The first week of competition in January showed that Lake Orion High School Ski Teams aren’t afraid to put their high rankings on the line.
They racked up three victories over state-ranked Southeastern Michigan Ski League opponents, as the boys jumped out to an 8-0 record and the girls 7-0.
The Dragons opened their season with boys ranked seventh in the Class A State Coaches? Poll. Orion girls were ranked eighth.
Early in the week, the Lady Dragons squared off against Cranbrook/Kingswood (ranked second, Class B,C,D), Bloomfields Andover (ranked eighth B,C,D) and Rochester.
The Dragons defeated Cranbrook 30-44, Andover 20-62 and Rochester 20-56. The team was led by senior Kirsten Thulin (first in giant slalom, fourth in slalom), junior Jessica Hutchison (second in giant slalom), Kristen Fleming (fourth in giant slalom and fifth in slalom) and Katelynn Rivers (fifth in giant slalom).
On Friday, the Lake Orion girls captured the Flushing Giant Slalom Invitational, topping four challengers, led by Class A ninth ranked Flushing. The final score was Lake Orion 13, Flushing 30, Okemos 60, Bloomfield Andover 63 and South Lyon 86.
Thulin captured her fourth consecutive Flushing Invitational title, followed by Hutchison, who tied for second and Kristen Fleming in fifth.
The Orion boys also opened with victories over Cranbrook, Andover and Rochester, defeating Cranbrook, (ranked eighth B,C,D) 30-45; Andover 29-48 and Rochester 22-62.
Leading the Dragons was sophomore James Hubbard (second in both slalom and giant slalom); sophomore Marty Tarr (third in slalom and fourth in giant slalom), senior Teddy Tarr (fourth in giant slalom) and senior Matt Murawka (fifth in giant slalom).
The Dragon boys also captured the Flushing Giant Slalom Invitational title, scoring 19 points, compared to 45 for Andover, South Lyon 63, Okemos 64, Flushing 72 and Carmen/Clio 73.
Hubbard captured the Flushing Invitational title, while Murawka finished fourth and Marty Tarr fifth.