Varsity skiers of Otter Nordic met up with Section 8 competitors on Tuesday, February 5 at Camp Ripley for the Section Meet. All athletes competed in a 10K pursuit race. Race temperature was around zero degrees and snow conditions were packed and fast. 

Junior, Tucker Henkes placed 23rd overall and led the Otter Boys to a seventh place finish. Senior skiers Matthew Oehler and Caleb Danielson placed 35 and 53 respectively. “Matthew and Caleb are foundational skiers for our team providing leadership as captains and bringing years of experience as Varsity pursuit skiers,” commented Head Coach Samantha VanWechel-Meyer. “These two have guided their teammates with knowledge of technique and racing and encouraged the younger skiers as they have stepped up to racing pursuits. Their strength in racing and dedication to their team lead to the boys strong finish among competitive section teams.”

Otter Girls placed eighth in the Section with Senior Berit Skogen leading the way with a 20th place finish. “Berit is a hard working and enthusiastic skier and is also a captain of the team,” reported Coach VanWechel-Meyer. “Her passion for the sport is evident in not only the time she invests in her own improvement but also the time she devotes to future skiers by coaching local Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) skiers in grades 2-6. Berit's drive and focus to grow as an athlete put her at the top of the pack all season long and led up to her stand out finish today at Sections.”

Coach VanWechel-Meyer concluded, “It has been an honor to work with our seniors for four seasons and to see how each of them have grown as not just as athletes but also as ambitious and generous young people of our community.”

Full results available at www.gopherstateevents.com

Boys Varsity:

Tucker Henkes (11), placed 23 out of 79 with a pursuit time of 35:20

Matthew Oehler (12), placed 35 out of 79 with a pursuit time of 37:39

Anders Anthonisen-Brown (9), placed 48 out of 79 with a pursuit time of 39:53

Caleb Danielson (12), placed 53 out of 79 with a pursuit time of 41:18

Kolsen Papon (10), placed 62 our of 79 with a pursuit time of 42:50

Boys Varsity team placed 7th out of 12 teams.

Girls Varsity:

Berit Skogen (12), placed 20 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 43:03

Anna Erickson (9), placed 51 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 50:16

Emma Rund (11), placed 63 out of 77 with a pursuit time of  55:00

Ella Mayer (9), placed 64 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 58:02

Silje Ronnevik (9), placed 68 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 59:52

Emilie Koch (9), placed 70 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 62:57

MacKenzie Krava (9), placed 75 out of 77 with a pursuit time of 68:49