Board honors boys Nordic state champions; coach credits offseason commitment

The Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Directors opened its meeting by recognizing the district's boys Nordic ski team after the squad captured the state team championship, the program's first team title since 1996.

Tory Crafton, the boys Nordic head varsity coach, told the board he and his staff set a goal the prior spring to win a state title and that the team's offseason commitment and consistent work ethic carried them through a season of rigorous training. He described a pivotal state meet sprint relay in which the team edged a competitor in the final climb and later placed multiple skiers high enough in the pursuit race to secure a 41-point margin of victory.

The board noted additional team accomplishments: two skiers qualified for junior national competition (one recorded two seventh-place finishes and another placed 20th), and the program earned a high-academic team award with a top-five GPA average of 3.87 for scoring members.

Coach Crafton summarized the season's ethos: the team practiced through difficult weather and prioritized hard work, which he said paid off at championship events. Students and board members joined the team for a group photo before the meeting moved into regular business.

Direct quotes and attributions

Tory Crafton said the state-meet result "set a tone" for the season and that the team "ended up winning the state meet by a 41 point margin." The superintendent and board congratulated the athletes and noted pride in both athletic and academic performance.

What this means locally

Board members framed the recognition as community celebration of student achievement in athletics and academics. One senior announced plans to compete collegiately at Colby College; band and orchestra results and other student achievements were also noted in the student reports section of the meeting.

The board then transitioned to its regular agenda business.