Having an abnormal winter can slow some down on the slopes – but not Clarkston. Both ski teams finished last week in the top three at MHSAA Division 1 Regionals.
The boys finished in first place with 45.5 points at Pine Knob Ski Resort last Thursday, ahead of Lake Orion, in second place, and Grand Blanc, in third place.
The girls finished in second place with 122, in front of Grand Blanc, third place, and behind Fenton.
“The girls did fantastic,” said Mike Foyteck, head coach for the Clarkston Ski teams. “They really skied well. It was one of their goals to be in the top three in the region. I was really happy with them. Overall the boys skied well. It wasn’t a clean race.
Ryan Callahan finished in first place overall for the boys in the giant slalom, 34.74, and slalom, 41.88.
“It was nice to see that,” said Foyteck.
For the slalom, Grant Huber finished in second place, 42.77; Derek VanItallie, in third, 42.84; and Lance Holsbeke, 44.09.
In the giant slalom, VanItallie, in fourth, 35.57; Huber, sixth, 35.65; and Holsbeke, in 18th, 36.19.
Caroline Spytman led the girls during the slalom race, finishing in 11th place in the time of 51.99. Karoline Holsbeke finished in 16th, 53.00; and Olivia Dunn, 18th, 53.40.
Holsbeke led in the giant slalom, finishing at 37.82 for eighth place. Dunn finished in 12th, 38.05; Lauren Martin, 16th, 38.52; and Maddie DeClerq, 17th, 38.63.
“They skied really well together as a team,” Foyteck added. “Karoline and Olivia have been skiing well all year long.”
Heading into the MHSAA State Finals on Monday at Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs, the teams prepared by training up north during their extended break.
“There are some pretty fast girl teams,” Foyteck said, looking ahead. “The boys team looks really good. They are a contender for the title this year, after being runner-up last year. It will come down to the Monday race and if we don’t have any problems.”