The La Salle ski team is preparing for their state competition this week, which will take place March 2-4. 

The team, made up of four boys and one girl, is continuing to practice up until the last minute, training up until the weekend before state. 

Because the ski team is so small, they are all very close and enjoy the “tight-knit” community that they have built together. They also train with other teams, and because of this, they have gotten to know students from other schools. 

“I think my favorite experience on the ski team was getting to know everyone from other schools because we train with multiple other schools, like Central Catholic and Ida B. Wells,” said senior Erin McGinnis, the only girl on the ski team. “And having the opportunity to get to know other people that have the same interest as you is really awesome. And I made really good friends.”  

Juniors Stefano Au and Elias Kean agreed that it was enjoyable to train with other schools. “I mean, we developed our own community outside of just [the] ski [team] with the friends that we made,” Au said. 

Au said that the team enjoys hanging out together even when they are not skiing, sometimes spending time together at restaurants. 

McGinnis recalled a difficult experience for her this year, sharing that she was disqualified from two races, despite still qualifying for state. Because she is the sole member of the girls team at La Salle, it is more difficult for her to qualify for state because she has less people to aid her journey there.

“I [was] disqualified in two of my races this year, and that was really, really hard for me to, I think mentally kind of overcome,” McGinnis said, going on to say that her mistakes impacted her heavily, but adding that, “when you do really well, it’s really rewarding.”

The coaches, Willy and Lloyd Scroggins, have been a big part of the ski team for the students. “My coaches are amazing,” Au said. “They’re really good people. Yeah, I mean they really helped me bring me to where I am and also helped me form a bond with them as well, which is nice.”