Blake Alpine Skiers Set To Carry On The Legacy
By Nick Clark
Sun Newspapers
(Created: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 2:09 PM CST)
|
Dynasties don't go by the wayside in high school sports; they are too few and far between.
Apple Valley has established one in wrestling, and Hopkins High School has done its best to do the same in boys and girls basketball over the last decade or so.
But, when the word dynasty does surface in high school sports in Minnesota, the best place to start might be with the boys and girls Alpine ski teams at The Blake School.
Argue that as much as want, but the facts don't lie: Bob Teslow is entering his 34th season as the head Alpine ski coach at the school, and for the past 28 of those years, he has had a Bears representative at every state meet.
Last year, in season No. 28 of that remarkable stretch, the Bears captured the boys state title while the girls finished sixth. Those finishes just added to Blake's heritage in the sport, and the Bears have plans on doing the same this winter.
"We have the idea of legacy, and that is what a lot of this team is understanding," Teslow said last week. "We look at the trophies of the past and see the names of aunts and uncles and moms and dads. These kids see that and they just get excited. They know it is their turn to carry on that legacy."
It is safe to say the current crop of Blake skiers could be the best to come through the school, especially on the boys' side.
The Blake boys won last year's state title comfortably, and return all but one of the skies off that team.
Sophomore Michael Ankeny placed first in the team race, and brother Peter - a senior - finished third. Marc Massie, another sophomore, ended up fifth.
One concern for the boys early on this year is the health of Peter Ankeny. He injured his knee is a summer water sports accident and isn't expected back until sometime in January.
"We'll see how it comes out, he had two major knee surgeries this fall," Teslow said. "But he is tremendously dedicated to this team, and he has been working extremely hard to get back."
Even without Peter Ankeny, the Bears boy's skiers are still deep. Senior Jason Briggs and junior Robby Gagne were on last year's state meet team.
Ariel Prozumenshikov, Arseny Pekurovsky, Richie Perkins, Luke Cronin, Jeff Palmer Mason Smith, Dixon Pettengill, and Jay Jasper round out Blake's boys' roster and Teslow said he likes the make-up of the entire team.
"We really have some talent," he said. "And they are eager to get going."
The Blake girls' team graduated two girls off last year's team - Liz Perkins and Tori Patterson - but return five girls whom skied in the state meet a year ago.
The graduation of Perkins will be the toughest loss to offset. She battled back last year through a pair of knee injuries and ended up finishing a team-high 12th in the team competition.
"They recognize that they did lose a real leader and a team captain in Liz," Teslow said. She really showed the girls what they can do, but I think that has given them a real understanding of what it is to be a team because it wasn't just Liz that was helping them out, it was the whole crew."
Eighth-grader Maisie Ide is the Bears' highest returning finisher from last year's state meet team. Hayden Broberg, Janet Davido, Maggie Scholz and Anne O'Leary also skied for Blake in that state meet.
That group will be joined this year by co-captain Adele Broberg, Perrin Burke, and Billie Pritzker. Roni Peterson, Chloe Rekow, Grace Nolan, Susie Marshall and Caroline Gagne.
Teslow said Gagne, Robbie's sister, had an outstanding season as a club skier last year and "will be a significant contributor to this year's girls team."
Both teams will hit the hill for their first actual competition this season Friday at the Wild Mountain Invitational. Blake is on winter break at the time, so Teslow said neither team will be at full strength, but that he was looking forward to the test.
"It will be nice to get out there and just see some competition," he said. "There will be some good teams there, so that will be a good test for us."
Reprinted with permission Sun Newspapers
|
|
