Sault’s top cross-country skiers to compete at NOSSA today

Athletes from five area high schools are vying for medals in Sudbury, while elementary school skiers had strong showing at Hiawatha’s citywide meet last week

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1 / 1 High school athletes qualified for NOSSA last week during the citywide Nordic Skiing Championship at Hiawatha HighlandsPhoto supplied

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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