Maria Hauer has been there before. If she makes it again, she's got bigger and better on her mind. The Little Falls Flyers junior has already competed in four state Nordic ski meets. Her top finish came last year as she placed 42nd.

Drey Loge is pinning down a memorable season. The senior for the Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew wrestling team is 17-0 this season with three individual championships. The three-year varsity captain isn't just winning.

Brittany Kelley knew immediately what needed to be done. When the Pine River-Backus Tigers senior forward learned her teammate and friend, Tatum Sheley, would miss playing time because of an injury, she went to work. Kelley hit the gym.

ittle Falls left northern Minnesota stumpfed. For the first time in the three-year history of the Flyers' hockey team's northern tour, the Flyers swept Hibbing, Virginia and International Falls to open the season 3-0.

Devin Strack is the smallest of Pillager's three-headed rushing attack. He's also the most explosive. The senior running back is a big play waiting to happen.

Dallas Ehrmantraut is getting involved. The senior athlete's increased work load is a conscious decision by the Verndale Pirates coaching staff, which has found new ways to get Ehrmantraut the ball.

Bridget Bednar got offensive this year. The junior was already supplying quality defense at the net, but her offense has been a pleasant surprise for the Pierz Pioneers.

First, defenses need to find him. Then, they need to stop him. This season, that last part has been a problem for defenses when trying to contain the Crosby-Ironton Rangers' Daniel Hudrlik.

Mikayla Michaletz suffered through the bad. As have her Aitkin Gobblers volleyball teammates. During Michaletz's first two varsity seasons, Aitkin owned a combined 8-33 record with two first-round playoff losses.

A disappointing finish at the 2012 Class 2A state track meet has served as motivation for Allison Kosobud's senior cross country season. The Brainerd Warrior distance runner finished 14th in the state 800-meter run in June at Hamline University in St.