By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
From the red gates, to the blue, the green Dragons are easy to pick out on the hills.?
Dragon varsity racers are in their third week of giant slalom (GS) and slalom meets, and still have plenty of time to carve out their identities on the hill.?
Girls are skiing strong, despite losing some of their best seniors last year, and have kept their record at a solid 3-0. Captain of the girls? teams this year is their only senior, Makayla Kyre.?
With a total of 15 points, Lake Orion varsity girls slalom racers beat Bloomfield Hills, 22 points, and Detroit Country Day, 32 points last Tuesday. Grace Stetsko lead the Dragons with a time of 24.43, the top speed of the meet.?
Varsity boys slalom lost to Bloomfield hills with a total of 20 points to their 17 points, and to Detroit Country Day’s 16 points. Captain Andre Brown led the boys, with a time of 24.88, the third fastest of the meet.?
The boys? varsity team is young, without any seniors, Coach Derek Delzer said, and fun to coach.?
They currently stand at 0-3.?
‘We will be reliant on our two captains Andre and Drew Tyrell. The great things about having a young team is the opportunity for growth,? he said. ‘So far this year we have already seen some of this rapid growth and the boys taking advantage and rising to the occasion.?
Both teams are training and racing hard everyday preparing for the State meet’Feb. 29at Marquette Mountain.?
‘States is always a tough race to qualify for. It is our goal to make this meet and we work towards it every day we are on the hill.?
Racers took advantage of a training camp over the holiday break up at Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs, one of the only hills that were open during the unseasonably warm start to the winter. Pine Knob officially opened after January 1, and teams are practicing or racing’Monday’through’Thursday.
Delzer is especially excited for two meets Lake Orion is hosting this year. The Dragons are going into their fifth year of hosting the Lake Orion Invitational at Mt. Holly on February 1. New for the Dragons this year is hosting the Duals Tournament back at Nubs Nob on’January 23.?
‘Our team takes a lot of pride in putting on great events showcasing ski racing. We get a lot of support and are thankful to have the support of such a great community. Our parents, they really know how to do it. Without them our invites would not come as close in caliber to what they are.?
Delzer said to his knowledge the Duals meet has not been raced in the last ten years he has been head coach.?
‘It has been fun taking high school racing and creating an event and also opening minds to innovative forms of racing,? he said.?
It is a true joy for Delzer to watch his racers develop over the years. Assistant Coaches Corey Blomquist, Lauren Horner and Scott Teeter are back on his staff, and he couldn’t be more grateful.?
‘This year is going to be great because we are out there racing every day and getting better,? he said.?
The Dragons were racing against Rochester Adams’Tuesday’in slalom, and GS on Wednesday’after The’Review’went to press.?