There’s no business like snow business, and business is good for the Harrison boys ski team.
The Hornets finished third at the Division 2 regional at Caberfae Peaks to earn a return to the state meet.
“The team had a great attitude going into regional and the boys were determined to make it to states,” said Harrison coach Linda Coon. “We all knew it was possible and the boys knew exactly what they had to do to make this dream come true for the third year in a row. They all skied hard and made it happen.”
Coon was confident that the Hornets would make the grade again when the season started, but there were a few unexpected bumps along the way.
“I knew we should make it, but I started getting a little nervous in the middle of the season,” she said. “Each one of them made little mistakes here and there, and they were mistakes that should not have been made. They have all skied together and raced together for years and they were better than what they were showing at times.
“I thought we should have been first at every meet, but we ended up third at some of the bigger ones. We’ll take that, but if we could have eliminated a few of the mistakes, we could have a few more trophies to display in the case at school with our name on them.”
Still, the Hornets were sharp at the regional and celebrated when the big announcement was made.
“At the end of the meet, they called each school’s name, starting with last place to first,” Coon said. “We knew it was going to be a close call between us and Glen Lake for third, and there was a lot of excitement on their faces when the announcer got to fourth place and said, `Glen Lake.’ We knew then that we had made it and the excitement level rose to high levels of cheers.”
Coon is in her third year at the helm of the Hornets and has had four standbys in the lineup for the duration.
Justin Williams leads the pack.
“He dominated the conference this year and tore up the hills as we travelled up north,” Coon said. “He earned medal after medal all season. He is just a natural.”
Jacob Jackson brought leadership, hard work and dedication to the mix, as well as a tendency to win medals. James Gillespie was another hard-working competitor and Jeremy Fillhard can, “keep up with the best of them on any given day,” according to Coon.
Also contributing throughout the season were newcomers Jens Oellers, an exchange student from Germany, Raymond Ramirez and Tyler Collins.
Harrison won the Central Alpine Ski Conference championship with Mount Pleasant second, Clare third and Saginaw Heritage fourth. The Pioneers were led by all-conference selections Ryan Lightman, Max Hosweder and Gavin Showalter.
Lightman finished second in giant slalom and sixth in slalom at the regional to qualify for the state meet as an individual.
“He made it last year in both events and he placed well in both throughout this season,” said Clare coach Ross Crawford. “He was around the top 20 last year, and if he can improve on that and place in the top 10, that would be a pretty big deal.”
Clare’s girls team will have two representatives at the state meet. Hannah Hosweder and Molly Merillat made it as individuals in one event each.
“Hannah did not have a good run in the slalom and she didn’t make it,” Crawford said. “Molly had an awesome run and got in. It was just the opposite in G.S.; Molly was not at her best, but Hannah did really well and made it.
“They are both seniors and they both made it last year in their same events, so I was glad they will both get to go back.”
The girls team at Harrison was young, except for senior Lexus Weldon and there was no doubt that she could be counted on in any situation.
“Lexus has been a great asset to the team since my first year,” Coon said. “We started that season with only four girls and lost one because of an injury, so we didn’t have enough for a team.
“Some of the girls called Lexus the night before a big race and asked if she would join. Without hesitation, she said, `sure,’ even though she had never raced before. She had never even practiced before, but she jumped into a set of skis and raced down one of the bigger hills, and from then on, she has been a member of this team and has helped the girls improve every season.”
Weldon will be gone next year, but freshman Abbigail Fillhard is expected to be back in a big way.
“She will be in the running for the states next year,” Coon said. “Her talent will take her a long way in a short period of time and the rest of the girls are right on her heels, so I am looking forward to coaching them next year.”