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Skier Luke Conway of Minneapolis Washburn leads Metro Athletes of the Week for Feb. 10-15

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 02/17/20, 1:00PM CST

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Also recognized: Dawson Garcia (Prior Lake basketball), Kirby Gilbertson (Maple Grove adapted hockey), Molly Moening (St. Paul Highland Park Nordic skiing), Sophia Palmquist (Eagan Alpine skiing), Luke Pepin (Rockford basketball), and Grace Treanor (Wayzata gymnastics).


Luke Conway of Minneapolis Washburn skied to the boys' Alpine individual state championship on Feb. 12 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Photo: Brian Peterson, Star Tribune

LUKE CONWAY
Minneapolis Washburn • Alpine skiing

Conway, a senior, added to the family legacy when he won boys’ Alpine skiing individual championship Wednesday at Giants Ridge Ski Area in Biwabik. And he did it in commanding fashion.

Conway was the only racer to complete the day’s first run on the Innsbruck Course in under 36 seconds, posting a time of 35.74. He rode that momentum to an equally fast time on his second run down the slightly straighter Helsinki Course. He finished in a time of 34.70, the only skier to complete the run in less than 35 seconds.

His combined time of 1:10.44 was more than three-quarters of a second ahead of runner-up Adam Berghult of Edina, who had a time of 1:11.21.

Conway’s victory was the second individual Alpine skiing title in his family. His older brother Patrick won the meet in 2006. Patrick was also the last Minneapolis Conference racer to win the individual championship.

“It’s kind of been a dream of mine my whole life,” Conway told the Star Tribune's Brooks Johnson after the race.

A dream, yes, but a realistic goal as well. Not only was his brother a fine skier, but their father, Mark, is a ski coach and coaches the Millers.

“I feel really lucky, and I’m super grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had,” he said.

DAWSON GARCIA
Prior Lake • basketball

In a career of standout performances, Garcia’s efforts last week rose above the rest. He averaged a double-double, scoring 113 points — topping 40 twice — and grabbed a combined 35 rebounds as the Lakers defeated Farmington, Eagan and Lakeville South.

KIRBY GILBERTSON
Maple Grove • Adapted floor hockey

The junior scored eight goals in Maple Grove’s 14-0 victory over Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville. He has scored 17 goals for the Crimson physically adapted division team and has 105 in his high school career.

MOLLY MOENING
St. Paul Highland Park • Nordic skiing

The sophomore trailed by 12 seconds after the freestyle leg but made up the time in the classic-style leg to win the girls’ individual championship at the Nordic skiing state meet in Biwabik. Her combined time of 32:16.1 also paced the Scots to the girls' team title.

SOPHIA PALMQUIST
Eagan • Alpine skiing

The eighth-grader skied like a seasoned veteran at the girls’ Alpine skiing state meet. In second place after the first run, she sailed to the best second run of the day, lifting her to the state championship with a combined time of 1:14.25.

LUKE PEPIN
Rockford • basketball

It was an exceptional week for the 6-3 senior guard. He scored 51 points, including the 1,000th of his career, and had 18 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals in three victories. And he was selected king for the school’s Snow Week celebration.

GRACE TREANOR
Wayzata • gymnastics

The senior swept all four events to win the all-around championship at the Class 2A, Section 6 meet. Treanor scored a 9.5 on vault, 9.525 on uneven bars, 9.475 on balance beam and 9.675 floor exercise, finishing with an overall score of 38.225.


Have someone to nominate as an Athlete of the Week?

Send an e-mail with supporting information to preps@startribune.com. Include a photo and a link to video of athlete in action (if possible).


Past Athlete of the Week columns

Click here to find previous columns of the Star Tribune Athletes of the Week.

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