BETHEL — The Telstar Middle School Nordic Team returned to Titcomb Mountain on February 1 for a 3-kilometer skate race. Mallory Raymond and Lillian Smith once again took top spots of 1st and 3rd, Tess Smith and Rosie Barstow crossed the line with 18th and 19th place finishes, closely followed by Isla Decato and Natalie Pellerin, 22nd and 23rd.

Ceci Ross finished 29th. With the temperatures dropping quickly, the boys were not phased. Reece Pierce finished 14th, Bear Otten and Kaiden Manjourides just seconds apart, finished 17th and 18th. Davon DeGruttola finished 31st.

The team returned to the slopes on February 5, but this time at Lost Valley for a 3.7 kilometer very hilly skate race. Lillian Smith did not disappoint with a 2nd place finish, less than 2 seconds behind first place. Her sister Tess Smith skated very well and finished 13th, Natalie Pellerin and Rosie Barstow less than a minute apart finished 19th and 21st.

Isla Decato, our youngest member, finished a strong 29th with very little rest between previewing the course and the race. The boys had a solid showing with Reece Pierce finishing 14th out of more than 50 racers. Kaiden Manjourides crossed the finish line 21st, being met by a small army of supporters. Davon DeGruttola placed 35th and Logan Johnson, in his first of hopefully many Nordic races, finished 51st.

The Telstar Middle School has one more regular-season race at Quarry Road Trails before they head to the finals. Come out and support the Middle School Nordic Team at Lost Valley on February 16 at 1 p.m., and at Titcomb Mountain on February 19, time TBD.