Ely’s Nordic ski team started out the year with one goal in mind, winning their section meet and going to state as a team. Little did they know, they would not only become section champions for both girls and boys, but also move on to a sweeping victory at state. The Ely girls took third place at state, missing second place by only one point. The boy’s team, who had not made it out of sectionals since the sixties, won state.

For Ely, winning state was the classic David and Goliath story. Cross-country skiing is a single division sport, meaning all schools in the state compete with each other. The biggest and smallest schools ski side by side. Ely, with a high school enrolment of 174 students, unquestionably falls into the category of smallest. At state the Ely Timber wolves were going up against schools who’s enrollment was almost larger than the town of Ely’s population. In fact, of the schools represented at state, the one closest in size to Ely’s size--Little Falls--had an enrollment of more than four times more students.

Furthermore, while most of these larger schools receive funding from their schools, Ely’s ski team is an independent program that must raise its own money in order to keep running. Skiers and their parents keep the team together by holding various fundraisers throughout the year, and depend on the generosity of their community.

What Ely lacked in numbers they made up for in effort and spirit. Both the boys and girls teams train in the summer. Most skiers on the team join a sport in the spring and fall to stay in shape and cross train. Coaches across the state ask Ely’s head coach Paula Anderson how she manages to get a bunch of teenagers to show up at eight in the morning during the summer for two grueling hours of roller skiing. She always replies, “I don’t have to. They are the reason that I show up, because I know they’ll be there waiting.”

The entire community of Ely is thrilled and proud of their athletes’ success. It’s common occurrence for skiers to hear congratulations as they enter the grocery store or walk down the street. The local DQ has put up a huge congratulations message on their advertising board. The whole school wonderfully supported the team. They had two winter frolic pep rallies for the skiers, and numerous students and teachers came down to watch and cheer at state. The City council is recognizing the skiers’ achievement at their next meeting.

Ely’s team started out the year with a goal but they finished it with so much more. They ended their season with a victory beyond what they had imagined, and with proof that they had what it takes.