Nordic Skiing: Willmar boys 6th at St. Cloud Sprints

ST. CLOUD -- The Willmar boys nordic ski team finished sixth Tuesday at the St. Cloud Tech 1K Sprints.

Eighth-grader Ryan Haines and freshman Nathaniel Erickson both won their heats to advance to the final heat in the lower division. Both finished sixth to pick up team points for Willmar. In the upper division, senior Tom LaPatka started out finishing second in his first heat to advance to the second of three 1K sprints. LaPatka then placed eighth, failing to advance to the championship lap.

The Willmar girls placed eighth in an eight-team field after freshman Janessa Palmer, sophomore Kalina Larsen and senior Danielle Erickson all failed to advance out of the second heat. The three all finished in the top five in their opening heats.