Staff
A first-year team is bound to have its peaks and valleys.
But Arthur Van Ael ensured the Muskies wouldn’t leave Dryden empty-handed.
Van Ael captured bronze in the senior boys’ 7.5-km event at the NorWOSSA Nordic ski races yesterday.
He turned in a time of 36:22 to trail only Grant Legaree of Atikokan High School (30:18) and Luke Smith of the host Eagles (32:47).
Andrew Roth of Fort High was eighth (48:33).
The Muskies put together a ski team for the first time this year, with Rebecca Himanen and Ilka Milne sharing coaching duties.
The pair oversaw a five-person contingent that manufactured strong efforts, if not a bushel of podium finishes.
Sara Selman placed fifth in the junior girls’ 3.5-km race in a time of 43:07.
Claire Hensrud of the Kenora Broncos crossing the finish line first (15:44).
Muskie Aidan DeGagne, meanwhile, earned fifth in the junior boys’ 5.5-km division (59:36).
Billy Paterson of Red Lake was tops (24:08).
And Jenny Hammond took her best shot in the senior girls’ 5.5-km event but ended up being disqualified.
