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.)
Today's Finals: Remember these names and races
February 24, 2012
This season's MHSAA Skiing Finals will be raced Monday at Nub's Nob and Boyne Highlands just outside of Harbor Springs.
These are some of the short stories behind the team contenders in both divisions for both boys and girls, plus a few individuals whose names should appear near the top of the results.
Click for girls results and boys results as they come in, plus Regional results for both.
No more Marian?: Not so fast – Marian is still a major contender after winning the last two Division 1 girls championships. But Traverse City Central is hoping to break through after four straight runner-up finishes, and comes in as a Big North Conference and Regional champion. And Walled Lake Central beat Marian at their Regional at Alpine Valley.
More of the same: For the past four seasons, some combination of Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Manistee has finished first and second at the Division 2 girls final. It’s possible they could make it five straight – but with a different champion after Harbor Springs was first, Houghton second and reigning Finals champion Petoskey third at the Regional at Nub’s Nob.
Battle of Traverse City: Traverse City Central’s boys have won the last two Division 1 championships. But Traverse City West edged the Trojans to claim the Regional title at Schuss Mountain.
Petoskey repeat: The Northmen are the reigning Division 2 boys champions and shared the Big North Conference title with Cadillac this season, ahead of both Traverse City West and Central. Petoskey won its regional -- but so did reigning Division 2 Finals runner-up Manistee.
Detroit Catholic Central’s Damon Rottermond: He might’ve gotten a look at his top competition at the Regional at Alpine Valley. The reigning Division 1 giant slalom champion, he finished second in both that race and the slalom at the Regional. White Lake Lakeland’s Taylor Janssen won the giant slalom and finished third in the slalom at that Regional, while Walled Lake Northern’s John Merchant won the slalom and was third in the giant.
Petoskey’s Gunner Lundteigen: He finished 32nd in the Division 2 slalom and fourth in the giant slalom last season, but won both races at his Regional at Nub’s Nob.
Walled Lake Central’s Mallory Slicker: She won both races at the Alpine Valley Regional; White Lake Lakeland’s Kelsey Griffin finished second in both. Slicker was sixth in the giant slalom and fifth in the slalom at last season’s Final. Also watch for Marian’s Kelly Lunghamer, who posted top-four finishes in both races at that same Regional after finishing eighth in the slalom and fourth in the giant at the 2011 Final.
Houghton’s Abby Fenton: She won the girls Division 2 slalom Regional title at Nub’s Nob after finishing ninth in that race and 10th in the giant slalom at last season’s Division 2 Final. Houghton’s Abigail Hackman was the giant winner at that Regional this month and finished 10th in the slalom and 12th in the giant at the 2011 Final.
PHOTO, from last season's Division 1 Final, courtesy of Mid-Michigan Sports Scene.