Lincoln-Sudbury Boys Alpine Ski Team Captures State Title

The MIAA State Alpine Championships were held at Wachusett Mountain on Tuesday, Feb. 28th under a bluebird sky.  It was on this unseasonably warm day that the LS boys team skied to win the 2012 MIAA State Title.  Both the boys and girls teams finished well (1st and 3rd respectively) in the DCL this season and were pleased to send ten athletes (including one alternate) to the state meet.  

Racers compete both individually and as a team (as long as you have at least three racers representing your school).  The seven-member LS boy's championship team was comprised of Senior Captains Will Carlough and Reed Spencer, Junior Alex Honens, Sophomores Austin Barta, Colby Hall, and Tim Carlough.  Senior Drew Moorman earned a spot as the DCL alternate (replacing Tim Carlough in the race due to injury).     

The boys began the day on the giant slalom course.  Delays due to course maintenance and a fall requiring an athlete to be taken off the mountain by ski patrol prolonged the race.  But, when all was said and done the Warriors posted a first-place finish in the event.  Reed Spencer led the team with a 2nd place finish (44.90 secs only 0.14 secs out of first), Austin Barta (47.11) finished 22nd, and Colby Hall (48.04) in 32nd.  Having three additional racers to back them up allowed the team to take chances and finish strong.  Alex Honens finished 60th, Will Carlough 69th and Drew Moorman missed a gate and was a DSQ (such is the sport of ski racing).  

The afternoon race for the boys was in the slalom event.  The Warrior boys fought to a 3rd place finish behind St. John's Prep and Westford Academy.  Reed Spencer (34.94) finished strong in 6th place with the DCL league's #1 seed Austin Barta (35.40) not far behind in 12th. Colby Hall (37.66) once again rounded out the top three that would count toward the team score with a 50th place finish.  Will Carlough bested his GS finish by ten in 59th place, Alex Honens was 62nd and Drew Moorman came down in 113th.  

The girls team comprised of Senior Captain Ali Smith, Sophomore Hayley Herzog and Freshman Sandra Nygren began on the slalom course.  Unfortunately, the course got the better of our number one (Ali) and two (Hayley) seeds as they were unable to complete their runs.  Sandra Nygren posted a very respectable 51st place finish (out of 140 girls competing), leaving them in 22nd place in this event.   

On to the giant slalom in the afternoon where the Warrior girls faired much better.  Ali Smith (50.87) came down at lightening fast speed landing her in 25th place.  Sandra Nygren (53.31) followed with 55th place and Hayley Herzog (54.56) rounded out the team in 65th place.  The three solid team finishes put the girls in 10th place in the team GS event.   

The waiting game began as the total finishes were calculated for each of the teams competing.  The scores were checked and re-checked as a lot was on the line.  LS veteran Head Coach, Graham Taylor had his own calculations figured out, but it was too close to call for sure.  When the announcement finally came, the Warrior boys alpine ski team won the title by a mere 3 pts. over St. John's Prep.   

"Ski racing is usually an individual sport, so it was very rewarding for us to bring home the championship trophy as a team," said Reed Spencer. "It was a great way to finish my high school ski racing."  

The boys top five teams were:  Lincoln-Sudbury (486), St. John's Prep (483), Wellesley (450), Westford (447), and BC High (440).  The girls top five teams were:  Westford (492), Andover (490), Notre Dame Academy (478), Marblehead (458), Lunenburg (455) with Lincoln-Sudbury girls finishing 18th overall.  

The girls and boys teams are thankful for the dedication and efforts of their coaches, Graham Taylor, Matt Wentworth and Andrew Callen.  They were also very happy to have the support of their families at this exciting event.