The Westonka Nordic ski teams competed in a conference skate race January 11 at the Highland 9-Hole Golf Course in St. Paul. 

The White Hawks boys team finished in third place behind Central (second) and Highland Park (first). MWHS senior Lance Nemecek had a strong seventh-place finish out of 59 varsity competitors. Seniors Haakon Erdahl and Josh Engesser finished in 15th and 23rd place, respectively, and ninth-grader Isaac Hays joined the varsity squad and finished in 36th place. 

The White Hawks girls were unable to field a full team due to illness/injury and finished in sixth place with four scorers. Sophomore Averie Zealley crossed the finish line in 18th place out of 57 varsity skiers, and seniors Anika Budzius and Anna Elliott both cracked the Top 25. Additionally, exchange student Felicia Kalssen jumped in the varsity lineup, finishing in under 20 minutes.  

The White Hawks JV skiers also had a strong showing in tough skiing conditions.