PL students part of alpine ski team

121521.PEJ.SkiPreview.jpg — Pequot Lakes students skiing on the Brainerd Warrior alpine team include Lauren Kalenberg, left, Aubrey Wiczek, Morgan Krieger, Max Krieger and Emmett Johnson. Not pictured are Hannah Taylor and Calia Chaney. Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch

By Peter Mohs

December 17, 2021 at 6:00 AM

Pequot Lakes students are once again expected to make contributions to the Brainerd Warrior alpine (downhill) skiing team as five girls and two boys recently began practice.

Three of the Pequot Lakes girls - sophomores Lauren Kalenberg and Calia Chaney and senior captain Hannah Taylor - played a significant role last season in helping the Warriors win the Section 5 meet and advance to the state meet.

“Any one of those three are capable of a podium finish when they ski to their potential,” said Warrior coach Jim Ruttger. “Lauren, a recent transfer to the Pequot Lakes school district from Brainerd, is a two time all-state skier and our team’s youngest skier to ever achieve that distinction. Both she and Calia are coming off a week of training in Colorado, and will be ready to go at our first meet on Dec. 17 at Wild Mountain.”

The Warrior girls are the defending champions of the 25-team Wild Mountain meet in Taylors Falls.

Last year, Calia Chaney finished 44th overall at state to help the Warriors finish sixth at the state downhill meet. Chaney also finished sixth to help the Warriors win the Section 5 meet and qualify for state.

Other Pequot Lakes students on the girls team include: junior Morgan Krieger and sophomore Aubrey Wiczek.

Pequot Lakes’ juniors Max Krieger and Emmet Johnson are on the Warrior boys team, who also won the section title and advanced to state last year.

“Both Max and Emmet have been active in our program for the past five years and either could have a breakout season,” Ruttger said. “Our boys advanced to state as a team for only the second time in program history. Four of those boys are still on the roster, and Max and Emmet are expected to be strongly in the mix to round out the section team of six skiers.”

Both Warrior teams edged out Minnetonka to claim section titles.

“We probably have the most competitive schedule we've ever had,” Ruttger said. “Our past successes at sections and state have resulted in a number of invitations to compete against strong metro area teams this season and our schedule is taking advantage of that. We'll be returning to races at both Buck Hill and Welch Village, two areas that we haven't competed at for years.”