Ski Team Competes At New England Championships
On February 9th, Williston’s Ski Teams, both boys and girls, drove to Crotched Mountain in Francestown, New Hampshire to compete in NEPSAC’s Class B Alpine Skiing Championships.
The teams arrived at the mountain around noon on Tuesday the 9th. After a quick lunch Coaches Ray DeVerry, parent of Devin DeVerry ’17, Mr. Chris Pelliccia, Mr. Will Eberle and Head Coach Mr. Edward Hing led the team onto the mountain to get an understanding for the pitch and terrain that Crotched Mountain had to offer.
The teams spent the night at The Inn at Crotched Mountain, a small thirteen room, bed and breakfast establishment that welcomed the fourteen members of the Williston ski team, as well as three parents. The boys and girls were able to tune their skis and relax in common areas before the championship races the next day.
The first race of the day was the Girls Giant Slalom. The girls were racing with only three racers, Arden Bacon ’21, Lizzie Warncke ’16 and Molly Solan ’19 as sophomore captain Sophie Carellas injured her knee a few days before the event.
The girls competed well finishing in eighth place of the ten teams with a final score of 167 points. They were behind Hebron Academy, by only three points by 14 points and Miss Hall’s School, last years winner.
The boy’s team competed in the Giant Slalom following the girls and their Slalom race was the last one of the day. The boys won the Class B title and had high hopes going into the race this year.
Devin DeVerry ’17 had the best performance of the day finishing tenth in the Giant Slalom and won the Slalom.
Captain JJ Celentano ’16, Oliver Lawrence ’18, and Bryan Soder ’18 competed in both events as well. Gavin Girardin ’19 raced in the Giant Slalom and Josh Calianos ’18 raced in the Slalom. A mistake made by Celentano in slalom added enough points to the boy’s overall score to drop them back to fourth place, out of fourteen teams. The boys final score was ninety-five points, ten points behind the Salisbury School who held third place on the day.
While neither team finished the day where they expected to it was an enjoyable experience for all. Everyone is working towards the end of their league races in hopes of competing for the podium in Western Massachusetts.
The team enjoys a taco dinner the night before the race.
Left to Right: Arden Bacon ’21, Molly Solan ’19, Josh Calianos ’18, Oliver Lawrence ’18, Devin DeVerry, ’17, Captain JJ Celentano ’16, Bryan Soder ’18, Gavin Girardin ’19, Lizzie Warncke ’16. Front: Captain Sophie Carellas ’18. The group of skiers who went to Crotched Mountain following the race.
Devin DeVerry ’17 pictured on the far left following the awarding of his first place medal.
Lizzie Warncke ’16, Arden Bacon ’21 and Molly Solan ’19 at the start of the Slalom race.
Mr. Will Eberle, Devin DeVerry ’17 and JJ Celentano ’16 at the start of the Giant Slalom.
Mr. Will Eberle, Devin DeVerry ’17, Bryan Soder ’18, Oliver Lawrence ’18 and JJ Celentano ’16 at the start of the Giant Slalom.
