Two Red Knights Invited to Nationals
Leo Adrian ’27 and fellow BSM student Karlis Kreslins ’26 were invited to compete at the USASA National Freeski Championships in early April. A total of 65 skiers are invited from across the nation for each category and it is very rare to have two skiers from the same school competing – unless they come from a snow academy.
Leo and Karlis competed in the rail jam which is a freestyle competition where skiers compete by performing tricks on rails, boxes, and other features, judged on style, technique, creativity, and difficulty. They both made it to finals, selected as the top 5 from their respective heats. They also competed in slopestyle in which athletes ski down a course including a variety of obstacles including rails, jumps and other terrain park features.
Karlis finished 7th place in Slopestyle and 13th place in Rail Jam and Leo earned 9th in Rail Jam and 38th in Slopestyle at the USASA National Freeski Championships
Leo and Karlis also captured 3rd place in state representing Benilde this year.
We are #BSMproud of these Red Knights!
2024-25 Highlights
Despite the lack of snow this year, the girls’ and boys’ Alpine teams had a very successful and rewarding season.
The girls’ team finished in fourth place at the Section 5 finals hosted at Wild Mountain, with Mackenzie Gleason ‘27, and Tori Hopkins ‘25 which qualified them for the 2025 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Alpine Skiing State Meet. On the boys side, their team team finished in fifth place at the Section 5 with Bennett Erickson ‘25 punching his ticket to state held at Giants Ridge Ski Resort in Biwabik, MN.
State Results:
- Mackenzie Gleason (DNF)
- Bennett Erickson (DNF)
- Tori Hopkins (Did Not Compete)
MSHSL State Tournament Participants – BSM has had 2 individual State Champions
- Varsity Head Coach: John Gleason
