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Birmingham United’s Ava Hurley, a senior captain, is part of the leadership group for Birmingham this season.
Photo provided by Ava Hurley
Senior Lucas Kennard has stepped into a leadership role for Birmingham United after the team graduated three state finals’ starters last season, and he’s been impressive in the process.
Photo provided by Ava Hurley
BIRMINGHAM — While a lack of cold temperatures kept Birmingham United Ski off the slopes for a week more than usual to begin the season, the boys and girls teams have hit the snow like they never left.
After both teams clawed their way to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Skiing State Finals last season, earning the final spot at a regional championship, Birmingham boys finished eighth at the state finals while the girls countered with a seventh-place finish.
Now, Birmingham coach Larry Morris said, the team has one mindset going into the season.
“Our takeaway right now is that we’re all just happy to ski,” Morris said. “There was some good racing out there.”
Birmingham United opened up the season Jan. 10 at Mount Brighton, earning first in giant slalom for both the boys and the girls side. With a new season and new faces, Birmingham has adjusted quickly to the competition.
Boys
After losing a strong senior class in Brady Wright, Sam Ying and Mark Morris to start the season, Birmingham seniors Oliver Srock and Lucas Kennard answered the call to step up and fill the void.
What Morris wasn’t expecting was sophomore Alexander Lustig to take a significant step forward this season.
In Birmingham’s opening meet, Lustig finished in third to help lead the team to a first-place finish in giant slalom.
“If there was one ‘oh my gosh’ as a pleasant surprise, it would be his performance,” Morris said.
Behind Lustig was Srock in fourth and Kennard in 11th. Despite losing three starting skiers from the state finals last season, Srock, Kennard and Lustig have put their best foot forward this season.
Following their season-opening win, Birmingham took first-place in giant slalom Jan. 12 at Mount Brighton with Srock (1st) and Kennard (10th) leading the way.
Morris said Srock and Kennard have taken the leadership challenge head-on.
“I think they stepped up willingly, and they’re definitely capable,” Morris said. “They kind of see the challenges in front of them. This is not going to be easy.”
With both being returning state finals starters last season, along with Lustig, Srock and Kennard were familiar with their position entering the season.
Kennard said taking over the leadership role was challenging at first, but he feels he and the team have responded well.
“I’d say we have a really positive mindset,” Kennard said. “I’m just trying to do my best and what’s best for the team. It’s been a really big step up from last year just trying to take a step up from the team, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
Alongside Srock, Kennard and Lustig are sophomores Carson Wright, Willis McAlear and junior Andrew Fedor.
McAlear and Fedor opened the season with two-straight top-15 finishes, and Wright added a 14th-place finish Jan. 17 at Mount Brighton. Srock (3rd) and Lustig (11th) led Birmingham to a second-place finish.
With a dynamic mix of youth and experience, Kennard said the team’s trip to Nub’s Nob played a key factor in the team’s chemistry this season.
“We actually have a team bonding event where we go Up North and go bowling,” Kennard said. “We have done it in the past and had a lot of fun, and we really bonded through that.”
Girls
Holding a core of young racers, Birmingham is a team filled with not only question marks, but excitement as well.
“It’s apparent now, even more unknown on how are we going to do,” Morris said. “We’re kind of hard work and wonder, because of those other slots being so young. We’re just wondering what we got in the gas tank.”
Losing Marie Morris, a top-10 finisher at the state finals in slalom, wasn’t an ideal start, but sophomores Blanca Srock and Isabelle Morris, Marie’s sister, have continued their success from last season.
Leading Birmingham to a win in their season opener, Srock (3rd) and Morris (6th) both tallied top-10 finishes.
Senior team captains Ava Hurley and Allegra Snedeker have transitioned efficiently into the leadership role, and Birmingham’s team chemistry seems to be at an all-time high.
“It’s been really nice, actually,” Hurley said. “I think this year our friendship on the team is a lot stronger. I personally look forward to going to practice each day because I enjoy everyone so much.”
Hurley, in her first year on the team, has been a consistent top-15 scorer for Birmingham. Hurley has skied since she was 2 years old, but said her schedule hadn’t allowed her to join the team until last year.
“I was able to get around to it last year, and I loved it right away,” Hurley said.
The strong team bond has transitioned into success, as Birmingham collected back-to-back third-place finishes Jan. 12. and 17 at Mount Brighton. Srock and Morris earned top-10 finishes in back-to-back giant slalom events.
Being a young core, it’s a feeling-out process right now for Birmingham.
As the season progresses, Morris said, he expects some of the younger skiers to emerge from the group.
“We have some kids who are working in a large group in a pack,” Morris said. “We’re hoping to see in the next couple weeks a breakout from that group.”
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