Petoskey Boys Follow Seniors' Lead in Returning to Top of D2 Mountain
By
Nick Cooper
Special for MHSAA.com
February 24, 2026
BELLAIRE – After a brief reprieve, a familiar group finished on top of Division 2 boys skiing Monday as Petoskey took home the team championship at Schuss Mountain.
A year after the East Grand Rapids ended the Northmen’s five-year title streak, Petoskey regained the throne in large part due to complete team contributions as the Northmen earned nearly a half of the top 12 places in both slalom and giant slalom.
Petoskey co-head coach Jac Talcott credited the team’s success to a special mindset that he and his upperclassmen have instilled.
“We stuck to our core values. These kids ski every race like it’s the states,” Talcott said.
Petoskey’s return as champion came by way of both upperclassmen and up-and-comers succeeding, which had Talcott reflecting on the contributions of his team leaders.
“It’s exceptionally special to have two seniors like Taylor Keiswetter and Liam Cleary. They lead in their roles very exceptionally. It takes sacrifice, but it also takes key performances. They both knew that was their job, and they both served their roles as captains really well,” said Talcott.
Finishing just two points behind was Great North Alpine with a score of 51 points. Harbor Springs finished third with a total of 121 points, followed by Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (131), Bloomfield Hills (214), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (225), Caledonia (241), Grand Rapids West Catholic (241.5) and East Grand Rapids (277).
Taylor Keiswetter’s first-place finish in the giant slalom with a time of 49.38 helped the Northmen regain prominence. Keiswetter finished nearly a full second ahead of Benjamin Dyste of Great North Alpine (50.33). Third place was claimed by Cadillac’s Zane Wallis with a time of 50.74 followed by Great North Alpine’s Corbin Bogard (50.79) and Hackett/Vicksburg’s Bryce Johnson (50.97).
Petoskey veteran Dettmer credits a regrowth in continuity amongst the team as a reason for their return to prominence.
“As a team, we have gotten a lot closer. We’ve always had great team energy. We’ve always been together; it’s just that finally we have all the kids that have grown together,” said Dettmer, who finished with a team-best score in the slalom.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Pierson Kuhn finished first in the slalom with a time of 65.02. Finishing second was Great North Alpine’s Bogard clocking in at 66.35. Dyste of Great North Alpine finished third with a time of 66.95, followed by Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Noah Morley (67.10) and Dettmer (67.46).
PHOTOS (Top) Petoskey’s Taylor Keiswetter races to the championship in giant slalom at Schuss Mountain. (Middle) Great North Alpine’s Corbin Bogard races to one of his top-five finishes Monday. (Photos by Todd VanSickle.)
Petoskey Adds 2023 Team, Individual Championships to Finals Dominance
By
Jordan Puente
Special for MHSAA.com
February 28, 2023
BOYNE FALLS — Petoskey’s dynasty continued to brew at Monday’s Division 2 Ski Finals at Boyne Mountain.
The program added its 12th Division 2 championship over the last 13 years – and fourth straight – finishing first with a combined score of 63.
Pontiac Norte Dame Prep (83) finished runner-up, and Great North Alpine (116) finished third. Harbor Springs placed fourth at 128.
“It's great to see the seniors be able to close that out with four state championships in a row," Petoskey coach Ben Crockett said.
Northmen senior Nolan Walkerdine earned an individual medal finishing first in the slalom with a combined time of 1:10.87. Walkerdine said afterward he couldn't believe his team won again after experiencing an emotional roller coaster season.
"I've been working towards this for my entire life," Walkerdine said.
Senior teammate Wyatt Mattson won giant slalom (1:07.77) and finished seventh in the slalom. He noted he grew up watching Petoskey win 10 straight Division 2 Finals – a level of success he always wanted to take part in.
"When I was in eighth grade, we broke our winning streak," Mattson said. "I felt like we had to avenge that because I was used to us winning, to win four years in a row.
"This feels good," he continued.
Crockett has been coaching Petoskey for three seasons and never experienced anything but a Finals championship. Crockett realizes that won't last forever, but being undefeated on championship day is something he'll cherish.
He couldn't help but smile and laugh when realizing the feat.
"I had a few tastes of defeat, but that's just a testament to how strong the program is and how much it's a part of our community," Crockett said.
"It's a year where the team gelled together, and they enjoyed themselves the most of all the years," Crockett added. "Many of them are upperclassmen, and that sense of the end is coming — as every student (experiences) — as they get towards the end of their high school careers, they just seemed like they enjoy the experience as they're moving through it."
Walkerdine is hopeful that since his time on the team is at an end, newcomers can continue the dynasty they’ve continued building.
“Let’s keep this thing rolling,” he said.
Mattson was followed in the GS by Houghton’s Eli Heathman and Walkerdine, as Petoskey put four placers among the top 11 in that event.
Walkerdine was followed in slalom by Great North Alpine’s Corbin Murphy and Heathman in third.
PHOTOS (Top) Petoskey’s Nolan Walkerdine races past a gate during Monday’s Division 2 Finals at Boyne Mountain. (Middle) Houghton’s Eli Heathman eyes the path ahead during one of his races. (Click for more later this week from Sports in Motion – Division 2.)