Forty-eight high school athletes will be representing Sault Ste. Marie today as the Northern Ontario Secondary School Athletics (NOSSA) Championship for Nordic skiing gets underway in Sudbury.
Skiers from Korah, Superior Heights, White Pines, St. Mary’s College, and Notre-Dame-du-Sault will compete in a variety of individual and team events throughout the day. Top finishers will advance to the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) Championship next week in Lakefield, Ont.
Last week, Hiawatha Highlands and the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club hosted the citywide high school championship to determine which athletes would move on to NOSSA.
Despite limited snowfall and icy conditions, organizers say the kids put on an outstanding showing.
The following medal winners will be representing NOSSA at the Nordic Skiing Championship today:
JUNIOR GIRLS
OPEN DIVISION
- 1st: Kate de Beer
- 2nd: Taylor Nieson
- 3rd: Myka Broad
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
- 1st: Maddie Couleman
- 2nd: Ariya Rooney
- 3rd: Sidney Kitchen
PARA-NORDIC EXHIBITION DIVISION
- 1st: Brooke Johnston
PARA-NORDIC COMPETITIVE DIVISION
- 1st: Melina Bernardo
AGGREGATE TEAM JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONS: KORAH
JUNIOR BOYS
OPEN DIVISION
- 1st: Simon Trombello
- 2nd: Ryan Elgie
- 3rd: Mateo Ivora
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
- 1st: Kieran Dopp
- 2nd: Zackory Henderson
- 3rd: Makks Demidovich
AGGREGATE TEAM JUNIOR BOYS CHAMPIONS: KORAH
SENIOR GIRLS
OPEN DIVISION
- 1st: Anna Towle
- 2nd: Rhiannon Barbeau
- 3rd: Ahnika Davey
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
- 1st: Sadie Pedler
- 2nd: Aili Luomaranta
- 3rd: Mya Moody
AGGREGATE TEAM SENIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONS: KORAH
SENIOR BOYS
OPEN DIVISION
- 1st: Erik Kary
- 2nd: Tysten Kahtava
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
- 1st: Josh Lamming
- 2nd: Linden Devries
- 3rd: Alder Devries
AGGREGATE TEAM SENIOR BOYS CHAMPIONS: WHITE PINES
OVERALL AGGREGATE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CHAMPIONS: KORAH
“Event organizers would like to thank Hiawatha Highlands for generously allowing high school athletes without equipment to rent equipment and trail passes for free not only for this event but throughout this whole year and for NOSSA and OFSAA,” said cross-country organizer Greg MacLachlan. “Organizers are also grateful to all the coaches and volunteers who work hard to put these events on so that kids can enjoy a sport which celebrates the beauty of the outdoors.”
The high school championship culminated in a banquet held at White Pines last Wednesday.
According to MacLachlan, the event was supported generously by Metro Churchill Plaza, Metro Second Line, Metro Northern Avenue, Aurora's Hillside, and National Grocer's Wholesale Club – all whom donated food, plates, cutlery, and drinks to feed athletes, coaches, volunteers, and parents for an awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, elementary-aged skiers had a strong showing of their own when student athletes from across the district gathered for the city championship at Hiawatha last Tuesday.
Ranging from ages eight to 13, the younger athletes competed in eight races from distances of one kilometre to four kilometres.
“Event organizers would like to thank Soo Finnish volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep the trails open by shovelling snow from the woods onto the trail,” MacLachlan said. “Ski enthusiasts are still hoping and praying for more snow as Hiawatha is set to host some important races in March from the Ontario Youth Championships to the Beaver Freezer.”
The following athletes earned medals at the elementary championship meet:
Grades 3/4 Girls
- 1st: Maren MacLachlan
- 2nd: Emmy Clowater
- 3rd: Hadley Jones
Grades 3/4 Boys
- 1st: Sawyer Johnston
- 2nd: Owen Euale
- 3rd: Tarmon Aho
Grades 5/6 Girls
- 1st: Kayla Dunne
- 2nd: Gwen Tchir
- 3rd: Evelyn Teresinski
Grades 5/6 Boys
- 1st: XiaoKang Cui
- 2nd: Theo Swiderski
- 3rd: Nate Slagel
Grade 7 Girls
- 1st: Aurora Aho
- 2nd: Neve Purvis
- 3rd: Olivia Anthony
Grade 7 Boys
- 1st: Owen Robertson
- 2nd: Gavin Bisaillion
- 3rd: Walker Toms
Grade 8 Girls
- 1st: Arabella MacLachlan
- 2nd: Jenna de Beer
Grade 8 Boys
- 1st: Jasper Tchir
- 2nd: Zach Dunne
- 3rd: Cash Lajoie