For the second straight year, the Oxford/Holly boys ski team claimed the Southeastern Michigan Ski League (SEMSL) championship after beating out eight competitors.
‘Everyone stepped up and skied their hardest against tough competition and in challenging conditions,? said Head Coach Phil Nimmo. ‘We have been a stronger GS (Giant Slalom) team all season long, and they proved it again by winning the GS by 9.5 points over second place Grand Blanc. The top four boys finished in the top 15 by skiing cleanly. They didn’t make many mistakes and it paid off.?
In the team giant slalom, Lars Joergens-Kokate finished first with 41.73; Zac Felix, fifth with 43.11; Greg Schultz, eighth with 43.24; Dillon Sink, 13th with 44.07; Spencer Christen, 25th with 45.49 and Tyler Kwapis did not finish.
‘The boys have been skiing well all season, and it felt good to end their season as SEMSL champs two years in a row,? he added. ‘Next season, the entire varsity boys team returns and will look to defend their SEMSL title again.?
Meanwhile the girls finished sixth out of seven teams at the SEMSL. They were led by Emma Ford with a 24th place finish in the slalom and Alyssa Wysocki with a 26th place finish with 48.16 in the GS.
Following Wysocki in the giant Slalom was Jessie Felix in 28th, with 48.50; Emma Ford, 29th with 49.01; Montana Taube-Whit, 35 with 50.77; Kristen Zielinski, 37th with 51.77 and Amy Wrobel, 43th with 53.09.
‘The girls all had a strong showing in both events (giant slalom and slalom),? Nimmo said. ‘For all but two of them, it was their last high school ski race, and they finished off their career with a great day.?
As for the SEMSL itself, Nimmo called it a ‘very competitive race.?
‘You compete against the best teams and individuals from the four local ski areas,? he said. ‘Unlike regionals, there are both Division 1 and Division 2 teams, so although there are fewer competing teams, the competition is intense.?