Barbara Lawlor, Aspen Highlands.  On Wednesday, February 24, Twenty-six members of the Nederland High School Ski team headed west to compete in the Colorado State Ski Championships in Aspen, at the Aspen Highlands. These 26 skiers have, throughout the season, placed high enough in state qualifying events to be part of the year’s final competition. Two alpine events and two Nordic events, slalom, giant slalom, skate and classic races took place Thursday and Friday.

The Ned girls took first place in the slalom competition for the season and tied for second in the giant slalom for the state competition.

The Aspen Highland courses were very technical says coach Montana Fels and they were located on a hard run. A large part of the team’s training involved focusing mentally and taking their time to study the course before they hurtled down the hill, in and out of the gates. Even though the courses were difficult, the Ned skiers all approached it with a sense of patience and understanding that they would have to ski it in their individual ways, and not let the difficulty affect them.

“They all really impressed me with their ability to focus on themselves instead of the things that they could not change.”

Coach Fels says that before they left for Aspen they talked about coming together as a team and to feel the enormity of competing at a state level competition. She was impressed that the athletes were able were able to compete as one. She was happy with the way that they all supported each other.

Junior Cassidy Donohue stood out throughout the weekend, says Coach Fels. “She showed up ready to race, but was also very team oriented. She was very mindful of both her own skiing and her teammates. She had some impressive finishes, but most of all I was impressed with her drive, and focus. She had exceptional grace in both her skiing and her duty as a captain.”

Nordic coach Jen Lavely was proud that she had five state participants. Sarah Davidson represented Nederland in both the skate and classic competition, and skimeisters Adler Mueller and Scout Edmondson experienced their future as Nordic and Alpine skiers.

NHS Panthers times and places:

Boys Giant Slalom

4th of 11 teams

13. Bailey Roland. J. 601  1:36.75

15. Trig Campbell. Sr 603, 1:38.21

16. Quin Kuechenmeister. S, 609, 1:38.23

34. Jacob Scheiffler, S. 517, 1:44.06

37. Fr 612, Adler Muelle, 1:45.42

39. Fr. 610. Talus Lantz, 1:46.41

43. Jr. 621. Decla Stone-Murphy, 1:47.15

53. So. 608, John Irwin, 1:50.27

54. Jr. 618, Cole Skilbred, 1:50.77

55. Fr. 776, Scout Edmondson, 1:51.54

Boys Slalom: 4th place, 13 teams,

11. S. 609, Quin Kuechenmeister 1:20.3

16. Sr. 603, Trig Campbell, 1:23.07

20. Christian Wood, J. 624, 1:26.36

24. Alden Soto, Fr. 620, 1:26.36

26. Jr. 618. Cole Skilbred, 1:28.34

Girls Giant Slalom

Tied for second with Aspen

13 teams, 77 starter

6. So. 344. Delaney Pratt,1:38.18

9. Jr. 333, Cassidy Donohue, 1:39.48

19. Jr. 343. Natalie Platt, 1:43.74

34. Sr. 342. Brita Luscher, 1:46.99

39. J. 336. Taylor Folwell, 1:48.98

Girls Slalom,   fifth place, 72 skiers

10. Jr. 333,  Cassidy Donohue, 1:28.08

29. Sr/ 342. Brita Luscher,1:37.42

30. Jr.336, Taylor Folwell, 1:37. 45

33. Jr. 343, Natalie Platt, 1:38.14

Nordic Classic girls

23. Sarah Davidson, 20:58.1

Nordic classic boys

47. Kiernan McClish: 18:56.7

53. Adler Mueller: 19:24.9

62. Bryce Nichols, 20:29.3

Nordic Skate, girls

19. Sarah Davidson, 17: 50.1

Nordic Skate boys

42. Kiernan McClish. 15.59.4

48. Scout Edmonson: 16:08.0

61. Bryce Nichols: 17:04.4