WHS Alpine Ski Team shines in Western Maine Conference giant slalom race

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School’s Alpine Ski team showed they are getting stronger every race when they raced York, Edward Little, Cape Elizabeth, Traip Academy and Leavitt, from the Western Maine Conference, a conference they don’t normally compete against, in the giant slalom at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton on Monday, Jan. 19. Windham girls finished second with a score of 56; the boys finished third with a score of 60.

Windham freshman Emma Mathieu puts the brakes on
after a run on the giant slalom course during a prep 
Alpine skiing race against York, Edward Little,
Traip Academy and Leavitt at Pleasant Mountain in
Bridgton on Monday, Jan. 19.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“It’s nice to get a different outlook on competition and also racing against other skiers they might race against in states,” said Windham Alpine Ski coach Christine Fredette. “It’s good to have that preliminary look at what they’re up against. All of our skiers stayed on their feet and finished strong. For some of our younger racers that are just coming in, this is their first attempt at giant slalom and they did really, really well.”

Both Fredette and her assistant coach Mike Chase agreed that what needs work is more practice time.

GIRLS

Freshman Emma Mathieu finished first for the girls’ team and 22nd overall with a combined time of 1:15.18 minutes.

Junior Maya Dries finished second for the girls and 30th overall with a combined 1:20.80 time.

Senior Ella Washburn was right behind Dries with a combined time of 1:21.27.

“Today was a fun race for us to get back into it, it’s only our second giant slalom race of the season,” said Washburn. “I think everyone did really well; we all tried to go out there and have fun and work on what we’ve been working on in practice. Conditions were icy today, the new snow definitely helped, it was a little bit icy our second run but definitely better than conditions have been. All of us put in a lot of effort and improvement and some of the best times we’ve seen this season. A lot of us can work on getting early on the gates and trusting our edges a lot more especially in these icy conditions; trusting ourselves and implementing what we’ve been working on in practices during these races.”

Courtney Cotter, a freshman, finished fourth for the girls with a combined time of 1:22.90.

Anna Lane, a senior, finished fifth with a 1:27.66 time.

BOYS

“I think it’s a great opportunity to race against (a different) conference and see what the other teams are about and see what racers they have,” said Windham senior Finn Jorgensen, who finished first for Windham and 20th overall with a combined time of 1:13.76. “First run was really good; it’s been soft snow throughout today, really didn’t get that underlayer of ice until the second run. A simple and fast course; I see growth from the team everyday whether it’s on the snow or off the snow. I think we are trying to grow together. Growth in attitude and mindset and more time on snow (need work). We have a lot of young racers, I’m really proud of everybody for what they put in ... we’re going to have a really good year.”

In second place for the boys’ team and 24th overall was junior Bryce Jarvais with a combined time of 1:16.45.

Sophomore Liam Wade was 27th overall and third for the boys with a 1:18.89 combined time.

Fourth for the boys was sophomore Nick Sferes with a combined time of 1:27.57.

Behind Sferes was freshman Cody Ruth with a combined 1:27.96 time.

Ryder Lopes, a sophomore, finished sixth for the boys with a 1:28.21 time.

Finishing in seventh place for the boys was sophomore Miles Morrison with a combined 1:36.25 time. <