State Nordic Skiing Closes With Relays: Mucha Top Peninsula Skier

The 2011 ASAA Nordic Skiing Championships, featuring the best high school skiers in Alaska, finished three days of competition at the Birch Hill course in Fairbanks.

Girls 4 X 3-Kilometer Relay Race

Day three featured the 4X3K relay races. Soldotna High’s team of Bree Mucha, Maranda Merkes, D’Anne Martin and Jordan Nelson finished ninth overall. Chugiak High turned in the fastest time. Kenai Central’s team of Michelle Klaben, Taylor Ostrander, Olivia Fair and Olivia Pfeifer placed 11th. Homer finished 15th and Skyview 16th in the relay event.

Boys 4 X 5-Kilometer Relay Race

The Homer boys posted the fastest relay time among peninsula schools finishing sixth overall. The Kenai boys recorded an 11th place in the relay with teammates Evan Atchley, Tyler Cooper, Fox Michaud and James Watkins. The Stars team of Luke Micheal, Joseph Rife, Dillon Jensen and Intimayo Harbison finished 13th; Skyview posted a 17th in the relay.

Girls 7.5-Kilometer Freestyle Race

The top peninsula skier in the girls 7.5-kilometer freestyle race was SoHi’s Bree Mucha, reaching her goal of finishing in the top ten; Bree raced to a 10th place in thr freestyle event. Bree’s combined times for the two individual events also placed her 14th in the Skimeister rankings; the only peninsula girl in the top 30 in the Skimeiser totals. SoHi’s Maranda Merkes finished 32nd in the freestyle and 31st in the Skimeister totals. Other top 50 performances for the girls included: SoHi’s D’Anne Martin, 34th; Kenai’s Michelle Klaben, 35th.

Boys 10-Kilometer Freestyle Race

The top peninsula skier in the boys 10-kilometer freestyle race was Homer’s Andre Lovett in 23rd overall, pushing Lovett to the highest peninsula boy in the Skimeister totals placing 30th. The Homer boys placed three in the top 31 with Brian Rowe and Parker Sorensen. Skyview’s Brayden Holt finished 32nd, followed by Kenai’s James Watkins, SoHi’s Luke Michael and SoHi’s Dillon Jenson in 34th, 37th, and 45th.

Girls 5-Kilometer Classic Race

The top peninsula skier in the girls 5-kilometer classic race was Region III champion Bree Mucha from Soldotna High School, finishing 18th overall. The top time on the cousre was turned-in by Hannah Boyer of West Valley. Other top 60 performances by peninsula skiers included: SoHi’s Maranda Merkes, 30th; SoHi’s D’Anne Martin, 37th; Kenai’s Michelle Klaben, 45th; Kenai’s Taylor Osrander, 61st.

Boys 7. 5-Kilometer Classic Race

The top peninsula skier in the boys 7.5-kilometer classic race was Region III champion Luke Michael from Soldotna High School, finishing 32nd overall; followed by Homer’s Parker Sorensen in 33rd. The top time in the boys 7.5-K race was turned-in by Lathrop’s Logan Hanneman. Other top 60 performances by peninsula skiers included: Kenai’s James Watkins, 42nd; Homer’s Andre Lovett, 44th; Skyview’s Braydon Holt, 53rd; Kenai’s Evan Atchley, 55th; SoHi’s Intimayo Harbison, 58th and Skyview’s Kade Cooper, 60th.