The Clarkston girls ski team blazed a new trail for ‘flatland? schools across the southern portion of the mitten as they skied there way to second place at the MHSAA state finals at Boyne Highlands on Feb. 27.
‘We’ve done something that has never been done before,? Clarkston Coach Mike Foyteck said.
Dating back to 1975, no girls team from below the thumb has ever finished higher than third place at the state meet. The Wolves finished third at the 2005 state finals.
Traverse City West won the 2006 Class A state championship with a combined score of 46. Clarkston followed with 85. Marquette took third place with 147, followed by Lake Orion (151) and Rockford (178).
‘Traverse City West skied phenomenal, but they didn’t run away from the field,? Foyteck said.
On the day, Clarkston’s best runs came in the giant slalom as Hannah Wolf took second overall. Wolf was followed by Maddy Dunn (eighth) Alyssa Vermeulen (ninth), Erica Halsey (16th) and Heather Baron (17th).
‘They had a great day ? we skied as a team,? Foyteck said.
In the slalom, Wolf led the way for Clarkston in the slalom as well, finishing in third place overall. Vermeulen took ninth in the slalom, followed by Halsey (20th), Dunn (30th) and Baron (36th).
For Foyteck and the girls ski team, being state runner-up means there is some unfinished business to take care of next year.
‘It was a sour but sweet finish,? Foyteck said.
The Wolves should be well positioned to make a run next year as only Alyssa Vermeulen graduates this year.
‘We’re going to miss her (Vermeulen) alot, but we have six girls that would have pointed on another varsity team all year long competing for her spot,? Foyteck said. ‘The girls haven’t even touched what their potential is.?
Lost in the hubbub surrounding their lofty finish at the state finals was the Clarkston’s girls 10th straight regional championship on Feb. 22. The girls ski team also won the SEMSL meet on Feb. 23 before heading up to Traverse City to practice before the state finals.