We will now highlight junior Evelyn LaCasse of Greely. She was the 2026 Class B classical state champion and the pursuit state champion. 
We asked her about her favorite memories from the season and about her successes.
1) What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
Something that one of my coaches kept saying leading up to the state meet was "nothing new" and "the hay is in the barn", meaning we had been putting in the hard work all season, and now it was time to really tap into it. I knew my body was capable of doing what I wanted, so I focused on my mental state going into the state meet.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I dealt with the pressure and emotions I felt competing at states by compartmentalizing, focusing on what I could control and what was right in front of me, rather than looking at the big picture.
3) What was going through your mind at the start?
At the start, I focused on calming my breathing, staying in the moment, and clearing my mind so I am fully focused once I start racing. I think about things I can control, like my technique off the start line and plan for the race course.
4) What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and the motivation of the people around me. My mindset going into the season was really strong, and I had this constant desire to get stronger and ski harder. I was so fortunate to have strong competition all season, and those girls pushed me to be the fastest I could be. I also have amazing coaches and a team who pushed me, supported me throughout the season, and motivated me to push even harder.
5) What are your goals/plans for next year?
My goal is to get stronger and work on technique during the off-season, so I can exceed what I did this season.
6) What surprised you the most about this season?
Winning states honestly really surprised me. I knew that I was capable of it, but wasn't allowing myself to fully believe it until the first race.
7) What moment/event will you remember the most from the season?
A moment that I will remember most from this season was after the finish of the skate pursuit race. Our team realized we had won as a team, and that moment together was really special.
8) What do you like most about Nordic Skiing?
I love the community and team aspect of Nordic Skiing. I do not think I would have been able to achieve what I did without the team being there and all of us supporting each other throughout the season.
