December 2, 2021 at 7:41 a.m.
Team preview: RHS Nordic skiing
Team preview: RHS Nordic skiing
That, in itself, is a drastic departure from the 2020-21 season for the Hodags.
Between COVID-19 protocols and an unusual winter of extremes, last season was tough on the Hodags, who had only four opportunities to race.
That's why news about Saturday's race is a breath of fresh air. With any luck, the Hodags will have something resembling a normal schedule this year with a number of invites leading up to the WNSL state distance championships in Cable in mid-February.
Whatever happens, coach Charil Reis said she's ready to roll with the changes with her squad.
"I'm feeling pretty calm about it," she said. "The one thing I've noticed this group does really well is they listen. I'll stop and tell them they're doing a good job listening. I don't think they get told that enough. They're respectful. They listen really well and I don't have to repeat myself a lot."
It's a much smaller group than in years past. The high school team is at 15 skiers this season, down from nearly 30 at its peak a couple of years ago. Last year's challenging season certainly played a role.
The Northwoods Nordic Ski Club, the booster club for the Hodag skiers, canceled the annual Hodag Nordic Challenge amid COVID-19 case rates that were higher than the threshold it set for being able to feasibly conduct a safe race.
Moreover, though, Mother Nature dealt the skiers a low blow last year. A lack of snow wiped out a number of early races. That was followed by a bitter cold snap that forced the cancellation of the Northern Conference meet, and the postponement of the WNSL state race. Once state rolled around in early March, the skiers competed under sun with the temperature near 50, with the spring thaw underway.
All the adversity took its toll last year, as the team brought only 11 high school skiers to the state championships. Numbers did not rebound much at the start of winter practice.
"I would say we're probably in a rebuilding stage again, but everything comes in waves and I'd say this is probably a foreseeable kind of wave - one that we can forecast pretty well," Reis said. "We have a little bit smaller team and we really have just a group of invested kids. Not to diminish anything from the past, I'm just fortunate to have what I have."
The numbers crunch is being felt most on the boys' side, where only four skiers are on the roster. Three return with previous high school experience. Junior Travis White finished 69th for the Hodag boys at last year's WNSL state pursuit race. Sophomore Charlie Loomis was 99th and senior Gavin Hackbarth finished 104th.
Freshman Iain Rumney rounds out the quartet of boys' skiers. Reis noted the two upperclassmen, have committed to the team's varsity-level competition quad, while Loomis and Rumney will start on the JV-level developmental team.
With three skiers required to field a team score, Reis said the Hodag boys may not qualify for team scores in events where there are separate varsity and JV designations. The state pursuit race does not have that designation, meaning the Hodags will be able to place as a team, so long as they have three finishers.
"The boys on the team, whether they are JV-ranked or varsity-ranked, are very excited about racing. They don't shy away from it," Reis said.
The girls' team boasts 11 skiers, including a core of three varsity skiers who all fared well as last year's state race.
Liana Teter, Callie Threlkeld and Anna Wood all placed in the top 40 overall as the Hodags placed eighth of 11 qualifying girls' teams at last year's state championships. The three are seniors now, and Reis said they will be looked upon to take the team to new heights.
"I really want to see the varsity girls band together this season and really work hard to form a good pack, support each other and push each other harder than we've every seen a varsity girls' team push each other. I really want them to go after something bigger than themselves at conference and at state this year."
With that in mind, Reis said she wants to focus this season on applying good technique and skiing fast on race day.
"I'm dealing with some very apt skiers who are willing to be coached," she said. "They really want to learn how to go fast. They already are very fit people. All I have to do is teach them a little more race strategy and hope for good wax."
Junior Olivia Gillen, who placed 72nd at state last year, returns for the Hodag girls. Freshman Brynn Teter, who was 15th in last year's middle school state championships, joins the high school pack this year. Other skiers on the girls' squad include senior Hannah Rumney, junior Juliana Smith, sophomore Maria Hubler and freshmen Luna Grage, Emma Mankus and Evelyn Simonsen.
After Saturday's opener, the team will race once more before the new year as the Lakeland Invite moves to a late Friday afternoon affair and plans to finish under the lights at Minocqua Winter Park Dec. 17.
Aside from New Year's, the team has races scheduled every weekend leading up to the state distance race in Cable Feb. 12 and 13. That includes the return of the Hodag Nordic Challenge at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom Jan. 22 and 23. The Northern Conference race will take place in Cable Tuesday, Feb. 1.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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