Next stop for the boys Holly/Oxford ski team is state finals.
‘This year was a fantastic year for the team,? said new Head Coach Dalton Sink. ‘I knew we would have a successful year, but this has reached and exceeded my expectations.?
State finals will take place at Boyne Mountain on Feb. 23.
The boys won every race within their division. After becoming division champs, they went on to win regionals.
In the Giant Slalom (GS): Lars Jorgen-Kokate took second at regionals with 43 seconds, followed by Keith Cotaling in fifth with 43.55, Dillion Sink in ninth with 44.46, Zac Felix placed 10th with 44.52, Max Ford in 12 with 44.47 and Luke Harrington in 25 with 45.41
In slalom (SL) Kakate led the way in second with 53.68. Felix came in 11 with 57.82, Dillion with 58.67 for 15, Ford with 59.19 for 19, Cotaling placed 22 with 59.54 and Kwapis finished 41 with 1:05.05.
Sink believes the boys winning every race in their division is what helped them at regionals.
‘We were able to carry that momentum into regionals and have a strong performance that day. Being apart of a team of this caliber is a great feeling. I am doing my best to keep all of their heads in the game and keep everyone positive,? he added. ‘The mental part of ski racing plays a major role in their performance. That was one of my main objectives this season.?
As for the girls, they went 5-2 in their division with their only losses being to Grand Blanc.
The girls team is very young, having three freshmen and a sophomore on it.
‘I wasn’t sure how they were going to do this year, but after the first race in the division, things were looking up,? Sink said. ‘Their goal this year was to qualify for SEMSL’s and they reached that goal by finishing second in the Mt. Holly division.?
At the regional meet, the girls skied well and finished 6th overall.
‘I am proud of how they finished, but I know that they did not ski (their best),? Sink said. ‘However, that is how the regional meet goes, it is very stressful and the competition is fierce. With the young racers on the team, they did excellent.?
In the GS, Emma Ford skied 46.27 for fifth place, followed by Montana Taube-Whit 47.55 for 14, Rachel, 50.22, 39; Olivia Upham, 52.01 (43) 43; Danielle Sink, 54.28 for 49. and Sophi, 1:14.13 for 63.
In the SL Emma Ford placed 13 with 1:02.85; followed by Montana Taube-Whit with 1:04.75 for 18; Sophi Que for 23 with 1:06.14; Olivia Upham 1:16.44 for 44. Meanwhile Danielle Sink skied 1:22.57 for 53, and Rachel 1:32.69 for 60.
Sink was named ‘Coach of the Year? for the Mt. Holly division and regional coach of the year, which he considered a great honor.
‘It was something I was not expecting. I stepped up into the head coach position with limited experience and only a few goals. I wanted to help these racers reach that next level,? he said.
‘I also wanted to develop the young athletes to help create a competitive program that will be fast in the years to come. Being awarded ‘coach of the year? showed me that I was on the right track.?