M’CHIGEENG—Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Mustangs’ alpine skiing and snowboarding athletes posted some very good results at the Northern Ontario Secondary School Association championships, with two athletes qualifying for the provincial championship.
“We had six athletes take part in the NOSSA alpine skiing championship,” said Jordan Smith, sports coordinator at MSS. “The event was a combination of a giant slalom run and a slalom run with the two race times combined.”
“Jack Pennie was first overall in the boys’ high school division and qualified for the Ontario Federation of Secondary School Association (OFSSA) event,” said Mr. Smith.
“Grace Pennie finished second overall in the girls’ division,” said Mr. Smith. “Grace had amazing times in her races. Unfortunately, only the top skier overall moves on to OFSSA in this division. Grace was beaten out by an exceptional skier.”
“Our four other athletes posted good times and numbers but didn’t qualify for OFSSA,” said Mr. Smith. He pointed out that because of weather conditions this winter there were no North Shore championships this year, in either skiing or snowboarding.
The NOSSA alpine skiing championships took place at the Adanac Ski Hill in Sudbury on February 21.
“MSS had two competitors in the snowboarding NOSSA championship,” continued Mr. Smith. The event was held at Mount Dufour in Elliot Lake on February 21.
“Xavier Mara finished fourth overall in the boys’ division, but qualified as the second top individual,” said Mr. Smith. He explained the three athletes that finished from first to third in the race were all part of the same team, meaning they were in the team division.
“Grace Pennie took part in snowboarding, finishing 14th in the girls’ division,” said Mr. Smith. Lara Pennie was coach of the Mustangs snowboard team, with Paul Stewart supporting the MSS ski team.
Jack Pennie in alpine skiing and Xavier Mara in snowboarding will be competing at the provincial championships this week.
