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2013 Junior Report Card...

Monday, 12 August 2013 05:10

(Photo - Buffalo's Michael Burgdorf could receive a Junior of the Year nomination st season's end.)

Junior of the Year - The MMA Selectors are scrutinizing the competitive bios of a dozen 19-and-under Minnesota multisport athletes. Over the last several years, nominated girls have outnumbered nominated boys in this coed category. That might not be the case this year. The reasons for this are A. 2012 JOY Greta Danielson, 19, St. Cloud has been awesome and is currently distancing herself from the rest of the teen girls, and B. Three of the most successful boys are truly distinguishing themselves. Buffalo's Michael Burgdorf, 19, for instance, is winning his division in every race he enters, but we occasionally question his speed. Is the gulf between his times and those of credentialed adult racers too wide? Or does it fall within an acceptable range?

Then there's Chris Lam, 17, of Rochester. This young man is just plain fast, but does he race often enough for his handful of efforts to override the performances of guys like Burgdorf, whose racing volume is high?

Then there's Nordic star Zach Goldberg, 19, of Minnetrista, who is coming on strong in the second half of the season and has even managed to beat his dad, David, who has truly kicked butt in his 50-54 AG this season....

What we're saying here is that we're excited about how the year is unfolding for the juniors. We expect things to happen over the final two months that will open the doors for some new names or make us reconsider some of those we have already looked at. Also, there are a couple of 13-year-old girls--Lauren Steinke and Kelly Koch-- that could enter the discussion, if not this year, then in 2014 for sure.

Our Master of the Year Report Card will post later in the week.