Senior Lauren Carlton, who has qualified for the Great Lakes national team for the past four years, competes as a member of the Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team.

She joined the Ashwaubenon teamwhen she was in 8th grade during COVID.

“It was the only team still practicing, so I joined because I was bored out of my mind. I had no prior experience,” she said. 

This team welcomes all schools, an aspect she has enjoyed over the years. 

“In fact, I would probably still be at Ashwaubenon High School if I had not joined the team because it was where I met some Notre Dame kids,” added Carlton. 

The students she met have now graduated, but she is “very thankful for them.” Two Tritons she mentioned were Joe Stumpf and Paige Beining.

This team is very competitive and involves year-round training. 

“We train together all summer and usually go on various training trips to places like the Porcupine Mountains,” said the senior. 

All four years of high school she has competed all over the United States with the Great Lakes team at the national level. 

“I had to race in qualifying races in order to make the national team. In addition to those races, Wisconsin also has a state distance and state sprint race,” she added. 

There are no other Tritons on the team this year. 

Given the weather earlier this year with not a lot of snow, they were still able to practice. 

The team practices at the Arien Nordic Center in Brillion where they make man-made snow.