(Pinedale, WY) – The high school Nordic skiing season came to a close last weekend in Pinedale. Despite a challenging season, weather and logistics-wise, Lander was able to take 2nd and 3rd overall in the girls and boys competitions out of the eight competing teams.
Conditions were near perfect over the weekend, where the Lander girls took 2nd, just a point behind first-place Cody, on Friday in the classic 5k competition and 3rd in the freestyle 10k. The boys were able to take first in the 5k and 7th in the 10k.
The 2026 Wyoming High School Nordic Skiing State Championships were held in Pinedale last weekend. Originally slated to be held in Lander, a comittee of organizers decided Pinedale had more favorable conditions for this year’s competition. Conditions turned out to be perfect Friday and Saturday on the course. h/t Carl Cote Twyla Beason digs deep for the last push around the final corner during the 5k. h/t Carl Cote Spectators watch as Lander’s Anabel Bechtel makes her way around the backside of the course. h/t Carl Cote Garrett Heller digs his poles into the snow as he approaches the finish line Friday morning. h/t Carl Cote JoJo Olsson fights her way up the final hill during the 5k at state nordic skiing. h/t Carl Cote Anabel Bechtel crests the top of a hill, moving past her father, Steve Bechtel, as he takes a video and cheers her on. h/t Carl Cote Brit Richards takes off the line to get the 5k started Friday in Pinedale. h/t Carl Cote
Top girls’ finishers:
Nora Strike: 6th in 5k and 4th in 10k
Twyla Beason: 9th in 5k and 8th in 10k
Dorothy Jensen: 10th in 5k and 14th in 10k
Brit Richards: 17th in 5k and 31st in 10k
Assistant coach Jonathan Weaver waxes up a pair of skis for one of his athletes before the race Friday. h/t Carl Cote Cheered on by rowdy spectators Juliet Whitmore and Anabel Bechtel approach the final hill for Lander at state Friday in Pinedale. h/t Carl Cote Head coach Gabe Joyes shouts encouraging words at his skiiers as they approach the finish line Friday. h/t Carl Cote Tavis Eddy and Emily Tilden check on Twyla Beason after she crossed the finish line exhausted. h/t Carl Cote Corbin Eddy eyes an opportunity to pass close to the finish line Friday morning in Pinedale. h/t Carl Cote 
Family and friends gather ontop of a ridge with a good view of the course Friday morning. h/t Carl Cote
Top boys finishers:
Logan Heller: 6th in 5k and 8th in 10k
Logan Milek: 9th in 5k and 32nd in 10k
Corbin Eddy: 10th in 5k and 16th in 10k