Downhill momentum: West Bend ski team looks to build off successful 2022

 

KEWASKUM, Wis. (CBS 58) -- On a typical night in the winter at Sunburst Ski Hill, the West Bend ski team is doing what they do best.

'"I like going fast, I think that's the main thing of it," said Markus Briedis, West Bend East senior.

"I like to go fast and I'm good at it," said Solveig Schmidt, Oshkosh junior, qualified for nationals in 2022. 

Skiers from seven different schools make up the West Bend ski team. 

"It's Port Washington, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Campbellsport, West Bend West, West Bend East, and Kewaskum," said Jon Sison, West Bend ski team coach. "Having a team come together, the five years I've been with it, I thought it would be a major feat. It isn't."

It's the love of skiing that gets them together. 

"Made so many friends," said Ashley Benson, Port Washington senior. "If this team didn't exist, I wouldn't even ski race. I love it, I'm so grateful."

The year 2022 was good to the squad. The girls team won its conference for the first time, finished second in state for the second time in five years, and sent three skiers to nationals. 

"Probably one of the strongest teams we've had," Sison said. 

"As of right now, that was my favorite year of skiing of all time. Team was awesome. We gelled really well," said Briedis. 

With all of the successes of a year ago and some new faces on the squad, they're hoping to make this upcoming season an even more special ride.

"It pushes me more to get back to where it was and actually win at state this year," said Schmidt. 

"Go in with the same attitude that we do every year go in just to have fun with it and see what happens," Benson said. 

This year's season begins on Wednesday, Dec. 4, with a chance to slide back into the state meet in February.