Submitted by Scott West Nordic Ski
The Scott West Nordic Ski team tackled a busy schedule this week, competing in two meets on consecutive days. The gamble paid off, with skiers delivering strong performances in both races.
On January 14, the team participated in a 5k classic meet at Battle Creek, where bitter cold temperatures created slow snow conditions. The boys placed fourth out of seven teams, while the girls finished seventh out of eight. Leading the boys' squad was Jackson Nagel, who set a personal record (PR) of 17:43 in the 5K classic, followed closely by Caden Riga at 17:44. Ben Pint (20:15), Elias Newson (20:22), and Wilson Menden (21:50) rounded out the top five point scorers for Scott West. Notable performances also included Owen Dahnert (22:25), and Tyler Frey (24:17).
On the girls’ side, Tirzah Juaire led with a 22:22 finish, followed by Addy Giles (23:00) and Anayah Hill (23:52). Other key contributors included Izzy Haugen (24:06), Elsa Schwingler (25:04), and Sophia Schwingler (25:15).
The following day, Scott West competed in a 5K skate race at Hyland Park Reserve, where faster snow conditions and recent training improvements resulted in PRs for many skiers. Senior Caden Riga delivered a stellar performance, finishing in 14:25—a new PR that solidifies his spot as the fourth-fastest skater in team history. Ben Pint followed with a 14:57, earning the seventh spot on the team’s all-time top 10 list. Jackson Nagel (15:00), Elias Newson came in 4th on the team, and Wilson Menden (16:17) completed the team’s top five finishers with a new PR.
Among the girls, Tirzah Juaire excelled once again, posting a PR of 17:13 and climbing to second place on the program’s all-time top 10 list. Senior Addy Giles also set a personal best (17:51), securing the fifth spot on the list. Izzy Haugen (18:44), Anayah Hill (19:00), and Ava Haugen (20:18) rounded out the team’s top five scorers.
The team celebrated significant improvements, with several athletes shaving minutes off their previous times. Notable PRs included Owen Dahnert (16:49, a five-minute improvement), Carter Bolster (19:11, a seven-minute drop), and Braxton Chanthavong (29:52, an eight-minute improvement). Additionally, five new skiers completed the full 5.4K course for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the team.
Head coach Lisa Jamison praised the athletes' dedication and steady progress, emphasizing how their efforts in form, transitions, and speed work have paid off. As a reward for their efforts, athletes will enjoy a team outing to Cherry Berry on Friday after practice—a well-earned celebration after a week of impressive performances.