Collingwood Collegiate Institute’s (CCI) nordic ski team had a banner year – in that they brought home all the banners.
The team has just returned from the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships (OFSAA) with six champion banners. More than any other year in the history of the team, which has been part of CCI’s athletic programs since 1968.
The championship banners this year include senior girls’ distance and relay, senior boys relay, combined senior team and junior girls distance and relay.
Tess Wortley, a grade 12 student, was new to the CCI nordic team this year, but she’s been racing cross country for five years. Last year she struggled in competition, suffering from a bout of mono. It’s been a while since she was happy with a race, until now.
“I focussed on my speed, my transitions and getting those downhills,” she said. “It’s nice to see a result that reflects my effort.”
Wortley placed first in the 5km individual distance race, and skied as the anchor for the senior girls relay team.
“The (nordic ski) community is really great,” said Wortley.
She fell in love with the sport from the moment she began.
“I love pushing myself, I love what it does for endurance and strength,” she said. “I love how hard you have to push yourself to be successful.”
Wortley has applied to university, but plans to spend next year pursuing a competitive career in cross-country skiing. She hopes to qualify or at least contend at the World Junior Finals.
“I’d like to prove to Canada that I’m one of the contenders,” she said.
Eventually she plans to pursue an academic career as a professor.
Freddie Pickess skied on the senior boys team, serving as the anchor in the relay and finishing 16th in the high school division in the 6km individual distance race.
“This was easily my best race of the year,” he said.
He broke his leg in the summer, and has been working hard to comeback from that injury and return to his original fitness level.
Now in grade 12, Pickess joined the CCI team in grade 9 and has skied with his school team through his high school career.
“[Nordic skiing] is easily the best sport for you physically,” he said. “It’s cardio, muscle endurance, muscle strength … and I love being on the trails.”
Pickess said he’s had a lot of fun being on the team over the last four years.
“My coaches and teammates push me to do my best,” he said.
The OFSAA championship races took place at Laurentian University Nordic Ski Club from Feb. 21 to 23.
