If the high school skate race on Dec. 18 was any indication of things to come in Oregon prep nordic racing this season, the Summit boys could clean house — again.

The Storm hogged the top five spots during the first race of the 2010-11 Oregon High School Nordic Organization season, just as they did at the 2010 state championships en route to their fourth OHSNO state title in as many years.

“That’s the goal again this year,” Summit coach Gregg Strome says about winning state. “We want them to continue that (tradition).”

Senior Reitler Hodgert is expected to lead the charge for Summit this season. Hodgert, who won OHSNO’s opening race for the current season, posted the third-fastest time among all male finishers at the Par Fore the Course 10,000-meter skate race at Mount Bachelor on Dec. 11.

“He took a couple years off from high school cross-country skiing to get to that next level,” Strome says about Hodgert, a Bend Endurance Academy athlete. “But this year he wanted to be part of that high school experience.”

Behind Reitler is sophomore Kelly Smallwood and juniors Nick and Ryan St. Clair. Those three placed fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in last season’s combined standings at the state meet. Sophomore Max Millslagle is expected to round out Summit’s top five this season.

Millslagle, who finished ninth in last season’s state combined standings, has shown good form this season, Strome says, and is expected to improve throughout the year.

“He was a bit of a surprise,” Strome says about Millslagle’s early-season form. “But he worked hard over the summer.”

In OHSNO’s girls division, Redmond has proven it can compete with just about anyone. Sarah MacKenzie, who placed second in the 2010 combined state standings, won the first league race of the 2010-11 season, and Norwegian exchange student Ina Maria Raa finished fourth.

“She’s a pretty motivated young lady,” Panther coach Ken Roadman says about MacKenzie, who both ran cross-country and played soccer for Redmond High this past fall. “She’s really focused. She’ll also be doing some Junior Olympic qualifier (races) as well.”

Roadman has been equally as impressed with Raa, who along with MacKenzie could help the Panthers challenge reigning OHSNO girls state champion Summit for the 2011 title.

“Technique-wise she’s one of the best skiers I’ve ever seen,” Roadman says about Raa. “She’s always out there teaching us skills and little drills they do back home (in Norway).”

Keelin Moehl returns to lead the Storm girls after a third-place finish in the combined standings at last season’s state race.

“She (Moehl) and MacKenzie should go back and forth,” Strome says of OHSNO’s top two returning girl skiers.

Melanie Hopkins, Megan Fristoe, Sara Fristoe, Kira Kelly, Emma Su and Taylor Westland all are expected to contribute for Summit this season. Hopkins finished ninth in the combined standings at the 2010 state race, and multisport endurance athlete Megan Fristoe, who placed fifth at the Dec. 18 ski race, is a two-time defending state champion in high school cross-country in the fall.

Bend High also looks to be competitive this season in both the boys and girls OHSNO divisions. Melissa Hubler and Aidan Washatka are expected to lead the Lava Bears’ girls squad, while Peter Schwarz and Jack Widmer figure to be among the top skiers for the Bend boys.

In the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Race Association’s nordic division, in which Mountain View competes, the Cougars are expected to challenge again for state titles in 2011. Mountain View’s boys and girls teams won OISRA nordic championships last February at Mount Hood.

Mikhaila Thornton and Hayati Wolfenden are both back for the Cougars after taking third and fourth, respectively, in the OISRA’s combined standings at state last season. For the Mountain View boys, senior Chase Nachtmann returns after winning the 2010 OISRA combined state title.

Oregon High School Nordic Organization

2010-2011 schedule

Dec. 18 — Meissner Sno-park, skate race hosted by Redmond

Jan. 15 — Meissner Pursuit, hosted by Bend High

Jan. 29 — Skadi Cup at Teacup, classic race hosted by Crescent Valley and Corvallis

Feb. 12 — Teacup, skate and relay, hosted by Cleveland, Franklin and Grant

Feb. 17 — Hoodoo Night Race, skate, hosted by Sisters

Feb. 25, 26 — OHSNO State Championship at Mt. Bachelor, hosted by Summit

Oregon Interscholastic Ski Race Association

2011 schedule

Jan. 8 — Diamond Lake jamboree, skate and classic

Feb. 19 — Chemult paintball biathalon, skate

State meet qualifying races:

Jan. 15 — Diamond Lake, skate, hosted by Ashland

Jan. 22 — Hoodoo, classic, hosted by Mountain View

Jan. 29 — Willamette Pass, skate, hosted by Eugene

Feb. 5 — Mt. Bachelor, skate, hosted by Mountain View

Feb. 12 — Chemult, classic, hosted by Eugene

Feb. 25, 26 — Mt. Shasta (Calif.), classic and skate