EP boys, girls Nordic ski teams earn conference championships

Eden Prairie boys and girls varsity Nordic ski teams earned the Lake Conference champion title in late January. Submitted photos

EPLN Staff Reports

Eden Prairie’s JV and varsity Nordic ski teams raced in their Lake Conference championship events in the final week of January, with both the boys and girls varsity teams being named as conference champions.

6 young people in red and black EP uniforms hold plaques while standing outside on snow-covered field

a large group of young men cross country skiers in blue and red and black uniforms at the top of a smalll hill

a young woman cross country skier in a red and black uniform skis on snow in front of a crowd gathered in background

Both the boys and girls varsity teams competed in the Jan. 28 Lake Conference Pursuit race, which features a 5K classic race followed by a 5K skate race. Eden Prairie tied for first place with Wayzata. That win, along with success throughout the season, earned both the Eden Prairie boys and girls Nordic ski teams the title of conference champions. Individual skiers Kyle Kolberg, Blake Chester, Sydney Bond, Ani Dirks, Freya Dahl, and Erica Forsyth received All-Conference honors by placing in the top 14 of their races.

The top nine varsity girls and boys will compete in the section state qualification race on Thursday, Feb. 6, at Theodore Wirth Regional Park.

a small group of cross country skiers, including 2 in red and black uniforms, ski down a snow-covered hill with their shadows in the background Eden Prairie eighth graders Connor Malone (No. 112) and Asher Koenig (No. 113) ended the season competing at the varsity level.

4 young teenage girls in red and black uniforms pose outdoors on snow in front of trees Natalie Weber, Josie Anderson, Tess Bakken, and Greta Dahl were members of this year’s JV Nordic team.

a young teenage boy in red and black uniform skis in front of another in a green and black uniform in a winter landscape Eden Prairie’s JV skier Liam Dirks leads against Edina in a Lake Conference race.

a young woman cross country skier in red and black uniform in mid-stride across snow Eighth grader Winona Nelson was also among the eighth graders competing at the varsity level.

The JV team competed in its final event of the season, the Lake Conference JV Championships at Elm Creek, on Thursday, Jan. 30. This year, the Eden Prairie Nordic team included 45 middle school participants. Among them, eighth-grade skiers Asher Koenig, Connor Malone, and Winona Nelson finished their season at the varsity level.