TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Central junior Quinn Gerber earned this year’s Record-Eagle Skiing Dream Team Player of the Year honor after leading the Trojans back to the promised land during the 2024-25 winter season.
Gerber claimed this year’s top spot as she led the Trojans to a state championship with an individual championship in giant slalom and runner-up finish in slalom with combined times of 54.18 and 73.58 in slushy conditions at the end of February.
“I was super nervous … this year I had expectations,” Gerber said. “Our team knew we had to perform to win a state championship.”
Gerber was an individual state champion as a freshman, then finished in the top-five her sophomore season and reached the mountain top once again in her junior season. She finished second in slalom, behind Grand Haven’s Neave Rewa in slalom.
Next season’s championship race could be similarly entertaining — both Gerber and Rewa will be returning.
Along with an individual state championship, Gerber claimed regional titles in both slalom and GS.
The Trojans have been runner-ups as a team for the past two seasons, falling to rival Traverse City West.
Gerber recalls the team being in first place by lunchtime of the state championship meet. After experiencing the slushy conditions that were different than much of the winter season, the team adjusted and came out on top with a strong second-half performance.
“This year we knew West lost three really good seniors and then we gained a really good freshman,” Gerber said. “We knew we could win states as a team. We really wanted to win this year because we have lost to us two years in a row.”
Gerber takes the spot of Petoskey graduate Marley Spence as Skier of the Year.
Gerber is already preparing for next season, while competing for Traverse City Central girls lacrosse.
Her biggest goal next season is staying in the moment.
“For me, not looking too far ahead at the big races, just focus on one thing at a time,” Gerber said. “We loose four really good seniors and really good skiers. So during the beginning of the next year, we’ll all have to work super hard to be able to find replacements and see how we’re doing at the start of the year.”
After the state competition, Gerber competed for the girls Team Michigan in New Hampshire in March.
Top-10 skiers qualify to face other top skiers from various states.
Some of her favorite moments of the season were skiing with her teammates and one of her best friends Avery Taggart who have grown by skiing together.
“(Taggart and I) had always talked about how we really wanted to win together,” Gerber said. “We had two years to do it. We got it done the first year, so we’re very happy about that.”
Dream Team
Summer Lewandowski, TC WestLewandowski finished second in GS with a time of 54.43 in the state championships.
Kellan Kudary, TC CentralKudary finished 10th in Division 1 in giant slalom.
Avery Taggart, TC CentralTaggart finished third in slalom and sixth in the state championship with times of 54.73 and 74.13.
Olivia Bageris, TC WestBageris received all-state honors in slalom and GS.
Dillyn Mohr, TC WestMohr captured All-state honors in slalom and GS.
Tara Shouldice, Harbor SpringsShouldice Finished second in GS with a two-run time of 1:07 and 16th in slalom
Mackenzie Bowman, Harbor SpringsBowman Finished 15 in GS and 7th in slalom in MHSAA Div. 2 State championships.
Avery Kita, Lake CharlevoixKita finished third in GS at the MHSAA Div. 2 state championships to cap off her high school career.
Willa Murray, Glen LakeMurray of Leland finished third in GS and 4th in slalom to lead the Lakers in the LAke Michigan Ski Conference championship.
Lilly Wolfe, Glen LakeWolfe of Frankfort finished fourth in GS and third in slalom to help the Lakers capture the Lake Michigan Ski Conference Championships.
Aleah Blackmore, OnekamaBlackmore captured LMSC conference championships and finished sixth overall in GS at the state championships.
Grace Rowe, Great North AlpineRowe of Great North alpine Ski team finished sixth overall in slalom to claim all-state honors.
SECOND TEAM
Taylor Keiswetter, Petoskey
Piper Putney, Onekama
Moraya Mosher, Benzie-Glen Lake
Amorie Mosher, Benzie-Glen Lake
Quinn Myers, Harbor Springs
Rather Robel, Cadillac
Kiera Bishop, Grayling
Erin Meyer, Cadillac