The White Hawks Nordic skiers started the day at the Section 6 Championships Feb. 6 with ideal temperatures and snow conditions. As the day progressed, warmer temperatures and rain crept in, making the course more challenging. The girls team finished the day in sixth place, while the boys came in ninth.

Perennial powerhouse Wayzata will head to the State Nordic Meet as the section team champion, while the White Hawks will be represented at state by junior Averie Zealley, who led the girls team in the pursuit race with a 13th-place finish and an overall time of 33:56. Zealley ended an 11-year drought for the Westonka girls, as she will be the first member of the girls team to compete at the state level since 2011.

Sophomore Isaac Hays led the White Hawks boys in the pursuit race with a 30th-place finish and a time of 30:26. In the sprint relay competition, sophomore Stella Miner and seventh grader Camryn Smith had a fourth-place finish for the girls with a time of 15:47, while freshman Liam Zealley and senior Adrian Overbo finished the boys sprint relay in seventh place with a time of 13:47.

The 2023 State Nordic Meet will be held Feb. 15-16 at Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort in Biwabik, Minnesota. Zealley is set to compete Thursday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. Learn more on the Minnesota State High School League website.