CONTACT:  Wendy V. Long, Public Relations

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No Nordic Ski Team for Gateway

Huntington- Due to a lack of participating students, the high school’s Nordic Ski program was cancelled for the 2006-07 season. “It’s sad.  It’s disappointing.  But you could see the trends over the years,” acknowledged boys’ coach Bob Payne. “It wasn’t unexpected.”

Principal Kathleen McSweeney and Athletic Director Jeff Fisk made repeated attempts and appeals to obtain league and MIAA approval to expand the program to 7th and 8th grade students, in order to keep the team, to no avail.

Gateway’s Nordic Ski Program started in the mid 1990’s with two years as a “club team”. The official inaugural year was the 1995-96 season.  Payne joined the program in ’99-00, the year the team placed 2nd in the state.  “In those days, we had 14 –16 students on each team,” recalls Payne. Last year, the team had eight members—four boys, four girls—the minimum number needed to compete.

“Last season’s opening practice started with very specific instructions to the athletes. Don’t get sick.  Don’t get hurt,” recalls Payne.  Out of 9 teams in the league, the boys finished 3rd last year, and the girls had their best ever season—fourth in their league.  Individually, 3 students placed in the top 10 in the State Classical races, and 2 placed in the top 10 in the State Skating races.

Unfortunately, 5 of the 8 team members graduated last June. Girls’ coach Michelle Dodge admitted, “We could see the writing on the wall last year.”

According to Dodge, Nordic Skiing participation is down everywhere.  “We just don’t get the amount of snowfall we used to get.  We used to train at Hickory Hill in Worthington, then Swift River in Cummington.  Both areas have closed.” 

Dodge, one of the founder’s of Gateway’s Nordic Ski program, has worked with the Bill Koch league for many years, a youth feeder program for Nordic skiing.  “We used to have 200 kids participating when my own children were young,” she said.  “Now we’re lucky to have 40, and most of them are from urban communities.”

Gateway wasn’t the only school to have trouble fielding a team.  Dodge reported that both Hoosac and Waconah high schools had low numbers of girls signing up this year.  “It is a very challenging sport.  You are outdoors in all kinds of weather and temperatures,” she said.

Athletic Director Jeff Fisk said that if interest improves in the future the program could be reinstated by a vote of the School Committee, and if District “G” (The Berkshires) accepted Gateway back into their league.

Dodge acknowledged, “There are just not enough kids coming out.  Gateway waited as long as they could and did everything they could to keep the program.”