Oxford High School’s varsity boys and girls ski teams can look forward to years of success as their rosters are loaded with talented underclassmen.
This season, the Wildcats have seven members on the varsity squad, which is cooperating with Holly High School. Together, they compete in the Southeast Michigan Ski League-Mt. Holly Division.
Other teams in the league include Fenton, Flushing, Grand Blanc and Flint Powers Catholic.
Even though their records might be down this year, the boys are currently 2-2 and the girls are 0-4 heading into this week’s divisional meet, ski coach David Stanley says he sees ‘lots of potential? in the boys and girls teams.
‘We are in a really good spot for this season and especially for next year,? Stanley said. ‘We don’t graduate anybody on the boys side and we don’t graduate anyone on the girls side either.?
Leading the way for the boys is junior captain Alex Schultz, who has four first place finishes between the giant slalom and slalom events this season.
Stanley compares Schultz’s skiing techniques to tennis superstar Roger Federer.
‘Everything is just done with real precision. He might not be the strongest kid on our team and he might not be physically the toughest kid, but he is so precise that he is kicking everyone’s butt,? Stanley said.
Stanley added that Schultz’s confidence has grown this season.
‘He always knew that he was pretty good, but this was the year he realized he could win a lot of races,? he added.
Besides Schultz, Stanley has two talented freshmen on the boys roster: Spencer Christian and Greg Schultz, Alex’s younger brother.
According to Stanley, he knew that Christian was going to be a talent at the varsity level as soon as he strapped his skis on. He said the same thing about Greg Schultz.
‘It was fun watching Spencer and Greg get really good this year,? Stanley noted.
On the girls side, sophomores Abby Wrobel and Sammi Kurt, along with junior Alyssa Wysocki, provide a solid foundation heading into next year.
Both Kurt and Wysocki started racing this season and have shown flashes of potential.
‘She (Wysocki) is a good athlete…she is doing a good job and next year is going to be her year,? Stanley said.
Divisionals start on Wednesday, Feb. 2 with the slalom and conclude on Thursday, Feb. 3 with the giant slalom.