Laramie High School Nordic Ski Teams Enjoying Resurgence

During the 2013 season the Laramie High School cross country ski program has reached heights they haven't experienced in quite some time. Now with the Wyoming State Nordic Ski Championships here, the Plainsmen are looking to accomplish something they never have, while the Lady Plainsmen are seeking the top spot for the first time in 25 years.

Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area outside of Lander, Wyoming is the host site of this year's Wyoming State Championships. Friday and Saturday will bring the biggest test of the season. The Lady Plainsmen have won only two titles in school history, and those were back in 1987 and 1988. The Plainsmen have never won a Nordic state championship.

Laramie Nordic ski coach Rebecca Watson says, "I am completely confident in this group. They will go out, and they will ski amazingly well. They have all year."

What's on tap is an 8 kilometer skate race on Friday with the boys starting in 15 second intervals at 9:30 a.m. The girls follow with a 10:15 a.m. start. Saturday brings about an 8.25 kilometer classic race. The ladies will begin first at 9:30 a.m. followed by the gentlemen at 10:15 a.m.

Watson believes the course will be a factor. She says, "It is tough, intense terrain. We are doing two, 8K's, back-to-back, which is intense. There are good climbs and technical downhills, but all things we have been skiing on all year up at Happy Jack and working on everyday for practice. So nothing that is going to be surprising."

Laramie has had great success during the current season, and it's been both on a team level and individually. The Plainsmen have won four races this season at Cody, Pinedale, Casper and Jackson. The Lady Plainsmen also won in Casper and have finished second in the other three competitions. Sophomore Tilden Zars has been the leader for the boys squad, as he has captured two races, in Casper and Jackson, during this season. It's been a year in which the Plainsmen have routinely put four or five in the top 15 or 20 of each race, while the Lady Plainsmen are used to seeing similar results.

Senior Mason Vincent says their success has been pretty nice, "It's been unusual for Laramie nordic to be at the top, and now that we are, it's nice to see it that way, and we hope to keep it that way."

All the good news has catapulted LHS into a position they're unfamiliar with, but believe that it's been coming.

Sophomore Tighe Jones says, "Last year was sort of building up to this. We were definitely better than the year before, but nothing like we are this year. It's really, really fun to know that we actually have an opportunity to do well and put our name on the map."

Watson says the success is thanks to a couple of factors. She says, "I attribute it (the success) to the group of athletes that I have this year, especially my senior leadership, and also my assistant coach Dan Lewis."

Training was affected early on with a lack of snow and Watson believes that has actually aided in their positive outcomes. "The first five weeks were dry land. For better or for worse, it made us fit and strong and ready to ski."

This weekend we'll get to see if it all comes together for LHS. Their main competition will come from defending state champion Jackson.

For results of the weekend racing and team scores, click here.