Jamie Lammers, Nederland. The Nederland alpine and Nordic ski teams had a lot to celebrate at the end of their respective seasons. The alpine ski team qualified for the Colorado High School Ski League State Championships and participated in the event at Beaver Creek from February 26 to February 28, 2020. 

The Nederland Boys Alpine Slalom placed second in the state of Colorado, and many individual members of the ski-team took home awards of their own. Max Lynch, co-captain of the alpine ski team (shared with Kale Lantz), took home Most Valuable Skier and made the Colorado All State Ski Team in Slalom. 

Captain of the girl’s alpine ski team Bella Lynch placed fifth in the state of Colorado for the Girl’s Skimeister Award. Parker Newby won the Panther Award, Annabel Ivey was voted Most Improved Skier, and Townes Bakke (who qualified for states along with Paul Masters, Aric Olson and Lars Luscher) placed fourth in the state for the Boy’s Skimeister Award. Bakke said that the season was a total blast, the championships were a great way to end the season, and he was thankful that the championships took place two weeks before the quarantine commenced.

The Nordic ski team also had quite a few reasons to celebrate after competing in the Colorado High School Activities Association State Championships at Maloit Park in Minturn. Ben Nichols was the captain of the boy’s Nordic ski team and Helen Cross was the captain of the girl’s Nordic ski team. Among the girls, Cross, Mackenzie Weber, Annabel Ivey, and Bella Lynch all qualified to participate in the state championships. Among the boys, Nichols, Townes Bakke, Zach Weiner, and Paul Masters were selected as representatives for the championships. Cross said of the season that “the Nordic team and season this year was the perfect denouement to [her] sports career at Nederland High School,” fondly remembering walking up steep 70 degree inclines and eating a breakfast of cinnamon rolls with her teammates. She expressed special appreciation for Coach Mariah Colton, who took care of everyone on the team and was incredibly organized the entire year. The Nederland ski team took pride in working hard for the sport they absolutely love, and for all of them from freshman to seniors, it was the perfect end to their season.

Nederland Native Team Members

Boys Nordic: Townes Bakke, Zeke Fitzer, Paul Masters, Ben Nichols, Aric Olson, Lucas Schalz, and Zach Weiner.

Girls Nordic: Ivy Brundege, Helen Cross, Meagan Figgins, Megan Hess, Bella Lynch, Eirwen McClish, Ely Nitsch, Violet Rainwater, Natalie Taylor, Rose Taylor, Mackenzie Weber, and Takira Weise.

Boys Alpine: Kevin Ackerman, Townes Bakke, Kale Lantz, Lars Luscher, Max Lynch, Paul Masters, Parker Newby, Aric Olson, and Miles Zotti.

Girls Alpine: Maz Finch, Elise Harless, Annabelle Ivey, Bella Lynch, and Lucy Schalz.

Special thanks to everyone who helped gather information and supplied photos for this article.

The author apologizes for any names that may or may not be accidentally omitted, misspelled, or attributed to the wrong team.

(Originally published in the May 21, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)