Ski teams getting set for races in post-season

The regular season concluded for local high school ski teams last week and the championship portion of the schedule has arrived.

The classical cross country championships were to be held Tuesday in Caribou, but were cancelled that morning and a new date has not yet been determined. The freestyle championships are still on and set for Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Fort Kent. Alpine skiers will gather for their Aroostook League championship Saturday at 9 a.m. at Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill.

On Saturday, an alpine meet took place at Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent. In the girls’ giant slalom, Alyssa Sweeney (1:58.5) and Eleanor St. Peter (2:00.45), both of Presque Isle, were eighth and ninth, respectively. Camryn Langille of the Caribou Vikings was 10th in 2:01.94.

In the boys’ G.S., Bryce Smith of PI had the fastest time of 1:40.38 and teammate Nick Bartlett was third in 1:40.87. Lane Grass of Central Aroostook was sixth in 1:44.87.

For the girls’ slalom, Sweeney took sixth in 1:49.66, while Ciara Richards of Caribou came in 10th in 1:58.85.

On the boys’ side, Smith again captured the top spot in 1:24.83, while Lane Grass was seventh in 1:32.56 and Bryant Grass of the Panthers ninth in 1:34.93.

Fort Kent was first for all four disciplines in the team scores.

In last Tuesday’s Nordic meet hosted by Presque Isle High School, the Wildcat girls and Caribou boys raced to team titles.

Individually, the girls’ top 10 included local athletes Mandy Graham of PI (third in 24:17), Erin Kashian of Caribou (fourth in 24:46), Kerrigan LeBlanc of PI (fifth in 24:51), Kendra Furber (25:12) and JoJo Fields (25:21), both of Caribou in the sixth and seventh positions; Tori Koch of PI (ninth, 25:39) and Emily Colligan of PI (10th, 25:40).

For boys, Caribou’s Riley McDuffie was first in 17:16 and Max Bartley of the Wildcats was the runner-up in 17:55. Taking fourth was Alec Cyr of the Vikings (18:22) and Thomas Krause of Fort Fairfield followed (fifth in 18:28).

Four of the next fastest skiers were from Caribou: Dan Randolph (sixth, 18:31), Emerson Duplissie-Cyr (seventh, 18:56), Bryce Coffin (ninth, 19:06) and Caleb Willett (10th, 19:11).

Malcolm Milligan of Ashland was just outside the top 10, taking 11th in 19:31.