Palmer senior the boys overall winner at region ski championships

SOLDOTNA - Last year, Schyler Knopp was so close to a region title he could almost grab it. But in the final moments, Soldotna's Luke Michael pulled it away.

But this season, it's Knopp who's clutching the big trophy.

The Palmer senior used a total time of 45 minutes and 37.9 seconds to finish as the boys' overall winner during the Region III Championships cross-country meet Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.

"I'm pretty excited. I'm going into state coming off good results," Knopp said by cellphone from the team's bus Saturday evening.

Knopp won the overall title without finishing first in either of the meet's two varsity races. Knopp finished third in Friday's 5-kilometer skate and third in the 10-K classic on Saturday.

"I would have really liked to win today's individual (race), but there's really nothing better than winning the overall," Knopp said. "That was kind of my goal going in. I was glad to accomplish it."

Knopp used a time of 14:38 to finish third on Friday, seven seconds behind runner-up Andrew Lovett of Homer. Soldotna's Jonas Wickstrom finished first at 14:26.

Saturday, Knopp was the runner-up with a time of 30:59, four seconds shy of Michael.

Last season, Knopp finished second to Michael in both races, and the Soldotna skier was crowned the overall champion.

Knopp said there was great competition this year, with a group that also featured third-place Abe Meyerhofer of Colony.

"The competition was really tight. There were a lot of fast skiers," Knopp said. "It's the most competitive region meet I've ever skied at."

Knopp helped the Moose finish third in the boys' standings. Palmer's Aube Strickland was seventh overall and Jesse Dahms (15th) and Kaden Holladay (20th) also notched top-20 finishes.

Meyerhofer led Colony to a runner-up finish in the boys standings. The senior finished third on Saturday and sixth on Friday to grab his third-place finish in the overall time.

Brandon Schafer was 11th for the Knights, Leo Jaschek finished 17th and Jake Buck placed 20th.

Connor Mattson led Wasilla with a 26th-place finish.

Brittany Anderson led Valley skiers with an 11th-place finish in the girls' overall standings. Palmer's Hannah Smith was 13th and Susitna Valley's Morgan Michels finished 14th.

Palmer finished fourth in the girls' team standings and Colony was fifth.

The ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Skiing Championships begin Thursday at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Region III Championships

Friday-Saturday, Soldotna

Boys total team times:

1. SoHi, 3:09:01. 2. Colony, 3:12:26, 3. Palmer, 3:12:39. 4. Kenai, 3:19:34. 5. Homer, 3:20:31. 6. Grace, 3:21:54. 7. Valdez, 3:31:08. 8. Skyview, 3:31:34. 9. Wasilla, 3:47:55.

Boys individual results (two-day total):

1. S. Knopp, Pal 45:37; 2. D. Jensen, Sol 45:52.4; 3. A. Meyerhofer, Col 45:52.7; 4. L. Michael, Sol 46:24; 5. D. Serventi, GC 46:57; 6. J. Wikstrom, Sol 47:12; 7. A. Strickland, Pal 47:23; 8. T. Cooper, Ken 47:35; 9. L. McLaughlin, GC 48:14; 10. A. Lovett, Hom 48:17.

Other Valley finishers:

13. D. Sinnett, Col 48:31; 15. J. Dahms, Pal 49:28; 17. L. Jaschek, Col 49:43; 19. J. Buck, Col 50:03; 20. K. Holladay, Pal 50:08.5; 22. A. Liebing, Pal 50:27; 23. E. Morris, Col 50:32; 26. C. Mattson, Was 51:07; 27. F. Bean, Pal 51:10; 42. R. Loveless, Was 56:01; 50. C. Pulver, Was 58:20.5; 55. A. Oliver, Was 1:02:25.

Girls total team times:

1. Grace, 3:06:54. 2. Homer, 3:11:14. 3. Kenai, 3:16:24. 4. Palmer, 3:21:40. 5. Colony, 3:21:59. 6. SoHi, 3:25:29. 7. Skyview, 3:38:54.

Girls individual results (two-day total):

1. B. Mucha, Sol 41:40; 2. A. Trujillo, GC 44:53; 3. E. Arnold, GC 46:13; 4. C. Trujillo, GC 46:22; 5. M. Schmidt, Hom 46:46; 6. S. Fox, Sol 47:12; 7. M. Gerard, Hom 47:42; 8. K. Morelli, Hom 48:00; 9. T. Ostrander, Ken 48:03; 10. E. Merioles, Val 48:13.

Other Valley finishers:

11. B. Anderson, Col 48:13; 13. H. Smith, Pal 48:57; 14. M. Michels, SV 49:14; 18. M. Lynn, Pal 50:05; 22. G. Jenkins, Col 51:02; 23. E. Jorgensen, Pal 51:07; 26. C. Hull, Pal 51:29; 28. J. Johnson, Pal 52:17; 29. M. Thompson, Col 52:30; 20. T. Haan, Col 52:65; 33. K. Sworts, Pal 53:48; 35. K. Johnson, Pal 55:04; 36. K. Jenkins, Pal 55:04; 45. T. Loveless, Was 1:02:56.