The 2026 MSHSL Nordic Ski Racing State Meet brought the Hastings Raiders to Biwabik last week, where the snow was firm, the air crisp, and the competition deep from top to bottom.
On the boys side, senior Micah Trost led the way for Hastings in the pursuit race. Trost finished 90th overall with a combined time of 32:57.7, skiing 16:30.4 in the freestyle portion and 16:27.9 in the classic leg. In a field that featured the state’s best, including champion Logan Drevlow of Hopkins at 27:02.3, Trost stayed steady across both disciplines and closed his high school state experience with a consistent effort.
Teammate Parker Stoltz followed closely behind, placing 92nd in 33:05.5. Stoltz clocked 16:09.9 in freestyle and 16:55.7 in classic. The pair represented Hastings in a race that demanded both speed and endurance, with athletes tackling back-to-back formats against a packed statewide field.
For the Raider girls, senior Linnea Ronning carried the Hastings colors in the pursuit. Ronning placed 92nd overall with a total time of 39:05.5, posting an 18:37.1 freestyle split and a 20:29.3 classic split. She raced in a competitive field led by Wayzata’s Lila Golomb, who won in 31:38.3, and fought through a challenging course that tested technique as much as stamina.
While Hastings did not factor into the team scoring at the top of the leaderboard, simply reaching the state meet marked a significant accomplishment. The pursuit format, which combines freestyle and classic times, leaves little room for error. Each skier must adapt quickly, settle into rhythm, and hold form over demanding terrain.
For Trost, Stoltz, and Ronning, the day was about more than placement. It was about lining up with the state’s fastest, pushing through the final climbs, and finishing strong on Minnesota’s biggest stage. The Raiders may have been small in numbers at Biwabik, but their presence reflected the work put in all winter long, one cold practice at a time.