H.S. BOYS’ NORDIC SKIING ALL-STARS
Athlete of the Year: Ben Jenkin, Queensbury
A dominating victory at the 2024 Section II championships sent Ben Jenkin into his final scholastic Nordic race with high hopes of winning a second straight state title. Little did the senior realize that on race day at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Feb. 26 he would not be feeling close to his best.
Even though he felt far less than 100 percent, Jenkin managed to fight through to capture the championship as he crossed the line after covering the 7.5-kilomter course in a time of 18 minutes, 53.3 seconds. Glens Falls junior Forrest Slingerland, a long-time rival, finished second in 19:00.4.
“It was a pretty good race for me,” Jenkin said. “I had been beating him most of the year. Obviously, he is a great skier. You never really know. He could have a great day. I think I was satisfied with the day.
“The first day, I did not feel as good as I wanted to. What can you do? I still managed to get the win. In the end, that is all that really matters. The second day was really good and being able to win the team championship was definitely great.”
A day after his individual triumph, Jenkin teamed with Alden Guay and Patrick Cirillo in the relay and secured the program’s fifth state team title.
Jenkin, who is currently preparing for his final scholastic lacrosse season, will continue his skiing career at Middlebury College.
“Going into the summer and fall is going to be a very important time for me in preparing for next season,” Jenkin said.
Before heading to college, Jenkin continues to enjoy the adulation that comes with being a backto-back state champion.
“Some of my friends call me ‘two-time.’ I think it is pretty funny,” Jenkin said. “I was happy to be able to do it. It is a testament to the hard work that was put into it.”
First team
Alden Guay, So., Queensbury: Selected to the Times Union second team in 2023, Guay delivered a string of strong results and finished fourth at the Section II championships. The sophomore also produced a seventh-place showing at the state championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
Ben Jenkin, Sr., Queensbury: Winning a state championship in 2023 is something Jenkin looked to repeat and he did so, even though he was not feeling well. He became the first Queensbury competitor to win back-toback state titles and also captured the Section II
championship.
Landon Kinal, So., Guilderland: Finished third behind Jenkin and Slingerland at the Section II championships. Kinal managed to do the same thing at the state championships as he crossed the line to finish third behind the same two competitors.
Forrest Slingerland, Jr., Glens Falls: A consistent threat to win, Slingerland ended up finishing second at the Section II championships with a time of 16 minutes, 24.8 seconds. The junior also came in second at the state championships.
Coach of the Year
Paul Allison, Queensbury: The Spartans earned the Section II title and went on to capture the program’s fifth state championship, its first since 2020, led by the efforts from Ben Jenkin, Alden Guay and Patrick Cirillo.
Second team
John Bednarek, Sr., Scotia-glenville
Nathaniel Burke, Jr., Guilderland
Patrick Cirillo, Jr., Queensbury
Liam Davidson, Queensbury