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Heirs Apparent...

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 23:10

Though it may seem like a tough nut to crack, history tells us that one or two athletes will make their Team Minnesota debut in 2017.

It will be especially hard to find a spot on the women's team. Never have the women's fields been as deep as they have been over the last 3-4 years. And Elaine Nelson's return after childbirth will make it even tougher for the next newcomer.

On the men's side, it should be noted that a few of the 2015 Team MInnesota guys that didn't race in 2016, e.g. Bennett Isabella and Nick Nygaard, plan to return this year, which will create additional roadblocks for the newcomers.

Still, we think that at least one new male, and one new female, will earn a spot on their gender's Team....

Who will those athletes be?

Our best guess is Nathan Ansbaugh and Maggie Weiss (photos above).

A late season injury forcing Ansbaugh to DNF at Superior Man, and a sub-par effort at Liberty, kept Ansbaugh off the Team in 2016. His other two performances--3rds at Gear West Du (behind Payne and O'Connor) and Heart of the Lakes (behind Payne and Cooley)--were stellar, proving that he can bark with the Big Dogs in our region.

If he can keep himself healthy this season, we are confident that Nathan will earn a berth on TM '17.

Weiss was the Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2016 and placed in 11th or 12th spots on most of the MMA Selectors' Teams. And though it's hard to imagine any of the women on TM '16 not making the team again, as well as finding a spot for Elaine Nelson, history tells us that someone new will emerge. Maggie appears to be the heir apparent (unless Kelly Trom increases her racing volume). Maggie proved in '16 that she belongs in the conversation, especially after her 3rd at Heart of the Lakes (behind Grinaker and Roberts) and her 4th at Life Time - Minneapolis (behind Alicia Doehla--a USAT AOY nominee from NC, Grinaker and Bunten).