Amy Golden / agolden@skyhinews.com
Sking on a tough course in Aspen on Saturday, both the Middle Park boys and girls Nordic ski teams took third place in a sanctioned Colorado High School Ski League race.
For the girls, freshman Sylvia Brower was the top skier, taking fifth place overall and skiing the 5K course in 19 minutes, 49 seconds. She was 45 seconds behind the race winner, Emma Marsness of Aspen. Aspen and Battle Mountain were the top two teams in the event.
Other Panther skiers were Elizabeth Hammond (10th, 20:41), Maggie Barker (33rd, 24:18), Ellen Osborne (41st, 25:29), Sierra Jamison (47th, 26:25) and Selena Stoncius (52nd, 27:53).
For the boys team, Sebastian Brower was the top Panther skier in eighth place with a time of 16:59. Kimo Sullivan was close behind Brower with a ninth place finish and a time of 17:05. Alex Holinka was next for the Panthers in 11th place at 17:14, followed closely by Graydon Walker in 13th at 17:30.
The boys’ race was won by Taiga Moore of Aspen. The two teams in first and second were Aspen and Steamboat.
Other Panther finishers for the boys were Ethan Callarman (16th, 17:53), Gray Barker (19th, 18:08), Guy Granger (20th, 18:13), Vinny Troccoli (27th, 18:32), Kyle Vogelbacher (45th, 20:19), Will Kuhns (54th, 20:36), Andy Troccoli (68th, 21:34), Calvin Ciccarelli (71st, 21:49), Ewan Gallagher (72nd, 21:50), Chance Hein (77th, 22:43) and Jack Nesvara (103rd, 32:57).
The Panthers travel to Steamboat Springs this weekend for another Colorado High School Ski League event before the state meet Feb. 27 and 28 in Minturn.
EGMS takes 3rd, 4th
The East Grand Middle School Nordic ski team put in a third place finish for the boys and a fourth place finish for the girls Saturday in Aspen.
The top skier for the girls was Peyton Fosha, who finished in 11th place with a time of 15 minutes, 27 seconds on the 3K course skied in the skating (freestyle) technique. Other top skiers for the girls were Haley Miller with a 17th place finish and time of 16:29. Anna Lantermans was next for East Grand with a time of 17:11. Paige Vecchiarelli came in 26th at 19:31 while Sabra Forquer was 27th at 25:41.
The East Grand Middle School boys featured Dane Jensen as their top skier. He finished the course in 12:54 and was in eighth place. Next for the Cubs was Carter Chamberlin in 15th place (13:47), followed by David Hammond in 16th (14:09) and Kadin Starr in 17th (14:15). Other East Grand finishers were Alek Guziur, (20th, 14:33) and Patrick McCay (31st, 18:01).
The Aspen race was the last official race for the Cubs this season although there is an optional race for the East Grand skiers in Steamboat this weekend. The young East Grand team showed lots of improvement and determination during its 2019-20 season, the team’s coaching staff said.