Wisconsin High School Nordic Championship Predictions

2026 ski season; it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…wait, have I heard that before somewhere? I might need to up my Prevegen dose to keep up with memories from high school English. Regardless, the northern half of the state has had a pretty good winter, with deductions for some super cold snaps and a couple of early season ice storms. The southern half? Not so good, with cycles of have and have not got snow leading to flashbacks of the previous two seasons.

However, coaches and athletes persevere, making due with a sport that relies heavily on the building blocks of snow, but using creative ways to adjust if the White Magic is lacking. For years the southern coaches have relied on a never ending bag of tricks to keep their skiers motivated and involved as they cycle between roller skiing to weekends north to get on the white stuff. Northern coaches; the times, they are a changing.

Programs that thrive, more and more, seem to be connected to man-made snow loops, and even though limited in distance, ski coaches use them in a variety of ways, channeling track and swim workouts to motivate their athletes.

This year's edition of the Wisconsin Nordic Distance Championships will again offer the best Wisconsin has to offer in the friendly arms of the Birkebeiner Start at Cable. The weekend before, The Arien’s Center, Brillion, had the honor of hosting the State Sprint Meet, and did their usual stellar job. Now, we’re half way to crowning champions, both individual and team; the Ubermeisters of Wisconsin High School Nordic Skiing. The coming weekend’s drama will tell the tale.

Now for the nitty gritty. The timers can probably stay home and just use AI to print the final results based on this well established narrative; the straight skinny, the inside scoop.

We’ll start with the boys as they lead off the program February 7, at 9:00 a.m. with 30 second individual starts. First on my list is Connor Reckinger, Bay Nordic. At the Hodag Challenge, with individual classic starts, he put 14 seconds on the next closest skier, Parker McKinney, Lakeland. Impressive.

Third at that event, another 15 seconds back was young Brayden Kelly, Lakeland. Of course just .1 back, lurks James Derenne, Bay Nordic. But wait, there’s more! A tick back, .7 in the same second, another youngster, Carson Wood, Iola Winter Sports Club, is ready to pounce. The plot thickens.

Let’s see what emerged from last weekend’s sprint results as another indication of future performance. Niels Stringer, Independent Wisconsin Athlete, by way of Madison, entered the fray and finished first. James Derenne and Connor Reckinger, Bay Nordic, were next in line, followed by Brayden Kelly, Lakeland. Of course with a Freestyle pursuit this year on Sunday, skate legs could change everything. The classical gaps will play a huge role in who and how the chase group sets up. Too much of a gap and out of sight, out of mind.

Right now, I’m going with Connor Reckinger, Bay, top of the heap, Niels Stringer, IWA, second, and…,and…Parker McKinney, Lakeland. Unless…young legs take off and Derenne, Kelly, and Wood decide to make their stamp on the future, not willing to be spanked by their elders.

Boy’s Team scores? Based on the sprint weekend, and shifting to distance, I’m calling Bay Nordic, Iola, and the Spooner team, Rails on Trails. Never one to hedge his bets, let me just say that not all the players were at Ariens, sprinting is not distance, and over and under training, as well as nerves all come into play. Some might call me a “Homer”, but let me just say that Lakeland could be a Dark Horse, if all the pieces come together…and they may.

The girls are even easier to predict. Bay Nordic has had a trio of young girls that year by year have gotten better and better. From elementary to middle school, to now, the big times, we’ve seen it coming: The Blue Wave.

However, they need to knock Peak Nordic senior Krin Blegen off the top spot, something they didn’t accomplish at either the Hodag or last week's sprints. That being said, the young crowd is chomping at the bit with Aleksandra Guseva, Blackhawk Nordic Ski Club, impressive in many of her classic outings. Then the Bay Nordic girls of Ashley Derenne, Onika Colassacco, and Katelyn Reckinger may put their collective heads together to up the ante. Another name to add to the list of podium candidates is Ellie Schouten, Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic, who is knocking on the door.

Team wise, as noted, Bay Nordic will be hard to beat. They have others in the wings, as in loaded wings. Wausau United may not have podium placers, but plenty just below that level and could wind up in second. I’m calling the third place team for MadNorSki, somewhat similar to Wausau with a core group skiing tightly and scoring points; no breakout superstars, yet. So there you go, with one caveat: Never Count Peak Out. Other than that, rock solid, money in the bank, predictions.