BETHEL —After the cold temperatures canceled the first couple of races, the Telstar Middle School Nordic team was finally able to practice the craft they have been honing since Dec. 1.

Kaiden Manjourides has the distinction of being the first Telstar racer to cross the finish line during the 21-22 season and Davon DeGruttola the second. They placed 34th and 52nd at Maranacook on Jan. 22.

The 12-degree temperature didn’t slow the girls at all; the team placed a very close 4th of 10 teams. The girls were led by Mallory Raymond (4th place), Lillian Smith (8th), Tess Smith (22nd), Isla Decato (29th), and Ceci Ross (39th).

Keep your eyes on this team.  Many of the skiers have just started and are rapidly improving.  Having to learn both skate and classic disciplines is no easy task but, Telstar middle schoolers are not quitters.  They take the “P” (perseverance) in “RAP” seriously, RAP being the acronym associated with the Telstar motto.  The team will classic race next at Titcomb Mt.

Titcomb

With the forecast of blizzard conditions potentially canceling the third race of an already short season, the race directors at Titcomb chose to re-schedule the Middle School Nordic race for a day earlier. The Telstar middle schoolers do what we do best these days – adjust to the dynamism of Mother Nature.  With just a few hours’ notice, the team rounded up a bus, received parental permission, gathered their gear, and headed to the race.

Titcomb Mountain was the site of the first classic race of the season. Reece Pierce and Bear Otten came in 7th and 8th, Davon DeGruttola 15th, and Kaiden Manjourides crossed the finish line 18th.  Lady Rebels Mallory Raymond and Lillian Smith finished the 3K course 1st and 2nd, followed by Rosie Barstow and Tess Smith, 8th and 9th. Ceci Ross was escorted to the finish line by her team and finished 15th.

The Telstar MS Nordic team will be back at Titcomb on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. for a freestyle race.