2009-10 High School Skiing Preview: Ready & Waiting
Area nordic, alpine ski teams still waiting on Mother NatureBy PAUL WAGER, The Leader-Herald
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For the area's ski teams, the waiting is the hardest part.
With no snow on the ground, skiers must watch all of the other winter sports get well into their seasons before finally getting the opportunity to begin theirs.
When the ski teams finally get the chance to take to the slopes and trails, expectations will be high for some.
After finishing 45th at the state nordic skiing championship meet last year, Johnstown's Brett Schlesier will be bidding for a return trip this season. He also helped the Section II boys team to the overall title.
Schlesier also placed 12th at the Section II championships and was named a Section II all-star.
"Our program has greatly benefited from sending a new skier to states last year and we're looking to go back again this year," Johnstown coach Michael McHenry said.
The Johnstown boys team placed sixth as a team at the Section II meet at Lapland Lake in Benson and return several skiers in addition to Schlesier.
Jared Brower, Mertcan Dogan, Andy Liccardi and Connor Smullen all return to the trails for the Sir Bills this season. Brower was 42nd at sectionals last season, while Smullen was 53rd, Dogan was 56th and Liccardi was 61st.
The only loss from last year's roster is the departure of German exchange student Tim Stoehrmann, who placed 29th at sectionals.
Johnstown will add several new skiers to its lineup this season as Brian Schlesier, Brian Vair, Alex Kuban, Anthony McCarthy, Kyle Pollak and Evan Swedick have all joined the team.
On the girls side, Johnstown lost Elisa McIntosh and Marlaina Wing to graduation. Wing was 46th at sectionals last season, while McIntosh was 56th as the Lady Bills placed ninth as a team.
Like the boys team, the girls return plenty of experience.
Alyssa Brand, Ashley English, Elizabeth Havilcek, Abigail Heroth, Courtney Javarone and Taylor Simek all return after skiing last season for the Lady Bills.
Havilcek was 34th at second, Brand was 37th, Heroth was 41st, Javarone was 53rd and English was 57th.
Rounding out the Lady Bills' roster will be Katherine Bant, Amanda Cline, Beckie Hladik, Ashley Polidore and Stephanie DeLorenzo.
"Our team is still very new to the sport, but with our incredible improvement last season, and the addition of strong athletes as newcomers, for the first time in years, we are looking to be competitive in the section on both the boys and girls side," McHenry said.
An influx of numbers has the Mayfield boys and girls nordic teams optimistic heading into the new season.
Mayfield has added 11 new skiers to its lineup this season, meaning it will be able to field a full boys and girls team in competition this season.
The boys team lost its top skier, Josh Norman, from last year's team, but return four skiers to their lineup. Norman placed 14th at sectionals last season.
Returning for the Panthers will be Dave Krutz, Tom McClellan, Shaun Bridge and Josh Himpsl.
Krutz was 23rd at the sectional meet, Himpsl was 57th and Bridge was 63rd as Mayfield placed 10th as a team.
Completing the boys roster will be Matt Montgomery, Lucas Mormando, Jamie McNamara, Aaron Costa, John Brower and Sam Kilpatrick.
The Mayfield girls team also has increased numbers this season with eight skiers on its roster, including five returnees.
Leading the way for Mayfield is Evitza Nikollaj, who placed 18th at sectionals last season. Also returning are Jessica Glode, Nikki Quant, Lidija Nikollaj and Sarah Montgomery.
Quant was 31st at sectionals and Lidija Nikollaj was 49th as Mayfield placed seventh as a team.
The lone loss from last year's roster is Kathleen Dugan who placed 35th at sectionals.
Looking to fill that void will be a trio of newcomers. That group consists of Kelly Montanye, Emma Holly and Emily Antos.
"Last year's team was limited in its ability to score as a team due to its small size," Mayfield coach Ryan Bornt said. "The addition of 11 new skiers to this year's roster will allow the skiers to compete as individuals and as a team."
The Canajoharie nordic team features two returnees on its girls team and three on its boys squad.
Jenny Trahan and Cora Soodsma return for the girls after placing 58th and 62nd, respectively, at last year's sectional meet.
Max Prime, Taylor Macci and Josh Crouse return for the boys team, which placed seventh at last year's sectionals.
Macci was 16th, Prime was 31st and Crouse was 33rd at sectionals.
"The three boys should be solid if the weather works with us," Canajoharie coach Brent Watterson said.
Alpine Skiing
Like their nordic counterparts, the Johnstown alpine team is awaiting some assistance from Mother Nature.
After the Gloversville-Mayfield program went dormant for this season, the Johnstown team is the only alpine squad in the area.
First-year coach Jeff Krempa takes over a team that lost two boys and two girls to graduation.
The Johnstown boys team lost Patrick Javarone and Mario Balzano to graduation.
Johnstown placed eighth as a team at last year's Section II Championships at Gore Mountain in North Creek.
In the slalom competition, Balzano was 37th and Javarone was 38th, while in the giant slalom Javarone was 37th and Balzano was 42nd.
Despite losing Balzano and Javarone, the Sir Bills return a solid group of seven skiers.
That group includes captains Alex Glebe and Trevor Goderie.
Glebe was 40th in the slalom and 34th in the giant slalom at sectionals, while Goderie was 33rd in the giant slalom.
Also returning for the Sir Bills are Alex Simon, Ashton Day, Elliot Hockey, Tyler Dick and Tyler Hornidge.
Simon didn't compete at sectionals last season after placing 10th in the slalom and 25th in the giant slalom the previous year.
Hockey was 41st in the giant slalom and 39th in the giant slalom last season at sectionals.
Rounding out the Sir Bills' roster will be newcomers Joel Levin, Colin Dalmata and Tyler Schrader.
"I couldn't be more excited about this year's team, everyone is working very hard," Krempa said. "My expectations for the season are very high as we have many returning skiers."
The Johnstown girls alpine team lost Jami Murray and Sam Simek to graduation.
Murray was 26th in the slalom and 43rd in the giant slalom last season at sectionals, while Simek was 42nd in the slalom and 44th in the giant slalom.
Johnstown finished ninth as a team at sectionals and return two skiers from last year's squad.
Toria Rubinstein and Carly Ovitt both competed at sectionals for the Lady Bills last season. Rubinstein was 19th in the slalom and 42nd inthe giant slalom, while Ovitt was 49th in the slalom and 68th in the giant slalom.
"Last year, we built a great base and this year we are acting on it, I really believe in our kids and I know they will shine this year," Krempa said.
The nordic ski teams are scheduled to open their season Dec. 21 at the Johnsburg Invitational at Garnet Hill. The Johnstown alpine team is slated to hit the slopes for its first competition Dec. 29 when it host the annual Johnstown Christmas Race at Royal Mountain Ski Area in Caroga Lake.