The Hastings Raiders alpine ski team spent the 2025–26 season building momentum through a demanding schedule of conference races, invitationals, and championship competition. By the time the season reached its final stretch, that steady development paid off with two Raiders qualifying for the state meet and a number of strong performances across the roster.
Much of the season took place on the familiar slopes of Afton Alps, where Hastings faced many of the same teams that dominate both the conference and section races. The early portion of the winter showed the Raiders developing depth across both the boys and girls lineups while gaining valuable race experience.
On the girl’s side, junior Kate Nowak quickly established herself as the team’s top racer. Throughout the season she consistently finished near the top of the standings, often leading the Raiders with clean runs and strong combined times. Teammates Addison Maniak, Claire Montgomery, Claire Caturia, Maddie Herdt, and others contributed solid performances that kept Hastings competitive in several meets.
The boys’ team showed similar balance. James McNamara anchored the lineup with several strong finishes, while Will Bauer, Axton Bauer, Henry Naber, and Leighton Stoffel provided steady depth across the roster. The results often placed Hastings just outside the podium in deep fields that included some of the state’s top programs.
As the season moved toward championship racing, the Raiders competed in several late-season events designed to prepare the team for the postseason. At the conference championships, Hastings held its own against strong competition, with the varsity girls finishing third overall and the boys placing fourth.
The regular season wrapped up with a strong showing at the Afton Alps invitational. Nowak continued her standout winter with a second-place finish and a silver medal, while McNamara added a fifth-place finish on the boy’s side. Both racers also placed in the special king and queen races for the fastest single runs of the day, highlighting their speed heading into the postseason.
That momentum was carried into the Section meet at Wild Mountain. McNamara delivered one of the Raiders’ top performances, finishing ninth overall to qualify for the state meet for the second time. Nowak also secured a return trip to state with an eighth-place finish, marking her fourth appearance at the MSHSL Alpine Ski Meet.
The season concluded at Giants Ridge, where the pair represented Hastings against the top racers in Minnesota. Nowak turned in a strong performance, finishing 13th overall and earning All-State honors. McNamara opened with a solid first run but was unable to complete the second after encountering trouble on the course.
With several seniors graduating, the Raiders will look to the next wave of racers to carry the program forward. Still, with Nowak returning for her senior season and a number of younger skiers gaining experience throughout the winter, the foundation remains strong for the future of Hastings alpine skiing.