It has been a remarkable year for the Winona Cotter girls team. In 2016, they finished 18th as a team at the Section 1A Championships. In 2017, with the return of Grace Ping and the addition of her sister Lauren, they won it handily over the second-ranked team in the State. They have not lost to any Class A competition this season save for finishing nine points behind top-ranked Perham at the St. Olaf Showcase back on August 31st. And now, not only have the Ramblers leaped up into the ranking's top two, but a third runner has joined the Ping sisters on the individual poll.
Minnesota Coach's Association Rankings - October 30th
Boys AA Cross Country Rankings
12 Hopkins
Honorable Mention: Eden Prairie, Red Wing, Robbinsdale Armstrong
Individuals:
Rank Athlete
3 Max Manley, 11, Edina
4 Luke Labatte, 11, Rosemount
5 Joseph Minor, 12, Minneapolis Washburn
6 Isaac Basten, 11, Buffalo
7 Blake Buysse, 12, Wayzata
8 Myles Fleming, 12, Henry Sibley
9 Addison Stansbury, 11, Stillwater
Honorable Mention: Tom Breuckman, 12, Andover
Compiled by Coach Jaime Kirkpatrick
7 Marshall
Honorable Mention: Andover, Eden Prairie, Visitation, Henry Sibley, Rochester Century
Individuals:
Rank Athlete
3 Emma Atkinson, 10, Wayzata
4 Caroline Sassan, 10, Wayzata
5 Emily Kompelien, 12, Edina
6 Grace Dickel, 10, Minneapolis Washburn
7 Sophie Whicher, 12, Minnetonka
8 Morgan Dahl, 9, Mounds View
9 Ali Weimer, 8, St Michael Albertville
10 Heidi Schmitz, 11, Willmar
11 Lauren Peterson, 11, Farmington
12 Maggie Blanding, 8, White Bear Lake
Honorable Mention: Ingrid Buiceag-Arama, 10, Sartell-St. Stephen; Sadie Hamrin, 12, Bemidji; Rhynn Paulsen, 10, Wayzata; Brianne Brewster, 11, Lakeville South; Annalise Davis, 11, St Michael Albertville; Mallory Stach, 10, Prior Lake; Avery Braunshausen, 7, Stillwater
Compiled by Coach Dave Emmans
Boys A Cross Country Rankings
Teams:
Rank Team
1 Perham
7 Mora
8 Jordan
Individuals:
Rank Athlete
1 Geno Uhrbom, 9, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin
3 Declan Dahlberg,12, Mounds Park Academy
4 Keiser Freetly, 12, Lac Qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd
5 Emmet Anderson, 9, Staples Motley
6 Lucas Pierson, 12, Saint James
7 Owen Keiser, 12, Jordan
8 Jebediah Merkle, 12, Southwest Christian
9 Harris Anderson, 10, Math & Science Academy
8 Luverne
12 Lake City
Individuals:
3 Lauren Ping, 7, Winona Cotter
4 Ava Hill, 10, Mesabi East
5 Makenna Thurston, 11, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet
6 Natasha Sortland, 7, Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Kenyon-Wanamingo
7 Morgan Gehl, 9, Murray County Central
8 Morgan Arnold, 9, Winona Cotter
9 Kira Sweeney, 9, Staples-Motley
10 Kailee Malone, 10, Stewartville
11 Marissa Whitehead, 9, Martin County West
12 Emma Fashant, 9, Annandale
Compiled by Coach Howie Cook