BIWABIK — A wave of rural Northern Minnesota skiers took home silver from the Minnesota State High School League Nordic Ski State Meet at Giant's Ridge in Biwabik on Feb. 12 and 13.
The Ely boys were the only team to place, taking second. The sprint duo of senior Eli Olson and sophomore Oliver Hohenstein scored nearly half the team’s points by taking silver in the team sprint out of a field of 24 teams. Also scoring were Dylan Durkin (eighth), Aksel Skustad (19th), Wyatt Devine (39th), Otto Devine (48th) and Milo McClellan (76th).
Also taking second on the girl’s side was Proctor/Hermantown’s sprint team of seniors Campbell Amundson and Nene Sclisizzo, an exchange student from Italy. Senior Della Bettendorf was the runner-up in the pursuit race out of 112 skiers. The team ultimately finished fifth in the meet.
Also medaling was Brainerd junior Annelise Baird, who placed seventh.
The top seven individual athletes medal at the state meet, as do the top three teams and sprint duos.
The Brainerd boys team of Gabe Hallgren (14th), Owen Robertson (31st), Wyatt Brown (43rd), Alex Lelwica (53rd), Taite Knapp and sprint duo Triston Kubista and Joseph Neumann (12th) finished fifth of the 16 teams.
The Proctor/Hermantown girls team of Bettendorf, Rachel Bettendorf (25th), Lizzy Harnell (82nd), Ferrah Lalone (89th), Paisley Kleiman (99th) and the Amundson/Slisizzo team also finished fifth.
Full results are available at mshsl.org.
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Plus: Gov. Tim Walz has now signed four cannabis compacts with tribal nations, the latest being the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and the girls' state tennis tournament wrapped up with a few Northland consolation champions. -
Contributed/Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaThe Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is the fourth tribal nation to sign the intergovernmental contract that allows tribal cannabis businesses to operate off tribally regulated land. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEMnDOT's plans for Highway 197, or Paul Bunyan Drive, in Bemidji include replacing three signalized intersections with roundabouts between 2026 and 2027. -
Contributed/Crosby-Ironton Rangers Facebook pageFifteen individual athletes from Northern Minnesota competed in the girls tennis singles and doubles state tournament Thursday and Friday in the Twin Cities. -
Contributed/Sue Keeler via KAXE-KBXE Season Watch PageThis month's conversation with retired wildlife biologist Pam Perry touched on robins, eagles, thrushes and migrating birds. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEPresident Donald Trump approved disaster relief for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in response to the June 21, 2025, severe storms. -
Contributed/Minnesota DNRThe Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act, introduced by Rep. Pete Stauber, grants a land swap between the Chippewa National Forest and Bowen Lodge near Deer River. -
Events this week include many Halloween themed activities, an opportunity to learn curling in Grand Rapids and an art reception in Bemidji. -
Plus: Bipartisan legislation for a land transfer in the Chippewa National Forest cleared a key Senate committee; and the Esko girls' soccer team will advance to the state semi-finals on Oct. 29, 2025.
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Paul Gregerson/KAXE file photoIn a conversation about his new book of short stories, Parr explained writing stories actually came before songwriting — and for him, the two have always been the same process.
