By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
In their second week of racing, the Lake Orion varsity ski teams are already proving this winter will be a fast one for downhill skiing.
With four races under their belts, or in this case their spandex GS suits, the girls? team is undefeated and the boys? team is 2-2.
The Dragons are racing against Rochester, Rochester Adams, Notre Dame, Cranbrook, Waterford, Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills and Detroit Country Day in the Pine Knob Division.
They will be competing in both a slalom and giant slalom race this week.??
‘I’m really excited about the girls? team this year. They have been working very hard, they are meshing well, and it’s shown in our first couple races,? Coach Derek Delzer said. Delzer has been coaching for nine seasons.
‘Of the seven girls racing varsity, any of the girls can have their day and win.?
The boys? team, which lost several key seniors this year including Justin Pavliscak who placed ninth in slalom last year at the state championships. This season there is a mix of freshmen and upper classmen who will speed through flushes, hair pins, and other pairs of gates on the Pine Knob race hill. ???
‘Captain Brendan McLean will lead the team with a supporting cast of Jack Marcus and Andre Brown,? Delzer said. ‘There are a few new faces that are going to work their way into the spotlight as the season goes on. Every week we have been improving and it will be exciting to see where they are at the end of the season.?
Last year the boys finished sixth overall at States in giant slalom and slalom. Three varsity girl racers qualified as individual racers too, including Emily Hewett, Katie Tyrrell and Alex Bergquist, with Hewett and Tyrrell returning this year.
The 2015 varsity team includes Andre Brown (10), Tyler Dick (12), Emily Hewett (10), Makayla Kyre (11), Jack Marcus (10), Nicholas McCormack (12), Brendan McLean (12), Madison Reid (12), Sydnee Reid (12), Aaron Ruby (12), Grace Stetsko (9), Samantha Swiss (12), Andrew Tyrrell (9) and Kathryn Tyrrell (12).
Overall, five freshmen, eight sophomores, two juniors and 13 seniors have earned their place on both the varsity and junior varsity ski team.
The Dragons practice four days a week in between races, and will be hosting the Lake Orion High School Ski Invitational on Monday, February 2.
In preparation, Delzer is taking members of the team up to Shanty Creek Resorts this weekend,’January 24 and 25, for additional training.
‘Of course I lost a lot of great skiers last year. That is what makes high school racing exciting. Every year you have a new roster and you have to find a way to replace the skiers that graduated. On the girls? side, it will be a total team effort. They all have the capability of leading and winning upcoming races. On the boys? side, we are improving every week.?