The Hastings Alpine Ski Team continued to build momentum through the heart of the winter schedule, turning in steady performances across multiple meets in December and early January at Afton Alps. With races packed closely together, the results offered a clear picture of a program developing depth across both varsity and junior varsity levels.
The stretch began Dec. 17, when Hastings faced a strong field that included Hill-Murray, Stillwater, and Mounds Park Academy. In the varsity girls team race, Hastings finished third overall, posting a total of 104 points. Kate Nowak led the way with a fifth-place finish individually, skiing two clean, controlled runs that set the tone for the team.
Claire Montgomery and Claire Caturia followed closely, finishing back-to-back and contributing key points to the team total. Addison Maniak, Marley Schield, Amelia Montgomery, and Maddie Herdt rounded out the varsity lineup, giving Hastings a complete scoring group despite racing against one of the deepest girls fields of the season. Maddie Paulson, Kylee Strausborger, and Lia Ferguson also competed, gaining valuable experience as the season moved forward.
The Dec. 17 girls individual results mirrored the team outcome, with Nowak again pacing the Hastings skiers. Montgomery, Caturia, and Maniak each finished within a tight cluster in the middle of the field, reflecting consistency rather than standout runs but keeping Hastings competitive throughout the meet.
On the boys side that same day, Hastings finished fourth in the varsity team standings with 195 points. James McNamara anchored the lineup, placing fifth overall individually in a field loaded with top-end talent. Will Bauer and Axton Bauer followed, giving Hastings three solid scoring runs near the top half of the standings.
Henry Naber and Leighton Stoffel added depth, while Tommaso Zibetti, Tor Ronning, and Max Bauer rounded out the varsity group. Although Hastings fell just short of the podium, the performance showed the team’s ability to stack reliable runs across a full roster.
The boys individual results from Dec. 17 reinforced that depth. McNamara finished fifth overall, while Will Bauer, Axton Bauer, Naber, Stoffel, and Zibetti all landed within a competitive spread of times. For several skiers, it marked one of their more consistent races of the early season.
The schedule then shifted into January, with Hastings returning to Afton Alps for a busy two-day stretch on Jan. 7 and 8. In the Jan. 7 varsity girls team race, Hastings placed fifth overall with 512 points. Once again, Nowak led the team, finishing fifth individually and continuing her run of strong early-season performances.
Addison Maniak and Claire Montgomery followed, with solid two-run totals that kept Hastings in the middle of the team standings. Lia Ferguson, Maddie Paulson, Marley Schield, and Kylee Strausborger rounded out the scoring group, while Maddie Herdt and Amelia Montgomery also competed in the deep varsity field.
The girls junior varsity race that day featured Kaylin Retka, who finished 11th overall for Hastings, and Isabella Featherstone, who gained valuable race experience in a large JV field.
On Jan. 8, the focus turned to the boys, with Hastings finishing fourth in the varsity team race with 553 points. McNamara once again led the team, finishing second overall individually and turning in one of the fastest combined times of the meet.
Will Bauer, Henry Naber, Tommaso Zibetti, Weston Chandler, Max Bauer, and Walker Merkel filled out the varsity scoring group. Mark Gerdes and Sawyer Chandler also raced, adding depth and experience to the lineup.
The boys junior varsity results showed continued progress, with Tor Ronning placing fifth overall. Luke Retka, Henrik Novak, Henry Meyers, Matthew Muench, and Henry Featherstone all competed, gaining confidence and familiarity with dual course racing.
Across all three meets, the results reflected a Hastings program focused on consistency, development, and long-term growth. While podium finishes have been limited, the Raiders continue to field full rosters, remain competitive against strong programs, and see younger skiers gain experience with each race.
As the season moves deeper into January, Hastings appears positioned to keep building speed and confidence, race by race, with a balanced mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent carrying the program forward.