Mon, 02/06/2017 - 07:54

SUE MELLO

Freshman Hali Goodwin has had an excellent first season for the BRHS Nordic ski team. Courtesy of DWAction Photos

The Boothbay Region High School Nordic ski teams competed at two events last week in the lead-in to championship season.

At the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville last Wednesday, Feb. 1, the teams performed well in a freestyle race in good conditions.

“Congratulations to everyone on a stellar job last night. It would appear that you skied some rather fast times and overall it was a great opportunity to get on some wonderful trails. Both teams fared rather well in the final standings,” Coach Nick Scott wrote in an email.

Blake Erhard led the boys team’s scorers with a 16:33 finish, followed by Joey Paolillo, 17:49, Sam Betts, 18:25, and Duncan Drapeau, 18:35. Boothbay placed seventh among all teams. Summer Chamberlin finished first for the Lady Seahawks at 21:23, followed by Hali Goodwin, 25:46, and Olivia Paolillo, 27:18. The girls did not have the requisite four skiers to score as a team.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the team climbed back on the bus and traveled to Sunny Croft Farm in Paris for the annual Oxford Hills sprints. In the sprint competition, an athlete’s starting position is determined via time trials and then the athletes ski in heats. Only the fastest make the final heat.

In the time trials, Joey Paolillo placed 32nd, at 2:17, Erhard, 46th, 2:23, and Betts 57th, 2:38. Chamberlin was the only BRHS female skier to participate in the sprints and she finished the time trial 35th, in 3:04. None of the BRHS skiers made it to the final round.

In addition to the sprints race, the Oxford Hills event also offered a 3K race. Skiing for Boothbay were Goodwin, sixth, 12:42, Olivia Paolillo seventh, 13:17, Betts, 23rd, 9:43, Duncan Drapeau, 27th, 9:57, Bayly Gaughan-Carrasco, 40th, 11:05 and Henry Drapeau, 41st, 13:51.

Now the teams turn their attention to the championship race season. The Mountain Valley Conference championship races will be held this week.

“Day one is a mass start classic race held at Black Mountain. This is by far one of my favorite races of the year. Day two is a skate pursuit start, meaning your starting position is determined by your finish at the classic race. The second day event is being held at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington,” Scott reported.