The Westonka Nordic ski team battled the challenging hills at Hyland Lake Park Reserve for a 5K skate ski race on Jan. 15. Race conditions were ideal with temperatures in the low 20s and light snow flurries floating in the air. While significant snow continues to elude much of Minnesota, the hard packed man-made snow at Hyland has been a welcome sight for the area Nordic ski teams, giving them a chance to continue to hold ski races. In total, over 250 area athletes competed in varsity and JV level races for the boys and girls teams. 

The Westonka boys varsity raced their way to a fifth-place finish out of 10 teams, including top placing Saint Paul Central and Highland Park. Senior Isaac Hays led the White Hawks boys with an exciting sixth-place finish in 13:20, breaking into the top 10 and coming within a minute of the top racer. In addition to Hays, the top five skiers scoring for the boys varsity team were seniors Luke Carlson in 29th place in 15:39, Tor Erdahl in 31st place in 15:48, and Miles Lund in 40th place in 16:28, and freshman Robbie Chilson in 49th place in 17:14. Adding vital depth to the boys team were seniors Andrew Finley in 17:44 and Ted Owens in 17:56, sophomore Sawyer Bruch in 18:40, and junior Leon Kravchenko in 23:22. 

The Westonka girls varsity worked together for a sixth-place finish out of 11 teams, just five points back from fourth place. Junior Ava Daum paced the way for the girls team with a solid 20th-place finish in 17:17. Teaming up with Daum, the top five athletes scoring for the girls team were ninth graders Elise Hays in 28th place in 18:42 and Stella Johnson in 37th place in 19:43, and eighth graders Louisa Johnson in 39th place in 20:05 and Eva Savstrom in 45th place in 20:47. 

The Westonka JV skiers showed grit and determination as they faced the intimidating Hyland course. Competing for the JV boys were seventh graders Rylan Gusenius in 13th place in 19:38 and Carter Savstrom in 29th place in 23:30. Competing for the JV girls was eighth grader Madison Nelson in 31st place in 27:43. 

The White Hawks now look ahead to the critical championship meets, with Conference Jan. 27 and Sections Feb. 6, both held at Theodore Wirth Regional Park.