Nordic skiing: Jirka, Ettinger lead New Paltz to boys and girls Section 9 titles

Stephen Haynes, Poughkeepsie Journal
·3 min read

Matei Jirka had immersed in skiing since he was a small child, spurred by a passion for the sport that developed almost through osmosis, which made it for him so much more than a hobby.

Growing up in a family that loves to ski, and does so often, it was almost inevitable that he would follow in those snow-tracked footsteps.

"We'd see this little kid all the time at community ski events," New Paltz coach Ann Gregory said, not knowing that he eventually would become a star for her Nordic skiing team.

Section 9 Nordic skiing champions Andie Psilopoulos of Wallkill, left, and New Paltz's Matei Jirka pose with their plaques after the section tournament Feb. 14, 2023. Psilopoulos won the girls title and Jirka the boys.
Section 9 Nordic skiing champions Andie Psilopoulos of Wallkill, left, and New Paltz's Matei Jirka pose with their plaques after the section tournament Feb. 14, 2023. Psilopoulos won the girls title and Jirka the boys.

The wait wasn't all that long, either, because Jirka already has made his mark with the Huguenots.

The eighth-grader took first place in the Section 9 skiing championships on Tuesday, completing the hilly 6.6-kilometer course at Gore Ski Bowl in 27:26. Jirka led a trio of New Paltz teammates who took the top spots, helping the Huguenots capture the team title in upstate North Creek.

Hannah Ettinger, who placed second, was among the four New Paltz girls who took the top seven places in their race, as the Huguenots won the boys and girls championships for a second straight winter. The girls did this despite graduating their top three finishers from last year.

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"It's exciting and it's definitely an accomplishment we're proud of," Gregory said. "It was a hard winter for all the teams involved because there hasn't been much snow to practice on since December."

The athletes do some training on roller skis, navigating the school area to simulate gliding on snow. But, the coach said, it doesn't quite come close to the real thing. Nevertheless, it's a challenge that most teams in this region faced and was something to overcome.

Members of the Section 9 girls Nordic skiing team pose together after the 2023 section championships. They'll compete in the state tournament Feb. 27-28. From left: Kaitlyn Morse (Monticello), Roxy DeNey-Bhagat and Hannah Ettinger of New Paltz, Wallkill teammates Andie Psilopoulos, Trinity Rivera and Katrina Brand, and New Paltz's Rory Gerber.
Members of the Section 9 girls Nordic skiing team pose together after the 2023 section championships. They'll compete in the state tournament Feb. 27-28. From left: Kaitlyn Morse (Monticello), Roxy DeNey-Bhagat and Hannah Ettinger of New Paltz, Wallkill teammates Andie Psilopoulos, Trinity Rivera and Katrina Brand, and New Paltz's Rory Gerber.

Jirka excels at the classic style of skiing, which helped him adapt quickly to the rolling terrain of this course. New Paltz junior Beckett Evans, who dealt with a wrist injury, took second at 28:30. Teammate Henry Wheeler placed third and Nathaniel Johnson fifth as the Huguenots totaled 24 points.

"Beckett has worked a lot to improve and he became a much better skier than last year," Gregory said of Evans, who took second on the 10-kilometer course last winter and has led the team most of this season. "Henry also stepped up and had a great day."

Jordan Marwin's fourth-place finish helped Wallkill get 13 points for second place. Monticello was third.

Posed together are members of the Section 9 boys Nordic skiing team that will compete in the 2023 state tournament. From left: Charlie Price, Elijah Nicol and Jordan Marwin of Wallkill, and New Paltz teammates Matei Jirka, Beckett Evans, Henry Wheeler and Nathaniel Johnson.
Posed together are members of the Section 9 boys Nordic skiing team that will compete in the 2023 state tournament. From left: Charlie Price, Elijah Nicol and Jordan Marwin of Wallkill, and New Paltz teammates Matei Jirka, Beckett Evans, Henry Wheeler and Nathaniel Johnson.

Wallkill's Andie Psilopoulos won the girls race, clocking at 28:59. Ettinger finished in 33:51, but teammates Roxy DeNey-Bhagat and Lexi Friedman were behind her, and Roy Gerber placed sixth, helping New Paltz accrue 27 points. Wallkill was second with 17 and Monticello third.

Medalists in this meet will form a Section 9 team to compete in the state tournament scheduled for Feb. 27-28 at Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park in Springwater, about 260 miles upstate.

The girls team includes Wallkill teammates Psilopoulos, Katrina Brand and Trinity Rivera, Monticello's Kaitlyn Morse and Ettinger, DeNey-Bhagat and Gerber of New Paltz.

Jirka, Evans, Wheeler and Johnson are part of the boys team, along with Marwin, Charlie Price and Elijah Nicol of Wallkill.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Nordic skiing: New Paltz wins girls and boys Section 9 championships