Glen Lake Middle School wins Junior VASA Championship

Tue, Feb  16, 2010 - By Pete Edwards

Every year the North American VASA awards the giant Championship Cup to the grade school, middle school or high school with the highest percentage of participation in the Jr. VASA events. The award is not based on speed – it is all about participation and FUN on snow. The Jr. VASA typically has around 100 smiling junior skiers. ALL finishers are awarded VASA Medals at the finish line.

Junior skiers ages 7 and under ski a 1km course. Skiers 8-15 ski a 2km trail. Trail grooming for both events are performed by the skilled groomers that meticulously prepare all of the North American VASA Race Courses.

The Championship Cup has been won in prior years by Traverse City’s Holy Angels and Immaculate Conception.

Glen Lake’s Middle School skiers are also members of the Sleeping Bear Dunes XC Ski Club Development Team. Glen Lake won the Championship Cup with an impressive 5% participation rate. The team has set a goal to exceed 10% in 2011 and bring the Championship Cup back to Glen Lake for a 2nd year.

Glen Lake 7th and 8th Grade Winning Team for the Jr. VASA Championship Cup

• Samantha Purifoy
• Hollie Dowd
• Keefer Edwards
• Jessica Hood
• Carter Lee
• Jessica Lee
• Jane Lively

The North American VASA Championship Cup is a large traveling trophy that is engraved with each year’s winning team. The Championship Cup is retained for a year by the winning team and then returned to the North American VASA to be awarded to the next year’s winners.

2010 Over-ALL Champions - North American VASA Jr. Races:

• #1 Skate Technique -  male: Keefer Edwards from Glen Arbor
• #1 Skate Technique -  female: Heidi Schwab from Williamsburg
• #1 Classic Technique - male: Carter Lee from Maple City
• #1 Classic Technique - female: Hollie Dowd* from Cedar

*Hollie's Mom Kathy Cook-Dowd won the 2010 North American VASA 27km Classic Women's Race!