By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU – It’ll be a tough act to follow, but a welcome challenge for the Viking Nordic ski teams.
Contributed photo/MaineLine Studios
CARIBOU NORDIC GIRLS – Members of the girls’ Nordic ski team at Caribou High School are, in front from left, Rahel Donner, Angelita Hernandez, Sirena Cyr, Nicole Cyr, Laura Collins, Katie Plourde, Nicole Madore and Olivia Sleeper. Middle row, Chelsea Bard, Kelly Kashian, Madison Outing, Emily Soderberg, Samantha Murchison, Kendra Stephens, Ashley Richards, Meredith Sleeper and Mackenzie Belyea. Back, assistant coach Bob Sprague, coach PJ Gorneault, assistant coach Evan Graves and assistant coach Brian Powers.
Last year was a memorable one, especially for the girls’ team, which captured its first state title in school history.
Caribou returns six of its top seven skiers from a year ago, including Laura Collins, who placed third in the classical state meet and fourth in the freestyle while taking runner-up honors in the skimeister competition.
Others back are Katie Plourde, Kendra Stephens, Ashley Richards, Emily Soderberg and Madison Outing.
Coach P.J. Gorneault said there are others on the squad who will challenge for top positions.
“We have a great group of talented and motivated girls who are going to push the others to keep their spots,” Gorneault said.
The girls team has a total of 17 members. Others on the team are Rahel Donner, Angelita Hernandez, Sirena Cyr, Nicole Cyr, Nicole Madore, Olivia Sleeper, Chelsea Bard, Kelly Kashian, Samantha Murchison, Meredith Sleeper and Mackenzie Belyea.
The Caribou boys squad also was among the best in the state in 2010. The Vikes were third at last year’s state competition and have four talented skiers back from that team.
D.J. Flynn, Caleb Chapman, Christian Sleeper and Jesse Sandstrom are the top veteran returnees. Flynn placed fourth in last year’s state freestyle meet, while Chapman came in fourth in the classical race at the state championships.
Contributed photo/MaineLine Studios
CARIBOU NORDIC BOYS – Members of the boys’ Nordic ski team at Caribou High School are, in front from left, Tyler Strid, Keith Draper, Kevin Strid, Ezra Duplissie-Cyr, Ryan Washington, Graham Freme, Matt Coty and Alex Murchison. Middle row, Kjetil Rossignol, Josh Kovach, Nick Dobson, Caleb Chapman, DJ Flynn, Christian Sleeper, Marc Sturzl, Jesse Sandstrom and Cody Charette. Back, assistant coach Bob Sprague, coach PJ Gorneault, assistant coach Evan Graves and assistant coach Brian Powers. Absent when photo was taken was Ron Lund.
Gorneault believes the success of this year’s cross country running team, which won the state title, should benefit his ski team as well.
“The boys team is a little more wide open this year than in the past in the sense that we had more boys on the team run cross country than ever before,” Gorneault said. “We have a lot of guys whose fitness level is better to start the season than before. It will be exciting to see how that translates over to their racing.”
Others on the 18-member team are Tyler Strid, Keith Draper, Kevin Strid, Ezra Duplissie-Cyr, Ryan Washington, Graham Freme, Matt Coty, Alex Murchison, Kjetil Rossignol, Josh Kovach, Nick Dobson, Marc Sturzl, Ron Lund and Cody Charette.
Gorneault said despite a tough preseason due to the lack of snow, members of both squads have kept a good attitude while doing what they’ve been able do to get ready for the season ahead.
“Preseason practices have been frustrating to say the least,” said Gorneault prior to Monday’s snowstorm. “We are kind of stuck in the middle with not enough snow to get good training in on skis but enough to make it hard to do dry land training on the trails.
“The kids have been great, though, working their best – given the conditions.”
Gorneault said due to many of the athletes being in good physical condition entering the season, the coaching staff’s focus has been “to keep building that base, while getting in two quality workouts each week, and getting their ‘ski muscles’ in shape,” he added.
He said his goals are to improve on each individual’s skiing, through technique and races, and for both the girls and boys to be contenders again at both the county and state meets.
Gorneault is being assisted by Robert Sprague, Evan Graves and Brian Powers.
