Stories and pictures from 2014-2015 ski season:
Winona Hill Climb
Saturday, February 7th, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic hosted Rochester and Red Wing at Saint Mary's University Trails for the semi-annual hill-climb race. This year's race included to epic downhills and one major uphill. The uphill section measured approximately 1km. The elevation changes and perfect snow conditions made for epic speed and finishes.
This event was not formally timed, so everyone was skiing only for this finish position. Winona's Avery Simmons was the first in for Winona on the boys' side and 7th-greader Jill Serleth led in the Winona girls!
This race was scheduled in lieu of JV Champs cancellation due to low snow in the Twin Cities Metro. Awesome weather, downhilling and their individual effort made this a great race to end on for the year. The coaching staff is so proud of everyone on the ski team!
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic hosted Rochester and Red Wing at Saint Mary's University Trails for the semi-annual hill-climb race. This year's race included to epic downhills and one major uphill. The uphill section measured approximately 1km. The elevation changes and perfect snow conditions made for epic speed and finishes.
This event was not formally timed, so everyone was skiing only for this finish position. Winona's Avery Simmons was the first in for Winona on the boys' side and 7th-greader Jill Serleth led in the Winona girls!
This race was scheduled in lieu of JV Champs cancellation due to low snow in the Twin Cities Metro. Awesome weather, downhilling and their individual effort made this a great race to end on for the year. The coaching staff is so proud of everyone on the ski team!
L to R: Noah Poling, Coach Mork, Coach Teichroew, Marissa Stanek, Coach Schultz, Sarah Beguin, Brenna Meyer, Sam Williams, Fred Meyer, Caitlin Domeyer, Preston Halleck, Mitchell Ploetz, Sam Young, Coach Dahl, Noah Schultz, Logan Swenson, Destiny Kronebusch, Nathan Muschamp, Anni Skillicorn, Hannah Lepper, Marissa Lindaman, Carter Fritz, Sarah Broghammer, Christine Young, Jake Williams, Anders Braaten, Ian Breitlow, Coach Sagan
Section 1 Championships
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
Section 1 race was at Highland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, MN. Each athlete skis two 5km races. Morning race is "Classic" format of skiing and afternoon is "Skate" or "Freestyle" format. Top two teams and next 6 fastest (not on those teams advance as individuals. Boys' team advances and Christine Young does too as an individual! Two boys and Christine are Seniors.
The first four skiers on a team score to make up the team score. It can be noted, as a team accomplishment, that our boys placed seven (7) boys in the top 28 overall out of 68 total boys. Winona's seven boys placed ahead of all but two teams 4th skier.
The girls also came back from sixth place after the classic race in the morning to finish fourth overall in the afternoon out of 13 total teams.
Section 1 race was at Highland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, MN. Each athlete skis two 5km races. Morning race is "Classic" format of skiing and afternoon is "Skate" or "Freestyle" format. Top two teams and next 6 fastest (not on those teams advance as individuals. Boys' team advances and Christine Young does too as an individual! Two boys and Christine are Seniors.
The first four skiers on a team score to make up the team score. It can be noted, as a team accomplishment, that our boys placed seven (7) boys in the top 28 overall out of 68 total boys. Winona's seven boys placed ahead of all but two teams 4th skier.
The girls also came back from sixth place after the classic race in the morning to finish fourth overall in the afternoon out of 13 total teams.
Red Wing Nordic 5k
Friday, January 30th, 2015
On Friday, Winona/Winona Cotter traveled to Mississippi National in Red Wing for the Red Wing 5k. Despite minimal snow conditions the Red Wing club shoveled together a solid 2.4km loop that turned out to be fast and hilly. In the Boys' Varsity race, Christian Gostout from Rochester won the race and Logan Swenson led the Winona boys, followed by Avery and Nathan. 8th-graders Lizo, Preston and Ploetz finished in the impressive top 10. The girls' varsity race Aly Welch won the race and 7th-8th graders Emily Johnson and Jill Serleth led the Winona girls with top 10 finishes! In the boys JV Tony Coudron won the race followed by Braden Fritz 2nd place! The girls JV Race was also well won by Winona girls Lauren Johnson and Emily Beguin! The Winona JV Teams swept the team titles too! |
Chippewa Valley Nordic 5k
Thursday, January 23rd, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic traveled to Tower Ridge Recreation Area in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for a rare 5k (A Race) and 3k (B Race) skate night race. Despite minimal snow conditions, the county park's trails were very clean and fast. So fast that several crashes were reported during the races.
In the girls' A Race, 7th-grader Anni Skillicorn won with a time of 14:37. She was followed by Winona's Marissa Stanek (15:57) and Marissa Lindaman (16:18). Chippewa Valley Nordic Girls won the A-Race however, besting Winona 14-31). The boy's A Race was won by Chippewa's Ben Theyerl (12:23), followed by Winona skiers in 3rd-7th (Jake, Williams, Noah Schultz, Carter Fritz, Anders Braaten and Sam Young) (five were within 15 seconds!). Winona Boy's won the A-Race, beating Chippewa 18-22.
In the girls' B Race, Chippewa Girls' finish 1-4 with a winning time of 10:02 on the 3k course. Winona's Jill Serleth led the JV Girls with a 5th place finish (time of 10:39). Lauren Johnson and Lauren Whyte were right behind Jill. On the boys' side, Chippewa's Garrett Walters won (8:13) and Winona's Preston Halleck, Tony Coudron and Jordan Lisowski finished 3,4,5. Chippewa JV boys just edged out Winona JV boys 18-19.
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic traveled to Tower Ridge Recreation Area in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for a rare 5k (A Race) and 3k (B Race) skate night race. Despite minimal snow conditions, the county park's trails were very clean and fast. So fast that several crashes were reported during the races.
In the girls' A Race, 7th-grader Anni Skillicorn won with a time of 14:37. She was followed by Winona's Marissa Stanek (15:57) and Marissa Lindaman (16:18). Chippewa Valley Nordic Girls won the A-Race however, besting Winona 14-31). The boy's A Race was won by Chippewa's Ben Theyerl (12:23), followed by Winona skiers in 3rd-7th (Jake, Williams, Noah Schultz, Carter Fritz, Anders Braaten and Sam Young) (five were within 15 seconds!). Winona Boy's won the A-Race, beating Chippewa 18-22.
In the girls' B Race, Chippewa Girls' finish 1-4 with a winning time of 10:02 on the 3k course. Winona's Jill Serleth led the JV Girls with a 5th place finish (time of 10:39). Lauren Johnson and Lauren Whyte were right behind Jill. On the boys' side, Chippewa's Garrett Walters won (8:13) and Winona's Preston Halleck, Tony Coudron and Jordan Lisowski finished 3,4,5. Chippewa JV boys just edged out Winona JV boys 18-19.
ABC Relays
Saturday, January 17th, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic hauled to Wirth Park in Minneapolis, MN for the annual ABC Relays (AABCC Relays technically). The format included teams of four athletes: two battled the 3km course on classic skis and two more battled on skate skis. This is an important opportunity for athletes to really test their speed with the shortened course. It is not an easy course, however, with several rolling hills. Anni Skillicorn and Hannah Lepper posted the fastest Winona Classic times and Christine Young and Marissa Stanek posted the fastest girls' skate times. The Winona A relay team finished 12th with a time of 48:16 and Winona B 25th with 54:49. On the boys' side, Carter Fritz and Sam Young were the fastest Winona boys on classics and Ian Breitlow and Avery Simmons fastest on skates. The Winona A relay team finished 11th with a total time of 39:16 and Winona B 27th with 48:34. |
Rochester Invite
Thursday, January 15th, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic traveled to Eastwood Golf Course in Rochester, MN for a five-team 5km freestyle race. On the warmest day of racing this year, thin conditions permitted for an enjoyable day being outside. Joining us were skiers from Rochester, Red Wing, Prior Lake and new-comer Mounds Park Academy. On the girls' side, 7th-grader Anni Skillicorn showed her continued development with the fastest team time of 18:17. Teammate and Senior Christine Young finished strong at 19:09. The girls' varsity team finished 4th. The boys' team placed six skiers in the top 10 based on race times. Noah Poling, Jake Williams, Sam Williams, Sam Young, Carter Fritz and Ian Breitlow all skied with times under 16:52! Important to note this event was without several other boys' due to other academic activities. The boys' varsity team finished 1st! Middle School girls Jill Serleth, Lauren Whyte and Emily Johnson skied up with high schoolers and finished easily in the top 10 and finished 2nd as a team. Middle School boys Lance Halberg, Mitchell Ploetz, Tony Coudron and Jordan Lisowski also skied up against high school skiers and finished an impressive 1st as team! Great job to everyone from Winona. Today's performance showed how much work you've put in, your excitement to ski and the fun we will continue to have with so many in the 7th, 8th and 9th grade! |
Mesabi Invite
Saturday, January 10th, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic competed today at Giant's Ridge Resort in Biwabik, MN for the big Mesabi Invite. This race is billed the largest high school ski race in North America with teams competing from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Each skier competes in one 5km race: freestyle or classic. Teams are scored using the fastest two skiers of each discipline. For example, the two fastest Winona boys in the morning classic race are scored along with the fastest two Winona boys in the afternoon skate race. In all, approximately 950 high school skiers competed today in single digit temperatures. Despite the temps, no wind and Sunny skies made for a perfect day of racing.
On the girls' side, Senior Christine Young finished 22nd in the varsity classic with 22:19. 7th grader Anni Skillicorn finished an impressive 4th in the girls' JV Classic race with 21:21. All Winona girls did the classic race today so no significant team results for them.
On the boys' side are some exciting results. The Winona boys finished 12th amongst all the varsity teams and 10th amongst all the Minnesota teams. Our goal this season is top 10 in the state so this demonstrates our progress to that goal given we haven't peaked yet in training. Individually, the top Winona boys were Ian Poling 24th in the skate with 16:42 and Anders Braaten 25th in the classic with 17:26. It is important to note that all the boys played a role in this race and the results demonstrate how tight all of them are in finish times. This is so important to team results when racers finish tight together in order to score points.
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic competed today at Giant's Ridge Resort in Biwabik, MN for the big Mesabi Invite. This race is billed the largest high school ski race in North America with teams competing from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Each skier competes in one 5km race: freestyle or classic. Teams are scored using the fastest two skiers of each discipline. For example, the two fastest Winona boys in the morning classic race are scored along with the fastest two Winona boys in the afternoon skate race. In all, approximately 950 high school skiers competed today in single digit temperatures. Despite the temps, no wind and Sunny skies made for a perfect day of racing.
On the girls' side, Senior Christine Young finished 22nd in the varsity classic with 22:19. 7th grader Anni Skillicorn finished an impressive 4th in the girls' JV Classic race with 21:21. All Winona girls did the classic race today so no significant team results for them.
On the boys' side are some exciting results. The Winona boys finished 12th amongst all the varsity teams and 10th amongst all the Minnesota teams. Our goal this season is top 10 in the state so this demonstrates our progress to that goal given we haven't peaked yet in training. Individually, the top Winona boys were Ian Poling 24th in the skate with 16:42 and Anders Braaten 25th in the classic with 17:26. It is important to note that all the boys played a role in this race and the results demonstrate how tight all of them are in finish times. This is so important to team results when racers finish tight together in order to score points.
Winona Relays
Saturday, December 13th, 2015
Winona/Winona Cotter Nordic hosted Coon Rapids and Chippewa Valley Nordic (Wis) this afternoon at Saint Mary's trails. Despite the warm temperatures and low snow conditions, 90 high school skiers competed in team sprints on the 1.5km loop of man-made snow. This was only possible thanks to the many volunteers with the Winona Nordic Club. When it was all said and done, the Chippewa-A boys and Winona-A girls won the varsity competition. Chippewa's team included 2014 Wisconsin State Nordic Pursuit Champion Dan Delestry. Chippewa-A girls and Winona-B boys won the JV sprint competition. Varsity Boys 1st - Chippewa-A: Dan Delestry & Ben Theyerl (final 3km time 7:32) 2nd - Winona-A: Noah Poling & Ian Breitlow 3rd - Coon Rapids-A: Kyle Merhof & Dan Mathews Varsity Girls 1st - Winona-A: Christine Young & Marissa Stanek (final 3km time 9:30) 2nd - Coon Rapids-A: Olivia Ellenbecker & Kaitlyn Benson 3rd - Chippewa-A: Mikaela Walters & Kaija Hudacek JV Boys 1st - Winona-B: Noah Schultz & Carter Fritz 2nd - Chippewa-A: 3rd - Chippewa-B: JV Girls 1st - Chippewa-A: 2nd - Winona-B: Marrisa Lindaman & Anni Skillicorn 3rd - Chippewa-B: |