But qualifying for the Junior Olympics is a big deal. Qualifying after injury a bigger deal still.
When New Paltz High School Nordic skiing coach Jon Stern talks about seniors Kayla Koonz and Wayne Clark he admits to being emotional.
The two have been on his cross-country skiing team since the seventh grade. They, along with classmate Noah Dukler, are the perfect captains,
Stern says, noting they're always helping out, always working with the 33-member squad's younger skiers.
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