University School Skier Finishes 51st Out of 107 Girls in Championship Race

Cassie Bence, a junior from and a member of the 2011 Wisconsin All-state ski team, competed in the Eastern High School Ski Championships girls slalom races on Cannon Mountain in Franconia, NH on Friday.  Bence finished 51st out of 107 girls from high school teams in the eastern half of the United States.

Each skier made two runs through the slalom course, which had a vertical drop of 138 meters.  The first run had 40 gates while the second run had 44 gates.  Bence completed her first run in 44:05 seconds and her second run in 51.93 seconds for a total time of 1:35.98.  The winner of the slalom event was Nika Mosenthal a junior from Plymouth Regional High School in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  Mosenthal completed her two runs in 1:18.14.

Brooke Mackno of Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Connecticut was second with a time of 1:19.86.  Demi Feder of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa co-op from Saratoga NY finished third at 1:20.25.

Bence was one of eight girls from Wisconsin who competed in the event.  Shelby Bourdo of Kettle Moraine High School was the top Wisconsin finisher.  Bourdo finished 21st with a time of 1:26.43.  Other Wisconsinites in the competition were Rebecca Rist of Wausau East High School, who finished 31st with a time of 1:29.21, Ellie Banholzer of Trinity Academy who finished 32nd with a time of 1:29.21, Stephanie Christopher of Muskego High School who finished 43rd with a time of 1:33.13, Megan McMahon of Nicolet High School who finished 83rd with a time of 2:03.94, Julie Kuhrt of Franklin High School who finished 89th with a time of 2:42.10, and Haley Thomas of Arrowhead High School who finished 90th with a time of 2:43.11.

The skiers had planned to compete in the giant slalom races scheduled for March 13, however, the giant slalom competition was cancelled.

Editor's Note: Thomas Geilfuss is the sports information coordinator for USM.