The Presque Isle Wildcats’ Nordic team isn’t letting their small roster slow them down. The team of seven girls and three boys means that everyone needs to compete at their best, with little room for mistakes.
The boys are led by sophomore Max Bartley, who garnered two top finishes, along with a second-place finish, in his first three races. The girls’ top performers include junior Tori Koch, sophomore Isabel Jackson and senior Mandy Graham. Jackson and Koch have provided consistent top-10 finishes, with Graham not too far behind. Coach Von Perry commented on Bartley and Graham’s leadership, saying they keep energy levels high and make sure the Wildcats are always performing at their best.
Perry likes what he sees in this talented group, believing they’re on track to perform well deep into the season.
“The season has been right on track to peak at States,” Perry said. “Everyone is getting stronger … their best performances are yet to come.”
While the boys’ team isn’t large enough to qualify for team scores, Perry believes the girls can continue to improve and finish well within the top three by the end of the season. The key to that is continuous practice, and the early snowfall and warmer temperatures have given the Wildcats plenty of time to prepare on the trails.
Some important matchups this season included Aroostook League Championship meets in Caribou and Fort Kent this week, as well as the state meet being held at Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley later this month. As those meets approach, Perry plans to keep the morale high and the team strong to finish off the season.
Along with Koch, Jackson and Graham, the Wildcats girls’ team features seniors Emily Colligan, Kerrigan LeBlanc and Alisa Brewer as well as sophomore Ande Kornachuk. Joining Bartley on the boys’ team are freshmen Garrett Morneault and Tommy Popov.
