Goessling Wins State Nordic Title

Photo Courtesy skinnyski.com

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Jan 11

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

Esko native and Nordic standout Raleigh Goessling became a state champion on Thursday when he captured the boys state Nordic pursuit title at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Goessling became the state pursuit champion by having the best time in the freestyle portion of the meet and finishing fourth in the classic part of the meet, his overall time was twenty-two seconds better than the second place finisher.

Goessling bested 119 skiers in his fifth appearance in the boys state Nordic cross country meet. Goessling has been improving each and every year. Finishing second at last season’s state meet, he managed to capture that title this time around. In 2008, he finished 10th as a sophomore. He was 24th as a freshman and 68th as an 8th grader back in 2006.

“Raleigh is the ultimate competitor,” head coach Les Martin told Northland Sports Online. “He is always practicing and working hard to get better.” Martin added “Goessling is also a role model to the younger teammates. He not only trains himself, but he works with the younger skiers. He truly is a solid athlete.”

Goessling, the only skier to break the 28 minute mark, turned in a 28:41.4 time to take top honors. That time was more than a minute better than he posted in the Section 7 meet on the same course. Goessling, ranked #4 in the state going in, beat out a strong field including #1 ranked Ben Ohman of Orono. Ohman finished third behind Goessling and the second place finisher, Ben Saxton of Lakeville North.

Goessling becomes the fifth skier in Cloquet-Esko-Carlton history to win the state Nordic championship. Donald Davis was the first Cloquet skier to win back in 1948, Gene Shotley won in 1963, David Quinn was the state champion in 1966, and Matt Fischer was the state champ in 1990.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com