Vail Mountain School’s 2-time state champion skier wins final Colorado High School Ski League race
Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
The final Colorado High School Ski League regular season race turned into a sweetheart skate for Vail Mountain School.
The Rangers brought two athletes to Gold Run Nordic Center last Friday and came away with two wins.
“Teddy (Brunner) getting first meant I knew Isla was also getting first,” Vail Mountain School interim head coach Wyatt Smith said after watching the Nordic ski power couple sweep the 6-kilometer skate races.
When asked how they planned to celebrate, Elton simply stated: “I think this is a pretty good way.”
“I’m super happy for him because he’s been working really hard and totally deserves it,” the junior continued. “And he was really smart with how he skied.”
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While Brunner won a tactical race in a mad dash to the line, Elton — a two-time individual state champion last year — blew up the field in the opening climb on the curvy course. Even though she reached the high point alone, however, Summit freshman Lucy Greenwood didn’t give up the fight.
“I was like, ‘if I give a little bit of a gap on the uphill then I can draft in behind her,” Greenwood said. “I caught her going on Smugglers, which I think was a good idea because I just saved so much energy.”
Elton came away with a nine-second victory, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 31.59 seconds. Greenwood took runner-up honors, with teammate Maeve Niemkiewicz (17:01.09) coming in third as Summit put three in the top-5.
“I felt really good,” Greenwood said. “It was fun racing on a home course and I think I knew where I needed to push and I knew where I needed to tuck in behind someone and draft and save energy.”
Elton said she felt the pressure from Summit’s top skier.
“She kept me a little bit nervous and pushing through the whole thing,” said Elton. “I wanted to go as fast as I could and push myself and she helped me do that.”
Summit scored 217 points to claim a narrow team win over Lake County (213). Finnley Stanek sprinted past Summit’s Marin Little to place fourth for the Panthers.
“It wasn’t my best day, but it was a good learning experience,” said Stanek, who also races on the Rocky Mountain Nordic club circuit. Even though the final RMN races in Aspen overlap the state meet this weekend, Stanek said she plans to represent Lake County on Friday and Saturday before contesting the club race on Sunday.
“We’re excited going into state, and that definitely made my decision a little easier to do all the state days and not skip one of the days for RMN — because I love my team,” Stanek said.
Chloe King (17:33.47) and Lyza Zoller (18:12.17) both skied into the top-10 for Lake County, which put five athletes into the top-13. Stanek said this group isn’t a whole lot different than the one that brought home a state title last year, both in roster makeup and mentality.
“I think we’re a team where we’re happy if we all try our best,” she said.
When asked what it would mean to dethrone their rivals this weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch, Greenwood answered, “A lot.”
“I think we’re all getting stronger and so much faster and we’re pushing each other,” she continued. “It’s so cool to go 2-3 with Maeve and Marin to come in fifth. I think we all are strong and if we’re on our game, I think we have a really good chance.”
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
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Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
Battle Mountain (186) placed third on Friday, led by Eden DeMino’s seventh-place finish. Ruthie DeMino (18:17.67) was the team’s second finisher in 11th while Eliza Pyke (19:16.31) and Sabrina Nabonsal (19:35.66) rounded out the Huskies’ scoring. Eva Klesner (19:18.79) led Eagle Valley to an eighth-place finish in the 12-team field with a top-20 individual result. Hailey Ehman (29th) was second for the team, sneaking inside the state-qualifying cut, while Nina Hesseltine (44th) and Tovah Pollack (46th) rounded out the Devils’ scoring.
Both Greenwood and Stanek said they were inspired by the Olympic heroics of American cross-country skiers this past week. Jessie Diggins battled through a rib injury to collect a bronze in the 10-kilometer skate and Ben Ogden claimed the first medal by an American male in 50 years in the men’s sprint.
“I watched Jessie race last night,” Greenwood said. “Honestly, I think it was just so cool to see them push through the pain and that’s so inspiring — like I can do that, too.”
Stanek, however, was even more inspired by another American athlete who claimed a medal in Italy last week: Her mom won a silver medal in the 15-kilometer skate race at the 2026 Masters World Cup in Sappada.
“I’d say my mom is more inspirational because I love her and she’s my biggest inspiration — and she’s so cool,” Stanek said. “But also Jessie Diggins is amazing and watching her race makes me want to be better.”
The Colorado High School Ski League season concludes with the state meet on Feb. 20-21. Athletes will contest an individual start skate race on day 1 and a classic mass start and mixed technique relay on day 2.
