Pothast, Boonstra lead peninsula at state skiing

With snow rapidly melting across Southcentral Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula’s cross-country skiing teams put another season in the books Saturday at the Alaska State Nordic Ski Championships in Anchorage.

Central peninsula schools Soldotna, Kenai Central and Nikiski battled marginal snow conditions for most of the season, and Kincaid Park offered more of the same for the three-day meet.

“It was a great season for us because we have a great team, but the snow conditions were absolutely terrible, except for a few occasions, throughout the year,” Soldotna coach Dan Harbison said. “We’re hoping next year it will dump tons of snow on us.”

Kenai coach Brad Nyquist said everybody around the state knew the conditions the central peninsula skiers had to train in, so they were impressed by their performances. The coach said he was proud of the way his squad rebounded from a tough Thursday.

“The kids came at it with a really good attitude,” Nyquist said. “Thursday was a lot of work.

“It was different conditions than they had been skiing in. They were used to ice and getting glide on anything they do, and they got the soft, slushy stuff.”

The Soldotna boys and Kenai girls led the peninsula in the cumulative team times at the meet.

The Kardinals girls finished seventh at 3 hours, 34 minutes, 3 seconds, while champion West was at 3:19:38. Homer was 13th and Soldotna was 14th.

On the boys side, the Stars were seventh at 4:08:04, while West won at 3:53:09. Kenai was 10th and Homer was 13th.

Friday, under continually warm skies, skiers did classical races and the race for the state Skimeister crown wrapped up.

“We kind of had every condition there was, and there were a lot of odd things happening,” Harbison said. “In the girls race, from the beginning to end, the temperature warmed up 5 degrees. That throws everything off in a classic race.”

Service’s Canyon Tobin claimed his first boys Skimeister title with a two-day time of 46 minutes, 42.7 seconds, just over 43 seconds ahead of runner-up Luke Jager of West. Jager beat Tobin by 10.6 seconds in Friday’s 10-kilometer classic interval-start race, but it wasn’t enough to claw back the 53-second deficit Tobin enjoyed after Thursday’s opening race. Tracen Knopp of Colony rounded out the podium.

John-Mark Pothast finished as the top Peninsula boys skier in 13th, with a two-day total of 49:57.2. Pothast racked up finishes of seventh and 16th during the two individual races Thursday and Friday. SoHi teammate Levi Michael finished 27th with a two-day time of 52:15.9.

Harbison said Jeremy Kupferschmid, Koby Vinson and Addison Downing also had good races, while Josh Shuler had his fastest race, relative to other finishers, of the season.

Karl Danielson paced the Kenai Central boys team with a 29th-place showing and a total time of 52:18.6. After struggling to a 42nd-place result on Thursday, Danielson bounced back to finish 18th Friday, helping him to move up in the standings.

Danielson’s teammate James Butler also rallied from a 66th-place result on Thursday to finish 49th overall, picking up 17 spots to roll to a two-day time of 56:33.4.

“It shows character, the way they came back the next day and make adjustments,” Nyquist said of his girls and boys teams.

On the girls side, Magdalen York of West captured her maiden girls Skimeister crown Friday after the girls 7.5K classic race with a combined time of 39:24.8, about 48 seconds ahead of second-place Emma Tarbath of Service. York won both days to hold off all challengers for the title.

Kenai sophomore Riana Boonstra finished 16th in the final Skimeister results as the top peninsula girls skier, rolling to a two-day time of 42:25.3. Boonstra had finishes of 16th and 14th over the two days to edge Soldotna’s Hannah Pothast for the top peninsula accolade.

Pothast finished 14th on Thursday, just five seconds ahead of Boonstra, but slipped to 18th on Friday and lost 24 seconds to Boonstra.

Pothast ended up 17th in the final Skimeister standings with a total time of 42:44.4.

“It was a great end to a high school career for Hannah Pothast,” Harbison said.

Kenai sophomore Addison Gibson followed behind in 19th in 42:58.8.

Seward’s Ruby Lindquist finished 34th overall with a total time of 45:08.2, and Rachel Ellert led Homer in 49th with a two-day time of 47:22.7.

Again, Harbison also gave his girls credit for fighting through the conditions to post solid times, saying Kellie Arthur, Brianna Bennett, Mieka Chythlook and Selby Hill all did well.

Saturday, the skiers competed in mixed relays — two legs in the classic technique, two legs in the freestyle technique.

“It’s superhard to describe the conditions,” Harbison said. “It was a mixture of ice, corn snow and slush. There was lots of water everywhere.”

The Kenai girls paced the peninsula in the 4-by-3-kilometer event by finishing fifth in 36:52, while West won at 35:31.

Boonstra was in fourth after the first leg, Katie Cooper fell to fifth, then Mikaela Salzetti and Gibson kept the Kards there.

“They all love the relay,” Nyquist said of his boys and girls. “It’s head-to-head competition, and some of our kids thrive on head-to-head stuff.”

Homer took 12th place, while Soldotna was 13th. Harbison said Chythlook and Bennett did a good job holding on to 13th for the last two legs.

In the boys 4-by-5-kilometer relay, SoHi led the peninsula by taking eighth at 39:23, while West won at 36:51.

SoHi had defeated Colony last weekend for the Region III title, but the Knights finished fifth in the relay to finish ahead of the Stars at state.

Harbison said Colony’s ace skiers, Dawson Knopp and Tracen Knopp, opened up a large gap in the first two legs.

“In his leg of the relay, John-Mark shaved off 25 seconds alone,” Harbison said. “He was reeling them in, he just ran out of trail.”

Kenai was led by a solid leg from Danielson and was 10th in the relay, while Homer was 14th. Seward actually nabbed a 15th-place finish. The Seahawks don’t have enough skiers for a girls or boys team, but Ruby Lindquist jumped in with the boys to allow Seward to have a relay.

State Nordic Ski Championships

Friday at Kincaid Park, Anchorage

BOYS

Three-day team times: 1. West, 3:53:09; 2. South, 3:53:23; 3. West Valley, 3:58:29; 4. Service, 4:00:31; 5. Colony, 4:07:38; 6. Dimond, 4:07:42; 7. Soldotna, 4:08:04; 8. Grace, 4:13:58; 9. Chugiak, 4:16:26; 10. Kenai, 4:26:08; 11. Eagle River, 4:26:17; 12. Lathrop, 4:34:20; 13. Homer, 4:39:46; 14. Palmer, 4:44:12; 15. Bartlett, 5:37:58.

10-kilometer classic team times: 1. South, 1 hour, 54 minutes, 21 seconds; 2. West, 1:55:06; 3. Service, 1:57:45; 4. West Valley, 1:58:37; 5. Dimond, 2:01:02; 6. Colony, 2:01:12; 7. Soldotna, 2:02:49; 8. Grace, 2:05:04; 9. Chugiak, 2:05:26; 10. Eagle River, 2:11:16; 11. Kenai, 2:11:21; 12. Lathrop, 2:15:39; 13. Palmer, 2:20:10; 14. Homer, 2:20:13; 15. Bartlett, 2:45:59.

Individual 10-kilometer classic results

1. Luke Jager, Wes, 27:36; 2. Canyon Tobin, Ser, 27:47; 3. Tracen Knopp, Col, 28:01; 4. Dawson Knopp, Col, 28:08; 5. Will Balcao, Sou, 28:16; 6. Matthew Hoefler, Sou, 28:25; 7. Zach Bassett, Ser, 28:41; 8. Andrew Hull, Sou, 28:44; 9. Hamish Wolfe, Sou, 28:54; 10. Ryan Bickford, Wes, 28:56.

Peninsula finishers: 16. John-Mark Pothast, Sol, 29:37; 18. Karl Danielson, Ken, 29:44; 24. Levi Michael, Sol, 30:12; 36. Koby Vinson, Sol, 31:03; 41. Jeremy Kupferschmid, Sol, 31:55; 45. James Butler, Ken, 32:24; 48. Addison Downing, Sol, 32:59; 57. Caleb Rauch, Hom, 33:46; 58. Jacob Davis, Hom, 33:54; 60. Liam Floyd, Ken, 34:28; 63. Patrick Michels, Ken, 34:44; 68. Eric Kempf, Ken, 35:07; 70. Josh Shuler, Sol, 35:16; 75. Hoxie Parks, Hom, 36:01; 76. Tadhg Scholz, Hom, 36:32; 78. Logan Smith, Sew, 37:13; 79. Trevor Debnam, Ken, 37:47; 80. Quinn Alward, Hom, 37:47; 81. Joshua Wisner, Hom, 38:27; 86. Alex Estes, Sew, 40:14; 91. Jedediah Christianson, Sew, 45:36.

Two-day totals

1. Canyon Tobin, Ser, 46:42; 2. Luke Jager, Wes, 47:25; 3. Tracen Knopp, Col, 48:15; 4. Will Balcao, Sou, 48:27; 5. Matthew Hoefler, Sou, 48:40; 6. Ti Donaldson, WV, 48:47; 7. Andrew Hull, Sou, 49:08; 8. Dawson Knopp, Col, 49:19; 9. Zach Bassett, Ser, 49:28; 10. Ryan Bickford, Wes, 49:29.

Peninsula finishers: 13. John-Mark Pothast, Sol, 49:57; 27. Levi Michael, Sol, 52:15; 29. Karl Danielson, Ken, 52:18; 31. Koby Vinson, Sol, 52:23; 40. Jeremy Kupferschmid, Sol, 54:03; 48. Addison Downing, Sol, 56:28; 49. James Butler, Ken, 56:33; 53. Jacob Davis, Hom, 56:51; 56. Caleb Rauch, Hom, 57:22; 59. Liam Floyd, Ken, 58:02; 61. Patrick Michels, Ken, 58:15; 67. Josh Shuler, Sol, 59:22; 68. Eric Kempf, Ken, 59:26; 72. Hoxie Parks, Hom, 1:00:36; 73. Tadhg Scholz, Hom, 1:00:43; 77. Trevor Debnam, Ken, 1:03:07; 78. Logan Smith, Sew, 1:03:32; 79. Quinn Alward, Hom, 1:04:03; 81. Joshua Wisner, Hom, 1:05:00; 83. Alex Estes, Sew, 1:06:03; 90. Jedediah Christianson, Sew, 1:15:47.

4-by-5-kilometer relay

1. West, 36:51; 2. South, 37:30; 3. West Valley, 37:40; 4. Service, 38:52; 5. Colony, 38:55; 6. Dimond, 39:16; 7. Chugiak, 39:20; 8. Soldotna (Michael, Kupferschmid, Vinson, Pothast), 39:23; 9. Grace, 39:27; 10. Kenai (Danielson, Michels, Floyd, Butler), 40:58; 11. Eagle River, 42:54; 12. Palmer, 43:24; 13. Lathrop, 43:43; 14. Homer (Parks, Rauch, Scholz, Davis), 44:13; 15. Seward (R. Lindquist, Smith, Christianson, Estes), 50:47; 16. Bartlett, 57:47; 17. Valdez, 59:39.

GIRLS

Three-day team times: 1. West, 3:19:38; 2. Chugiak, 2:24:55; 3. South, 3:26:59; 4. Service, 3:29:24; 5. West Valley, 3:31:03; 6. Dimond, 3:32:59; 7. Kenai, 3:34:03; 8. Colony, 3:41:57; 9. East, 3:44:30; 10. Palmer, 3:46:42; 11. Eagle River, 3:51:23; 12. Lathrop, 3:55:06; 13. Homer, 3:55:42; 14. Soldotna, 3:58:06; 15. Valdez, 4:38:40.

7.5-kilometer team times: 1. West, 1:39:07; 2. Chugiak, 1:43:02; 3. South, 1:43:22; 4. West Valley, 1:45:37; 5. Service, 1:45:39; 6. Dimond, 1:46:27; 7. Kenai, 1:47:29; 8. Colony, 1:51:26; 9. East, 1:53:11; 10. Eagle River, 1:53:15; 11. Palmer, 1:53:46; 12. Lathrop, 1:57:56; 13. Homer, 1:59:08; 14. Soldotna, 2:02:44; 15. Valdez, 2:21:50.

Individual girls 7.5-kilometer results

1. Magdalen York, Wes, 24:10; 2. Alejandra Legate, Wes, 24:31; 3. Heidi Booher, Chu, 24:40; 4. Jenna Difolco, WV, 24:43; 5. Maggie Needs, Sou, 24:44; 6. Emma Tarbath, Ser, 24:44; 7. Ruth Cvancara, Dim, 24:57; 8. Naomi Kiekintveld, Sou, 25:08; 9. Aubrey LeClair, Wes, 25:09; 10. Fiona Fick, Wes, 25:16.

Peninsula finishers: 14. Riana Boonstra, Ken, 25:44; 18. Hannah Pothast, Sol, 26:09; 21. Addison Gibson, Ken, 26:17; 31. Ruby Lindquist, Sew, 27:07; 34. Katie Cooper, Ken, 27:21; 41. Mikaela Salzetti, Ken, 28:06; 51. Rachel Ellert, Hom, 29:06; 52. Kellie Arthur, Sol, 29:08; 54. Katie Davis, hom, 29:13; 57. Katia Holmes, Hom, 29:21; 61. Ithaca Bergholtz, Ken, 29:36; 72. Sadie Lindquist, Sew, 30:47; 74. Mariah Vantrease, Hom, 31:26; 76. Mia Alexson, hom, 31:52; 79. Brianna Bennett, Sol, 33:03; 84. Mieka Chythlook, Sol, 34:23; 85. Lindsay Floyd, Ken, 34:29; 86. Selby Hill, Sol, 34:32; 87. Kealey Hendrick, Sol, 36:18.

Two-day totals

1. Magdalen York, Wes, 39:24; 2. Emma Tarbath, Ser, 40:13; 3. Naomi Kiekintveld, Sou, 40:41; 4. Alejandra Legate, Wes, 40:52; 5. Jenna Difolco, WV, 40:58; 6. Heidi Booher, Chu, 41:01; 7. Maggie Meeds, Sou, 41:19; 8. Ruth Cvancara, Dim, 41:22; 9. Ryan Terry, Ser, 41:27; 10. Aubrey LeClair, Wes, 41:42.

Peninsula finishers: 16. Riana Boonstra, Ken, 42:25; 17. Hannah Pothast, Sol, 42:44; 19. Addison Gibson, Ken, 42:58; 34. Ruby Lindquist, Sew, 45:08; 39. Katie Cooper, Ken, 45:48; 42. Mikaela Salzetti, Ken, 45:58; 48. Kellie Arthur, Sol, 46:54; 49. Rachel Ellert, Hom, 47:22; 56. Katia Holmes, Hom, 48:31; 57. Katie Davis, Hom, 48:34; 62. Ithaca Bergholtz, Ken, 48:58; 69. Mariah Vantrease, Hom, 50:05; 71. Sadie Lindquist, Sew, 50:08; 76. Mia Alexson, Hom, 51:13; 77. Brianna Bennett, Sol, 52:34; 81. Mieka Chythlook, Sol, 54:39; 82. Selby Hill, Sol, 54:40; 84. Lindsay Floyd, Ken, 55:25; 87. Kealey Hendrick, Sol, 58:59.

4-by-3-kilometer relay

1. West, 35:31; 2. Chugiak, 36:17; 3. Dimond, 36:29; 4. West Valley, 36:31; 5. Kenai (Boonstra, Cooper, Salzetti, Gibson), 36:52; 6. Service, 37:04; 7. South, 37:10; 8. Palmer, 39:03; 9. East, 39:33; 10. Colony, 39:3; 11. Lathrop, 40:30; 12. Homer, 41:08; 13. Soldotna, 41:22; 14. Eagle River, 41:58; 15. Valdez, 48:34; 16. Bartlett, 56:53.