The Lake Orion girls ski team, ranked eighth heading into the Feb. 23 Class-A State Finals at Nub’s Nob, finished fifth in the nine-team field, despite the loss of senior captain Kirsten Thulin.
Thulin, a two-time All State racer, in her fourth state final appearance, fell in her first slalom run of the day, suffering a serious knee injury. As a result of the injury, she was forced to miss the balance of the slalom competition, as well as the afternoon giant slalom event.
The Dragons were paced by a 16th place finish in the slalom by sophomore Kristen Fleming. Also scoring for Lake Orion were Camille Seybert (31st in the slalom), Katelyn Rivers (37th in both the slalom and giant slalom), Jessica Hutchison (39th in the slalom and 29th in the giant slalom), and Rachel Brown (35th in the giant slalom).
Although the Dragon boys team did not qualify for the finals, senior captain Teddy Tarr, an individual qualifier, managed a 19th place finish in the giant slalom event.
The season was a productive one for the Lake Orion girls, capturing the OAA-I title, as well as the Southeastern Michigan Ski League Divisional title.
Fleming was named to the Michigan High School Ski Coaches Association Class-A Women’s All State-Third Team, while Thulin and Hutchison received honorable mentions to the All State squad.
Tarr received an All State honorable mention to the men’s team.
In addition to significant post-season athletic honors for the boys and girls teams, five Lake Orion skiers were selected as All State Academic Athletes, including juniors Hutchison, Brent Sims, Rob Stakle and Meaghan Walters, as well as Thulin.