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Heartland Region Girls Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
Edina has expectations of sixth straight trip to NXN, with Minnetonka hoping to prove it has more than just Mor in its quest to make debut in Portland; Depth in Minnesota could have state in contention for national at-large berth as well By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Heartland Preview One of the most intriguing storylines this year in Minnesota, and, as a result, the Nike Heartland Region, has to do with an athlete that isn’t expected to compete this fall. Minnetonka had tremendous potential to not only secure its first appearance at Nike Cross Nationals, but possibly contend for a podium finish in Portland in December with a healthy Maya Mor in its lineup. But with Mor, a junior, sidelined following surgery, it has not only created more optimism for programs like Edina, Wayzata and St. Paul Highland Park to challenge for the two automatic regional berths, but also provided even more motivation for Minnetonka to see if the Skippers are still capable of qualifying without their top competitor. Although the presence of a revised sectional structure following the addition of a third classification has eliminated the annual postseason matchups involving Wayzata against Edina and Minnetonka, all of the top teams in Minnesota – including impressive groups at St. Paul Highland Park, Lakeville South, Prior Lake and Alexandria – will eventually cross paths in South Dakota in November in what could be one of the most memorable Heartland meets in history, especially with elite individuals Lauren Pansegrau from Middleton High in Wisconsin, along with Minnesota standouts Abbey Nechanicky of Wayzata, Ali Weimer of St. Michael-Albertville, Sydney Drevlow of Hopkins and Molly Moening of St. Paul Highland Park potentially competing. After Wisconsin was split into two separate cross country seasons last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Kaukauna winning in the fall and Middleton prevailing in the spring, the entire state will be on the same schedule this year, looking to follow the success of 2019 NXN qualifier Muskego. Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Sioux Falls Lincoln will battle again for bragging rights in South Dakota, with both teams preparing themselves for an amazing opportunity to try to become the first team from the state to qualify for the national meet since 2008 at Yankton Trail Park. Sioux Falls O'Gorman senior Alea Hardie is also motivated to perform well on home soil in November. A similar rivalry involving Olathe North and Olathe West in Kansas could elevate both programs into regional contention, along with Lincoln East in Nebraska and Williston in North Dakota. 1. Edina MN. Five straight trips to Portland to compete at NXN from 2015-19 is only part of the Hornets’ legacy under coach Matt Gabrielson, who knows how strong this group can be if all the athletes remain healthy and are capable of peaking again in the postseason. Despite the absence of a true state meet last year, Edina won the 6AA section title and then captured the Twin Cities Running Company Championship, followed by a 10th-place finish at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by the Garrett Companies, in Terre Haute, Ind. Perhaps the greatest source of optimism for Gabrielson is that Edina has two seniors at the top of its lineup capable of mentoring the rest of the roster. Maggie Wagner and Macy Iyer are veteran leaders, with fellow senior Abby Winter also capable of providing valuable experience. Juniors Mary Velner and Lauren Cossack, along with sophomores Eleanor Hinkie and Haley Rogers give the Hornets the necessary components to excel again at the state and regional levels and add to their tradition of December trips to Oregon. 2. Minnetonka MN. Even with an injury to standout Maya Mor that will keep the junior sidelined for the season, the depth and balance of the Skippers might place them behind Edina, but still gives them the slight edge over their remaining state rivals early in the year. Without Mor up front, Minnetonka will have to rely on a strong pack approach with a tight spread among its scoring runners, which is a necessary mindset with a lineup that features only one senior in Kate Leblanc. Sophomores Ella Graham, Elizabeth Weider and Kyra Martin have tremendous potential for veteran coach Jane Reimer-Morgan, with junior Claire Cashman demonstrating significant improvement since last season. Minnetonka also has several young runners to develop, with freshmen Avery Marasco-Johnson and Meredith Gilles, as well as eighth-grader Abby Downin all capable of competing at the state and regional meets this season. Although Minnetonka still might have the opportunity to field its best team next year, the Skippers continue to have strong aspirations to qualify for the national meet for the first time this season. 3. Wayzata MN. Although the Trojans boast one of the top athletes in the country in junior Abbey Nechanicky, the journey to return to NXN following a third-place regional finish in 2019 will require the supporting cast to make significant strides in order to earn one of the two automatic berths at Yankton Trail Park in South Dakota. Fellow juniors Teegan Anderson, Grace Mignone and Nora Mickleson provide stability for coach Adeline Hallen, who is hoping freshmen Julia Maroon and Aly Kleyman, as well as eighth-grader Maddie Gullickson, can benefit from the leadership of senior Ella Braufman. Wayzata was fourth at the Twin Cities Running Company state showcase, followed by a sixth-place finish at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions in Terre Haute, Ind., but it will need to find a way to finish ahead of either Edina or Minnetonka, in addition to St. Paul Highland Park, in order to earn a return trip to Oregon for the first time since 2018. 4. St. Paul Highland Park MN. The group that is running under the radar not only in Minnesota, but the entire region, and has the potential to be the most dangerous come the postseason are the Scots. Coach Brad Moening returns the entire lineup from a team that placed third at the Twin Cities Running Company state event, led by his daughter, senior Molly Moening, who finished as the individual runner-up at the season-ending event in Wilmar and placed either first or second in every race last year. Sophomore Luna Scorzelli and freshman Ellie Moore gained important experience last season and have the potential to make an even stronger impact this year, with juniors Chloe Koch and Delia Johnson, sophomore Libby Roller and freshman Alexa Purdsack providing the Scots valuable depth for a regional race that could be as competitive as any in the country. 5. Sioux Falls O’Gorman SD. Following a five-point victory over Sioux Falls Lincoln at the Class AA state championship meet last year, there is plenty of motivation for the Patriots to not only repeat as champions, but develop into a legitimate contender to become the first girls team to represent South Dakota at the national meet since 2008. Coach Aaron Strand will look to two-time state champion Alea Hardie to be competitive against the top athletes from Minnesota and Wisconsin in invitational events and especially at the regional meet, allowing freshman Libby Castelli and sophomore Ruth Pardy to provide crucial support if the Lady Knights are going to be able to handle the pressure of performing in their home state. Another victory over Sioux Falls Lincoln will be a big challenge, but if freshman Kiera Pinto and eighth-grader Laney Castelluzzo can demonstrate poise competing Sept. 11 at the Heartland Preview and Sept. 24 at the Roy Griak Invitational, then the Lady Knights could enjoy a big breakthrough come November. WATCHLIST More news |
