BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Max Weidemann led the Wolves with his first place finish at Pine Knob on Jan. 18 as he finished his two races at 47.05.
The Clarkston Boys Varsity Ski team finished in third place out of all of the teams with 57 points. Justin Osborn finished in tenth place, 51.82; Cameron Brown in 12th place, 52.64; Ben Miller in 34th place, 1:04.21.
“The boys will be solid,” said Mike Foyteck, head coach for the boys before the season began.
Captains Weidemann, Jacob McIntosh and Justin Osborne agreed adding the boys intend to make another trip to the state finals.
“A good performance at states and probably finish in the top three,” Weidemann added.
Osborne added this season will be fun to watch because Clarkston will do well.
“It’s an exciting sport not many people have watched in person,” he said.
“It’s not just one dominant team anymore,” Weidemann added. “Now there are more kids on each team that race a higher level.”
The boys varsity ski team includes freshman Jacob Marra, sophomores Nicholas Bassman, Cameron Brown, Gavin Goik, Peyton Miller, Ryan Nicosia, Jacob Roeser; juniors Justin Osborn, Evan Raddatz, Max Weidemann; seniors Jacob McIntosh, and Benjamin Miller.
The Clarkston Girls Varsity Ski team finished in seventh place with 123 points, Jan. 18. The top players for the girls were Katie Bayley in 19th place, 1:02.54; Allison Osborn in 31st place, 1:10.03; Chloe Swanson in 36th, 1:15.45; and Olivia Foyteck in 37th place, 1:15.95.
The girls team has a lot of young talent with five freshman on the team and one new sophomore racer.
“Our team is growing,” said Bayley, team captain. “We might have a slow start, but we will finish really strong. Hopefully we will have a good run at regionals.”
Coach John Sych added they aren’t experienced racers but they are good skiers.
“It’s just a matter of learning the tactics of ski racing,” he said. “With the leadership of Katie as captain this year the girls will pick up quickly. There is a lot of comradery and chemistry between the girls so far. The girls get along real well and that’s very important.”
Bayley added having five freshman and one new sophomore racer will help the team for seasons to come.
“It’s easy to improve in ski racing with a lot of training.”
“I am looking forward to a good year,” said Sych. “I am looking forward to them doing well in the divisional race as well as our regional race which is a qualifier for the state race. I expect we will have a few for the state race.”
The Clarkston Girls Ski team is freshman Mia Farella, Olivia Foyteck, Jacqueline Gergle, Sophie Goik, Chloe Swanson; sophomores Julia Belinsky, Madison Floreno, Megan Ford, Annika Karlstrom, Kori Kloostra, Michaela Rodriguez; juniors Katie Bayley, Helen Josephson; seniors Micah Angus and Kaely Bolio.
This week the Wolves went against Detroit Country Day and Waterford United.
Next Monday and Tuesday they race against Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Adams before the divisional races Feb. 8 and 9.

  clarkston, Ski