Two Royals, one Raptor ski their way to State alpine meet

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Three local skiers are on their way to Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik this week as Woodbury’s Brady Johnson and Lizzy Stefely and East Ridge’s Elizabeth Koprucki all qualified for the State Alpine Ski Meet following their respective efforts at the Section 4championship at Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

“I am hopeful that each of these athletes will do well and that they are all excited to ski in this big race,” coach Kevin Seipel said.

Koprucki became the first-ever Raptors alpine skier to represent her school at State as the freshman took fifth in the girls competition.

“She has a very bright future ahead of her in alpine ski racing,” Seipel said.

For the Royals, Johnson earned his first-ever trip to State with a 14th-place result at sectionals, while fellow senior Stefely also earned her inaugural State qualification with an eighth-place turn in the girls race.

“Brady and Lizzy both had their best seasons,” Seipel said. “Brady led the boys in top-five finishes in the conference and Lizzy led her team in top-10 finishes.”

The East Ridge girls ski team took fifth place with 306.5 points, while the Woodbury girls took eighth with 234 points.

In the boys competition, Woodbury took ninth with 293 points, while East Ridge took 15th with 184 points.

The State Alpine Ski Meet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Giant's Ridge with the first runs slated to begin at 9 a.m.

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