Nordic team skis with, supports each other

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Amodhya Samarakoon

The nordic ski team practices on the St. Paul Academy and Summit School campus on Nov 17. “As a team, we all have personalities that get along with each other…it creates a really great environment,” freshman Val Hart said. The team has a meet on Dec 4 at 3:45 at Elm Creek.

The Nordic ski season has started, and members already have high goals set for the season.

Senior and Nordic team captain Mike Destache hopes for the team as a whole, that since “there are a lot of middle schoolers, so we just want everyone to improve,” Destache said.

The Spartans finished the previous 2013-2014 season with the girls taking second in the Tri-Metro conference and placing fifth at the state meet, with the boys finishing fifth in the Tri-Metro conference. The team hopes to continue their success during the current season.

Meets last 3 to 4 hours, but don’t leave much room for downtime: “At least an hour before your race you are warming up,” Destache said.

The Nordic team also has a very close and supportive relationship with one another, and many of them carry on friendships from Cross-Country Running season in the fall into skiing season.“We have great team chemistry, everyone knows each other and welcomes new people. The team has buddy warm up and cool downs where a middle school student pairs up with an upper school student for an easy ski,” sophomore Neeti Kulkarni said.

“As a team, we all have personalities that get along with each other…it creates a really great environment,” freshman Val Hart said.

“Even though not everyone skies together we are always at the same venues so we all cheer each other on and support each other,” Destache said.