Homer Alaska - Sports

The Homer Mariners Nordic Ski team finished out the season last weekend at the state championships in Fairbanks.

Seniors Frances Bursch, Tux Seims and Dylan and Denali Critchett rounded out the end of their seasons, but the Ms will be able to return eight skiers with state-level experience next year.

With each passing meet, Homer's younger skiers have continued to improve, and this trend continued in Fairbanks, particularly in the first day of skate ski competition. Both Parker Sorenson and Andre Lovett moved up placing nearly 10 spots ahead of where they had placed in the regional championships.

Assistant Coach Paul Gutzler took the trip with the ski team while Coach Jan Spurkland and Assistant Coach Megan Spurkland took on international competition in Sweden.

Gutzler said in the girls Nordic ski, the Ms continued to impress with Alaine Miller having her strongest race of the weekend finishing third for Homer and 64th overall. Maggie and Frances Bursch were Homer's top placers.

On the other side of the team, Gutzler said that the boys also had a strong showing.

"Tux Seims had a solid classic race. Tux is an excellent runner and those running skills helped him to finish as the third Homer boy. Kyle Wentz also had a strong race finishing as the fifth Homer boy. Kyle Wentz was a very consistent skier and is looking to have a breakout season next year."

The final event of the state competition was a four-leg relay, consisting of two classic legs and two skate legs, each leg coming in at 3 km for the girls team and 5 km for the boys team.

"Marie (Schmidt) and Kaya (Morelli) skied very well, nearly knocking of the powerful Palmer team," said Gutzler.

The boys spent the relay race dueling with Skyview. Lovett scooted out to a lead on the first leg, but Skyview took it back in the second leg despite a strong effort from Kevin Rowe that set up a dramatic dead heat finish for Sorenson who was just barely edged out by Skyview's Hunter Jackinsky.

Frances Bursch and Andre Lovett were nominated for the Good Sportsmanship award.

Boys 7.5 km Freestyle

37. Andre Lovett 23:58.9 +4:03.3; 38. Parker Sorenson 24:00.7 +4:05.1; 63. Kevin Rowe 25:20.7 +5:25.1; 83. Tux Seims 26:12.7 +6:17.1; 100. Kyle Wentz 27:34.5 +7:38.9;

Girls 5 km Freestyle

30. Maggie Bursch 18:05.4 +1:51.3; 45. Frances Bursch 19:02.3 +2:48.2; 47. Kaya Morelli 19:09.3 +2:55.2; 50. Marie Schmidt 19:25.1 +3:11.0; 69. Alaine Miller 20:08.5 +3:54.4; 87. Denali Critchett 21:02.5 +4:48.4.

Boys 10 km Classic Ski

17. Homer 2:32:30.0; Andre Lovett 55 +7:45.135:55.7, Parker Sorensen 72 +9:08.637:19.2, Tux Seims 84 +10:16.538:27.1, Kevin Rowe100 +12:37.440:48.0 Kyle Wentz 102 +12:58.341:08.9, Dylan Critchett 107 +13:18.341:28.9.

Girls 7.5 km Classic Ski

11. Homer 2:09:52.7; Maggie Bursch 33 +3:27.130:06.8, Frances Bursch 52 +5:37.832:17.5, Alaine Miller 64 +6:51.533:31.2, Kaya Morelli1 67 +7:17.533:57.2, Marie Schmidt 78 +7:56.034:35.7, Denali Critchett 86 +8:25.135:04.8.

Boys Relay 4 by 5 km

15. Homer 1:06:51.6; Andre Lovett 16:30.3, Tux Seims 17:37.7, Kevin Rowe 16:37.3, Parker Sorensen 16:06.3.

Girls Relay 4 by 3 km

10. Homer 47:22.4; Maggie Bursch 11:21.2, Frances Bursch 11:22.6, Marie Schmidt 12:27.2, Kaya Morelli 12:11.4.