Lo-Ellen Park Secondary’s powerful nordic ski program flexed its muscles at the Ontario high school championships at the end of February.
The Ontario Federation of Secondary School Athletics (OFSAA) championships for nordic skiing were held in Peterborough on Feb. 22-23.
Not only did the student athletes take home several individual and team honours, but the senior team also earned the Overall Combined Team Championship banner for the second straight year.
On the first day of matches, the junior girls’ and boys’ teams placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the five-kilometre team distance race. While the senior girls' team took silver in the seven-kilometre race, the senior boys captured gold on Day One.
On Day Two, team sprint relays were on order, with the junior girls placed fifth and the junior boys placed sixth. Meanwhile, the senior girls once again took home silver, while the senior boys repeated with a gold-medal performance.
The Lo-Elle Park senior team — made up of Finlay Cuza, Grace Thomas, Maija Nener, Gracie Dale, Audrey Kawa, Olivia Tissot, Russell Joiner, Sam Rice, Corey Lacroix, Owen Dobson and Austin Conroy — were also recognized as the top provincial team. This marked the fourth time since 2018 that Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School has claimed this title.
“Each of these honours gives us a great sense of pride in our Nordic ski program, which helps students develop the skills necessary to excel in any endeavour,” said Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School coach Colin Ward in a news release. “I am extremely proud of our athletes for their diligence, dedication and determination on and off the trails.”
Overall Individual Interval Start Results
Junior Girls
- Megan Pineau - 30th
- McKenna Mende - 39th
- Alex Hann - 41st
- Lea Maki - 53rd
- Leticia Da Silva - 139th
Junior Boys
- Hector Loiselle - 31st
- Chesley Godwin - 41st
- Grady Dale - 42nd
- Keir Gauld - 63rd
- Ben Lamarche - 91st
Senior Girls
- Finlay Cuza - 15th
- Grace Thomas - 24th (High School - 6th)
- Maija Nener - 26th
- Gracie Dale - 28th (High School - 8th)
- Audrey Kawa - 60th
- Olivia Tissot - 65th
Senior Boys
- Russell Joiner - 9th
- Sam Rice - 19th (High School - silver)
- Corey Lacroix - 25th (High School - 4th)
- Owen Dobson - 26th (High School - 5th)
- Austin Conroy - 62nd
