Sports

After playing their first six games on the road the Cook County High school Viking volleyball team took the floor at home on Thursday, September 14 against the Two Harbors Agates. Game 1, the Agates got an early lead and kept a lead of about six-eight points through most of the match with the Vikings losing 25-16.

Ski trails to Minnesota legends, generosity to community connections - even in a small town chance encounters can be filled with discoveries. As the head coach of the Cook County High School Nordic ski team, I sometimes receive a call from someone interested in donating ski equipment to the team. This time it was Nancy Simkunas, sister of Kim Carlsted-Gillis. Kim, and her husband, Burt, homesteaded just east of Grand Marais, and they were enthusiastic cross country skiers to say the least.

Referees took away a first quarter touchdown by MaCoy Fairbanks on a kickoff return in the Vikings' matchup against Littlefork-Big Falls last Friday that had it counted, would have won the game for the Cook County Vikings. However, the other Viking team prevailed 18-16 in a defensive battle that saw defenses bend, but rarely break.

The Cook County Vikings football team put up 40 first have points and coasted to a 62-0 win over the Bigfork Huskies football team at home on Friday, September 7. While the offense hummed right along the defense was even better, holding the Huskies to ten yards of total offence for the game.

Brian Larsen On Thursday, September 7, several members of the North Shore Ski & Run Club helped load up and send the club’s 35-year-old PistenBully cross country ski trail grooming machine on its way to Ishpeming, Michigan, the home of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame.

On July 27th, 8-yearold Adalyn Plummer of the Cook County Community YMCA, a branch of the Duluth Area Family YMCA, and a Northern Swim Team member, traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to showcase her talents at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) 2023 Junior Olympic Games. Adalyn's participation in the event etched her name in history, as she became the youngest athlete from Cook County ever to compete in this event.

I.S.D. 166 has partnered with Two Harbors High School to offer competitive swimming for CCHS students.

Brian Larsen The Cook County High School football team opened its season at home on Friday, August 31, and lost 66-14 to Mountain Iron-Buhl (MIB) last year’s 9-Player State Champions. Rohan Rude, who is listed as a running back, outside linebacker and middle linebacker, was named Offensive Player of the Game for the Vikings.

Viking Head Football Coach Steven Anderson welcomed 25 kids to Viking football practice this fall. Assistant coaches alongside Anderson are Theo Rex, Mike Theisman.