Plowing Through: Clarkston stakes claim to first skiing state title

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. — Clarkston’s ski team had been knocking on the door for greatness for nearly two decades. So when the Wolves had perhaps their weakest performance of the year, it was still enough for Clarkston’s boys squad to finally finish on top of the mountain this time.

Clarkston, undefeated in 2012, improved upon last year’s state runner-up finish by winning the school’s first state title Monday on the slopes of Nub’s Knob near Harbor Springs.

Clarkston scored 81 points to outdistance state powerhouses Marquette (119) and Traverse City West (125).

“I think we redefined the term team win because we didn’t ski all that well. We had some falls,” said Clarkston coach Mike Foyteck, whose squad became the first public school from Southeastern Michigan to win an MHSAA state title in the sport. “We had some other kids step up, not just our top skiers. We have some depth. But I think Marquette and Traverse City West had some problems, too. Everybody did.

“It’s exciting to get that first title. I know Clarkston traditionally has had some strong teams,” added Foyteck. “It’s nice to become the first public school from (southeastern Michigan) to win a state title. I really thought we’d have a chance this year. It wasn’t the cleanest of efforts. But it was good enough to win.”

Freshman Derek Vanitallie led the Wolves, finishing fourth in both the slalom (1:14.99) and giant slalom (49.47). Sophomore Ryan Callahan, who won both races at the regional level, finished sixth in the slalom (1:15.66), and senior Grant Huber finished fifth in the GS (49.44) for Clarkston, which had just one senior it its top six racers this season.

BREAKING THROUGH: Clarkston's boys ski team became the first public school team from Southeastern Michigan and just fourth school overall to win an MHSAA state championship. Courtesy Photo | Clarkston Athletics

All three should gain All-State honors for those efforts.

Traverse City Central was fourth (128) and Birmingham Brother Rice rounded out the top five (139 points) to round out the top five in the boys standings. Lake Orion was  sixth (147).

In the girls meet, Traverse City West collected 70 points to edge Traverse City Central’s 73 points. Birmingham Marian, the two-time defending state champions, was third with 113 points, followed by Walled Lake Central (131) and Clarkston fifth (193) in the top five.

“Our girls team is very young. We only have one senior, Olivia Dunn, and we have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores,” noted Foyteck. “We had three freshmen in our lineup at state. Our girls had perhaps their best race of the season. They came a long ways this season after not qualifying last season.”

Lake Orion’s Marie Dohm caped her prep career with an individual state championship. The senior won the GS (52.75), while fellow Southeastern Michigan skier Kelsey Griffin of White Lake Lakeland staked claim to the slalom title (1:12.95).

There were several North Oakland skiers who finished in the top 40.

Clarkston’s trio of Madeleine Declercq (27^th, 57.49), Karoline Holsbeke (30^th, 57.69) and Caroline Spytman (30th, 58.01) and Rochester Adams’ Lauren Henry (33^rd, 58.17) also reached the top-40 plateau in the GS.

In the slalom, Lake Orion’s Dohm came back and finished seventh (1:17.30), followed by Adams’ Kendal Rosalik (18, 1:22.88), Spytman (25, 1:25.47), Holsbeke (27^th, 1:36.30

Clarkston’s Olivia Dunn (32th, 1:28.25) and Declercq (39^th, 1:30.08).

In the boys GS, Saginaw Heritage’s Brian Leddy won the title (48:72).

Lake Orion’s Justin Klaus (50.06) and Dalton Stetsko (50.33) finished eighth and 10^th, respectively, in the GS to lead the Dragons.

Clarkston’s Alex McIntosh was 12^th (50.73), while Clarkston’s Lance Holsbeke (17^th, 50.83) and Lake Orion’s Ricky Mackowski (19^th, 51.18) and Lake Orion’s Logan Stetsko (28^th, 52.15) all finished in the top half of the GS.

Heritage’s Leddy made it a clean sweep by winning the slalom (1:11.67).

Huber was 13^th (1:18.79), while Mackowski (21^st, 1:23.2), Dalton Stetsko (25^th, 1:24.69), Logan Stetsko (28^th, 1:25.37), Klaus (32^nd, 1:27.76) and McIntosh (36^th, 1:32.59) all broke into the top 40.

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