In the midst of another low snow year, the team stays positive and focuses on what they can control. Relegated to the man-made snow loop at Battle Creek the team deals with big crowds as teams flock to the few venues with snow. The team is hoping for a good result at the state meet this year. The girls team will rely on an experience heavily roster returning five of their seven state skiers. The team is lead by senior Stella Powell who finished 20th at last year’s state meet. The boys varsity is comprised mostly of sophomores and juniors and will have to rely on the improvements and talent of these athletes. State returners junior George Nelson, sophomore Moses Schollett, sophomore Charlie Sanderson, junior Talbot Ward, and junior Kyle McBride.
With most off the team returning there is a solid foundation for success, but they will still need new skiers to fill the places of lost athletes.
“We’ve also got some guys that are really stepping in with a lot of talent,” boys head coach Torry Kraftson said.
Kraftson explained that Schollett, Sanderson, Ward, and sophomore Wyatt Wolfe are looking to be key skiers for the team at the state meet.
After a strong finish at the state meet last year (6th for the boys and 7th for the girls), both teams are hoping to have another strong finish this year.
“I think we have an outside shot at the podium if everything goes well… a fourth of fifth place finish would still be a really good finish,” Kraftson said.
Practices range in length from and hour and a half to two hours. These practices often include an interval workouts in a rage of length and effort levels.
“My philosophy is to put in a lot of volume training and really get a lot of kilometers in. We certainly do some quality workouts, some intensity some speed as well,” Kraftson said.
Instead of being stressed about the little things, the focus is on making practices a mix of hard work and a lot of fun.
“The atmosphere is just super fun and joking…but everyone takes it seriously. We definitely get our work done,” sophomore Moses Schollett said.
The Nordic team has found success for decades through there incredible practice environment. The teams plentiful conference and section titles come from years of drive and determination.
Senior Captain Sofia Oman tries to create a positive environment “where everyone feels inspired to do well” Oman said.
With snow at another disappointing low snow year athletes focus on the big goal at hand the state meet. The will focus will be on keeping good health and training going into the big meets and the end of the season. Solid performances at the mesabi invite put the team in a good place to push forward. As the big meets rapidly approach the team will hope to feel ready on race day with good skis and conditions.