IRON MOUNTAIN – The Norway High School ski team started its 2026 season with fine performances from both its girls and boys team at the first four-team U.P. Conference race Friday at Pine Mountain.

The Norway girls took second in the event, which also featured Marquette, Houghton and Ironwood. The Knight boys placed third in their competition.

The conference races consist of both slalom and giant slalom races. Fifty racers competed in the event.

“We were very pleased with our team results today,” Norway coach John Bittinger said. “I would say even a bit better than expected.”

Bittinger said eight of his 11 racers competed in their first high school race.

“Being so young and inexperienced, a second and a third was something we can be proud of and build on.”

In the girls slalom, Norway junior Sophia Fornetti finished third to lead her squad. Senior Ingrid Holt and freshman Abby Hoy placed ninth and 10th, respectively, while freshman Annika Hill rounded out the team with a 15th-place result.

“Three top 10 results in slalom was excellent,” Bittinger said. “Sophia has been fast in training, and she kept the momentum in the race.

“Another bright spot for us was freshman Sofia Wentarmini, who slipped on her first run but had the eighth-fastest time on her second run to finish 19th.”

In the girls giant slalom, Fornetti led Norway by taking fifth. Holt placed eighth and Hoy finished ninth, while Wentarimi entered the team scoring by finishing 14th.

“These girls are skiing great already,” Bittinger said.

On the boys side, freshman Levi Caruso led the Knights with a 10th in the slalom and a 12th in the giant slalom. Junior Skyler St. John followed with a 12th and a 13th, while junior and rookie racer Tyler Phelps placed 14th in the slalom and 18th in the giant slalom.

Freshman Kieran Hempel added to the team scoring in the slalom by finishing 16th and freshman Conor Smith did the same in the giant slalom with a 14th-place result.

“We are excited to field a true boys team this season,” Bittinger said. “It has been a long time for us to have both a girls and boys team.

“Our freshman racers really showed up and skied well today and we credit the work the Pine Mountain Ski Team has done for them.”

The Knights travel to Mont Ripley in Houghton for the second conference race Tuesday.

Daily News sports correspondent Jerry DeRoche compiled this report.