Although they lost four racers from last year’s varsity, the Lake Orion girls ski team should be stronger this year, according to new head coach Tom Vurginac.
Vurginac replaces Norm McKee, who decided to make the 2004-05 season his last after eight years with the Lake Orion program.
Vurginac is a 1998 Lake Orion High School graduate who attends Oakland University.
He raced for LOHS, and also races for the United States Ski Association (USSA) and the International Ski Federation (FIS). He has been an assistant coach for the LOHS ski teams for the past four years.
Lake Orion’s girls team was fourth at the state finals last season, and finished the season ranked sixth in the state.
The boys team was ninth at the state finals and finished ranked ninth in the state.
The teams this year have four All-State Scholar athletes: Senior Jackie Jabczenski, new to the team; returning senior Camille Seybert, returning senior Kevin Bowen and returning senior James Hubbard.
Seniors Kristen Fleming and Rachel Brown also return for the team.
Also skiing for the program are Julie Jabczenski, Emily Loerch, Shannon Mooney, Katie Gritzinger, Kelsey Lepper, Ashley Simpkins, Caitlin Hubbard and Sara Kish.
Returning for the boys are seniors Scott Arsen, Mike Birach and Marty Tarr; and sophomore Stephen Sims.
Also on the team: Kevin Dawe, Jake Phillips, Joe Hertler, Evan Kofmehl, Ryan King, Kyle Snage, Brian Arsen, and Nick Ciaramella.
Also in skiing for the program are Christopher Gottschalk, Clark Seybert, Ian Prochaska, Zach Prochaska, Eric Miller and Corey Blomquist.
Vurginac said all but three skiers from both teams are Lake Orion Scholar athletes.
The Dragons officially start the season on Jan. 5, and Vurginac is still deciding the varsity line-ups.
‘I expect the girls to be in at least the top five finishers at state,? said Vurginac. ‘Kristen Fleming is All-State, and she’s arguably one of the best racers in the state.?
Vurginac said Loerch and Julie Jabczenski will also provide some new talent for the team.
‘Rachel Brown was also at state finals, and she has a lot to offer,? he said.
Captaining the girls varsity are Jackie Jabczenski, Seybert and Fleming.
Captains for the boys are Scott Arsen, Bowen, Hubbard and Tarr.
‘I expect big things out of those guys,? said Vurginac. ‘James Hubbard has a chance at being an individual champion. He’s one of the best racers in the state.?
Vurginac said Sims brings young talent for the boys team, as well as a lot of potential.
‘The kids are still making the transition to my style of coaching,? he said. ‘They’re pretty well conditioned, and they worked hard through the preseason.?
In their division, Vurginac said Clarkston will be tough, as well as Cranbrook.
Last year, both the Lake Orion girls and boys teams were runners up behind Clarkston in OAA Division I.
At last season’s regional, the girls were second and the boys finished third. The top three teams at the regional go on to the state competition.
‘I think our boys should win the division,? Vurginac said. ‘I believe we’ll make it back to the finals.?
He said it’s realistic for the girls to be in the top five again, possibly the top three at the state finals.
‘They boys too,? said Vurginac. ‘I would like both teams to be top three finishers.?
Vurginac’s assistant coaches this season are Erica Schulze, in her first year. She’s a teacher at Scripps Middle School and will work mostly with the girls team.
Schulze was a USSA, FIS and collegiate racer at Syracuse University.
Also assistant coaching is 2003 LOHS graduate and former LOHS ski racer Grant Fodor, football captain at Wayne State University.
Vurginac said of Fodor, ‘He’s the biggest ski racer I’ve ever seen.?