Osseo Area Schools ISD 279: Maple Grove Senior High Boys And Girls Nordic Ski Teams Qualify For State Tournament

Press release from the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279:

February 15, 2022

The Maple Grove Senior High boys and girls Nordic ski teams placed second at their section tournaments on Feb. 9 with both teams qualifying for the state tournament. The state tournament will take place Feb. 16-17 at Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort.

While many individual skiers made it to state last year, it means a lot to all of the skiers that the boys and girls teams, who practice together and are both coached by Matt Gifford, qualified for the tournament.

“I made it to state last year as an individual with a couple of others on the team, which was super fun, but going with the team is a completely different experience and I am just really excited for it,“ Lindsey Young, a senior and a six-year member of the team said.

Their success at sections is especially exciting to the seniors, many of whom have been on the team for over four years, such as Kirk Carlson, who has participated in Nordic Ski for five years.

“It’s kind of just the cherry on top because it has been a really good season. I’ve just had a really good time with this team in general, so to be able to go and race at state one last time with the whole team there is just going to be a good way to finish it off.”

Both teams have had a very successful season, with the Boys team winning their first conference meet since 2003.

“It means a lot. It is a lot of hard work by everyone on the team and it's a great reward. We are all really looking forward to it,” Riley Mildebrandt, a sophomore who has been on the team for three years, said.

This press release was produced by the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279. The views expressed here are the author’s own.