Windham’s alpine ski team looks sharp gearing up for SMAAs and states

By Matt Pascarella

As Windham’s alpine ski team looks to the end of the season, with the Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAAs) competition and the state competition on the horizon, both Windham boys’ and girls’ teams brought their all in a meet against Falmouth, Gorham, Marshwood, Traip, York, Scarborough, Westbrook, Cheverus and Kennebunk on the giant slalom course on Monday, Jan. 30 at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton.

Windham senior Cody Taylor finishes his second run on the
Giant Slalom course in a ski meet against Falmouth, Traip,
Gorham, Marshwood, York, Scarborough, Cheverus,and
Kennebunk at Pleasant Mountain on Monday, Jan. 30. 
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

A light snow, which proved to be a benefit to the team, fell for most of the race. The Windham boys’ team finished second with a score of 40. The Windham girls’ team finished third with a score of 80.

“The mood with the light snow and packed conditions changed the mood of everybody and they are looser and able to push it a little further,” said Windham alpine ski coach Mark Politano. “They did awesome; they were a lot more comfortable with the conditions today than on Friday [during the slalom race]. Watching them come down and seeing them have a blast, I think the season is going in the right direction.”

Girls

Sophomore Lilly McLean finished first for Windham and seventh overall with a two-run combined time of 1:10.13 minutes.

Senior Grace Paiement finished second for Windham and 14th overall with a combined time of 1:12.76.

Senior Annie Jackson finished third for Windham and 23rd overall with a combined time of 1:16.49.

Coming off an injury, sophomore Katelyn Cotter finished fourth for Windham with a combined time of 1:36.59. She said she took it slower to avoid further injury before states.

Her first run was nice and smooth, but the second run got a little more rutted up and harder.

Cotter said they are all very good at supporting each other. They’re cheering each other on and giving each other feedback. She loves the team and feels good about the SMAAs and states. She thinks Windham will do well.

Boys

Senior Nolan Dries finished first for Windham and eighth overall with a two-run combined total of 1:06.34.

Senior Sam Plummer finished second for Windham and ninth overall with a combined total of 1:07.60.

Senior Cody Taylor finished third for Windham and 12th overall with a combined time of 1:08.99.

“I think we all did really good, the course held up really nice,” said Taylor. “At first it was really nice and firm, there was a nice top coating on it. The headwall got pretty icy pretty quick, but that’s how it goes.”

Taylor said conditions were good, which is not always the case. The team kept it positive which was good for morale; it was a good day.

As he looks to SMMAs and states he thinks they are a solid well-rounded group who could take it all.

Sophomore Preston Stretch came in fourth for Windham and 13th overall with a 1:09.30 time.

Politano said the team is getting their footing down. While they haven’t had time to train giant slalom as much as slalom, for some of the kids, it’s their second or third time on a giant slalom course and they are killing it. <