The Elk River High School Culinary Team returned to the top of the heap earlier this month, taking first place at the Statewide ProStart Invitational.

Natalie Thompson – already winner of the state’s highest student chef award – earned first place for her knife skills in an individual competition, and the ERHS team also earned the Safety and Sanitation Award for 2022.

They will head to Washington, DC to represent Minnesota at the National Competition in May.

Team members include Thompson, Team Captain Lanie Carlson, Kaelyn Sacre, Grant Stoltman, Lukas Larson and Beck Fluguear. The ProStart team’s adviser/educator is Monique Sabby.