Maika Phillips Wrapping Up Stellar Season

The Marblehead Alpine team is, by all counts and measures, still in its infancy, and the word ‘tradition’ would be a stretch after just five years of existence.

The term dynasty, however, is very close to being applicable to the young and talented squad.

A remarkable performance on Feb. 10, at Skiward in Shrewsbury finalized the girls team’s standing as the best in the Mass. Bay Ski League East and propelled them into the State Championship competition.

Maika Phillips, a senior captain on the downhill team, finished second in both races held that night, behind only her teammate and fellow captain Hayley Braun. The duo also finished as the top two individuals for the season.

As a team leader, it was important for Phillips to keep the team confident, yet grounded in 2011. “We didn’t want to expect to win States, but our first goal in the beginning of the year was to get to there,” she said.

Despite stiff competition, including fellow MBSLE member Dover/ Sherborn from the Small division, Phillips is confident in Marblehead’s chances on March 2.

“Our outlook is pretty promising, we have a great group of boys and girls,” she said. “As a senior it would be the perfect way to finish what has been a great season so far.”

The team finished with a total of 2,952.5 points; over 1,000 points more than the second place team in the Large division. The boys team also qualified for the States as a team for the first time in the young history of the unit.

After two previous years of great success, Phillips was feeling the pressure to maintain elite performance as a team leader.

“Obviously we wanted to try and uphold our reputation,” she said, “the school, the town and the parents have been incredibly supportive and it has certainly helped us get to where we are now.”

Phillips began skiing recreationally at a young age. Her entire family is active participants in the sport, including a sister who is an instructor and a brother who participates in freestyle events.

After competing in downhill racing for the Attitash team the first four years of her racing career, Phillips graduated to the Mount Washington Ski Team, to which she still belongs in addition to her Marblehead commitment.

Phillips plans to continue her relationship with the team to which she has belonged since her freshman year of high school. “I am a going to the University of Vermont next year and they have a really good varsity team that I don’t think I can compete on, but I will ski on the weekends,” she said, “and I have the option of staying with the Mt. Washington team so hopefully I can continue to compete.”

The team will depart for the States event after an abbreviated day of school on March 1. The actual racing will take place on March 2, but the entire two-day event is something Phillips awaits with anticipation.

“The time on the mountain is why we are all there but this time of the year is the most fun,” she said. “It is more than just a bus ride to the event. It’s the hotel, the overnight and, of course, the race.”

With just one more night of racing in store, Phillips and Braun have their sights on a third straight State Title, and a memorable close to an impressive career of high school racing.