January 20, 2007

Castleton has solid showing in ECSC Thomas Division Giant Slalom

Killington, VT-Women: On Saturday, the Spartan women traveled to nearby Killington Ski Resort to compete as a guest team in a very competitive ECSC Thompson Division giant slalom event. Boston University's Mollie Zapata clocked the fastest two-run time of the day at 1:39.71 to finish first as she guided her team to victory in the 11-team competition. Tufts University's Nicole Fontaine and Holy Cross' Marina Vornle round out the podium in second and third. Second place in the team standing when to Castleton, while Northeastern University finished only two one hundredths of a second behind in third (321.10 - 321.32). Boston University finished with a total team time of 317.49. Nicole Kondziela (Bath, PA/Northampton) led the Castleton charge with a fifth place finish in a field of 85 women. Freshman Heather Patterson (Stockton, CA/Lincoln) finished seventh, while classmate Brenna Nolan (Pittsford, VT/Otter Valley) completed the team scoring for the Spartans with a 13th place result. Sophomore Colleen Pruss (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) has another solid day in 18th place. Another sophomore, Emma Harvey (Kattskill Bay, NY/Lake George Central) was an impressive 13th after her first run, but failed to finish the second leg. The lady Spartans return to the ECSC McBrine Division tomorrow as they compete in a slalom competition at Ascutney Mountain Resort.

Men: On Saturday, the Castleton State College Ski Team traveled to nearby Killington Ski Resort to compete as a guest team in a very competitive ECSC Thompson Division giant slalom event. Tufts University's Andrew Benson was victorious in the race with a two-run total time of 1:29.83, but it was not enough to beat the Castleton Spartans in the overall team event. The Spartans total team time of 285.76 seconds was followed by Tufts' time of 290.58. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (3rd) and Green Mountain College (4th) finished closely behind at 290.91 and 290.94. The Spartans were led by sophomore Justin Schwartz (Bondville, VT/Burr and Burton), who claimed the silver with a time of 1:32.43. Schwartz, who is seeking his first victory of the season, has now finished in the runner-up spot in four consecutive events. The Spartans saw strong performances from sophomore Jeff Giegler (Danbury, CT/Danbury) and freshman Greg Towle (Coventry, RI/Bishop Hendricken), who finished fifth and tenth in the 90-competitor race. With a time of 1:33.30, Michael Weinberg of Green Mountain College rounded out the podium with an impressive third place. Tim Rogers (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) clocked the 14th fasted time of day for the Spartans, while teammate Teddy Panasci (Goshen, CT/Wamogo Regional) finished with another strong performance in 19th. After starting near the back of the pack in the morning leg of the race, sophomore Evan Vomacka (Belmont, NH/Bishop Brady) was sitting in an impressive eight place, but failed to capitalize as his ski pre-released during his second run. The Spartans return to ECSC McBrine Division action as they compete in a slalom event at Ascutney Mountain Resort.

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