Last month, we brought on Spud Nordic ski coach Eric Wicklund to chat about how he makes things work in Moorhead.

Inspired by that conversation, we decided we needed to hear more about how the team started.

Today's guest is Tom Dooher, who coached cross-country and track and field at Moorhead High before starting the Nordic team in the fall of 2014. We picked his brain on how he built a program capable of sustained success, navigated challenges and built a culture where every athlete matters and relationships are what really matter.

Enjoy!

Moorhead High School Nordic competitive history

Girls

State Qualifiers Pursuit 

Celine Kjernsval (2016)

Sofie Overturf (2017,2018) (2)

Kate Ludwig (2017,2018) (2)

Abbie Ishaug (2020*, 2023)

Kennedy Olson (2020*,2022,2023) (3)

Octavia Nerguson (2020*)

Olivia Watson (2020*)

Siri Overturf (2020*, 2022) (2)

Jamie Raske (2020*, 2022) (2)

Ava Nelson (2020*)

Jacki Johnson (2025)

Addy Stordahl (2025)

*Denotes team qualifiers

State Sprint Relay Qualifiers

Jamie Raske & Siri Overturf (2022)

Abbie Ishaug & Jackie Johnson (2023) (Fifth place finish)

Chloe Pesek & Izzy Kupitz (2024)

Team Section Championships

Girls - 1st (2020)

Individual Section Champions

Abbie Ishaug (2020)

State Team Finishes

Pursuit - 12th (2020) 

State Relay Finalists

Abbie Ishaug and Jackie Johnson - Sprints - 5th (2022)

All State

Abbie Ishaug 17th (2020)

Northstar Conference 

Team Champions (5) (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Boys

State Qualifiers Pursuit 

Isaac Wicklund (2018)

Jack Lee  (2018, 2019)

Max Rogers (2022)

Zaine Braaten (2022, 2023 - all-state) (2)

Logan Olson (2024, 2025*) (2)

Wes Brouillard (2025*)

Eli Schlichting (2025*)

Ian Schimmelpfennig (2025*)

Barrett Hicks (2025*)

*Denotes team qualifiers

State Sprint Relay Qualifiers 

Tavan Schlichting & Jack Holston*

Best Team Finish at Sections  

Boys - 2nd (2025)

Individual Section Champions  

N/A

State Team Finishes

Pursuit / Relay - 9th (2025)

State Relay Finalists

N/A  (Best finish - 17th (2025))

Support the Seder-Skier!⁠⁠⁠

Our supporters:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EnjoyWinter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atomic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sporthill⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We take the 4Cs: cquestions, comments, concerns AND compliments at [email protected].

Keep on striving.

Keep on skiing.