Brainerd Warriors Dominate Section 8 Championship Titles

The Brainerd Warriors proved once again that their Central Lakes Conference championship win was no fluke. On Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Mt. Itasca, the Warriors swept the Section 8 Championship titles in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Girls’ Victories

The girls’ team secured their victory by a margin of 17 points, outperforming second-place Sartell/Cathedral. Annelise Baird led the way with a first-place finish in the pursuit event, crossing the finish line in 29 minutes and 15.48 seconds. The girls’ sprint relay team, consisting of Bridget Collins and Madi Miller, also claimed victory in their event with a time of 17 minutes and 12.7 seconds.

Head coach, Chris Hanson, praised the girls’ performance, especially their ability to excel on the hilly sections of the course. He credits their success to the expertise of the waxing technicians and the athletes’ determination.

Addie Ryan and Isabelle Smith played crucial roles in securing the first-place finish for the Brainerd girls, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Boys’ Triumph

The boys’ team dominated their competition, clinching a 27-point victory. Lance Hastings and Taite Knapp led the way in the sprint relay event, finishing in 13 minutes and 29.9 seconds. They demonstrated their dominance in the second round, finishing the race with a comfortable lead.

Gabe Hallgren led the caravan of top 10 Brainerd finishers in the pursuit event, claiming second place with a time of 27 minutes and 26.75 seconds. Eli Knapp, Owen Robertson, Alex Lelwica, and Joe Neumann also secured top 10 finishes, showcasing the team’s depth and strength.

Impressive Team Scores

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams showcased their strength and depth as they secured their victories. The final team scores were as follows:

Boys: 1-Brainerd 391, 2-Fergus Falls 364, 3-Little Falls 361, 4-Moorhead 359, 5-Bemidji 352, 6-Alexandria 326, 7-Sartell/Cathedral 322, 8-Willmar 267, 9-St. John’s Prep 257, 10-Wadena-Deer Creek 248, 11-Detroit Lakes 220, 12-TrekNorth 79

Girls: 1-Brainerd 389, 2-Sartell/Cathedral 372, 3-Fergus Falls 355, 4-Alexandria 352, 5-Bemidji 346, 6-Moorhead 340, 7-Little Falls 321, 8-Willmar 266, 9-Detroit Lakes 249, 10-Wadena-Deer Creek 174, 11-St. John’s Prep 78

Recognitions

Brainerd’s Chris Hanson was named the Section 8 Coach of the Year, further recognizing his leadership and the team’s accomplishments.

The individual winners of the pursuit events were David Ronnevik from Fergus Falls for the boys and Annelise Baird from Brainerd for the girls.

Looking Ahead

The Brainerd, Little Falls, and Wadena-Deer Creek teams will continue their season at Giants Ridge, Biwabik, on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Follow their journey as they strive for more victories and success.