Relay Day at Junior Nationals always occurs on the last day of a full week of racing. By design, it’s meant to focus the individual efforts of an entire winter by placing them in the context of a Team. Drive to the heart of our sport: a wintertime, cold, individual pursuit, made wonderful by the warmth of pursuing it together.
For Team New England this year, Relay Day represented another opportunity. After a sometimes frustrating week of near-misses on All-American finishes (top 10), there was a tangible way for skiers who had already accomplished much in the week of racing to boost their teammates to their goals. A strong relay leg, a last burst of speed against a tired field, by any one skier could be the difference.
As it would turn out on the day, those race-defining, team-boosting efforts would begin and end with two skiers who had led their peers in the Eastern Cup all season: James Underwood and Lea Perreard, both out of Ford Sayre Ski Club in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire-Vermont.
At their end-of-season banquet this spring, the members of Ford Sayre Junior Nordic Ski Team (FSJNT) offered up just this honor for their Head Coach, Hilary McNamee. “One of the athletes compared Hilary’s abilities as a coach to her abilities as a flower farmer,” says Ford Sayre Assistant Coach Isabel Seay. “He described how just as she successfully grows a wide variety of flowers by knowing how to tend each of them, she successfully develops athletes of all levels by meeting them where they are at, understanding their goals, and providing them with the support they need (and more).”
To tend the metaphor then: as the seeds she planted for Ford Sayre have hit a full bloom, we’re honored to recognize Hilary McNamee as the 2024-25 NENSA Coach of the Year.
The Liatoppen is the world’s largest youth Biathlon festival with 1,100 U16 athletes competing in 2025. Isaac Fellows was a member of the US team of 22 biathletes from across the country who travelled to Norway for 3 days of training and 3 days of competition. This year there was almost no snow at the venue and they moved snow by truck up the mountain from a local downhill ski area to hold the competition.
Friday: Relay race 3 1K loops with 2 shooting sessions. Isaac (lane 26) skied the second leg of the top seeded US team with Lance Smith from AK and Elin Lunoe from AK placing 13th in the mixed relay category.
Saturday: Individual start. 2 x1x2 K loops with 2 shooting sessions. Isaac placed 52, 4/10.
Sunday: Mass start with 30 athletes in a wave. 3 x 1.5 K loops with 2 shooting sessions. Isaac placed 37, 6/10.
Q: How was your experience in Norway?
Isaac: The trip to Liatoppen, Norway was super fun, super cool, and a great overall experience. It was really cool to be in Norway for the first time where the ski culture is just everywhere and everyone is super friendly. What made the biggest impression on me is how focused on skiing the country is. A shopping mall will have 5 ski shops with a vast selection of equipment. Everywhere you look there is a ski area that includes a biathlon range. There was a school near the venue that trained Nordic skiers and biathletes with a range right beside the school.
The race venue was on top of a mountain with great views, and a really nice place to ski. It was great to meet everyone on the team and become friends with people from Alaska to Washington to Maine. The races were so much fun and even if you didn’t do well, everyone was happy to be there and enjoyed the beautiful sunny days. The weather was impeccable all week with sun and warm temperature everyday, so this combined with the amazing racing, stunning views, and new friends, made my week in Norway an incredible experience that I’ll always remember.
Ford Sayre skiers representing Team New England at the ‘25 Junior National Championship (photo by Izzy Seay)
The National Championships for junior skiers in the United States took place in Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, at the 2002 (and now 2034) Olympic venue, between MARCH 8-15, 2025.
Six Ford Sayre skiers (and one alum) represent Team New England:
James Underwood (U20 Men), Woodstock Joey Sluka (U18 Men), Woodstock Annie Hanna (U18 Women), Lebanon Lea Perreard (U18 Women), Hanover Lucille Dent (U16 Girls), Hanover Ollie Hanna (U16 Girls), Lebanon Sarah Glueck (U20 Women, now skiing for Colby College), Hanover
The U18 New England coach was none other than our own JNT Assistant Coach: Izzy Seay!
The NE team, photo by George Forbes, @the_xcskiman
Monday: Individual Classic Distance Race
The competition kicked off on Monday with the individual start classic races: a 5km race for U16s in the morning, followed by a 7.5km event for the U18/U20 women and men. Under blazing sunshine and an unseasonably warm 60°F—unfamiliar conditions for the Northeast crew accustomed to racing in frigid temperatures—athletes took on the challenge of racing at altitude.
Ollie delivered a solid performance, crossing the line in 18th place, while Lucille finished 41st, both showing strong form on day one. In the women’s U18/U20 race, Annie dug deep on the big hills and secured a spot on the podium with an impressive 2nd-place overall finish—just shy of a National Championship title. Lea battled back from a fall on the hilly course to claim 15th place overall (12th in U18), just outside the top 10, while Sarah finished 35th (7th in U20), rounding out a strong team showing.
By the time the men took to the course, the snow had transformed into thick slush, making the downhills just as grueling as the climbs. James powered through to finish 26th overall (9th in U20), while Joey crossed the line in 47th (29th in U18), wrapping up a demanding opening day of racing.
Annie, Lea, Izzy
Sarah & Annie
Classic race top 10 podium. Annie in 2nd place.
Wednesday: Sprints
All boys and girls competed in the morning’s skate sprint qualifier, where the top 30 from each age group advanced to the heats. James and Joey narrowly missed the cut, both finishing 32nd in their respective categories.
The girls delivered an impressive showing in the qualifier. Ollie posted the 3rd fastest time among U16s, while Lucille secured 14th, well within the top 30. In the U18 division, Annie dominated with the fastest time of the morning, followed closely by Lea in 8th. Sarah also earned a spot in the heats, qualifying 15th for U20s.
The afternoon brought grueling conditions—hot weather, soft snow, multiple crashes, and race delays. In the quarterfinals, Lea placed 3rd in her heat despite a fall, while Lucille finished 5th. Annie and Ollie both advanced to the semifinals but suffered crashes in their respective heats, ultimately moving on to the B finals. Meanwhile, Sarah snagged a semi-final lucky loser spot, earning a place in the U20 A final, where she finished 5th overall. Annie closed out the day in 9th place, and Ollie finished 12th overall.
Heats: Top L to R: Annie, Lea Bottom L to R: Lucille, Ollie
James in sprint qualifier
Annie, Lucille and Lea in the sprint qualifier
Ollie and Lucille
Joey, Lucille and Sarah photos: @the_xcskiman
Boys, James, Joey
U18 start skate @the_xcskiman
Friday: mass start skate race
The mass start skate races took place on Friday under increasingly challenging snow conditions, as the course became more chopped up throughout the day.
In the morning races, Ollie finished 36th, followed by Lucille in 42nd. James delivered an impressive performance, securing 5th place overall and finishing as the top New England skier. In the U20 15k race, Sarah put in a strong effort to place 14th. Joey also had a standout race, cracking the top 20 with a 19th-place finish in the U18 10k event, where the deteriorating snow conditions made for an exceptionally tough race.
By the afternoon, race delays and shifting weather—from hot and sunny to cold and windy—added to the challenges. After multiple off-course crashes in the U18 men’s race, officials delayed the women’s race to salt the course in an attempt to firm up the snow. Despite the tough conditions, Lea powered through to finish 15th, while Annie wrapped up the day in 27th.
James 5th place overall!
Saturday: Mixed Classic Relay Race
A perennial favorite, the mixed gender relay took place on Saturday morning: classic style (4×3.33km, boy/girl/boy/girl). The Ford Sayre athletes put on a show!
New England teams:
U20 Team 1: James UNDERWOOD (8:04.9), Margo NIGHTINGALE, Micah BRUNER, Beth MCINTOSH 2nd place overall U20 Team 2: Anders LINSEISEN, Caroline TARMY, Abrahm GEISSINGER, Sarah GLUECK (10:32.8) 6th place overall
U18 Team 1: Beckett COTE, Mary HARRINGTON, Joseph SLUKA (9:41.4), Annie HANNA (11:29.8) 3rd place overall U18 Team 2: Fritz SANDERS, Ella RONCI, Matthew MCINTOSH, Lea PERREARD (11:22.2) 5th place overall
U16 Team 2: Eli MCENANEY, Astrid LONGSTRETH, Patrick HOLLAND, Ollie HANNA (12:00.1) 8th place overall U16 Team 3: Matthew NORTHCOTT, Lucille DENT(13:17.4), James LANGAN, Leila GRIFFITH 16th place overall
U20 competition: James skied the scramble leg for NE Team 1 and passed off to his teammate in 3rd place–third fastest time of the U20 men! The team was able to maintain their position and with a strong anchor, finished on the podium in 2nd place on the day! Sarah skied anchor for NE Team 2 and helped them to a 6th place overall finish out of 28 teams.
U18 competition: NE Team 1 featured Joey as the men’s closer (third leg) and Annie as anchor, while NE Team 2 had Lea anchoring and also included NH skier Ella Ronci of Plymouth.
After a strong performance by Ella, NE Team 2 entered the third relay leg in 6th place. Meanwhile, NE Team 1 had Joey heading out in 11th place, facing a sizable 14-second gap to the skier in 10th. Joey wasted no time, surging onto the course and closing the gap by the 2km mark. He maintained a strong pace on the course’s long, steady climb and powered up the final hill, overtaking three skiers. Navigating the tricky S-turn into the stadium—where the snow was soft and chewed up—he handed off to Annie in 8th place, having impressively erased a 46-second deficit. His time was the 4th fastest of the day for U18 men!
Lea was next on course, starting the final leg in 9th place with a 30-second gap to the 5th-place skier. The Ford Sayre girls had their work cut out for them over the 3.3km course in their push for a top-5 finish and All-American status. Both Annie and Lea wasted no time closing gaps and passing skiers. By the top of the final hill, Annie had surged NE Team 1 into 2nd place, while Lea wasn’t far behind in 6th.
Unfortunately, the soft snow on the descent tripped Annie up, causing her to fall and lose a pole. Quick action from a New England coach got her a replacement, and she recovered in time to secure a podium spot, bringing NE Team 1 across the line in 3rd place. Meanwhile, Lea unleashed a gutsy sprint to the finish, moving into 5th place and missing 4th by just 0.8 seconds.
Lea clocked the 3rd fastest U18 girls’ time of the day, with Ella Ronci 4th and Annie 5th. Both teams earned All-American status, finishing among the top five out of a field of 39 teams!
U16 competition: Ollie anchored NE Team 2, while Lucille skied the second leg for NE Team 3. At the handoff, Ollie set out in 14th place. Over the 3.3km course, she powered up the hills, passing six skiers and closing a 27 second gap to secure an impressive 8th-place finish for her team—finishing ahead of NE Team 1 in a field of 34 teams! NE Team 3 wrapped up the day in 24th place.
Relays top 5
Photos in order: James, coaches and teams U18s, NE Team 1, NE both teams, NE Team 2 hug, Annie, Joey, Sarah, Lea
Relay U20 team, with James 2nd from left
Relay race pics:
Sarah Glueck Nominated for the Dave Quinn Award
Each year at the Junior National Championships, an athlete is presented with the Dave Quinn Award. The award is given by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Sport Committee based on results as well as sportsmanship in the memory of U.S. Ski Team racer Dave Quinn, who died in 1976 at the peak of his career. Each region nominates one of their athletes to be considered, and this year New England elected to nominate Sarah. Her nomination can be found here.
James Underwood and Lea Perreard Recognized as Mike Gallagher Award Winners
In addition to Sarah being nominated for the Dave Quinn Award, James and Lea were recognized within Team NE as this years’ Mike Gallagher Award winners. The award formally recognizes the season’s Eastern Cup Champion based on consistent excellence within New England’s premier race series. Coach Izzy’s presentation of them can be found here.
A Few Thoughts from Coach Izzy
In 2018, I competed at Soldier Hollow as a U18 in my second Junior National Championships, so to be there this year as the U18 girls coach for Team NE was a very full circle opportunity that I really enjoyed. While my priority was to support the U18 girls, I was able to see most of the other races and cheer on all our Ford Sayre skiers. It was rewarding for me as a coach to see them all put together races that they should be extremely proud of, as I know firsthand doing this at the end of the season and in a hyped up environment such as JNs can be difficult, and have the opportunity to form bonds with other skiers from NE and the rest of the country. All this to say, the way they carried themselves on and off the snow made me proud to be there representing Ford Sayre!
Each year 24 boys and 24 girls are selected for their state team (representing NH, VT, NY, or MA), based on their excellent ski performance throughout the season. This year the Eastern High School Championship was hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club at Black Mountain of Maine (March 14-16).
The skiers raced for three days in a row and had a lot of fun in the melting spring snow (and increasing mud). A huge shoutout to all coaches and volunteers who shoveled snow to ensure trail cover!
Team VT – the overall winner
Team NH – runner up
Ford Sayre sent an impressive crew to this high school end-of-season event, competing as part of both the NH and VT teams.
Heidi Davis, 12th grade, Lyme NH, BKL graduate, and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Megan Faris, 11th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team Ingrid Groff, 9th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Annabelle Norris, 10th grade, Lebanon NH, BKL graduate and Lebanon Nordic Team Isaac Fellows, 10th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Rhys Jones, 9th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Tomas Masterson, 11th grade, Bradford VT, BKL graduate and JNT Safir Mehra, 11th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and JNT Isaac Novosad, 12th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Rohan Novosad, 10th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT Donovan Van Citters, 10th grade, Hanover NH, BKL graduate and Hanover Nordic Team/JNT
Ski friends
Back row: Rhys Jones, Isaac Novosad, Quinn Uva, Donovan Van Citters, Rohan Novosad, Isaac Fellows, Nick Cellini
Front row: Tomas Masterson, Safir Mehra, Priscilla Richardson, Maya Sluka, Isabel Cellini, Heidi Davis, Ingrid Groff, Megan Faris
(Photo by Abby)
Friday: Freestyle race
The boys went first in the Friday’s 5km freestyle races, in the setting sun and slushy snow. There were 3 Ford Sayre skiers in top 20: Quinn – 2nd second overall, followed by Isaac (13th) and Donovan (16th). Isaac F. finished shortly after (31st), followed by Rhys (59th), Tomas (61st), Safir(75th) and Rohan (90th).
The girls finished strong with Megan in 9th place, Priscilla in 22nd, Ingrid in 23rd and Izzy in 33rd. They were followed by Annabelle (56th), Heidi (58th) and Maya (73rd).
Saturday
The classic races took place on Saturday morning.The Ford Sayre boys raced hard, with Quinn, Donovan and Isaac finishing in top 20 (3rd, 10th and 13th, respectively). Tomas (47th), Rhys(56th), Isaac Fellows (57th), Safir (68th) and Rohan (80th) followed suit.
For the girls, Priscilla finished 10th, followed by Megan in 12th, and Izzy in 15th! Heidi and Ingrid crossed the finish line in 42nd and 48th, Annabelle in 70th and Maya in 92nd.
Isaac Novosad came in 2nd for the boys in the afternoon sprint, with Quinn and Donovan making top 20 (11th and 16th). Tomas was 31st, and Isaac F. 45th. Rhys, Safir, Rohan followed.
Priscilla finished 8th overall, and Ingrid 16th! Megan raced to top 25th, closely followed by Izzy in 31th, and Anabelle, Heidi and Maya.
Sunday
The skiers’ favorite competition, the mixed relay, took place Sunday morning, with all Ford Sayre skiers contributing to their teams’ overall performance. Izzy’s team claimed the gold and Quinn and Priscilla’s the silver, putting two VT teams at the top!
Teams and ranks are listed below:
1st – 38 VT – 2 Matias Citarella, Isabel Cellini, Lorenzo Atocha, Emily Linton 2nd – 37 VT – 1 Quinn Uva, Priscilla Richardson, Samuel Brondyke, Seven Bowen 6th – 26 NH – 2 Donovan Van Citters, Skyah Mclaughlin, Isaac Novosad, Maria Tilley, 10th – 27 NH – 3 Sullivan Sturtz, Holland Calcutt, Eric Fulton, MeganFaris 15 – 28 NH – 4 Ben Clough, Anika LaRoche, IsaacFellows, Skyla Mace 19 – 29 NH – 5 Nicholas Ring, Georgia Eckhardt, Wyatt Lawton, IngridGroff 22 – 30 NH – 6 Dean Ayotte, Leah Ines, RhysJones, Madeline Ronci 26- 31 NH – 7 Tomas Masterson, Heron Hannon, Ian Lofblad, Elena LaRoche 27 32 NH – 8 Safir Mehra, Corva Hannon, Christie Sebastian, Ava Valle 34 47 VT – 11Matthew Berg, Lindsey Ferris, Luke Buehler, Maya Sluka 43 34 NH – 10 Tate Hayman, HeidiDavis, Braydon Patch, AnnabelleNorris 44 35 NH – 11 Andrew Clarner, Lena Fish, RohanNovosad, Mabel Casey
In the individual rankings overall, combining scores for all races, 3 skiers made top 10: Quinn Uva was 3rd, Isaac Novosad 7th, and Priscilla Richardson came in 9th!Megan Faris was 12th and Donovan Van Citters was 15th!
Four of the Ford Sayre skiers (Heidi, Izzy, Isaac, and Quinn) are seniors, so these were their last ski races as high schoolers!
Quinn Uva will race in college for St. Michael’s, so teammates will see him at future Eastern Cups in the next season(s).
Quinn
Isaac Novosad
Safir
Isaac Fellows
Maya
Tomas
Donovan (From Aricca)
Heidi (From Aricca)
Ingrid (From Aricca)
Megan (From Aricca)
Quinn, Izzy, Priscilla and Maya racing for the VT team
Relay team: Isaac Novosad, Maria Tilley, Donovan Van Citters, Skyah Mclaughlin
Maya
Quinn
Izzy
Team VT
Rohan, Rhys, Isaac
Safir, Isaac, Tomas, Rohan, Rhys (photo courtesy of Abby)
Maya
Team fun
Photos from Gary Christie (have permission to use):
Ingrid (photo by Gary Christie)
Heidi (photo by Gary Christie)
Rhys (photo by Gary Christie)
Safir (photo by Gary Christie)
Isaac Fellows (photo by Gary Christie)
Tomas (photo by Gary Christie)
Donovan (photo by Gary Christie)
Heidi – with mismatched poles, thanks to a basket malfunction (and quick on-course loan from an attentive coach!) (photo by Gary Christie)
James Underwood and Lea Perreard are Celebrated as 2025 Eastern Cup Champions with Mike Gallagher Award – New England Nordic Ski AssociationDownloadContinue reading →
