placed 104th.
Storbakken finished 101st. “Sophia has been working hard,” Capelle said. “She’s been putting in the time roller-skiing and staying fit.
She puts her head down and pushes herself every practice. She has a goal to get back on that varsity team. Having that experience last year of being an alternate and getting to ski at a state meet is a benefit to our team.
We have a young skier with state experience. “Maev has a lot of ski experience. She comes from a ski family and she is just consistent.
I see her confidence and determination improving every year. This year is no different. She is coachable and she listens.
She loves feedback.” Baird earned All-State honors with her 14th-place 29:02.4 pursuit in the state meet.
“In practice, she’s pushing herself hard and at her level and ability,” Cepelle said. “It’s also fun to watch her recognize that her success will be 10 times more rewarding with her team alongside her so it’s been fun to watch the girls’ team come together and work hard to get the whole team to state again this year. ADVERTISEMENT “Annelise has some impressive personal goals.
She did some great training all summer long and was out east at some camps and had some pretty impressive biathlon finishes. She’s primed and ready to do some pretty amazing things this season.” Miller and Collins finished seventh in the relay in 15:23.
85. Miller was named the girls' Rookie of the Year. “Madi did just come out and knock it out of the park with that classic relay,” Capelle said.
“That classic style of skiing is in her wheelhouse with her being such a powerful runner. She can run up those hills faster than any other skier even though she was a brand new skier. It will be interesting this year with the skate format in the sprint relay.
It’s going to be interesting to see where she lands between pursuit and sprint relay with her ability and technique.” Brainerd’s roster is sprinkled with athletes who saw varsity action last year. They’ll need to step up into four open varsity spots.
“Amelia Rademacher is a really strong classic skier and she’s young and it will be fun to watch what she does this year. Her sister Elizabeth is one of our captains and a senior this year. She’s a graceful skate skier.
Ava Capelle is coming into the season healthier than she did last year. She had a handful of varsity races last year and she’s keeping her head down and pushing herself in practice. Miya Nelson is an extremely hard worker.
She’s focusing on her strength and staying healthy. Kaya Anderson and Sophia Porter had a few varsity races and they’re right up there and Taylor Allen was a ninth grader last year and she’s showing an increase in her speed.” The goal for the girls is another trip to the state meet.
“We’re working hard on getting kids to lift each other up and carry each other across that finish line and through the season,” Capelle said. “I see them working hard to be a close team. These girls are competitors and are very focused.
They have a huge love for Nordic skiing. That and their long-term friendships will carry them through.” ADVERTISEMENT JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.
[email protected]. Follow on Twitter at www.
twitter.com/jeremymillsop . Head coach : Tessa Capelle, 1st year 2023-24 girls finish : First in Section 8, ninth at state 2023-24 boys finish : First in Section 8, fourth at state Returning state meet participants : Annelise Baird, Sophia Lundy, Madi Miller, Maev Storbakken, Gabe Hallgren, Taite Knapp, Alex Lelwica, Joseph Neumann, Owen Robertson Girls captains : Elizabeth Rademacher, Brooke Wenz Boys captains : Hallgren, Neumann ADVERTISEMENT Managers : Wenz, Austin Asher Assistant coaches : Eric Storbakken, Mike Knapp, Ethan Youso, Elizabeth Grilz Seniors: Kaya Anderson, Emelia Cosert, Madi Miller, Elizabeth Rademacher Juniors: Annelise Baird, Ava Capelle, Audrey Hastings, Miya Nelson, Sophia Porter Sophomores: Taylor Allen, Sophia Lundy, Amelia Rademacher, Maeve Storbakken Freshmen: Inga Auel, Brianna Blasing, Natalie Lust Seniors: Gabe Hallgren, Triston Kubista, Alexander Lelwica, Joseph Neumann, Silas Osborne, Kyle Peterson, Jaret Soxman, Dean Stutzer Juniors: Micah Biermaier, Wyatt Brown, Carter Erickson, Leopold Famoso, Taite Knapp, Kaiden Raske, Samuel Renner Sophomores: Isaac Boesen, Ronan Fornshell, Jonas Klicker, Kaegan Museus, Avery Pliscott Freshmen: Mackean Haines, Deshawn Houle, Lee Knapp, Carson Malloy, Patrick Ryan Saturday, Dec.
7: in Bemidji Invite at Montebello Trail Dec. 12: Fergus Falls Invite at Spidahl’s Ski Gard Dec. 14: Mora Invite Dec.
19: Grand Rapids Invite at Mt. Itasca Ski Area Dec. 21: Mora Invite Dec.
27: Warrior Invite at Northland Arboretum Jan. 7: Section 8 preview at MapleLag Jan. 11: Mesabi East Invite at Giants Ridge Jan.
14: Alexandria Invite at Andes Tower Hills Jan. 18: Little Falls invite at Camp Ripley Jan. 28: Central Lakes Conference Championship at Fergus Falls Jan.
30: Duluth East Invite Feb. 4: Section 8 Final at Maplelag Feb. 12: State meet at Giants Ridge Feb.
13: State meet at Giants Ridge.
