Valley skiers enjoy great success

MAT-SU — Mat-Su Valley Nordic Skiers have had a very successful ski season with numerous high points.

Palmer graduate Kate Fitzgerald, skied very well at the U.S. National Championships at Kincaid Park and went on to represent the USA in the U-23 Championships in Germany. Fitzgerald also won the 50-kilomter ski race during the Tour of Anchorage on March 7.

Taz Mannix of Talkeetna also skied well in the U.S. Championships and went on to place second in the 54-K American Birkinbiner in Cable/Hayward, Wisconsin, the biggest ski race in the U.S. with 10,000 racers.

The Palmer High School boys ski team placed fifth in the ASAA/First National Bank State Ski Championships earlier this winter. Palmer head coach Darin Markwardt, a Colony graduate, was named the Region III Coach of the Year. Palmer High also hosted a ski race for the first time.

The following are other notable Nordic ski performances from the past season:

• Colony sophomore Skylar Knopp qualified for Team Alaska and competed early this month in the Junior National Championships in Presque Isle, Maine.

• Palmer senior Kimberly Del Frate qualified for the Arctic Winter Games ski team and competed in Grand Prairie, Alberta.

• Colony graduate Jeff Kase finished his first year as the head coach of the Wasilla High School ski program. Kase also palced third overallin the 25-K freestyle race during the Tour of Anchorage.

• Palmer senior Wylie Mangelsdorf finished first overall in the Tour of Anchorage 40-K freestyle race. Mangelsdorf won with a photo finish.

• Three Colony graduates — Markwardt, Mark Strabel and Eric Strabel are part of the Team Alaska coaching staff at Presque Isle, Maine.

• Wasilla graudate Leif Johnson is a member of the “High Power” Dartmouth ski team and races in New England.

• The Mat-Su Ski Club started up a Junior Nordic Ski Program led by Dave Musgrave for kids 5 to 14 years old and has over 60 participants and eight coaches in its first year.

• Mat-Su Ski Club Board of Directors, Tom Smayda (second in his age group), Gene Backus (fifth in his age group) and Mark Stigar participated in the Tour of Anchorage 40-K, Karen Hopp, second place in her age group in the 25-K freestyle.

The month of March offered ample opportunity for local skiers to hit the trail. In addition to the Tour of Anchorage, there was the Kachamak 50-K on March 13 and the Oosik Classic 25-K and 50-K in Talkeetna last weekend. This weekend, the Sonot Kaazoot 28-K and 50-K were on the schedule, as well as the Alaska Junior Championships in Fairbanks.

Ed Strabel is the former longtime head coach of the Colony High School ski program. Strabel, who owns Mountain Streams Bed and Breakfast along with his wife Glynn, remains very active in the sport, maintain roles in local clubs, grooming local trails and helping provide young athletes the opportunity to ski.

Tour of Anchorage Results for Mat-Su Skiers

25-K Classic:

Helen Michaelson, seventh place, girls 15-17

Joe Hotko, fifth place, men 35-39

Bryant Edwards, sixth place, men 40-44

Ed Lasselle, sixth place, men 45-49

Virginia White, 12th place, women 50-54

Maggie Fitzgerald, 13th place, women 50-54

Mike Fitzgerald eighth place, men 50-54

25-K Freestyle

Amanda Del Frate, second place, girls 15-17

Keith Pulver, eight place, boys 15-17

Nicole Hansen sixth place, women 25-29

Amanda Lund, 24th place, women 25-29

Alisa Kincaid, fifth place, women 35-39

Jill Valerius, fifth place, women 40-44

Julie Berberich, ninth place women 40-44

Lisa Horcrux, 21st place women 40-44

Tracy Thompson, 39th place, women 40-44

Beth Theisen, 25th place, women 45-49

Pam Strickland, 8th place, women 50-54

Russ Dunlap, 13th place, men 50-54

Dan Strickland, fourth place, men 55-59

Steve Hanson 16th place, men 55-59

Chris Jones 14th place, men 55-59

40-K Freestyle

Zach Marsh, fourth place, boys 12-14

Davis Dunlap, fourth place, boys 15-17

Abe Meyerhoffer, sixth place, boys 15-17

Andrew McConnell, eighth place, boys 15-17

Ted Hoople, 12th place, boys 15-17

Kaden Holladay, 13th place, boys 15-17

Auberin Strickland, 2nd place, boys 18-24

Daniel Van Hoomissen, fourth place, boys 18-24

Tracy Houser, second place, women 35-39

Jill Showman, 14th place women 35-39

Tony Berberich, 15th place, men 40-44

Donna Ford second place, women 50-54

Dave Freer, first place, men 55-59

Don Ford, 16th place, men 55-59

Dave Musgrave, 27th place, men 55-59

Pat Dougherty, 33rd place, men 55-59

Michael Norton, 36th place, men 55-59

50-K Freestyle

Cody Priest, sixth place, men 18-24

Galen Johnson, ninth place, men 18-24

Quinn Strickland, 10th place, men 18-24

Allan Spangler, 19th place, men 18-24

Matthew Dallas, 26th place, men 18-24

Lee Bolling, 6th place, men 25-29

Rhett Buchanon, 16th place, men 35-39

Aaron Brillhart, 32nd place, men 35-39

Kevin Tuning, 33rd place, men 35-39

Ed O’Connor, ninth place, men 40-44

Jeff McPhetridge, 17th place men 40-44

Dave Olewiler, 25th place, men 50-54