The Holly Oxford boys varsity ski team competed at the MHSAA Division I State Finals, held Monday, February 27 at Nubs Nob Ski Resort in Harbor Springs, ultimately placing ninth.

The team’s second place finish to Rochester Adams at regionals had qualified the team for state finals.

Oxford High School senior Dan Defrain led the team Giant Slalom event, placing 24th, followed by Oxford High School junior Nick Allen in 39th.

Also leading the team in the State Finals Slalom event was Holly High junior Max Ford with a 14th overall finish, with freshman Jack Ford following in 23rd.

“Oxford junior Ben Varner also skied very well and went all-out, but in a sport where races are won and lost by hundredths of a second, some minor mistakes resulted in some disappointments in the team’s final score. At the end of the day, all of the boys were proud of their efforts on the steep slopes up north,” said Team Parent Liaison Andrea Allen.

The team consists of Coach Seth Thompson, Oxford senior Dan Defrain, junior Nick Allen, junior Ben Varner; along with Holly students Max Ford, Jack Ford, Connor Ford, and Luke Harrington.