With temperatures soaring into the lows 50s, the Maine high school state championship Nordic ski races offered plenty of snow but difficult conditions. Skiers shed coats, gloves and hats and made the best of sloppy snow.

At the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville on Thursday, Feb. 24, day one of the two-day event featured a classic ski race. Seahawk Blake Erhard led the boys team, finishing 16th at 23:26, followed by Duncan Drapeau, 26th, 24:26, Joey Paolillo 29th, 25:02, and Sam Betts, 35th, 26:08. For the girls, Summer Chamberlin finished 23rd, 30:22, Olivia Paolillo 44th, 38:16, and Riley Sullivan, 50th, 40:17.

Boothbay headed back to Waterville on Friday for the skate competition. Erhard again was out in front and among the top 20 finishers (17th, 18:17). Paolillo finished second for BRHS (30th, 20:04), followed by Betts, 35th, 20:40, and Drapeau, 37th, 20:57. For the girls, Chamberlin crossed the finish line 31st, 27:03 and Paolillo, 44th, 33:49.

Maine Coast Waldorf easily won the Class C Boys title with 19 points, followed by Fort Kent, 55, Telstar, 63, Orono, 80, Wayneflete, 105, Boothbay, 106, Madawaska, 122, Maine School of Math and Science, 133, Dirigo, 139 and Ashland, 155.

Maine Coast Waldorf’s girls also took home top Class C honors. Boothbay girls did not have enough skiers to compete as a team.

In a normal year, the state meet would have meant the end of the season. But this year, the Mountain Valley Conference championship still awaits completion. The Boothbay Nordic teams will travel to Black Mountain on Wednesday, March 1 for the second day of the MVC championship and their final race of the season.