As a rule, Centennial Alpine skiing coach Kelly Flohaug does not talk about his athletes' prospects for victory.

But even he cannot resist dropping hints about what sophomore Taylor Lindy could accomplish at the state meet on Feb. 15 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.

"I know Taylor well enough to know he'll leave nothing on the hill," Flohaug said. "Not a lot of people have seen him let it go all the way but when he does, it's jaw-dropping. I can't wait to see the show."

Lindy, who won the recent Section 7 race at Giants Ridge, placed 27th at state last season. Flohaug believes there are two good reasons to count him among the favorites this time, one physical, one strategic.

First, Lindy grew four inches over the summer. His physical development has aided his technical ability.

Second, his Cougars team did not qualify, liberating Lindy from a team-first, cautious approach. Flohaug said while Lindy "has dominated while being conservative" this season, the youngster can now indulge what Flohaug calls his "risk-reward" style.

Lindy will be joined in Biwabik by fellow Cougars Dan Koski and Erin Wendt. Koski placed 10th among the boys' finishers a year ago. Wendt was No. 50 in the girls' race.

Lindy owes some of his ability to his family's love of water skiing. Older sister Alison, a Centennial graduate and accomplished slalom skier, helped Louisiana-Lafayette win the 2010 National Collegiate Water Ski Association Division I championships.

Both Lindys made good use of the slalom course and ski jump the family built a few hundred yards from their home on the shores of Reshanau Lake in Lino Lakes.

Elk River weathers storm Only one day after coach Tony Sarsland resigned amid a school district investigation, the Elk River boys' hockey team showed no signs of lingering distraction.

Playing host to No. 3 Maple Grove on Saturday, the Elks scored four consecutive first-period goals en route to a 5-3 upset victory.

Goaltender Anders Franke, who earlier this month played his 100th high school game, made the lead stand despite Maple Grove's 37-26 edge in shots on goal.

Springer reaches milestone Anoka wrestling coach Todd Springer earned his 200th career victory on Feb. 9 against Armstrong.

Wrestlers carried Springer, in his 12th year as Tornadoes coach, on their shoulders in celebration. And his son, Scott, a fifth-grader in the Anoka youth program, was on hand.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574