In his second year at the helm of the Lake Orion ski program, Derek Delzer is hoping to land not one, but two teams at the state finals.
Both the boys? and girls? teams opened among the state’s top 10 teams.
‘It’s good to have those expectations, and it’s a goal we set at the beginning of the season to make it to the state meet,? Delzer said. ‘And we want to do well once we get there, too.?
Last year, the girls? squad finished seventh in the state finals at Marquette, in what was their sixth straight trip to the final nine.
Emily Loerch led the team by placing 21st in the giant slalom, helping her earn All-State honorable mention recognition.
The team didn’t lose anyone to graduation in the offseason and added a few talented freshmen.
Delzer said Loerch and fellow varsity veteran Julia Jabczenski have been trading the top spot back and forth a bit. Jabczenski placed first at the Waterford Invitational earlier this year and Delzer has been pleased with her times.
Along with the freshmen, like Allison Mitchell, Delzer said returning varsity skiers like Ashley Simpkins and Kelsey Lepper are making the squad one of the deepest in the state.
‘Our strength this year is that we’ve been able to take groupings of points away from teams, so we’ve been finishing really tight as a team,? the coach noted.
Last week, the team beat Andover 26-52 and Rochester 20-67.
The boys? team, meanwhile, is hoping to return to the finals after a one-year absence (they were fifth in 2006), and Delzer said his young team gained some valuable experience last season.
‘On the boys? side there’s been some really good competition,? Delzer said. ‘We’ve been enjoying seeing different boys step up at different races, and we hope that will continue.?
Brian Arsen placed fourth to lead the team at the Waterford Invitational and Delzer has also been impressed with the efforts of Ian and Zach Prochaska and Nick Ciaramella, among others.
Last week, the team topped Andover 20-67 and Rochester 25-56.
Both teams are off to good starts, with the girls? sitting at 3-1 in SouthEast Michigan Ski League (SEMSL) action and the boys? a perfect 4-0. The girls? also captured the Waterford Invitational, with the boys? placing second there.
They’ll get a chance for revenge against Waterford this week, a team Delzer said is definitely the SEMSL favorite on the boys? side.
He noted that the girls? team should compete for the league crown with the likes of Notre Dame and Clarkston.
‘I think when we’re on we’ll compete with anybody,? Delzer said.