The Clipper Ski and Snowboard team is making the most of the little snow that Mother Nature is throwing our way. The third meet of the shortened ski and snowboard season is in the books, with accolades piling up on both sides of the hill. At the Mt. Ashwabay meet on Tuesday, Senior Tristan Brilla executed another fantastic performance to finish in second place, but less than 3 seconds (spread out over four runs) behind first-place finisher Owen Repenshek from Rhinelander. For those scoring at home, Brilla edged out his Hodag rival in the first meet of the season, Repenshek was a no-show at the second meet, and then Brilla came up just short of the title at Mt. Ashwabay. With two meets remaining and a format change coming up on Saturday at Ski Brule, Tristan looks to take control of the individual standings and slide on into a state meet berth over the course of the next week. The fourth meet of the snowboard season at Ski Brule will feature a Boardercross format rather than the standard Slalom and Giant Slalom events used on other hills. Good luck Tristan!
In the girls snowboarding events, newcomer Makensie Mclain (and by newcomer, we mean that she never snowboarded before this year), has now registered 18 straight runs without missing a gate. She will be experiencing the Boardercross format for the first time in her career on Saturday. Keep the streak alive Makensie!
In the skiing events, Senior Julia Gregory led the way for the Clippers, coming in at 21st overall in the meet. Gregory posted a season-best performance in the Super G, which is high school skiing's equivalent of the Olympic downhill event. Way to fly, Julia! Sophomore June Vanlieshout had her best time of the season in the Giant Slalom, and fellow Sophomore Jordis Brilla registered her best meet of the season by finishing 22nd overall, just behind her Senior mentor.
Senior Ben Stephens represented the Clippers on the boy's side of the ledger with a solid performance and a top-25 finish overall. As any Senior leader should, he also polished off a Bubbl'r, a flavored water, a Dr. Pepper, Pop Tarts, a Jimmy John's sandwich, and an AmericInn hotel breakfast, setting the pace for the rest of the team on how to make the most out of a memorable, nutritious ski team overnight trip.
Good luck to the Clippers as they take on the rest of the Northern High School Ski and Snowboard conference this weekend at Ski Brule and Tuesday at Snowriver Mountain Resort.
Pictured are L-R Top Row Coach Brian Stephens, Ben Stephens (12), Tristan Brilla (12), Makensie Mclain (11), Coach Josh VanLieshout, and L-R Bottom Row June VanLieshout (10), Julia Gregory (12), Jordis Brilla (10).
