This past Thursday, the Sturgeon Bay Ski and Snowboard team had another great showing in the 4th Northern Conference meet of the season, this time at Granite Peak in Wausau. The Clipper boys were led by Junior Ben Stephens, who finished 21st overall in the meet, and posted a top 20 performance in the Slalom event. Freshman Levi Ullman had improved times across the board, and Junior Xavier Jandrin improved in the Giant Slalom and Super G, but had a rough start in the Slalom event that prevented him from having a banner day.
On the girls side, Junior Julia Gregory led the Clippers, finishing 20th overall including top 20 times in the Giant Slalom and the Super G! Gregory also earned the nickname "Fancy Poles" from her coaches, but proved with her skiing that it's about more than the equipment. Senior Lilly Cihlar posted her best times of the year, and recorded the best celebratory wipe-out in the terrain park that we may or may not have on video (and could make an appearance at the end-of-season party). Other Clippers in action on Thursday were Junior Tori Alger, and Freshmen June VanLieshout and Jordis Brilla. For the second straight week, the Clipper girls finished ahead of their bitter rivals, the Lady Hodags of Rhinelander.
The team has this week off and will return to action at the final conference meet of the season on February 11th at Ski Brule. The T.J. Walker Middle School ski trip will also be held at Brule that day and rumor has it that Coach VanLieshout will be secretly timing 8th graders as they fly down Big Bear (hopefully not a WIAA recruiting violation)!
