Varsity Boys Win Friday Night Slalom Race & Girls Capture Podium 2nd!
"What are you feeding your boys?" and "Do all your varsity boys race club?" These questions were posed by other ski team coaches during our second slalom race of the season last Friday night as we raced against the other ski teams in our Conference at Mount Peter. Since November, we have fueled our athletes with a wealth of technical skills and instilled confidence in them. Club racing isn't a prerequisite for being exceptional alpine racers; what matters is their willingness to learn, and each of our boys has shown a strong desire to improve. They operate as a cohesive team rather than as individuals. The race on Friday served as a test of our coaching strategies, and our top four seeding flip worked flawlessly, resulting in our fourth-seeded racer taking first place, the third seed finishing second, and the second and first seeds rounding out the top four. This led to stacked and closely packed finishing times, with our top four all landing in the top ten, setting the stage for a podium finish.
The podium victory for our boys was achieved with the same four athletes finishing in the same order as the previous slalom race: Patrick Fitzsimmons (3rd), Ryan Grycuk (4th), Finn Kowalski (5th), and Captain George Flint (10th). The Varsity boys' ski team clocked a time of 5:06.80, while Delbarton secured second place with a time of 5:15.38, and Wayne Hills took third with a team time of 5:31.67. Congratulations Sparta Men, you all raced with determination and strength!
On the bus ride home following the race, the conversation shifted to the essential qualities that define championship teams. Team Captain Devon Dobbs truly embodied these traits when she lost her edge midway down the pitch of her first run, where she collided with a coach who was standing too close to the course. While I have often highlighted the significance of quick reflexes and the ability to regain focus, Devon found herself unable to hike as the other coach fell onto her and carried her down the hill. Devon's response was marked by genuine compassion for the coach and a sincere concern for his safety. Although races will come and go, the ability to empathize with others stands as a defining characteristic of a true champion. After ensuring the coach was unharmed, Devon was initially granted a provisional rerun, but this opportunity was regrettably rescinded by officials who made an erroneous decision and later denied our team's right to protest. The Sparta Ski Team represents far more than just mastering the technical skills of ski racing; it embodies the life lessons and values that shape us into true heroes. Kindness and compassion will always win!
Had the officials made the correct decision, our girls' ski team would have emerged victorious, as Devon's provisional rerun was the 3rd fastest time of all the first runs. Despite the dismissal of the interference claim and the late revelation that another one of our girls was disqualified in her first run for a possible straddle - information we received close to 30 minutes after the race concluded - our remaining four athletes managed to achieve a team time that secured them a commendable second-place finish. This resilience in the face of adversity defines our team. The experience served as a powerful reminder that success is not solely measured by the outcome of a race, but by the character and camaraderie displayed throughout the journey.
With three of our girls finishing among the top seven in the race, our Varsity girls' team captured second place with a team time of 6:51.18. Morristown Beard won the race with a time of 6:12.14 and Wayne Hills took third place with a team time of 8:45.26. Delivering the Varsity girls team time for Sparta High School Ski Team was Ava Dyrsten (4th), Madeline Gambino (5th), Kate Agudo (7th) and Aubrey Zimmermann (12th).
The Junior Varsity athletes, both boys and girls, demonstrated remarkable progress as they competed in their second race of the season. Senior Brynne Cashion secured the top position and freshman Kyler Schwarz achieved a commendable third-place finish.
Our final slalom conference race is tomorrow Wednesday, January 22nd, at 5 PM at Mountain Creek. Both the Varsity and JV ski teams will once again be racing against the other high school ski teams within our Conference B.
Here are the Team Standings after two conference league races: Varsity Girls 2nd Place 3-Way tie w/Morristown Beard & Blair Academy | Varsity Boys 2nd Place tied w/Don Bosco Prep
Varsity Girls - 9 win - 1 loss 90% Win Percentage
Varsity Boys - 12 win - 1 loss 92.3% Win Percentage