Youth movement: Local ski teams lack experience, but make up for it with numbers

Jan. 7, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The theme this year among Valley cross-country ski teams is youth.

Most programs in the area report good numbers of athletes participating this season, although few experienced skiers are among them. Coaches, however, are taking a positive outlook, with most saying the high levels of enthusiasm among young skiers should pay dividends in years to come.

With teams now entering the second half of the 2006-07 prep season, here's a brief rundown of how the area's Region III cross-country ski teams expect to fare:

COLONY KNIGHTS

The Colony Knights' cross-country skiing team is big and deep this season, but not tremendously experienced.

"Twenty-eight of our 40 skiers are new," coach Mark Strabel said of his program.

Ryan VanGorder, one of the top skiiers in Region III, will be counted on to lead the Knights, with Nick Whitmore and Mason Wick also expected to carry much of the load on varsity.

Strabel said he thinks his boys' team has a chance to fare well in region competition this season.

"We should have a strong team," he said.

On the girls' side, Strabel said returning varsity skiers Emily Dougherty and Erin Skvorc likely will be among the Knights' top skiers. Strabel said Heidi Doner, Heather Kelahan, Jaclyn Pace and Kaija Klauder are also likely to progress as the season goes on.

Because both the boys and girls teams have so many young athletes, Strabel said he's pretty enthusiastic about how his squad will progress through the season.

"It's real nice because in a couple of years they're going to be great," he said.

WASILLA WARRIORS

First-year coach John Bishop is trying to get Wasilla's program off the ground after several years of lackluster performances by the Warriors.

"I'm a first-year coach and we have a lot of first-year skiers, so it will be take a while," Bishop said.

The Colony High graduate harbors no illusions about quickly turning Wasilla into a powerhouse. Instead, he said he plans to slowly try to mold the program and build enthusiasm for coming years.

"The last few years there really hasn't been much," he said. "This is a rebuilding year, for sure."

Wasilla's team consists of a total of 18 skiers, 13 of whom are girls. There are no returning varsity boys on this year's squad, and only three girls have experience from last year.

Brauch Chamberlain and Todd Fife are among the Warriors' top male athletes this season, while Jae Lynch and Lindsey Miller lead the girls.

Despite the team's inexperience, Bishop said he's excited about the prospect of molding the team from the ground up.

"I'm looking forward to teaching them what to do, and hopefully we can be competitive next year or the year after next," he said.

PALMER MOOSE

Palmer has solid numbers and some quality athletes that could help the Moose girls' team challenge Homer for Region III supremacy later this season.

&#8220We're incredibly deep,” Palmer coach Darin Markwardt said.

Markwardt said he's got a number of young skiers who can lead the Moose from race to race.

&#8220It changes every day,” he said.

Illustrating the team's depth, nine skiers - Kiersten Dahms, Rachel Wintz, Jessica Odegard, Kimberly Del Frate, Jasmine McQuown, Dottie Hoople, Catherine Steward and Amanda Del Frate and Claire Woodings - all cracked the top-40 at the recent Mat-Su Pursuit at Colony High School.

Markwardt said the Palmer program has 30 skiers out this season, with numbers split evenly between the boys and girls team. But while the Palmer girls can ski with anyone in the region, Markwardt said his boys squad is very young, with a number of new skiers in the program this year.

Only one skier on the boys team, Brian Senta, has more than two years of experience.

&#8220We're very young,” he said.

Like other coaches in the Valley, Markwardt said a large contingent of skiers just picking up the sport has made this year particulary enjoyable from a coaching standpoint.

&#8220This is the biggest team we've had since I've been coach,” Marquardt said. &#8220It's been a huge learning experience.”

SUSITNA VALLEY RAMS

What Su-Valley doesn't have in numbers, the Rams make up for in speed.

Only five skiers - four boys and a girl - are on the team this season. But junior Galen Johnson is one of the top skiers in the state, and coach Karen Mannix said her other boys are highly competitive as well.

&#8220Overall I think we're a pretty good team,” she said.

The Rams are working though some health issues right now, with one skier, Elias Holt, out with mononucleosis. Mannix said that could keep her squad from fielding a full team, although she said she's more concerned with making sure Holt gets healthy.

&#8220His health is my priority,” she said. &#8220We won't be rushing him back.”

Sophomore Ian Mannix and freshman Tyler Figley round out the Rams' lineup. Mannix said getting some good individual finishes from her small team - especially Jonhson - will be a priority in a region that's stacked with good skiers.

&#8220It's a strong region,” she said. &#8220There are a lot of the top skiers that are very close.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265.