Competitive ski racing is certainly not easy and requires a great deal of commitment. The challenge level goes up even more when the team you’re racing on lacks the depth needed to be competitive, or if you’re going up against more experienced teams.
The Manchester Essex girls and boys ski teams have worked hard to overcome these challenges this winter, with a boys’ team that skews fairly young and a girls team that is both young and lacks depth. None of this, however, has slowed down the Hornet skiers when it comes to their effort and commitment to the sport.
“All racers have attended practices, both dryland and on snow, prepared their skis for racing, stayed after races to practice fundamental gate training until 6 p.m. and supported their teammates,” explains Manchester Essex ski coach Jerry Murphy.
The boys’ team has gone 3-9 this season, while the girls have yet to pick up a team victory. And yet, what the girls have accomplished might be even more impressive than the boys considering the circumstances.
“The Girls Team has not had any wins so far,” says Murphy, who coaches both teams with Tom Landry. “They have skied well, but there are only five members. With such a small team it is hard to rack up the race points.”
Both teams are also pretty young. The girls boast a pair of seniors, a sophomore, a freshman and a seventh grader on their roster, while the boys’ oldest skiers are a pair of sophomores. The bulk of the roster is made up of a pair of freshmen, four eighth graders and seven seventh graders.
“As you can see, we have a lot of young racers,” explains Murphy, adding: “Five out of 15 on the boys team have experience in ski racing programs up north. Three out of five on the girls team have experience ski racing.”
The highlight of the season for the boys’ squad was a win over Haverhill.
“Haverhill is a powerhouse team and we were able to upset them,” says Murphy. “Haverhill won the NSSL championship last year and was seeded number one for this year. “
Team captains Caroline Willwerth, Celia Mannal and Hennix Ogren have kept spirits high and kept their teammates focused and ready to compete this winter.
“Caroline and Celia are both seniors and bring experience, maturity and leadership to the team,” explains Murphy. “Hennix is in tenth grade and conveys good technical racing information to his teammates as well as being a strong racer who earns points for the team.”
While wins haven’t come easily for the Hornets in 2025, Manchester Essex skiers have put in a number of impressive individual performances over the course of the season.
“Quinn McLain, an eighth grader, has gotten a number of podia finishes and takes his skiing seriously,” says Murphy. “Vaughn Creeden, a seventh grader, has great potential, goes all out, races hard in the gates. Hennix Ogren, a tenth grader, has been very strong in the finish.”
It’s a similar story on the girls side as well.
“Gracelyn Oneill, a tenth grader, has a first-place podium and a number of top five finishes,” continues Murphy. “She is a very strong skier. Several underclassmen, Eli Dennesen, Rhys Kiester, Aiden Cifric, Grey Brooks, Tucker Gibbs have been earning race points for the team.”
The Hornets’ final slalom races were set for the start of this week (Feb. 3 and 4), a girls’ giant slalom is slated for Feb. 5. After that, the team will celebrate Willwerth and Mannel during Senior Night before postseason races start up with the Inter Scholastic Race (Feb. 12) and State Ski Meet at Berkshire East (Feb. 25), where local skiers will get a chance to qualify and move on.
“The ski season is winding down,” says Murphy. “It has been a wonderful experience coaching these student athletes. Their enthusiasm for the sport and their hard work is inspiring. They all have bright futures if they continue to race. Coach Tom Landry, AD Cami Molinare and I are extremely proud of them.”
