Nicole Forto, 17, began running dogs with her Mom and Dad when she was three. She says her family moved here from Colorado to pursue their mushing dreams. “Team Ineka is named after the best dog ever on our team, Ineka, who passed away right before we moved to Alaska. “ She said she felt him saying, “I did my job, now you do yours.” Nicole won the Red Lantern in the 2014 Jr. Iditarod. She is a senior at Houston High School where she participates in softball. When asked what else she enjoys, she responds, “Softball and dogs all day long!” She also says she enjoys music and researching marine biology facts. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Alaska/Southeast and study Marine Biology. She expects to continue running dogs when she is home from college.