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Knopp was the varsity boys’ top skier during the Region III Championships cross-country ski event at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna last Saturday.
Knopp finished second in the 10-kilometer classic and third in the 5-kilometer skate, but the combined time gave him a first-place finish in the overall standings.
Knopp used his combined time of 45 minutes and 37.9 seconds to finish as the overall champion. He also helped Palmer finish third in the team standings.
The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman congratulates
Knopp on his success. ERIC ENGMAN
2 min read
ANCHORAGE — It’s been five years since a Mat-Su Valley skier from a 4A school grabbed a top-10 finish at the state skiing championships.
Palmer senior Schyler Knopp is hoping to break that streak this week when he hits the trail during the ASAA/First National Bank Nordic Skiing State Championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.
“I’m really looking to place in the top 10, maybe top 8,” Knopp said Saturday by cellphone after finishing as the boys overall winner at the Region III Championships in Soldotna. “Really, a top 10 finish would be awesome.”
Colony’s Ryan VanGorder was the last Valley 4A skier to crack the top 10, placing eighth overall in 2007. Susitna Valley’s Galen Johnston finished 10th overall in 2008.
Riding the momentum of his latest achievement, Knopp likes his chances.
“I feel pretty confident. I think I can notch top 10 in at least one race, and top 10 overall,” Knopp said.
Knopp and his fellow skiers will compete in the boys’ 7.5-kilometer interval start freestyle race at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Kincaid Park. The boys’ 10-K mass start classic race is slated for 11 a.m. Friday.
The girls’ 5-K freestyle is Thursday at noon and the girls’ 7.5-K mass start classic is 12:15 p.m. on Friday.
The mixed technique relays are Saturday, with the girls racing at 11 a.m. and the boys following at 12:30 p.m.
Knopp used a total time of 45 minutes and 37.9 seconds to finish first overall at the Region III meet.
“I’m going into state off good results,” Knopp said.
He won the overall title despite not winning either individual race during the meet. He was third in the 5-K skate and second in the 10-K classic.
Last season, Knopp finished 22nd in the 10-K freestyle at state. He was 18th in the 7.5-K classic.
Senior Abe Meyerhofer will lead the Colony Knights into the state meet. Like Knopp, Meyerhofer is coming off an impressive finish at the region meet. Meyerhofer was third overall.
Last season, Meyerhofer was the top Colony skier, finishing 26th in the 10-K and 22nd in the 7.5-K.
Connor Mattson, who was 30th in the 7.5-K and 38th in the 10-K, will lead the Wasilla Warriors into the state meet.
Last season, Valley skiers were left out of the top 30 of both races during the state meet. Former Colony skier Abby Jahn was 31st in the 5-K classic and 50th in the 7.5-K freestyle to lead Valley athletes.
Palmer’s Hannah Smith was the top returning Valley skier, finishing 40th in the 5-K and 56th in the 7.5-K last year.
Colony senior Brittany Anderson was the top Valley skier in the girls’ class during the region meet last week, finishing 11th overall.
Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.
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