By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Through the expected snow conditions of the Upper Peninsula–40 mph winds and blinding snow–the Lake Orion varsity girls ski team conquered Marquette Mountain last weekend, finishing in the top ten at the 2016 MHSAA Division 1 Ski Finals.
The Dragons took 8th overall with a final score of 216, behind Marquette at the top with 84 points, Bloomfield Hills Marian second with 101 points, TC Central third with 103 points, and TC West fourth with 124 points.
Racing both slalom and giant slalom were senior Makayla Kyre, juniors Emily Hewett, Kirsten Busam, and Nora Teagan, sophomore Grace Stetsko, freshman Lindsey Thelen and junior Sydney Hough as an alternate.
Individually Stetsko placed seventh in the giant slalom division out of 67 races, earning a medal for earning a spot in the top 10.
Other top racers include Thelen, who placed 11 in slalom overall, and Kyre who placed 34 in slalom out of 66 racers.
‘The team skied well, and I’m really proud of how we finished this season,? head coach Derek Delzer said, who earned the title Regional Coach of the Year for 2016. ‘With only one graduating senior this year, we are looking forward’to raising’the bar and setting’new goals for next year and continuing’the legacy of great skiing at Lake Orion.?
This is the Dragons 17th consecutive year they have qualified for State Finals with either the girls or boys team.
Junior Andre Brown qualified as an individual racer and competed in the boys? giant slalom division, placing 49 out of 71 racers.
Top call for both giant slalom and slalom teams competing on the boys card was Marquette in first, TC Central in second, Bloomfield Hills in third, and Clarkston in fourth.
Prior to the state competition, the girls team placed third at regionals, and won divisionals.
‘It took total team effort to qualify for the state meet,? Delzer said.
Lake Orion also hosted two premiere high school ski racing events this year, including the fifth annual Lake Orion Invitational at Mt. Holly, and in the inaugural Lake Orion Duals at Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs.
‘A big thanks goes out to our parents and the community, these events would not be possible without their time and support,? Delzer said.
As for the boys side, the team continues to grow. A few boys were sidelined this year, and the team is looking forward to their healthy return next year.