Skiers top off long season

By Tim Rockey

For the Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE — The longest season in Alaska high school sports came to an end Saturday. Teams from across the state skied their last race of the year and figured out what kind of work they’re going to have to put in if they want to be successful a year from now.

The Colony girls placed seventh and the boys ninth overall after a weekend of skiing at the ASAA/First National Bank State Nordic Skiing Championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. The results of a long season of practices and races were jam packed into one exciting competition for the state crown in skiing.

“I want them to have their fastest race here,” Palmer head coach David Knopp said.

For Valley ski teams, this was their first and only look at competing on the big stage with teams from Anchorage and Fairbanks. Despite the stiff competition, Valley teams performed well.

The Colony girls and boys teams were the top Valley teams, finishing seventh and ninth respectively. The Palmer girls finished 12th and the Palmer boys 16th.

“There’s a competitive air here. Everyone is very excited and works a lot harder at state,” said Colony freshman Nick Harrison. “It’s pretty cool to race against the Anchorage teams. Feels pretty cool a lot, and it’s really fun.”

Skiing is only done on the interscholastic level in Valley high schools. The number of new skiers grows every year. Many new skiers pick it up so quickly that they race varsity in only their first year.

Without junior ski programs in the Valley, most athletes ski their first races in high school. The amount of improvement that takes place on skis is overwhelming.

“You know, for some kids it’s not over time, it’s like within the week that we see huge steps up in their times,” Colony head coach Mark Strabel said. “Year to year, there’s always somebody who gets the bug and wants to train.”

Preparation for the state ski race not only encompasses the ski season, but also the offseason. Many skiers train over the summer or use other sports to help prepare them for the long winter on skis.

“I’m going to train harder, get faster, work on my skate. You can always get better,” said Palmer junior captain Tobin Sworts.

Skiing is diverse by nature.

Anyone can be successful at the sport and anyone can enjoy it. Skiers from the Valley don’t just cheer for their own teammates, but also those in their region whom they have skied with throughout the year.

For many athletes, skiing is more than just a sport. Palmer junior captain Kiersten Johnson said when she was an underclassman, she looked up to her sister.

“I really looked up to my sister she was a really fast skier as a new skier. They did it because they enjoyed it, and that’s the kind of example I want to set for younger skiers,” Johnson said.

Come what may, be it rough snow conditions, new skiers or different competition, the skiers of the Valley do their best work on the big stage.

“They learn every race and every season,” Strabel said. “They build upon their skiing. It isn’t a sport that’s just done in high school or early in your life, you carry it on for the rest of your life and you just keep getting better.”

ASAA/First National Bank State Nordic Skiing Championships

Thursday-Saturday, Kincaid Park

Girls teams standings (3-day totals):

1. South 3:20:39.1; 2. Service 3:31:17.2; 3. East 3:33:02.9; 4. Grace 3:39:17.1; 5. West 3:40:18.0; 6. Chugiak 3:45:14.2; 7. Colony 3:53:54.2; 8. West Valley 3:56:37.5; 9. Soldotna 3:57:02.0; 10. Lathrop 3:59:31.0; 11. Kenai 4:02:38.9; 12. Palmer 4:08:09.0; 13. Homer 4:11:37.0; 14. Eagle River 4:13:25.6; 15. Dimond 4:15:16.4; 16. Skyview 4:25:19.0.

Boys team standings (3-day totals):

1. West Valley 4:12:52.9; 2. South 4:16:56.2; 3. Service 4:17:10.5; 4. West 4:21:49.8; 5. East 4:26:47.0; 6. Chugiak 4:27:18.9; 7. Soldotna 4:27:26.6; 8. Kenai 4:33:04.6; 9. Colony 3:34:45.2; 10. Grace 4:37:28.3; 11. Dimond 4:45:26.7; 12. Lathrop 4:46:38; 13. Homer 4:49:19.6; 14. Eagle River 4:49:56.8; 15. Valdez 4:55:52.9; 16. Palmer 5:06:28.8; 17. Skyview 5:07:49.3; 18. Seward 5:26:32.1; 19. Bartlett 5:50:23.4; 20. North Pole 6:47:19.3.

Boys 10-K freestyle:

1. M. Donaldson, WV 26:48; 2. T. OHara, East 27:23; 3. J. Volz, West 27:23; 4. D. Serventi, Grace 27:26; 5. E. Backstrum, Sou 27:29; 6. J. Koenig, WV 27:29; 7. A. Loan, Chu 27:30; 8. T. Sayre, WV 27:32; 9. T. Ramey, Sou 27:39; 10. S. Takagi, Sou 27:48.

Other Valley finishers:

31. L. Kopsack, Col 29:18; 34. D. Sinnett, Col 29:36; 38. B. Schafer, Col 29:46; 48. L. Jaschek, Col 30:24; 58. N. Harrison, Col 31:19; 75. A. Nelson, Col 32:38; 84. D. Dahms, Pal 33:37; 85. J. Lynn, Pal 33:40; 87. T. Sworts, Pal 33:45; 88. D. Banse, Pal 34:11; 34:11; 89. Z. Marsh, Pal 34:14; 94. C. Hand, Pal 34:50; 95. C. Pulbver, Was 34:52; 101. L. Seims, Was 35:36.

Girls 7.5-K freestyle:

1. M. Woods, Sou 22:16; 2. L. Blanchet, West 22:20; 3. T. Yutrzenka, Sou 22:40; 4. M. Flynn, East 23:02; 5. H. Stevens, ER 23:15; 6. S. Fox, Sol 23:16; 7. T. Mahlen, Sou 23:19; 8. S. Lammers, Chu 23:19; 9. J. Hoefler, Sou 23:23; 10. A. Trujillo, Gra 23:26.

Other Valley finishers:

28. G. Jenkins, Col 25:42; 33. K. Johnson, Pal 26:09; 36. T. Haan, Col 26:31; 40. T. Spaic, Col 26:48; 56. A. Woodings, Pal 27:40; 58. K. Jenkins, Col 27:41; 61. B. Meier, Col 28:08; 67. R. Burroughs, Was 28:52; 73. E. Bingham, Pal 29:22; 75. M. Lundin, Pal 29:24; 76. M. Lasselle, Pal 29:29; 77. D. Ingersoll, Was 29:32; 78. M. Meyerhofer, Col 29:44; 81. D. Salmon, Pal 30:13.

Girls classic:

1. L. Blanchet, West 16:40; 2. M. Woods, Sou 17:01; 3. M. Flynn, West 17:30; 4. J. Hoefler, Sou 17:33; 5. T. Mahlen, Sou 17:35; 6. S. Hartke, Chu 17:42; 7. A. Spencer, Ser 17:50; 8. S. Lammers, Chu 17:53; 9. T. Hunt-Smith, Ser 17:56; 10. T. Yutzenka, Sou 17:56.

Other Valley finishers:

27. G. Jenkins, Col 19:43; 41. B. Meier, Col 20:39; 44. T. Haan, Col 20:49; 47. T. Spaic, Col 21:00; 51. A. Woodings, Pal 21:17; 52. K. Johnson, Pal 21:21; 61. K. Jenkins, Col 21:58; 62. E. Bingham, Pal 22:01; 70. M. Lundin, Pal 22:21; 73. M. Meyerhofer, Col 22:32; 76. D. Ingersoll, Was 22:49; 77. R. Burroughs, Was 22:51; 78. D. Salmon, Pal 22:51; 83. M. Lasselle, Pal 23:19.

Boys classic:

1. E. Backstrum, Sou 21:41.5; 2. J. Bassett, Ser 21:41.7; 3. T. O’Harra, East 21:41.8; 4. M. Donaldson, WV 21:41.9; 5. T. Ramey, Sou 21:55; 6. D. McPheters, Chu 22:12; 7. G. Schulz, Ser 22:18; 8. J. Farr, East 22:18; 9. M. Muffoletto, Ser 22:27; 10. J. Volz, West 22:36.

Other Valley finishers:

31. B. Schafer, Col 24:06; 34. D. Sinnett, Col 24:20; 45. L. Kopsack, Col 25:09; 48. T. Sworts, Pal 25:16; 50. A. Nelson, Col 25:17; 51. L. Jaschek, Col 25:18; 59. N. Harrison, Col 26:00; 74. C. Pulver, Was 26:58; 78. J. Lynn, Pal 27:21; 82. D. Banse, Pal 27:34; 93. Z. Marsh, Pal 28:29; 95. D. Dahms, Pal 28:34; 99. C. Hand, Pal 29:04; 103. L. Seims, Was 29:57.