On Sunday, February 10, four of Harwood's Nordic skiers traveled to Craftsbury to contend for qualifying positions on the Vermont J2 (14- and 15-year-olds) New England Team and the Eastern High School New England Team (14- to 18-year-olds). Over 100 girls and 125 boys contended for the top 20 positions.
Harwood sophomore Nathanael Kuzio qualified in both categories. Kuzio placed second overall among J2 boys and ninth overall among boys of all ages to qualify for both the J2 New England Team and the Eastern HS Championships.
Kuzio's younger teammate, freshman Phillip Hekeler, also place in the top 20 among J2s. Both boys will represent Vermont at the New England J2 Festival in Holderness, New Hampshire, in mid-March.
Harwood junior Grace Butler placed 16th among girls ages 14 to 18. Butler will join Nathanael Kuzio as they will represent Vermont at the Eastern HS Championships in Presque Isle, Maine, in late March.
Harwood junior India Harvey fought hard in the field of experienced skiers and finished an impressive 32nd in the 102-skier field.
"It was an impressive day for our skiers," according to Harwood wax tech Kurt Hekeler. "I was blown away with the level of competition and the waxing and technical support provided by athletes representing ski academies. Yet our little Highlander group of skiers, skiing on basic wax and simple equipment, were able to keep pace with the private school skiers that had endless wax boxes and quivers of skis."
Harwood hosts its last regular season race on Thursday, February 14, at 4 p.m.
