Harwood Union High School Nordic skiers were on familiar grounds this week with another race on the U-32 campus. Coach Tom Strasser said, “Julianne Young is the big story. She started the season having never even skied. Just two weeks ago she was struggling to keep up with the rest of the team and is now our top JV girl in freestyle skiing. She finished in fifth (20:48.88), with Harwood’s closest skier 15 percent back.” She was followed by Ayla Oshkello (23:59.04), Taite Plagge (24:45.38), Hadley Kielich (25:49.52), and Sarah Kate Smith (26:23.05).
The varsity girls were once again led by Kyle Marie Hekeler who while fighting through a muscle injury finished in sixth (24:01.12). Erin Magill was less than 3 percent back finishing 15th (24:40.84), Anna Jamieson was 29th (27:53.22) and Camille Sweet was 34th (29:30.11). The girls had a pretty strong result scoring as the fifth-place team, with the dominant U-32 winning on their home terrain.
Walker Caffry Randall had Harwood’s top result for the varsity boys again this week finishing in 12th (20:03.34). With two varsity boys out this week, Harwood’s next closest boy was 20 percent back, and the varsity boys’ team came in 10th. There was much to celebrate, however, as Cam Alberghini returned to racing after an injury to come in 53rd (24:14.55). Seth Davidson, a very strong skier who handled the soft and choppy conditions well, finished very close behind in 54th (24:22.54). Acme Wasi was the team’s fourth scoring skier in 60th (24:49.53). Coach Tom Strasser has been impressed by his “incredible improvement in technique” which is resulting in “Acme closing the gap between himself and the rest of the seniors this season.” Mason Berry, a freshman, will be one to watch in the coming years. Not many freshmen are skiing in the longer varsity races, but this week he came in just behind the seniors in 64th (25:35.44).
