Spring Action

Hardly a day going by without something going on with the kids. The weather has been great for the spring sports which is the only season that sees all high school sports competing outside. Jack has only had one meet cancelled and same with Jon and tennis. Add the extension of Jon's hockey season   and Jens playing in his first "summer" tourney, it has been non stop. All good. 

Jon was named to the Minnesota 18 NIT team which played in Plymouth, MN. the other weekend vs other 18 age teams and Sr Teams from the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and North Dakota. It's confusing to explain, Youth Hockey Hub does a good job breaking down the age categories in this article.

The team won its first three games to get to the championship. They beat Michigan Sr's in the final
to be the first MN 18 team to win the NIT. Minnesota Hockey Article Jon said it was one of the best teams he played on as far as the chemistry of the metro kids and northern kids. Had a blast, great memories and some really fun hockey to watch. The joke after the last game was they were all going to transfer to one these new private schools with a fledging hockey program and try and win a state championship.

With Jens playing in the cities on the weekend as well, there wasn't much spare time but I did sneak over one of the mornings to check out the new mtb trails at Theo Wirth I hadn't ridden on before. The riding was great, the SW loop was a fantastic flow trail.

Jonell and Jens entering the rink once again. Our nephew Garrett also playing in a tourney, caught a few games making for 11 games over the four days. Caught bits and pieces of a few other of the NIT games making for a lot of hockey!

Jens played in his first tourney of the summer with a team based out of Fargo.

Took third in the tourney.

If we hadn't had enough hockey!

Monday after, sports action continuing with Jon playing in a doubles match with his DL hockey team "liney" Sam, losing in a super tie breaker to Bemidji.

At the end of the DLHS complex was the Craig Fredrickson Invite where Jack ran the two mile en route to two PRs. Hit the mile PR en route to a PR in the two. Nice job Jack! Back on the other side of town, Jens in a band concert!

Spring came early this year with continued dry conditions. Can't ever recall a April as dry as this one. It has been great for working on the new mtb trail I started last fall over by Twin Lakes. Making great progress, should have the fine tuning wrapped up by the end of the month, weather permitting. The new addition will be added to the Laddies Loppet race this year. 

Saturday morning met up with Maplelag team riders Steve Wenzel, Greg Ames and Matt Engen for a ride in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. First rode there 25 years ago with Steve. Not much has changed there except for more trails. We rode 15 miles of the 40 mile NW section. There is around 100 miles of dirt bike singletrack. Raw and untamed so to speak. Outside of the Fargo crew and a few others I know have ridden there, a secret stash of singletrack, for mountain bikers anyways. 

Saturday was prom. Jon going with girlfriend Sophie. 

The best part of Prom is Sunday when the kids are all home safe and sound.