By Jake Barnes

With outstanding snow conditions, unlike much of Wisconsin, the Iola Skate and Classic ski invitational attracted a large crowd to the Iola Winter Sports Club (IWSC) grounds north of Iola on County Road MM the weekend of January 20 and 21.

Nordic ski teams from Hayward and Spooner to the North and Waukesha and Madison to the South participated in the two-day, two-technique (skate and classic skiing) affair. High school varsity ski racers traversed the 7.1-kilometer course using many of the fabled blue and black trails in as little as 19 minutes for the skate day and 21 minutes for the classic technique day.

Leading the way for the Iola Winter Sports Club was Greta Dickman, who won both day’s varsity girls races. Close behind her was her teammate, Josie Kwasny, who finished the weekend with a second and third.

For the Iola boys, Charlie Vater pulled away for the boys classic win on Sunday. He also finished fifth on Saturday. Brothers Ian and Cole Anderson finished first and fourth on Saturday and followed that up with sixth and eighth on Sunday.

Middle-school ski racers, the largest group in attendance, traversed a 3.2-kilometer course using primarily green and blue trails on the club grounds. Leading the way for Iola was Carson Wood, who had a first and a fourth for the weekend. The middle-school girls were led by Violet Krenz and Lyla James.

Next up for the Iola Winter Sports Club co-op team is the state sprint competition at the new Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion on February 3 and 4, followed by the state distance meet the following weekend in Cable.

Sam Groeschl and Charlie Vater (center, in the blue suits) lead the charge for Iola around the second corner of the 7.1-kilometer Nordic classic race at the Iola Winter Sports Club grounds January 21. Photo by Lynn Groeschl

The IWSC varsity boys team celebrates its first-place overall finish for the weekend. Photo by Daivd Wood