High school Nordic team races at state

The Sisters High School Nordic team completed its season with the two-day state meet held at Mt. Hood Meadows on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25.

The Oregon High School Nordic Organization Championships included 155 racers from 13 different schools.

Friday's seven-kilometer skate race featured warmer weather than anyone really expected, making the correct wax selection difficult for coaches. The result turned out to be below average for all of the Outlaws, with Courtney Blust coming through with the highest finish for Sisters in 16th place.

Amity Calvin finished 36th, and Mason Calmettes pushed through to a 22nd-place finish, well below expectations. Devon Calvin hung close, as he has all season, and finished 10 seconds later in 23rd.

Saturday's weather created an entirely different challenge, but a much better outcome for the skiers on the classic course.  The storm that swept through the region dumped over a foot of snow on the course, and gale-force winds and horizontal snow confronted the racers at start time.

According to Coach Tom Blust, the course conditions turned out to be great and the wax choice of the day spot-on.

"It was rough for the kids Friday, so I felt glad for everyone that Saturday worked out right," said Blust.

Amity Calvin took fifth place among the girls with the double-poling technique she is forced to use due to a knee injury.

"It is incredible what Amity has been able to do this season," said Blust.

Courtney Blust placed 13th and Elena Saldi 48th among 82 competitors.

On the boys' side, Calmettes rebounded up to 17th place, while Devon Calvin finished 19th.

Seth Roy felt especially satisfied with his classic race, finishing in 50th place among the 67 boys' racers.

Results for the two days are combined to determine the overall winners among boys and girls. Blust ended up 13th overall for Sisters as the highest placer for the Outlaws.

Coach Blust expressed lots of praise for his team.

"I am very proud of this great group of kids," he said. "The small size of the team has made the kids a tight-knit group, and they have been very supportive of one another all season long."

The team will be saying goodbye to three four-year participants on the team.

"I will really miss Amity Calvin, Mason Calmettes, and, of course, my daughter Courtney, who have been with me on the team for four years," said Blust.

Calmettes, though disappointed with his overall finish, reciprocated Blust's sentiments.

"Coach Blust had all of us prepared for the worst since the conditions were so difficult both days so we were able to deal with the challenges," he said. "Tom's approach to coaching is one of the reasons I ski."

The boys and girls both finished fifth in the team standings, with Summit sweeping the titles on both sides.