Ski team prepares for season on the slopes

The Sisters Outlaws Alpine Ski Team is getting ready for the upcoming season. They will field 26 athletes, 19 skiers who return from last year, and seven who are new to the program this year.

The girls squad returns the most skiers and the most upperclassmen the Outlaws have had in many years. Eleven girls return to the squad including Payten and Presley Adelt, Brooke Duey, Ella Eby, Molly Greaney, Tallis, Araiya, and Pia Grummer, Kiara Martin, Ava Riehle, Lauren Sitz, and Charlotte Seymour. Joining the girls squad, for the first time are Abi Duda and Johanna Gehring.

Coach Gabe Chladek said, “From former season of high school racing to seasons of club racing at the elementary and middle school age, this group of girls has got more experience on the course than the Outlaws have ever fielded.”

The boys team return Emerson Backus, John Berg, Spencer Tisdel, Joseph Derksen, Cooper Merrill, Kellen Petke, and Jack Turpen. Five new skiers will join them, including Ben Hayner, Spencer Davis, Finn Stancliff, Jack Barry, and Daniel Miller.

“With not a single senior on the boys team, this year experience is a little shallow, but heart is possibly deeper than ever,” said Chladek. “I’m confident that this group will put their best foot forward and have a strong season at the league level, and represent our school with pride at the state championships this season.”

Chladek told The Nugget he feels this year’s season will be amazing, and very successful, due to the group’s sense of camaraderie and community.

“They never cease to have a great time on the snow!” said Chladek. “The team will be attending an invitational race at Mount Hood Meadows prior to league races that begin in January, and another invitational race with the Central League at Mount Bachelor later in the season.”

Chaldek has several coaches who will be assisting him this season, including Natalie Grummer, who will be assistant on-the-hill coach. Also assisting with coaching in dry land and on the hill will be Dave Stoker and Bill Turner. Rima Givot and Ann Brewer will head up the dry land conditioning.

“Everyone on the coaching staff brings a variety of technical and athletic backgrounds to the table,” said Chladek. “Each coach brings a unique background and skill set to the team and I really feel we may have the strongest coaching staff we’ve had in a long time.”