DOWNHILL DYNAMO: Canton skier Shingles handles pressure with grace
Sophia Shingles cruises down the hill during a competition earlier this season.
A skier since the age of 3, a ski racer since she was in first grade, Canton High School senior Sophia Shingles is no stranger to the adrenaline rush that accompanies pressure-packed timed runs down slippery slopes.
“When I’m standing at the top of the hill before a run, I’m going over in my mind where the gates and the tough terrain are,” said Shingles, whose third-place finish in an MHSAA Division 1 Regional competition earlier this month helped the second-year Canton Unified team qualify for the Feb. 24 state meet at Nub’s Nob.
“In the seconds before I go, I focus on my breathing and trying to keep my body warm because we’re wearing spandex, which isn’t super warm.
“Mentally it’s hard because you want to get a good time, but at the same time you have to know your limitations. There was pressure at regionals because I knew if I hit or missed a gate, I could cost my team a chance at going to the state meet.”
No worries
As it turned out for Shingles, who placed first in the league meet, any worries were unfounded as she maneuvered down the Mount Brighton courses with two near-flawless runs, finishing third overall in a competition that was won by teammate Rhiana Savoie.
That the Canton Unified team that is made up of students from Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools qualified for the state meet — it had to finish in the top three in the 12-team regional at Mount Brighton — just over a year after it was allowed into the Mount Brighton-hosted league is a feel-good story all around.
The idea to start a PCEP ski program was initiated by current head coach Eric Shingles (Sophia’s dad), who joined forces with former Canton High School Athletic Director Kristen Farkas to get the skis rolling.
“When Eric first told me about his idea, I laughed and jokingly said, ‘Nope!’,” Farkas said, smiling, in November of 2023. “I asked him, ‘Do you know how much work that will take?’
“But Eric had already contacted the MHSAA and found out what was required, so beginning in the summer (of 2023) we started all the paperwork and checked off one hurdle at a time.”
Persistence prevails
After receiving initial resistance from the Mount Brighton ski league’s hierarchy, Shingles’ and Farkas’ persistence prevailed — and avid skiers like Sophia Shingles and Savoie were elated.
“It’s so cool being able to ski for my school,” Sophia Shingle said. “I’ve raced so long for my club team, but I felt kind of isolated in a way not being able to compete with my friends at the Park who love to ski as much as I do.
“Having this team now allows students who love skiing — and beginning skiers, too — mesh in a way we weren’t able to before.”
A skiing odyssey
Shingles remembers the early stages of her skiing life being launched at the Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Ontario, Canada.
“Our entire family would travel up there for ski trips and I loved it,” Shingles said. “Since then, I’ve been able to ski at some pretty cool places, including in Vail, Colorado, which is probably my favorite resort.”
While she gradually refined her skiing mechanics, Shingles also proved her athletic versatility as she is a member of Canton High School’s softball team and sideline cheer squad — all while maintaining exemplary grades.
“For me, the secret of squeezing everything in while keeping my grades up comes down to making every in-school second count,” she said. “I try to get as much done during the school day — I take a lot of notes in class and finish any homework I may have after school and before practice.”
Stellar student, too
Shingles’ hard work in and out of the classroom has been rewarded.
She will be attending Albion College in the fall to pursue a pre-veterinary sciences degree. In four years, her plans include enrolling in Michigan State University’s esteemed veterinary program.
For now, though, her sights are set on finishing as high as possible at next week’s state meet.
“My goal is to earn All-State honors, which requires finishing in the top 20 — and helping my team finish as high as possible,” she said.
That would be a storybook ending to a high school skiing career no one saw coming given competitive skiing wasn’t even an option when Shingles was a sophomore.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
