Colony skier scores top-5 finish during first day of state ski meet

WASILLA — Spectators watching the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank Nordic Skiing State Championships probably had an enjoyable day, basking in the mild temperatures at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

But the same couldn’t be said for the skiers.

“It was almost like summer. Slushy. Kind of warm. I kind of reminded me what springtime is like,” Colony head coach Mark Strabel said by cellphone of the conditions Thursday afternoon in Anchorage. “We’re still waiting for winter to show up.”

But Old Man Winter’s decision to go elsewhere to rain on one Colony skier’s parade. Junior Tracen Knopp enjoyed a career day, posting a fifth-place finish in the boys’ 7.5-kilometer freestyle.

“Tracen had a good one today,” Strabel said of Knopp’s race. “He’s stoked about that one.”

Knopp, who finished as the runner-up in both the freestyle and classic races during the Region III Championships in Valdez last weekend, clocked a time of 20 minutes, 13.5 seconds. Knopp finished less than a second ahead of South Anchorage’s Matthew Hoefler, who was sixth. Knopp was about three seconds behind South’s Will Balcao, who finished fourth. Service’s Tobin Canyon won the boys’ race, with a time of 18:55.

The temperatures hovered in the 40s. Strabel said the average cross-country skier would prefer to see something far different.

“Twenty-two degrees and new snow,” Strabel quipped.

Regardless of the conditions, Knopp excelled. Strabel said Knopp has developed the ability to handle adversity with ease. It’s come from seasons of hardships that come with injury.

“He’s had so many injuries over the years, he’s kind of learned how to battle his way through,” Strabel said.

Knopp finished 18th in the state freestyle race last year.

Knopp’s twin brother Dawson finished 17th in the race, with a time of 21:10.

“He was right there, but ran out of gas,” Strabel said of Dawson Knopp.

Dawson Knopp was among five skiers who finished within a nine-second span.

Last week, with a victory in the boys’ classic Dawson Knopp became the first Colony skier to win a Region III title since Ryan VanGorder in 2007.

VanGorder was also the last Colony skier to score a top 10 finish in the two-day combined individual standings at the state meet. That feat also came in 2007.

Like Tracen Knopp, Colony’s Jordyn Block also enjoyed a career day. Block finished in a tie for 17th place with Kenai Central’s Addison Gibson. Both Block and Gibson had an identical mark of 16:41 in the interval start race.

“She had a really nice one,” Strabel said of Block. “Tied for 17th is a good one for her.”

Kenai’s Riana Boonstra edged Block and Gibson by just a second to finish 16th. The trio finished first, second and third in the girls’ freestyle during the Region III meet last week.

Palmer had a pair of skiers with top-30 finishes on Thursday. Rya Berrigan led the Moose girls with a time of 16:51, and 22nd-place finish. Josiah Alverts finished 27th for the Palmer boys, with a time of 21:49. Racing continues Friday with the mass start classic races. The boys’ 10-K is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the girls’ 7.5-K is slated for 12:30 p.m.

ASAA/First National Bank Nordic Skiing State Championships

Thursday, Kincaid Park, Anchorage

Boys 7.5-K freestyle team results:

1. West Anchorage 1:21:10; 2. South Anchorage 1:21:13; 3. West Valley 1:22:11; 4. Service 1:23:53; 5. Soldotna 1:25:50; 6. Dimond 1:27:23; 7. Colony 1:27:30; 8. Grace Christian 1:29:26; 9. Chugiak 1:31:40; 10. Eagle River 1:32:06; 11. Kenai 1:33:48; 12. Lathrop 1:34:57; 13. Homer 1:35:20; 14. Palmer 1:40:37; 15. Bartlett 1:52:19; 16. Valdez 1:53:32.

Boys’ 7.5-K freestyle individual results (top 10):

1. C. Tobin, Ser 18:55; 2. T. Donaldson, WV 19:47; 3. L. Jager, West 19:49; 4. W. Balcao, Sou 20:10; 5. T. Knopp, Col 20:13; 6. M. Hoefler, Sou 20:14; 7. J. Pothast, Sol 20:20; 8. T. Wiese, West 20:22; 9. A. Hull, Sou 20:23; 10. B. Koenig, WV 20:15.

Other Valley finishers:

21. D. Knopp, 21:10; 27. J. Alverts, Pal 21:49; 39. T. Farring, Col 22:14; 55. J. Houston, Pal 23:38; 61. B. Grover, Col 23:51; 62. E. Ickes, Was 23:53; 65. D. Peterson-Thompson, Col 24:06; 72. N. Kristich, Col 24:41; 80. B. Swalling, Pal 25:57; 88. M. Singh, Pal 29:12.

Girls 7.5-K freestyle team results:

1. West Anchorage 1:04:59; 2. Chugiak 1:05:36; 3. South Anchorage 1:06:26; 4. Service 1:06:40; 5. West Valley 1:08:53; 6. Kenai 1:09:41; 7. Dimond 1:10:02; 8. Colony 1:10:52; 9. East Anchorage 1:13:59; 10. Palmer 1:13:53; 11. Soldotna 1:13:59; 12. Homer 1:15:26; 13. Eagle River 1:16:09; 14. Lathrop 1:16:40; 15. Valdez 1:28:15.

Girls’ 7.5-K freestyle individual results (top 10):

1. M. York, West 15:14; 2. E. Tarbath, Ser 15:28; 3. N. Kiekintveld, Sou 15:32; 4. E. Nelson, Chu 15:57; 5. R. Terry, Ser 16:08; 6. A. Gonzales, East 16:10; 7. J. Difolco, WV 16:15; 8. A. Legate, West 16:20; 9. H. Booher, Chu 16:21; 10. R. Cvancara, Dim 16:25.

Valley finishers:

17. J. Block, Col 16:41; 22. R. Berigan, Pal 16:51; 33. C. Powers, Col 17:35; 37. L. Olsen, Col 17:40; 44. R. Woodings, Pal 17:54; 55. A. Kopsack, Col 18:54; 58. I. Block, Col 19:08; 69. A. Taylor, Pal 19:28; 73. S. Feige, Pal 19:39; 74. J. Jenkins, Col 19:41; 75. M. Lundin, Pal 19:46; 81. E. Bingham, Pal 20:25.