BOYNE FALLS — It took about two months to get the season going for the Petoskey ski teams, but now that it has, it’s going by in a flash.
For the second time this week Big North Conference teams took to the hill for competition, as Gaylord welcomed the rest of the league to Boyne Mountain for a conference race Thursday.
Things played out much like earlier in the week when teams took to Schuss Mountain and both Traverse City West teams earned victories, as the Titans swept the day at Boyne Mountain as well.
Traverse City Central then followed in second place in both races, Petoskey’s boys were third, then the Petoskey and Cadillac girls each came away with a 104 total between the giant slalom and slalom runs.
It was also another big individual day for Petoskey’s teams, as two first place finishes once again came from Marley Spence for the PHS girls.
In four races now, Spence isn’t just four for four, she’s a perfect eight for eight on runs, as she hasn’t even dropped a discipline run to an opponent this season.
She opened Thursday’s race with a first place finish in the slalom in 1 minute, 24.13 seconds, then turned around and added an afternoon first in the giant slalom in 1:02.18.
Cadillac’s Onalee Wallis was second in the slalom, while Pearl Hale of Central was second in the GS.
Also for Petoskey’s girls in the slalom, Cassidy Whitener was 10th (1:33.72), Sydney Hoffman was 21st (1:41.00) and Olivia Nemec, 24th (1:42.80).
In the giant slalom, Whitener was then 12th (1:07.02), Hoffman took 16th (1:08.45) and Nemec placed 19th (1:09.44).
Petoskey’s girls once again had just four compete on the day.
Along with Spence this season, West’s Caleb Lewandowski has been a dominant force on the boys side and he swept both races Thursday.
Petoskey’s Nolan Walkerdine placed second overall in the slalom race, laying down a combined time of 1:20.02.
Wyatt Mattson then followed Walkerdine in 10th place in 1:23.59, followed by Gavin Galbraith, 12th (1:26.41); Charlie Thomas, 19th (1:30.88); and Taylor Keiswetter, 20th (1:31.70).
Petoskey’s boys opened the day with some tough finishes in giant slalom, needing to make a few climbs for missed gates and picked up one DNF (did not finish).
Mattson led the way in a strong third place finish in 1:02.86, Nolan Walkerdine was sixth (1:03.44), Keiswetter, 38th (1:12.89); Carter Walkerdine, 44th (1:15.58); and Galbraith, 48th (1:18.77).
The fast rolling season continues for Petoskey next week, as they return to competition in another Big North race at Crystal Mountain on Monday, Jan. 30, hosted by TC West.
The first hosted race for Petoskey will then follow on Monday, Feb. 6 at Nub’s Nob.
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