Added depth helps team focus on state meet
Boys’ captain James Damone in action for Grand Blanc last season.
/ Andy Novajovsky
GRAND BLANC -- By Lisa Paine:
Teams are often reminded not to look too far past the immediate competition staring them in the face.
However, when you return nearly all of your team with the accolades bestowed upon the Grand Blanc ski team, you can afford to look into that crystal ball a little earlier than some.
Grand Blanc returns the corps of the boys team that was runner up at the state meet last season, and loses one key player from the girls side that placed eighth at the state level.
Both squads were Mt. Holly Divisional champs, with the boys also claiming the KLAA and SEMSL titles, while the girls were Divisional champs and state qualifiers.
Gone from the team is Will Sanford, a state champ in the giant slalom and team MVP four years runner.
He was also Divisional champ.
Will and Kate Sanford were named All Divisional, All Regional and Will made First Team All State.
Captains James Damone and RJ Lambert will lead a deep and talented boys’ squad that includes fellow seniors Nick Martin, Phil Klick, Adam Novajovsky and Mike Engleman, juniors Nick Marsala and newcomers and freshmen Jake Martin and Andrew Morgan.
“RJ, Adam and Phil were all All Division last season, James, Nick, RJ and Adam were All KLAA, RJ James and Phil All Region, James, RJ and Nick All League and RJ and Phil honorable mention All State,” said co-coach David Clement.
“We have a lot of talent and experience and a lot of depth. The boys are very strong with 19 on the team this year. We should be competing with the best at regionals and hopefully, state.”
The girls’ team lacks a little of the depth, but has the talent and potential.
Captains Marley Walter, All Divisional, All Conference, All Regional, All League and Third Team All State, and Lauren Ulrich, All Divisional, All Regional, and honorable mention All State, will lead the squad that includes Ashlyn Mueser, All Divisional, juniors Kylie Fairman and Taylor Prokott, sophomore Alexa Foote and newcomers Marta Werbanowska, a sophomore and freshman Amanda Ulrich.
“The girls will be competing for the Divisional Championship and competing to qualify for the state finals again,” Clement says. “We have some strong returning racers and will be looking for others to step up and fill some important spots for depth.”
In the Mt. Holly Division, five local teams, Grand Blanc, Fenton, Holly, Flushing and Flint Powers compete. In the KLAA, Grand Blanc is the only local member.
Clement says the team is excited that regionals is hosted at Mt. Holly this year and the state meet will feature a long road trip to Marquette Mountain.
The team competes in dual meets on Wednesdays in the slalom and Thursday in the giant slalom.
Clement added that he and co-coach John Lambert are excited about the talent and size of the ski team at Grand Blanc.
“We have one of the larger teams in the state with 35 kids and this is our biggest team over the last 10 years,” Clement noted. “We had a lot of young kids thnat came out that we will develop, so the program is strong.”
A training run at Boyne Highlands this weekend is on tap for the squads.
