KATIE SUPPLEE

Visitation, volleyball

That's the problem with success. Once you have it, expectations ride shotgun.

Which is what was worrying Supplee, a senior libero, in the Blazers' Class 2A, Section 4 championship match against St. Croix Lutheran.

Coming off a trip to the state tournament in 2010, Visitation was saddled with the label of section favorite. A victory over St. Croix Lutheran already had been earned during the regular season, but Supplee knew the Crusaders were going to give her Blazers a battle for every point in last Thursday's section final.

"I went into that match a little nervous," Supplee said. "We had beaten them before, but it wasn't by any means easy."

With Supplee taking control from the back row, Visitation charged back from a first-game deficit to win the match in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19.

With 20 serve receives and more than 20 digs in the match, Supplee lived up to her role as defensive stopper.

Now on to the state tournament, where Supplee believes the Blazers are better equipped than last year to make a run.

"Last year, it was just fun to be there," she said. "This year, our goal was not only to get to the tournament but to do well once we got there. I think we can do that."

WAYDE HALL

Stillwater, cross-country

The junior didn't win the state meet, but Hall was Stillwater's top finisher (seventh overall) as the No. 1-ranked Ponies overcame a mediocre (by their standards) effort to win the Class 2A team championship with 92 points. "Wayde just killed it," said teammate Tom Linner.

CLARE FLANAGAN

Blake, cross-country

Ranked No. 1 in Class 1A for much of the season, the sophomore did not disappoint. After battling Cannon Falls' Emi Trost for nearly the entire race, she pulled away at the end to win the Class 1A championship in a 4K time of 14 minutes, 21.7 seconds.

SAM SURA

South St. Paul, football

No player has meant more to his team's success than the senior running back. He helped the Packers to a 32-31 victory over St. Thomas Academy in the Class 4A, Section 3 final with 178 yards rushing, a touchdown and the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime.

JOSH THORSON

Wayzata, cross-country

After proving himself as Minnesota's top runner all season, Thorson, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, went out and dominated the state meet Saturday at St. Olaf. He cruised to victory, covering the 5K course in a time of 15:29.9.

ALYSSA BLAHNIK

Burnsville, soccer

The sophomore nearly lifted the Blaze, unranked entering the Class 2A girls' soccer tournament, to a state championship. She scored a hat trick in a semifinal victory over Centennial and had Burnsville's lone goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to Wayzata in the final.

KYLE WILLIAMS

Rogers, football

The senior running back led the Royals to their third consecutive state tournament berth, rushing for a team-leading 167 yards and scoring a touchdown in a 29-14 victory over Delano in the 4A, Section 5 championship game.

JIM PAULSEN