Carrying out their end of the deal, Clarkston’s girls skiers came through at the regional finals on Feb. 15, earning another trip to the state finals.
The girls earned another trip to the team state finals with a hands-down smothering at Pine Knob, beating next comer Rochester Adams by 79 points, 23-102. Lake Orion (145), Rochester (178) and Birmingham United (184) rounded out the top five spots.
Hannah Wolf won both the slalom and giant slalom for the girls with times of 47.15 in the slalom and 37.14 in the GS. Trisha Peters (49.25) took second in the slalom and giant slalom (38.62).
In the slalom event Maddy Dunn (50.93) and Analicia Honkanen (51.02) finished in fourth and fifth places.
In the GS, Erica Halsey (39.63), Dunn (39.75), Kelly Peters (40.04) and Honkanen (40.06) finished in third-sixth places.
The team finish qualifies the Wolves to go to the state finals on Feb. 26 in Marquette. Wolf, Dunn, Trisha Peters, Kelly Peters and Honkanen made the state cut individually for both events and Halsey in the giant slalom.
In the slalom, Halsey suffered an equipment malfunction out of the gate as her ski became disconnected from her boot after she had a great start, coach Mike Foyteck said.
‘The biggest thing for the girls team is keeping them grounded and keeping them working and keeping them working on their skiing,? Foyteck said.
Foyteck said he and assistant coach Thom Halsey constantly give the girls feedback about what they can improve upon.
‘Every day is another day. I tell them to take it gate by gate,? Foyteck said.
On the boys? side, the Wolves (196) finished in sixth place behind Birmingham Brother Rice (78), Waterford Unified (106), Rochester (120), West Bloomfield (140) and Lake Orion (161).
Individually, Eric Weiland qualified for the state meet with a third-place finish in the slalom at 47.03 and the giant slalom in seventh place, finishing at 37.08. Chris Bland qualified in the GS as well, finishing in ninth place at 37.16.
Weiland finished in fourth place in the slalom last year and sixth in the GS.
Weiland’s technique and strength will make him a serious contender, Foyteck said.
‘He’s going to do really well in Marquette because of his strength and an increased slope on the hill. I’m excited to see what he does up there. He’ll have a very good showing up there. It will suit him better up there,? Foyteck said.
Bland finished 13th in slalom last year at the state meet and 19th in GS.
Bland should do well at the state meet due to his training with Central United States Ski and Snowboard Association race programs, a benefit for Weiland as well. Both are used to racing on bigger ski hills up north in those leagues, Foyteck said.
Foyteck said the team will arrive on Saturday before the Monday state finals to get accustomed to the hill.
Through their CUSSA racing and training, all the girls have skied that hill at one time or another. Both those factors should help eliminate a home-hill advantage for Upper Peninsula ski teams, Foyteck said.
‘We’ve still got room to work on a couple things,? Foyteck said.
‘They’ll be at their optimal level at the state meet.?

On Feb. 12 at Pine Knob at the Oakland Activities Association tournament, the girls team ran away with the competition, beating closest challenger Rochester Adams 12-41. Lake Orion (81) was third and West Bloomfield (138) was fourth.
Hannah Wolf (34.75) and Trisha Peters (35.35) finished first and second in the giant slalom. Maddy Dunn (36.12) and Erica Halsey (36.61) were fourth and fifth.
The Wolves boys team (55) took second place behind West Bloomfield (52.5). Lake Orion (79) and Rochester Adams (138) finished third and fourth on the day.
Eric Weiland (34.18) and Chris Bland (34.74) took second and third places in the giant slalom. Tyler Kenerson (35.30) finished in sixth place.