Ohio State University Wins 2018 Great Lakes Conference Championship

15 teams composed of over 270 skiers scattered across the Pleasant Shores of Van Wert Ohio for the Great Lakes Conference Championship, all competing in hopes to secure their spot at the 2018 Collegiate Regional Tournament.

Luckily, the top 8 teams from the GLCC get to travel to the PITS: The Ohio State University, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Bowling Green State University, Miami of Ohio, Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan, and Indiana University.

This is the first time in history that Indiana University goes to the Regional Championship. Lauren Goldman has worked so hard all season to not only train her skiers but to improve the team as a whole. The hard work certainly paid off!

The weekend started with Freedom Friday night including practice sets going until a crazy time of 4am. All skiers are so thankful to Jim for allowing such a unique opportunity of night skiing with lights shining from both the boat as well as from high stadium lights above the lake. All three events were able to be practiced. This is especially unique for jump because normally a “night jumper” is one going over 100ft in distance. Luckily, lots of first time “ploppers” were also given this experience.

After a short sleep, even before the sun crept above the clouds, Women’s A team slalom skiers took the dock at 7:15am. It was chilly and early, but luckily the moral of the skiers was hot and ready! Men’s A slalom followed right after women’s A.

B team trickers enjoyed a short trip to the trick lake to practice some wiggles and reverse wiggles! After A team slalom we moved swiftly into A team trick with men being sent from the far starting dock and women from the main dock to run a smooth day of tricking. Many personal bests were achieved from all teams in all events to help their overall team scores!

Saturday skiing ended with B team slalom skiing into a beautiful sunset and the teams heading out for team dinners. A change from normal night activities, lots of teams came together to enjoy a Mexican dinner and then headed to a local bowling alley, continuing a new tradition for GLCC. The night finished with s’mores and tribal dancing thanks to Miami of Ohio’s unique chanting traditions.

Sunday morning, the teams (whether they wanted to or not) were awoken Michigan State’s “whoomp there it is” and GVSU’s Scottish bagpipe music. The sun was barely peeping over the horizon, thick fog covering the whole surface of the lake. But that didn’t stop the tournament from starting at the strict 7:15am time! Our Women’s A team jumpers jumped through and over the fog with some awesome photos to document the beautiful morning.

After the completion of Women’s A jump, we moved directly Men’s A team jumpers. There were many great performances, even some jumping into the century club! Jose Louis Tejada took home the gold with an impressive jump of 124 ft.

Luckily the sun came out to finish the weekend and skiers were able to hit the legendary water slide, play on the wooden raft, sun bathe, hit big red, and enjoy the company of their fellow Great Lakes skiers and teammates.

B team jumpers finished out the day and a few skiers were able to hit big red for the first time! Congratulations to all competitors from the weekend and good luck to the 8 teams moving forward to regionals!