BELLAIRE — Petoskey ski coach Tony Blancato and the Northmen boys ski team held true to their usual ‘blind skiing’ even on the biggest stage Monday, Feb. 23.
Though, it’s not quite as it sounds.
All season long, even with live scoring available, Petoskey’s boys – especially Blancato – have made it a habit of not being glued to the times and places at the hill. They’ve instead finished with blinders.
“The main thing is it’s a distraction, right?” Blancato said. “We try to have the kids not talk about it, don’t look, it’s OK. Let’s focus on what’s in front of us.”
Skiing at the Division 2 state championships at Schuss Mountain in Bellaire Monday, still, there was no peeking.
“We haven’t looked all year, don’t jinx us now,” Blancato said on his message to his guys. “I live by my rules.”
And, the surprise at the end made a two-point victory and return to the top of the state championship podium all the more sweeter in the end.
Petoskey’s boys narrowly edged out the Great North Alpine out of Traverse City in a 49-51 finish, needing every bit of a dominant afternoon to claim the title.
“Truly amazing,” Blancato said. “It was truly, truly amazing. We have some amazing families, support, you name it. It’s been a really nice ride.”
Behind Petoskey and GNA, Harbor Springs then placed third overall with a 121 finish, staying consistent across the morning and afternoon events.
“For the boys to make it to the state meet and then finish in third was really awesome,” Harbor Springs coach Ellen Beatty said on her guys. “They stepped it up and rose to the occasion. They had a good day.”
The title for Petoskey may very well start up another streak, something the Northmen have been known for over the past few decades.
They won five straight titles from 2020 to 2024, before a runner-up finish a year ago that was decided on a fifth skier tiebreaker after a late disqualification.
The Northmen also won eight straight from 2011 to 2018 and three straight from 2000 to 2002.
Petoskey’s title on Monday was a comeback in more ways than just returning to the first place spot Monday. The Northmen needed to work out of a three-point hole (20-23) after the giant slalom event in the morning. GNA skied a brilliant race, placing three inside the top six.
Then, in the afternoon, GNA quickly placed two inside the top three after second runs in the slalom.
“We knew it was going to be close. We knew it just because GNA, they’re studs,” Blancato said. “So we knew it.”
What followed was Petoskey racers giving all they had, and then some, as one Petoskey skier after another took a top 10 spot during second slalom runs. All six Northmen competing in the race finished inside the top ten, sweeping the fifth through 10th spots.
It not only gave the Northmen solid points, but it pushed down GNA finishers that otherwise would have been top 10.
“We let our two last young racers know, it’s time to send it,” Blancato added. “Let’s do it, have a blast. They lit it up.”
Petoskey’s Elijah Dettmer earned a fifth place finish to lead, then Mick Galbraith, Cole Whitener, Griffin Dunn, Taylor Keiswetter and Chris Keiswetter followed.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Blancato said on all six inside the top 10 at the finals. “I’ve been coaching for a really long time and I have never seen that before. Those kids, they earned it.”
Taylor Keiswetter’s day also came with an individual title in the morning giant slalom race, while Chris Keiswetter and Dettmer also placed top 10.
Harbor was led by Nolan Kennedy in each race, with a seventh place finish in GS and 11th in slalom.
Even though her boys didn’t take the top spot in the end, watching another local team celebrate was a thrill for Beatty, too.
“The Petoskey boys were on fire,” she said. “It’s just so awesome because both Petoskey and Harbor train at Nub’s Nob, it’s the home hill and it’s just awesome to represent the community up here and the Nub’s family. We love watching those guys win, too.”
For Blancato, leading in his first season with Jac Talcott and assistants Corey Cook and Eric Smith, there was a moment when things calmed after the celebration and he found himself wondering what was next.
“The team has such a positive vibe this year,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s over.”
But, in a program that’s know for its title streaks, it’s not quite over, it’s just on to the next one.
“I guess we start getting ready for next year,” Blancato added, answering his own question.
Results for area skiers at Division 2 state finals.
BOYS GIANT SLALOM
Petoskey: Taylor Keiswetter, 1st, 49.38; Chris Keiswetter, 6th, 51.16; Elijah Dettmer, 7th, 51.31; Griffin Dunn, 9th, 51.36; Cole Whitener, 10th, 51.48; and Mick Galbraith, 12th, 51.85.
Harbor Springs: Nolan Kennedy, 7th, 51.12; Caiden Phillips, 10th, 51.32; JJ Spencer, 25th, 52.71; Turner Schultz, 36th, 54.96; Vincent Alonzi, 47th, 56.31;
Petoskey St. Michael: Matthew Cesario, 37th, 54.98.
BOYS SLALOM
Petoskey: Elijah Dettmer, 5th, 1:07.46; Mick Galbraith, 6th, 1:08.30; Cole Whitener, 7th, 1:08.36; Griffin Dunn, 8th, 1:09.32; Taylor Keiswetter, 9th, 1:09.43; Chris Keiswetter, 10th, 1:09.61.
Harbor Springs: Nolan Kennedy, 11th, 1:09.95; Caiden Phillips, 13th, 1:10.04; Henry Larson, 18th, 1:10.86; JJ Spencer, 22nd, 1:11.91; Vincent Alonzi, 48th, 1:17.96; Teddy Deegan, 49th, 1:18.58.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey boys skiing returns to the top of Division 2 with state title
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
