The Detroit Lakes Nordic skiing team will be taking its final session in a learning season Wednesday when five Lakers compete in the Section 8 meet at Camp Ripley, starting at 10 a.m.
For the boys, sophomores Ben Strege and John Beaton will compete, while the Laker girls will be represented by Emma Johnson, Chelsey Cummings and Danie Schmoll.
Each of the DL skiers have taken leaps and bounds on the trails this season, with time improvements as much as 20 to 30 minutes from last year's marks logged in.
The experience of racing in sections will also be an invaluable facet the Lakers can use in their rebuilding project of the Nordic ski team.
"It will be an excellent experience for these (skiers) because they get to see all the skiers from the section," said DL head coach Dan Josephson. "It's a good opportunity to see where they stack up in the section."
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For Strege and Beaton, each have cut up to 15 minutes off their time from the beginning of the season. They hope to finish in the top half of the section, which would be a good goal since they are just sophomores, Josephson said.
"(Strege and Beaton) have had good individual discipline, and they go out and practice their techniques every day in practice," the DL coach said.
Both Johnson and Cummings have had magnificent improvements from last year, where each have chopped off up to a half-hour from last season.
"All of them are making great strides and have been gaining some good times," Josephson said. "We're hoping to see all three girls also finish in the top half of the section, as well. "
If there is a lack of snow at Camp Ripley, Maplelag will be the backup site for the section meet.
