Midway through January, the Ski jumping and Nordic combined teams traveled to Ishpeming, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to compete in the first set of Junior World Qualifiers. The team battled through tough conditions and came away with some good results.

The 2026 FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships are being held in Lillehammer, Norway, in March. Previously, they were scheduled to be in Trondheim, Norway, but the venue has been changed. The United States has four spots on the team plus an alternate. Qualification is discretionary, but outside of international events, the main way to get on the team is through the 4 Junior World Qualification events. The first two just took place in Ishpeming, and the other two are in Brattleboro, Vermont, in February. Currently, one athlete has auto-qualified for the team based on World Cup results, leaving the other four spots (including the alternate) up for grabs.

Image of the Change of Venue Announcement for Junior Worlds. Photo by FIS.

This year, Ishpeming experienced a historic snowfall. As of January 20th, 2026, they are already 50-60 inches above their yearly winter average. This trend continued while the team was there, and it “snowed basically the entire time we were there,” Jack Kroll ’26 said. The snow brings “unique challenges to competing.”” The tracks can slow down, and the comp can become unfair. Also, the landing can become sticky, making it hard to land,” Henry Loher ’26 said.

Athletes also had to contend with high winds, especially on the second day of competition. Ishpeming is located 15-20 miles inland from Lake Superior, which creates strong winds and lake-effect snow.

The first competition was held on Friday, January 16^th – a night competition under the lights, starting at 7 pm. Hundreds of spectators came to watch 37 athletes compete in a US Cup Competition that would also serve as a World Junior Qualifier. The US Cup is a yearlong domestic competition series for U20 athletes. Henry Loher ’26 would keep his streak of 7 consecutive US Cup wins over the last two seasons. Jack Kroll ’26 finished just off the podium, in 4^th, followed by Duncan Van Dorn ’28 in 5^th, Eli Larkin ’27 in 8^th, and Cadel Cox ’27 in 12^th. Islay Sheil ’28 finished 4^th in the U20 Girls.

On the second day, conditions deteriorated during the trial round, and by the time the first round started, the wind and snow made jumping unsafe at times. This led to long wind holds and breaks to blow the snow out of the track. Additionally, there was a long hold after Max Fey ’28 crashed due to an equipment failure. Luckily, Max was able to walk away from the crash unharmed and take a second-round jump. Loher and Kroll finished 1^st and 2^nd, respectively, followed by Larkin in 8^th. Due to the conditions, the Nordic combined athletes chose not to risk taking a second jump, as only the first jump dictates your starting time for the cross-country race. Shiel finished 6^th in the U20 Girls.

Henry Loher ’26 1st and Jack Kroll ’26 on the podium. Photo provided.

On the Nordic combined side of things, Duncan Van Dorn ’28 led the way with two 4th places finishes, one in the 10k and one in the 5k. Unfortunately, Max Fey ’28 was disqualified on the first day for incorrect measurements. It was later determined that the people taking his measurements made the mistake, not him. On the second day, Fey started last due to his crash and made up solid time. On day one, Cadel Cox ’27 finished 9^th and finished in a photo finish on the second day.

Looking ahead, the team has an off weekend to prepare for the Eastern Championships in Salisbury, Connecticut, from the 6^th to the 8^th of February. The following weekend, February 14^th and 15^th, the team has the final two Junior World Qualifiers in Brattleboro, Vermont. Currently, Henry Loher ’26 leads the qualification with 200 points. Then, Jack Kroll ’26 is tied with another athlete for 2^nd place. “I have high hopes going into the second set. I was hoping for a 4^th or 5^th place in Ishpeming and then podiums in Brattleboro. Getting the podium in Ishpeming puts me in a great spot and takes some of the pressure off ahead of Brat,” Kroll said.

A week after returning from Thanksgiving break, the Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, and Nordic teams kicked off their competition seasons in Norway, Colorado, and right here in Lake Placid.

Before their competitions, they helped prepare the hills in Lake Placid for winter. The team helped with the slushing of the in-run track. Henry Loher ’26 said, “We were tasked with shoveling snow from a pile of manmade snow and running it through a snowblower to chop it up. From the blower, we put it in 5-gallon buckets and carried it to the takeoff of the jump.” The buckets were then dumped into a hopper that gets pulled up the track by a winch. In the hopper, water is added to the chopped snow, creating a slush mix that Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) staff and New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) coaches then pour onto the track to freeze. Once the track was completed and frozen, the track cutter smoothed the ice.

The tracks being slushed. Photos provided.

The team was able to get on the hill for their first training session on December 5^th. “It was good to get some training on our home hill before we went to the competition,” said Jack Kroll ’26.

After a weekend of training, the team split up to head to their first competitions. Henry Loher ’26 and Eli Larkin ’27 traveled to Norway to compete in a FIS Cup. The FIS Cup is an international competition level that is the first step to the World Cup. For both Loher and Larkin, it was “not our first FIS Cups, but it still was a valuable experience,” said Larkin. The pair had fewer training sessions than their competitors due to lengthy travel and adverse weather conditions. Ultimately, the results were “not quite what we hoped,” said Loher.

Jack Kroll ’26 in 2nd on the U20 US Cup podium. Photo provided.

The other half of the team traveled to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to compete in the first winter US Cup of the 2025-2026 season. The team included Jack Kroll ’26, Cadel Cox ’27, Duncan Van Dorn ’28, and Islay Sheil ’28. The US Cup is the highest level of domestic competition. “We got solid training while there leading into the competition, and I think that showed in our results,” said Kroll. Kroll took home 2^nd place in a close battle for the U20 US Cup podium. Van Dorn finished 6^th in the jumping, and Cox finished 10^th. Sheil got 9^th in the U20 girls.

For Nordic Combined, both Cox and Van Dorn were scheduled to race, but Cox was “pretty sick and unable to race.” Van Dorn showed good pace and strong skiing even at the altitude. He dropped back 1 place over the 7.5 km Compact race, finishing in 5^th.

For Nordic, Max Fey ’28 competed in the ADK Tour De Ski and finished 1^st.

The 2025 World Series will be remembered as one of the closest and most nail-biting World Series in history. From complete games to 18-inning games, it truly had it all. Initially, it was portrayed as a mismatch of talent, and many expected the Dodgers to handle the Blue Jays easily. This, however, was far from the truth; the Blue Jays gave the Dodgers a run for their money and fought to the end.

It was a ninth World Series title for the Dodgers, and their third in six years under manager Dave Roberts. Photo: Getty Images.

Game 1

The Dodgers would strike first and carry a 2-run lead into the bottom of the third. Toronto would respond by putting up two runs in the 4^th, and 9 in the 6^th. They (Toronto) would go on to win the game 11-4.

Game 2

In Game 2, the Dodgers had their ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on the mound. They took advantage of their ace, who pitched a complete game, holding the Blue Jays to just four hits. The Dodgers scored five runs, 3 of which came from catcher Will Smith, who had a single, a force out, and a solo home run.

Game 3

When the teams headed to Los Angeles for game 3, the series was tied 1-1. The game would turn into two complete games, lasting 18 innings. Blue Jays fans on the East Coast – including those at Northwood – stayed up until about 3 am EST to watch the Dodgers walk it off with a Freddie Freeman solo home run in the bottom of the 18^th.  The game was an instant classic and tied game 3 of the 2018 World Series between the Dodgers and the Red Sox as the longest World Series game ever.

The game was tied 4-4 in the 5th, and 5-5 in the 7^th. The two pitching staffs would then pitch a combined 10 shutout innings. Both teams used virtually every player on the roster. Had the game gone to the 19th inning, the Dodgers had Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who, let’s not forget, pitched a complete game just 2 days before, warming up to come in and pitch. The Dodgers’ leaning on Yamamoto would become a theme in this series. The game was a gut punch to the Blue Jays, who used virtually all their pitchers in a game they ultimately lost.

Freddie Freeman after his walk-off double. Photo by BBC.

Game 4

In game 4, the Blue Jays came to play. You couldn’t tell they had played an 18-inning game just 17 hours ago. The Dodgers scored first in the 2^nd, but after that, it was almost all the Blue Jays. In the 3^rd inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 2-run bomb off Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. In the 7^th inning, Toronto piled on four more runs with an RBI single from Andrés Giménez, an RBI groundout by Ty France, an RBI single by Bo Bichette, and an RBI single by Addison Barger. Innings like this would become a theme for the Blue Jays. They consistently got big hits from everyone on their roster, allowing them to turn over the lineup and pile on runs. Game 4 would end up as a Blue Jays win, 6-2, but more importantly, the Blue Jays had established themselves as a force. Coming into the series, many reporters were calling it a “David and Goliath” matchup, but the Blue Jays were proving that they were just as good as the Dodgers.

Game 5

Going into game 5, the series was tied 2-2. Whichever team won this game would be one game away from a ring and put the other team in a corner. Right from the start, the Blue Jays took control when on the first pitch of the game, Davis Schnieder hit a home run off of Blake Snell. Schnieder was only in the lineup because of an injury to George Springer. Then, two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went back-to-back with another solo home run.

Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage is leaving the mound in game 5—photo by MLB.com.

On the mound, the Blue Jays had their future ace in 22-year-old Trey Yesavage. In the 3^rd inning, the Dodgers would score their only run of the game off a Kiké Hernández. In the 4th, Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly to re-establish the Toronto momentum. In the 7th, Addison Barger hit a single, then advanced to 2^nd on a wild pitch, then to 3^rd on another, and finally home on a 4^th wild pitch. Then Bo Bichette hit an RBI single, making it 5-1 Toronto. Yesavage would leave the game with 12 strikeouts in 7 innings. Yesavage tied a World Series record for most strikeouts by a rookie in a World Series game with 12.

Game 6

Game 6 was back in Toronto, and the Blue Jays were one win away from a ring. For the Dodgers, it was a must-win game, and luckily for them, they had their ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. He would go six complete innings with only five hits and one earned run. That run came off an RBI single by George Spinger, who was put back into the lineup even though he was injured. With every swing, you could hear him scream and see the pain on his face. He battled through and got the only Toronto run in game 6.

In the 3^rd inning, the Dodgers scored three runs off a Will Smith RBI double and a Mookie Betts 2-run single. The Blue Jays had chances in both the 7^th and 8^th innings but could not come through. Then, in the bottom of the 9^th, Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch leading off. Myles Straw came in to pinch run for him. Then, perhaps one of the strangest plays you will ever see happened. Addison Barger smoked a ball to the wall, and it managed to wedge itself under the wall. The Dodgers outfielders knew the ground rules perfectly, and as soon as they saw the ball get stuck, they threw up their hands and did not reach for the ball. This signals to the umpire that something is wrong, and the ball is declared dead. The runners are given two bases on the play if it’s a dead ball, meaning that Straw gets to go to 3^rd and Barger to 2^nd. Had the Dodgers’ outfielders reached to touch the stuck ball, they would have lost the right for it to be a dead ball, and both Straw and Barger would have scored, tying the game with no outs, giving the Blue Jays the chance to walk it off and win the World Series. This showed the depth of the preparation of the Dodgers team and their ability to perform under pressure.

The ball was wedged under the wall—photo by MLB.com.

Then came another play that you don’t see often—a game-ending double play made by outfielder Kiké Hernández. Andrés Giménez hit a ball into left field, but right to Hernández, who threw it to Miguel Rojas to put the tag on Barger at 2^nd to end the game.

Game 7

Game 7 is every sports fan and player’s dream. Every baseball player grows up imagining the moment, “bottom of the 9^th, game 7 of the World Series, tie game.” Every player wants their team to have a chance to win it all, and they want that chance to be in their hands. Game 7 is the most crucial game of the year. It defines how the team will be remembered. One team will go home World Champions; the other will go home with nothing. Baseball is often described as “the game of tomorrows,” as it has the longest season, and each day is just as important as tomorrow. There is always another game and another chance, except for game 7 of the World Series. There is no tomorrow. Every player leaves everything on the field, and they have the entire offseason to reflect on and scrutinize what they did or did not do.

On the mound, the Blue Jays had postseason veteran Max Scherzer, who pitched Game 7 in the 2019 World Series. The Dodgers had Shohei Ohtani, their superstar pitcher and hitter, on the mound. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Blue Jays would strike first, when Bo Bichette came up to the plate in what could be one of his last at-bats as a Blue Jay. He enters free agency this year after years with the Blue Jays, who drafted him. It was his chance to leave his mark on the fanbase, and leave a mark he did when he launched a 3-run home run to take a 3-0 lead in game 7.

Bo Bichette after his three-run homer in Game 7. Photo by MLB.com.

In the 4^th, the Dodgers responded with one run coming off a sacrifice fly by Teoscar Hernández. In the 5^th inning, Louis Varland set an all-time postseason record with his 15th postseason appearance on the mound. In the 6^th inning, Tommy Edman cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-2 with a sacrifice fly. Then, in the bottom of the 6^th, Ernie Clement tied the MLB record with his 29^th hit of the postseason. He would then steal 2^nd base and be driven in by Andrés Giménez’s RBI double.

In the 7^th, the Blue Jays turned a clutch double play to get out of a jam and carry their 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 7^th. The Blue Jays just needed six more outs to win a World Series. Then, in the 8th, Max Muncy hit a solo home run to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-3. Then, in the bottom of the 8th, Ernie Clement had his 30^th hit of the postseason, taking sole possession of the record.

In the top of the 9th, the Blue Jays were two outs away from victory, when the Dodgers’ 9 hitter Miguel Rojas – who is the worst hitter on the team and hadn’t had a hit in almost a month, excluding the game before – hit a solo home run to tie the game. This is what makes baseball special. Any player has the chance to win it all. All it takes is one swing. The Dodgers, who looked like they were sleeping all game, had just woken up.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Blue Jays got their chance. Due up was Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who came just feet from a World Series-winning home run. Behind him, Bo Bichette hit a single, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa came in to pinch run for Bichette, who has a knee injury. Addison Barger worked a walk, moving the winning run in IKF to 2^nd. The Dodgers turn to Yamamoto to come in and try to close out the game. He then hits Kirk, loading the bases with one out. Then, Dalton Varsho hits a slow roller to 2^nd base, where Rojas picks it and makes the throw home. If IKF beats the throw home, the Blue Jays win the World Series. If the throw beats IKF, the Dodgers are one out away from getting out of a major jam. The throw beats IKF by an estimated 4 inches, and the game remains tied. Many were quick to criticize IFK for not taking a big lead off 3^rd base, but his teammates were quick to defend him, saying that they had to avoid a double play, which would end the inning. I believe that the actual baserunning error occurred when sliding feet-first into home plate. If IKF had either run through the bag or slid headfirst, he would have kept his momentum better and possibly won the World Series. I must admit that it is very easy to look back on it and see what he could have done differently, but it certainly is not his fault.

Ernie Clement came up with bases loaded and two outs, and he smoked a ball to the warning track. Off the bat, it looked like it might be a home run, or that the fielders wouldn’t get there in time. Kiké Hernández tracked the ball down and was running and looking up at it when his teammate, Andy Pages, came out of nowhere, running into him, but importantly making the catch to send the game to extra innings.

Kiké Hernández and Andy Pages are colliding in game 7. Photo by MLB.com.

The Blue Jays got out of a jam in the 10^th by getting the lead runner at home, and the game continued into the 11^th. Then, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a solo home run to make it 5-4 Dodgers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto then closed out the game, making it back-to-back titles for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are quickly establishing themselves as a dynasty. This marks their second consecutive Championship and their 3^rd since the start of the 2020s. Yoshinobu Yamamoto won the World Series MVP after his complete game, his relief appearance, his second 1 run start, and, of course, his closure of the series. It was one of the most impressive pitching performances of all time.

Yamamoto with his 2025 World Series MVP trophy. Photo by MLB.com.

For the Blue Jays, this will forever be a tale of “what could have been.” The Blue Jays were fun to watch and played energetic, fun baseball. After the game, it was clear how much the players loved each other. When talking to the media, many cried, and veterans like Max Scherzer said they have never felt a bond and a connection to a team like they did with the 2025 Blue Jays. Hopefully, this is just the start of the Blue Jays’ playoff success, and we get to see them next year.

2025 World Series logo. Source: MLB.com.

The 2025 Major League Baseball season is winding down, but the action is heating up. Now, just two teams remain: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are set to face off in the 2025 World Series, which starts Friday, October 24th, in Toronto.

The Dodgers had a relatively easy path to the World Series and have lost only one game in the postseason.  They went 2-0, winning the wild card against the Cincinnati Reds 3-1, knocking out the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, and then sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, who had the best regular-season record, in the NLCS. Most teams would celebrate even making it to the World Series, but after the game four win against the Brewers, critics noticed a distinct lack of celebration. For the Dodgers, merely getting to the World Series isn’t enough; they have to win.

For the Blue Jays, the road to the World Series was much bumpier. They had a bye in the wild card before playing the Yankees in the ALDS. The Jays won the series 3-1. Then, they had the tough draw of playing the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. Lucky for the Blue Jays, the Mariners went to game 5 in the ALDS and won in the 15^th inning, meaning virtually all their pitchers got used, leaving very few options for game 1 of the ALCS. Against the odds, the Mariners won both games in Toronto and took a 2-0 series lead heading back home to Seattle. The Jays responded by winning games 3 and 4 in Seattle, tying up the series 2-2. Seattle would win game 5, making game 6 in Toronto a win-or-go-home game for the Jays. They would win and force the words every sports fan dreams of: game 7—a winner-takes-all instant classic.

George Springer celebrates as he rounds the bases after his go-ahead 3-run homer. Photo by CNN.

Both teams scored 1 in the first inning. By the 5th, the Mariners took a 3-1 lead. The Blue Jays had men in scoring position almost every inning but failed to cash in with the big hit. Then, in the bottom of the 7^th, the Blue Jays would find their big hit when George Springer hit a 3-run bomb to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead. From there, the Blue Jays’ pitching did the rest and shut down the Mariners, sending the Blue Jays to their first World Series in 32 years.

The World Series is a best-of-7 series with the first two games in Toronto, followed by 3 in LA, and 2 in Toronto if needed. It is expected to be one of, if not the most, viewed World Series in history, with the entire country of Canada poised to tune in.

The Blue Jays celebrate after securing their first trip to the World Series in 32 years. Photo by MLB.com.

On paper, the Dodgers have the advantage with multiple MVPs in their lineup, the second-highest payroll in baseball, and a team loaded with postseason experience, not to mention they are the defending World Series champions. They have the best pitching staff in baseball. One of their pitchers is also their best hitter. In Game 4 of the NLCS, Shohei Ohtani struck out 10 batters as the starter while hitting three home runs. Many are calling this one of the single greatest sporting moments and achievements of all time.

The Blue Jays are coming in hot, and they have the “homefield advantage.”  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having one of the best postseasons ever, batting .442 with a 1.440 OPS. George Springer has hit clutch home runs every time his team needed him to. Additionally, offensive reinforcements are on the way as Bo Bichette has announced he will be back from injury for the World Series. During the regular season, the star shortstop batted .311.

Shohei Ohtani rounding the bases on one of his three home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS. Photo by Bleacher Report.

The Dodgers are the favorites to win, but that’s not to say the Blue Jays don’t have a shot. Game 1 in Toronto is essential to the Jays. If they can win game one or game 2, they have a chance. They can’t lose both games at home as momentum is key. The Blue Jays also cannot give free outs to the Dodgers. Their defense has to be on point because if you provide the Dodgers with a chance, they will pounce on it. The Blue Jays also have to be aggressive and try to knock out the Dodgers’ starters early. When the series heads west to LA, the Blue Jays need to find a way to win at least one game and two if they want to have a real shot at the championship. If the series makes it back to Toronto, the Dodgers may be in trouble. The Blue Jays will have the momentum and home-field advantage, and, for the first time, the Dodgers will be under threat of elimination. They won’t be able to cruise like normal, and if they tighten up, we may see the Blue Jays take the win.

Now for my predictions. I’m going with the Blue Jays in 7, in what I hope to be one of the best matchups of all time. For individual games, here are my predictions: game-1 Jays, game-2 Dodgers, game-3 Dodgers, game-4 Jays, game-5 5-Dodgers, game-6 Jays, and game-7 Jays.