January 28, 2007

Castleton remains unbeaten in McBrine competition

Middlebury, VT-Women: The women of the Castleton State College Ski Team extended their winning streaks on Sunday by claiming an ECSC McBrine Division giant slalom at the Middlebury College Snowbowl. Castleton's Nicole Kondziela (Bath, PA/Northampton) finished with a total two run time of 1:05.05 for first place out of 70 racers. The leader after the morning leg, Gordon College's Katie Knaus slipped to the runner-up position after her second run was complete with a time of 1.05.16. Castleton's Heather Patterson (Stockton, CA/Lincoln) rebounded from a disqualification in Saturday's slalom to round out the podium in third at 1:05.42. Brenna Nolan (Pittsford, VT/Otter Valley) finished fifth, while Lindsey Wiken (Hampden, ME/Hampden Academy) and Emma Harvey (Kattskill Bay, NY/Lake George Central) posted sixth and seventh place results. The Spartans' total team time of 262.87 out raced Yale University's 282.79 and Marist College's 290.42 in the ten-team race.

After five ECSC McBrine Division races, the Spartan women remain undefeated and on top of the team leader board with a perfect team score of 50 points. Yale and Marist round out the top three with 44 and 39 points, respectively. In the individual standings, it's all Castleton, as three Spartans currently find themselves on the podium. Nicole Kondziela is the leader thus far with 72 points and four victories, while Heather Patterson (54.5) and Emma Harvey (54) are in second and third. Katie Knaus of Gordon College is looking to upset the Castleton podium sweep, as she sits close behind in fourth with 53.5 points. With two top-five results this weekend, Castleton's Brenna Nolan have moved up in the standings to fifth place with 45 points. Overall, the Spartans have six women sitting in the top-ten with four more ECSC McBrine races to go.

Men: The Castleton men also extended their unbeaten streak by posting a giant slalom win at the Middlebury College Snowbowl. The Spartans were led by Justin Schwartz (Bondville, VT/Burr and Burton), who won his first race of the season at 59.96. Castleton freshman Greg Towle (Coventry, RI/Bishop Hendricken) earned his first podium of his collegiate career with a time of 1:00.02, good enough for second place. Yale's Brett Andrews ended his day in third place. Tim Rogers (Wilbraham, MA/Minnachaug) and Evan Vomacka (Belmont, NH/Bishop Brady) finished the team scoring for the Spartans by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. The Spartans also had Ryan Dunleavy (Lake George, NY/Lake George Central), Teddy Panasci (Goshen, CT/Wamogo Regional) and Corey Gray (North Conway, NH/Kennett) in the top-ten at seventh, ninth and tenth out of 77 male racers. Castleton's total team time of 241.96 was plenty for first. Yale University was second in team scoring with a time of 261.66, while Wesleyan University was third at 262.11 out of ten teams.

After five ECSC McBrine Division races, the Spartans are on top of the team standings in first with a perfect team score of 50 points. They are followed by Yale (43) and Brandeis (38) in the ten-team division. Yale's Brett Andrews lead the overall individual standings with 66 points, while Castleton's Justin Schwartz is close behind in second with 55. Nick Young of URI is sitting in third with 54 points. Spartans Tim Rogers and Jeff Giegler (Danbury, CT/Danbury) round out the top-five in fourth and fifth with 51 and 50 points, respectively. With four ECSC McBrine races to go, the Spartans currently have nine men placed in the top-12 for the overall season standings.

The Spartans travel to Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire on Saturday, February 3rd and look to continue their undefeated ECSC McBrine Division season.

###Spartans###