Submitted by Scott West Nordic Ski
The Scott West Nordic ski team tackled a demanding course at Battle Creek Wednesday, gaining valuable experience ahead of their upcoming conference and section races. The hilly terrain provided a unique test for the athletes, emphasizing muscle endurance and race strategy with its extended climbs and descents.
“The course gives us a bit of a different different perspective with longer climbs and longer downhills” said coach Lisa Jamison. “This course makes us stronger for our conference course at Wirth and our section course at Hyland.”
Adding to the challenge was the snow condition. Unlike the protected trails at Wirth, Battle Creek’s open course allows snow to transform quickly, making it glazed and more difficult to glide on. Skiers had to exert extra power in every gear to maintain speed, further testing their strength and technique.
Despite the tough conditions, Scott West skiers delivered impressive performances across both varsity and junior varsity levels.
Boys’ Varsity Secures Second Place Finish
For the first time all season, the boys’ varsity team had its five most experienced skiers in the lineup, providing a clearer picture of their potential. The team placed second overall with 444 points, just behind Two Rivers (458 points).
Leading the way was Isaac Bemmels, who placed third overall with a time of 16:15. Ben Pint, despite racing with a broken boot, finished 12th (17:23), followed closely by Caden Riga in 13th (17:24). Jackson Nagel came in 15th (17:47), while Wilson Menden secured 18th place (18:08), marking his third consecutive meet as a point scorer.
The team showed great resilience, particularly Elias Newson, who suffered a major collision at the bottom of a fast hill but still managed to finish 28th (19:20).
Girls’ Varsity Places Fourth in Competitive Field
The Jordan girls’ varsity team placed fourth overall with 421 points in a meet that featured 13 teams, including new competitors from Two Rivers.
Tirzah Juaire led the team, finishing 6th overall (19:33). Izzy Haugen followed in 14th (20:51), maintaining a steady pace on the climbs. Addy Giles placed 16th (21:01), showing aggressive V2 technique in the final stretch. Anayah Hill and Elsa Schwingler rounded out the team’s scoring, finishing 21st (21:26) and 27th (22:08), respectively.
The girls continued to improve their form, transitions, and downhill aggression, gaining valuable experience against top competition.
Notable JV Performances
The junior varsity skiers also made a strong showing on the challenging course. Tyler Frey led the boys' JV team, clocking in at 22:23. First-year skier Ben Saunders followed with a 26:32, while Alex Schenck (27:05), Noah Hornaman (31:03), and Baret Schatz (31:39) completed the lineup.
Among the girls, Evy Gunderson finished the 5K JV race in 25:34, while Ella Ralston (15:11) and Loyalty Malone (20:39) opted for the 2.5K loop.
Looking Ahead to Conference Championship
With the Battle Creek meet behind them, the Scott West Nordic team now turns its focus to the Twin Cities Conference Championship on Monday, January 27, at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.