Middle Park High School’s Nordic ski team put in impressive results at the Colorado High School Ski Association State Meet last week in Minturn, with the men’s team taking first place in the classic race and second in the skate race.

The women notched a 3rd place finish in the skate race and a 4th place team finish in the classic race.

“Once again this was a huge team effort with spectacular skiing by all of the skiers. They’ve worked hard all year and they laid it out all on the line those last two days,” said Head Coach Dan Jamison. “They all skied together and worked hard.”

“I want to say thanks to assistant coach Dave Cleveland for his help and to the parents for their help all year,” Jamison added. “The Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center staff was also great helping us out to get skiers on fast skis and providing a great training facility. Thanks.”

Impressive season totals

For the season, representing team scores from all the races of the year excluding the state meet, the Middle Park High School women ended up ranked second in the state behind Battle Mountain in the classic technique. They gained 5th place finish for the season in the skate technique.

For the men for the entire season, the Middle Park High School boys earned second place in both techniques, behind Steamboat Springs, which was first in both techniques.

Two Panther Nordic skiers were named to the All State team: Sylvia Brower for the women in the classic technique (ranked 4th overall) and Kimo Sullivan for the men in the skating technique (ranked 5th). The top five skiers overall in each discipline are named to the All State team.

Other Panthers were close to making that honor. Sebastian Brower was 6th overall in the classic technique ranking while Alex Holinka was 8th. Other top Panthers in the classic ranking were Ethan Callarman 12th; Grayson Barker, 15th; Guy Granger, 19th and Vinny Troccoli, 20th.

Other top skiers in the skating category were Alex Holinka, 8th; Sebastian Brower, 10th; Ethan Callarman, 14th; Vinny Troccoli, 15th; and Graydon Walker, 17th.

For all skiing techniques, alpine and Nordic, the Middle Park Panthers were in the top four across the state. The Panther men were 3rd overall at the state meet, runner-up for the state title, while the women were 4th. Aspen ended up being the state ski champions for the year.

Competitive skiing at the state meet

The Nordic skiing state races took place at Maloit Park in Minturn, with many Panther skiers putting in top performances.

For the girls, Sylvia Brower was 3rd overall in the classic race, completing the course in 17:35 behind Elsie Weiss of Aspen and Lola Villafranco of Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Maggie Barker was the next Panther skier in 30th palce with a time of 20:35. Elizabeth Hammond was close behind in 34th kp;lace and a time of 21:04. Other Panthers finishers were: Gabrielle Pellini, 37th, 21:49; Selena Stoncius, 38th (21:50); Ellen Osborne, 49th (23:13); and Emily DePlata, 65th (24:24).

The classic race was a tough one for the women because of rapidly changing snow conditions, which had all the team coaches scrambling at the race for the right wax.

For the boys competing at the state classic race Alex Holinka managed the top Panther finish in 3rd place and a time of 14:55. He was followed by Sebastian Brower in 4th place (15:06), Ehtan Callarman, 8th (15:27), Kimo Sullivan, 9th (15:35), Gray Barker, 14th (15:51); Graydon Walker, 19th (16:20); Guy Granger, 22nd (16:41); Vinny Troccoli, 24th (16:46); Andy Troccoli, 62nd (18:53); Will Kuhns, 68th (19:05); and Ewan Gallagher, 76th (19:30).

Fast skate racing

The top Panther woman skier in the skate race was Sylvia Brower in 9th place with a time of 15:49. Other Panther finishers in the skate race for the women were: Elizabeth Hammond, 15th (16:21); Maggie Barker, 29th (17:29); and Sierra Jamison, 57th (20:25).

For the men, Kimo Sullivan was the top Panther skier with a 4th place finish in a time of 13:04. Alex Holinka was next in 5th place and a time of 13:06, with Sebastian Brower in 8th place and a time of 13:16.

Other male Panther finishers were: Ehtan Callarman, 13th (13:34); Guy Granger, 14th (13:41); Vinny Troccoli, 16th (131:48); Graydon Walker, 18th (13:56); Gray Barker, 23rd (14:02); Will Kuhns, 46th (15:10); and Kyle Vogelbacher, 62nd (15:39).

Three Panthers off to Junior Nationals

Three skiers on the Middle Park High School Nordic Team qualified to represent the Rocky Mountain Division at Junior Nationals next week in Truckee, California. Alex Holinka, Sylvia Brower and Sebastian Brower will be travelling to the event and skiing against the top junior Nordic skiers in the country. All three ski with the Winter Park Competition Center Nordic program as well.

Photos courtesy Middle Park Booster Club