Nordic skiing: Alex sixth, seventh at section meet

• Gromatka

Alexandria senior Melissa Gromatka finished 20th overall in a time of 43:11 at the Section 8 Nordic ski meet on Tuesday. The Cardinal girls finished sixth as a team. (Echo Press photo by Eric Morken)

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For the first time in several years, the Cardinal Nordic ski teams will not be sending a representative to the state meet.

The Alexandria girls finished sixth overall, with the boys finishing seventh. St. Cloud Tech won the boys’ team title and Little Falls won the girls’ title.

Alexandria was led by Patrick Flynn, who finished 19th and Melissa Gromatka, who finished 20th.

Cody Call was 25th for the Cardinal boys, with Carl Branch 32nd, Eric Branch 38th, Dalton Struck 51st, Casey Call 53rd and Dan Finazzo 54th.

For the girls, Becca Mateer was 32nd, Lauren Hagstrom 43rd, Ellie Hurlen 52nd, Heidi Moe 58th and Emmy Bear 59th.

Julia Sieling did not finish after having to pull out during the final race because of leg cramps. The junior was shooting for her third trip to the state meet.

"She had the flu a couple weeks ago and never really got back to 100 percent," head coach Jeremy Rapp said. "Julia and Melissa were a minute back from qualifying for state after the classic race, and Julia was catching a few people."

Gromatka, a senior, is also a former state-meet participant as both girls had expectations of making another trip up to Giants Ridge in Biwabik.

"Yes, it is disappointing," Rapp said. "No cross-country ski coach wants to end the season on this kind of note, but [assistant coach] Taylor [Ellison] and I are happy with the sportsmanship and team-togetherness that the Cardinal skiers showed after the races."

SECTION 8 NORDIC SKI RESULTS

BOYS’ TEAM SCORES – 1. St. Cloud Tech 385, 2. Brainerd 361, 3. Mora and Bemidji 357, 5. Little Falls 337, 6. Detroit Lakes 308, 7. Alexandria 280, 8. St. Cloud Apollo 201, 9. Otter Tail Nordic 174, 10. St. Cloud Cathedral 170, 11. St. John’s Prep 90, 12. Trek North 71.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION – Cory Rouw, SCT, 32:44.

ALEXANDRIA RESULTS – 19. Patrick Flynn, 36:10, 25. Cody Call 36.55, 32. Carl Branch 38:14, 38. Eric Branch 39:11, 51. Dalton Struck 42:32, 53. Casey Call 43:05, 54. Dan Finazzo 44:01.

GIRLS’ TEAM SCORES – 1. Little Falls 387, 2. Brainerd 359, 3. Mora 357, 4. St. Cloud Cathedral 350, 5. Bemidji 338, 6. Alexandria 257, 7. Trek North 255, 8. Detroit Lakes 324, 9. St. Cloud Tech 218, 10. St. Cloud Apollo 216, 11. Otter Tail Nordic 192.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION – 1. Maria Hauer, LF, 38.09.

ALEXANDRIA RESULTS – 20. Melissa Gromatka 43:11, 32. Becca Mateer 45:02, 43. Lauren Hagstrom 47:33, 52. Ellie Hurlen 49:46, 58. Heidi Moe 53:20, 59. Emmy Bear 53:26, Julia Sieling DNF.

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, nordic, ski