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Teresa, Cecelia, Joey and Michael Chmelik celebrate Cece’s effort at the Cloquet Invite. Photo courtesy of Kristen Carlsgaard
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Invite
What could be better than a leisurely, evening ski on a lighted trail with snow softly falling around you? Taking on that same trail at full speed in the face of an impending snowstorm! Cook County Nordic skiers did just that on January 4 at the Pine Valley Ski Area in Cloquet. Joining six other section teams at the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Invitational, our skiers looked forward to cooperating with their Two Harbors teammates as NORTH SHORE STORM. However, the actual approaching storm caused the TH bus to turn back, leaving the intrepid CC skiers to carry on. With help from assistant coach Mike Crook to find the right wax for the changing conditions, and after a warmup with head coach Jeanne Wright, it was up to each skier to take on the course.
First out were the varsity girls. Their race was twice around the 2.5K lighted course to complete the 5K distance in this classic-style race. Showing she is always in contention for a top spot, Olya Wright came in 5th in 18:49.6. Afterward, she felt she had some remaining energy and plans to adjust for the next race. With staggered starts every 30 seconds, Cecelia Chmelik started immediately behind Martine Redshaw. The two girls battled it out and encouraged each other over the entire course with Cece edging Martine for 34th and 35th places respectively. Della Bettendorf from Proctor/Hermantown earned 1st place (17:19.9), with Duluth East winning the team points.
Olya Wright Photo courtesy of Jeanne Wright
With no Cook County entries in the varsity boys’ race or in the Junior Varsity races, the next distance was 2.5K for our junior high girls. Emma Crook showed a lot of strength achieving a commendable 3rd place in 11:36.7. She was followed by teammate MJ Wharton with a steady middle-of-the-pack finish in 24th place. Leah Belmore, who was tired after the warmup, found new energy to complete her second-ever race. She tackled the last hill with determination for a 46th place finish.
Two Cook County boys participated in the junior high race. Eero Moody and Lute Jansen competed along with their team for the first time at this event. Both finished with energy remaining and smiles on their faces. Eero earned 36th place in 16:24.9 while Lute followed up with 45th in 18:23.7.
Athlete Focus: Senior co-captain Cecelia Chmelik has been on the ski team since 9th grade and grew up skiing in the Cook County Y-ski program. Her family joined her at the Cloquet race, including her brother Joey Chmelik, a CCHS Nordic skiing alumnus. Cece’s comments on the Cloquet race included, “Going into the race I was just excited to focus on my classic form. We had been working on our kick-double pole technique the week prior, and Cloquet’s course, with some flatter sections, was the perfect place to practice. I find that focusing on little techniques like this make the daunting task of racing a little easier. My highlight of the race was definitely the finish. I got to race my teammate Martine to the end. Although skiing is usually viewed as an individual sport, having teammates to motivate and push you is essential for cold ski meets like these. “
Mesabi East Invite
During the Nordic ski season Cook County skiers participate in eight meets hosted and attended by the twelve school teams in our section. The Mesabi East Invite is an altogether different scenario. It is the largest high school race in the nation and is held yearly at Giant’s Ridge near Biwabik. This past Saturday, four of our skiers were able to take part in this event: Cecelia Chmelik, Olya Wright, Martine Redshaw and Emma Crook. Team members from Two Harbors also attended. Over 800 skiers and more than 50 schools participated from all over Minnesota, NW Wisconsin and Michigan’s UP.
For this particular invitational, teams are allowed to send only 3 entrants for each varsity category: V-boys classic, V-girls classic, V-boys skate, V-girls skate. Teams also send 2 entrants for each of the categories at the junior varsity level. This means that our skiers competed against the best skiers from around the region. This is true not only at the varsity level but also at the Junior Varsity level as many larger schools are able to bump high-level varsity skiers into the Junior Varsity category.
Given the depth of numbers from which larger schools are able to draw, skiing this course allowed our athletes to see how they measured up individually against top skiers. In the varsity girls’ 5K classic event Martine Redshaw finished 74th (24.23.6) while Cecelia Chmelik took 81st (24.46.8) out of 129 entrants. Both girls passed several skiers on the long uphill out of the stadium. All that hill work at Pincushion pays off! After finishing the race Martine commented, “The long up hills and long down hills gave me time to think about my strategy. This is the best course that I’ve ever skied!” The girls’ event was won by Greta Hansen (18:14.7) of the Math and Science Academy.
In the varsity girls’ 5K skate, Olya Wright, nerves aside, finished in 6th (19:48.1) showing she can compete with the top skiers in the state. Ever improving, Olya has goals for her performance at Sections in February. Autumn Smith of TH finished an energetic, well-skied race in 54th (23:00.5) out of 131 participants. Two-time state champion Molly Moening from St. Paul Highland Park won 1st place (18.30.5).
The Junior Varsity girls’ skate race featured a smaller roster of 73 skiers. Two Harbor’s Jocelyn Carr placed 12th (24.13.3) after skiing a smart race. Team member Emma Crook placed 47th (28:14.4). Head coach Jeanne Wright commented, “This was Emma’s first 5K and first Junior Varsity race, choosing to challenge herself on a hilly and tough skate course.” Josephine Ryan of Duluth East won this event (21.11.9).
The Mesabi East event showed that, when the field is leveled number wise, our small but talented team can compete in the thick of things. Our combined varsity team of Martine, Cecelia, Olya and Autumn placed 24th out of 52 teams. Especially notable was the girls’ (Jocelyn, Emma and Lamar) Junior Varsity result. Their 3-person combo placed 16th out of 43 teams, most with 4-members.
Other Two Harbors participants included: Elijah Smith 107th (22:50.4) and Alex Mattson 109th (23:11.0), V-classic; Cyrus Myers 64th (19:35.8) and Ian Thorpe 92nd (21:30.8), V-skate.
Athlete Focus: Olya Wright, sophomore co-captain, is a multi-sport athlete, competing in cross-country, track and field, and Nordic ski. She has been on the ski team since 8th grade and grew up participating in the Cook County Y-ski program. Coach Jeanne Wright commented on Olya’s recent effort at the Mesabi Invite, “I want to highlight Olya’s accomplishment as she has been working really hard, skied well and ended with an impressive result.” Congratulations, Olya!
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