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For most teams four state championships in six years would build a great deal of pressure to out-preform the last season, year after year.
For the Petoskey High School boys’ ski team, however, this year is just another season on the hill.
The Northmen have won back-to-back Division II state championships, but according to fourth-year coach Travis Hill, there’s no added pressure to live up to lofty expectations.
“We treat every year as a new year. We’re going to go out and compete to the best of our ability,” Hill said. “Everyone continues to work and get better run after run.”
Both the boys and girls teams have been practicing in the area since Dec. 10, but a large portion of the team traveled to Mt. Hood, Ore., during the offseason to practice.
Others traveled to Colorado in November to train in a Thanksgiving camp.
The Northmen open the season Friday, Jan. 4 in Marquette at the Marquette Invitational. The first home meet of the year follows on Monday, Jan. 7, in the annual Harbor-Petoskey Invitational at Boyne Highlands.
The Petoskey boys finished the 2012 season by winning six straight meets to end the year and welcome back nearly all of last years roster.
Key returnees for the boys’ team include seniors Ben Loomis, Matt Dankert and Noah Honaker and junior, Gunnar Lundteigen. All placed within the top 10 in giant slalom in the state championship meet last year.
The boys also welcome back senior Brian Erhart, a 2011 first-team All-State member in both slalom and giant slalom, who spent last year in Vail, Colo., race training.
“It’s good to have him back,” Hill said of Erhart. “He definitely strengthens up the platform.”
The Petoskey girls finished as Division II state runner-up’s to Harbor Springs last season, a year after taking the state crown.
The girls’ team features key senior contributors Reilly Philliben, Lisa Dinon, Jill Antonishen, Claire Brummler and Mikaela Nayback. Junior Mia Ciccoretti is another key returnee for the Northmen.
Both Dinon and Antonishen finished within the top 10 in both slalom and giant slalom in the state title meet.
Hill losses just one senior combined from the boys and girls team’s, but it’s a group of ten seniors this season that propels both teams. In his four year’s as a coach for Petoskey, Hill has built a special bond with his group of upperclassmen.
“It’s been great to see them grow,” he said. “They’ve become better skiers, but more than that, also better citizens. We’ve had fun the four years I’ve been here and we’ve been winning in those years.”
Apart from the upperclassmen, the Northmen welcome eight freshman to this year’s team, a class Hill looks forward to watching preform.
“I’ve seen great progress in their skills,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time to see how well they do. Time will tell.”
Hill knows with a solid group of veterans on each team, focus and preparation wont be an area of concern, even with all the success from past seasons looming.
For the Petoskey High School boys’ ski team, however, this year is just another season on the hill.
The Northmen have won back-to-back Division II state championships, but according to fourth-year coach Travis Hill, there’s no added pressure to live up to lofty expectations.
“We treat every year as a new year. We’re going to go out and compete to the best of our ability,” Hill said. “Everyone continues to work and get better run after run.”
Both the boys and girls teams have been practicing in the area since Dec. 10, but a large portion of the team traveled to Mt. Hood, Ore., during the offseason to practice.
Others traveled to Colorado in November to train in a Thanksgiving camp.
The Northmen open the season Friday, Jan. 4 in Marquette at the Marquette Invitational. The first home meet of the year follows on Monday, Jan. 7, in the annual Harbor-Petoskey Invitational at Boyne Highlands.
The Petoskey boys finished the 2012 season by winning six straight meets to end the year and welcome back nearly all of last years roster.
Key returnees for the boys’ team include seniors Ben Loomis, Matt Dankert and Noah Honaker and junior, Gunnar Lundteigen. All placed within the top 10 in giant slalom in the state championship meet last year.
The boys also welcome back senior Brian Erhart, a 2011 first-team All-State member in both slalom and giant slalom, who spent last year in Vail, Colo., race training.
“It’s good to have him back,” Hill said of Erhart. “He definitely strengthens up the platform.”
The Petoskey girls finished as Division II state runner-up’s to Harbor Springs last season, a year after taking the state crown.
The girls’ team features key senior contributors Reilly Philliben, Lisa Dinon, Jill Antonishen, Claire Brummler and Mikaela Nayback. Junior Mia Ciccoretti is another key returnee for the Northmen.
Both Dinon and Antonishen finished within the top 10 in both slalom and giant slalom in the state title meet.
Hill losses just one senior combined from the boys and girls team’s, but it’s a group of ten seniors this season that propels both teams. In his four year’s as a coach for Petoskey, Hill has built a special bond with his group of upperclassmen.
“It’s been great to see them grow,” he said. “They’ve become better skiers, but more than that, also better citizens. We’ve had fun the four years I’ve been here and we’ve been winning in those years.”
Apart from the upperclassmen, the Northmen welcome eight freshman to this year’s team, a class Hill looks forward to watching preform.
“I’ve seen great progress in their skills,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time to see how well they do. Time will tell.”
Hill knows with a solid group of veterans on each team, focus and preparation wont be an area of concern, even with all the success from past seasons looming.
