SKIING: Clarkston, Birmingham Marian race to regional titles
NOTE: A photo gallery of this event can be found at www.digitaloutdoors.com
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
GROVELAND TWP. — For the first time in a championship-style meet this season, Clarkston competed with all six of its top ski racers. That proved to be quite a combination for the Wolves.
The defending Division1 state champions in boys skiing, Clarkston overcame an erratic regular season Wednesday, topping 13 other teams to win its third straight regional crown on the slopes of Mt. Holly for its third straight regional title.
The Wolves registered 63 points to finish ahead of nemesis Lake Orion (86.5), which defeated Clarkston twice this season at other competitions. Grand Blanc finished third with 142.5 points, as the top three teams, plus the top four finishers in each event, qualified for the state finals Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain.
The day belong to the Wolves, who last season became the first boys team from a public school to hail from Southeastern Michigan and win a state title.
“We didn’t have everyone there most of the season. We always had guys out, so it was really the first time we had all of our top guys there,” explained Clarkston coach Mike Foyteck. “That doesn’t take anything away from Lake Orion. They are a very good team and they beat us at the league meet last week. We felt that if we had everybody here, that we could have a chance. The guys stepped up and had their best day of the season.”
WOLVES TRACKS: Clarkston’s Ben Shuster and the Wolves captured their third straight regional title Wednesday at Mt. Holly. Photo | Daniel Teetor, www.digitaloutdoors.com
Birmingham Brother Rice finished fourth with 174 points in the 14-school field, followed by Rochester Adams (211), 6. Holly-Oxford Unified (218),Detroit U-D Jesuit (225), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (244.5), Fenton-Linden Unified (303), West Bloomfield (363), Waterford United (364), Birmingham Unified (404), Rochester (406) and North Farmington (539) rounded out the field.
“It’s going to be a dogfight at the state meet. I honestly feel that it will be a four team race between us, Lake Orion, Traverse City Central and Marquette,” predicted Foyteck. “If we ski our best day and don’t have falls, then I think we will have a chance to repeat. That being said, the other three teams are skiing very well and they have as good of a chance.
“I am proud of my guys for stepping up at the right time and winning the regional,” added Foyteck. “I know we have won a lot of regionals over the years between our boys and girls teams. But it never gets old. The boys stepped up and skied very well. We weren’t perfect, but we skied well enough to win and build some confidence going into the state meet.”
Birmingham Marian won a regional for the third straight season as well on the girls side, collecting 57 points to edge runner-up Fenton-Linden Unified (66). Rochester Adams emerged from the next heap of teams to score 131.5 points and grab the third team qualifying spot.
Grand Blanc led the teams left on the outside looking in with 138 points, Lake Orion claimed fifth 184), followed by Clarkston (190.5), Holly-Oxford Unified (301.5), North Farmington (302), Rochester (339), Birmingham Unified (341.5), West Bloomfield (350), Livonia Ladywood (399) and Waterford United (444) in the team standings.
Marian five of the top 10 finishers in the slalom, led by medalist Kat Streng two-run clocking of 59.94. Fenton-Linden Unified’s Lauren Rhoads was second (1:02.47) with teammate McKenna Valley third (1:03.14) and Marian’s Haley Goeckel (1:03.95) and Breann Lunghamer (1:04.55).
Madison McCready (sixth) and Tess Viergever (1oth) also finished in the top 10 for the Mustangs.
Natalie Lumsden placed eighth in the slalom to help the Highlanders advance to the state finals for the first time in several years. Caroline Spytman of Clarkston placed seventh to lead the individual state qualifiers, which included top-10 finisher Victoria Irwin of North Farmington (ninth).
Over in the giant slalom, Kelly McKay of Fenton-Linden finished in 45.34 tro win the event, leading her team’s sweep of the top three slots. Lauren Rhoades (45.49) and McKenna Valley (45.79) followed closely behind, while Marian’s Goeckel (45.83) and Rochester’s Natalie Krauss (45.86) rounded out the top five, Krauss became Rochester’s first female state qualifier in several years.
Adam’s Lumsden (46.25) and Lauren Henry (46.35) took the next two slots, while Marian’s Streng (46.42), Clarkston’s Karoline Holsbeke (46.47) and Grand Blanc’s Megan Prokott (46.52) also finished in the top 10.
Clarkston’s win on the boys’ side included four top-10 finishers in the slalom and another in the top 10 in the GS.
Ryan Callahan’s 53.91 effort in the slalom was best of the day. Teammate Derek VanItallie was second (54.06), while Alex McIntosh was fourth (54.84) and Lance Holsbeke claimed seventh (56.45) for the Wolves.
Lake Orion’s Dalton Stesko placed third (54.20) to lead the Dragons in the slalom. Grand Blanc’s Jake Martin finished fifth (55.58), followed by Holly-Oxford Unified’s Lars Joergens-Koka in sixth (56.32). Brother Rice’s Robbie cort placed eighth (56.54),Lake Orion’s Logan Stetsko followed in ninth (57.18) and Orion teammate Justin Klaus landed 1q0th (57.23).
Holly’s Joergens-Koka captured the crown in the GS in 43.45. Individual qualifier Nick Lipinski of Detroit Jesuit was second (43.50), Fenton-Linden’s Seth Thompson (43.68), Grand Blanc’s Martin (43.75) and Brother rice’s Geoff Becker (43.85) also finished in the top five to make the cut.
Clarkston’s VanItallie was the Wolves’ sole top-10 finisher in the GS, placing sixth, while Lake Orion’s Dalton Stetsko (43.92), Brother Rice’s Robbie Cort (44.11), Fenton-Linden’s Julian Weinberg (44.22) and Grand Blanc’s Andrew Morgan (44.25) followed suit in the top 10 to reach the medals podium.
Boys Skiing
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL
(At Mt. Holly)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Clarkston, 63; 2. Lake Orion, 86.5; 3. Grand Blanc, 142.5; 4. Birmingham Brother Rice, 174; 5. Rochester Adams, 211.5; 6. Holly-Oxford Unified, 218; 7. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 225; 8. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 244.5; 9. Fenton-Linden Unified, 303; 10. West Bloomfield, 363; 11. Waterford United, 364; 12. Birmingham Unified, 404; 13. Rochester, 406; 14; North Farmington, 539.
SLALOM — 1. Ryan Callahan (Clarkston) 53.91; 2. Derek VanItallie (Clarkston) 54.06; 3. Dalton Stetsko (Lake Orion) 54.2; 4. Alex McIntosh (Clarkston) 54.84; 5. Jake Martin (Grand Blanc) 55.58; 6. Lars Joergens-Koka (Holly-Oxford Unified) 56.32*; 7. Lance Holsbeke (Clarkston) 56.45; 8. Robbie Cort (Birmingham Brother Rice) 56.54*; 9. Logan Stetsko (Lake Orion) 57.18; 10. Justin Klaus (Lake Orion) 57.23; 11. Justin Pavliscak (Lake Orion) 57.27; 12. Julian Weinberg (Fenton-Linden Unified) 57.32*; 13. Alex McLaren (Rochester Adams) 57.74*; 14. Austin Gongos (Rochester Adams) 57.75; 15. A.J. Ferrari(Rochester Adams) 58.06. GIANT SLALOM — 1. Lars Joergens-Koka (Holly-Oxford Unified) 43.45*; 2. Nick Lipinski (Detroit Jesuit) 43.5*; 3. Seth Thompson (Fenton-Linden Unified) 43.68*; 4. Jake Martin (Grand Blanc) 43.75; 5. Geoff Becker (Birmingham Brother Rice) 43.85*; 6. Derek VanItallie (Clarkston) 43.92; 7. Dalton Stetsko (Lake Orion) 43.92; 8. Robbie Cort (Birmingham Brother Rice) 44.11; 9. Julian Weinberg (Fenton-Linden Unified) 44.22; 10. Andrew Morgan (Grand Blanc) 44.25; 11, Justin Klaus (Lake Orion) 44.26; 12. Lance Holsbeke (Clarkston) 44.30; 13. Mitchell Walker (Grand Blanc) 44.30; 14. Alex McIntosh (Clarkston) 44.41; 15. Logan Stesko (Lake Orion) 44.63.
(The top three teams, plus the top four finishers in each event not on qualifying teams, advance to the Division 1 state finals Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain. An asterisk denotes additional state qualifier.)
Girls Skiing
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL
(At Mt. Holly)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Birmingham Marian, 57; 2. Fenton-Linden Unified, 66; 3. Rochester Adams, 131.5; 4. Grand Blanc, 138; 5. Lake Orion, 184; 6. Clarkston, 190.5; 7. Holly-Oxford Unified, 301.5; 8. North Farmington, 302; 9. Rochester, 339; 10. Birmingham Unified, 341.5; 11. West Bloomfield, 350; 12. Livonia Ladywood, 399; 13. Waterford United, 444.
SLALOM — 1. Kat Streng Birmingham (Marian) 59.94; 2. Lauren Rhoads (Fenton-Linden Unified) 1:02.37; 3. McKenna Valley (Fenton-Linden Unified) 1:03.14; 4. Haley Goeckel (Birmingham Marian) 1:03.95; 5. Breann Lunghamer (Birmingham Marian) 1:04.55; 6. Madison McCready (Birmingham Marian) 1:05.34; 7. Caroline Spytman (Clarkston) 1:05.57*; 8. Natalie Lumsden (Rochester Adams) 1:06.19; 9. Victoria Irwin (North Farmington) 1:06.40*; 10. Tess Viergever (Birmingham Marian) 1:07.69; 12. Fiannery Wise (Fenton-Linden Unified) 1:08.49; 13. Laura Postlmayr (Rochester Adams) 1:08.85; 14. Lily Doolin (Birmingham Unified) 1:08.85*; 15. Megan Prokott (Grand Blanc) 1:08.92*.
GIANT SLALOM — 1. Kelley McKay (Fenton-Linden Unified) 45.34; 2. Lauren Rhoads (Fenton-Linden Unified) 45.49; 3. McKenna Valley (Fenton-Linden Unified) 45.79; 4. Haley Goeckel (Birmingham Marian) 45.83; 5. Natalie Krauss (Rochester) 45.86*; 6. Natalie Lumsden (Rochester Adams) 46.25; 7. Lauren Henry (Rochester Adams) 46.35; 8. Kat Streng (Birmingham Marian) 46.42; 9. Karoline Holsbeke (Clarkston) 46.47*; 10. Megan Prokott (Grand Blanc) 46.52*; 11. Amanda Ulrich (Grand Blanc) 46.77*; 12. Victoria Irwin (North Farmington) 46.95; 13. Kathryn Tyrell (Lake Orion) 47.23; 14. Breann Lunghamer (Birmingham Marian) 47.26; 15. Tese Viergever (Birmingham Marian) 47.28
(The top three teams, plus the top four finishers in each event not on qualifying teams, advance to the Division 1 state finals Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain. An asterisk denotes additional state qualifier.)
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