State Qualifier Recap

This past weekend we had our Sectional Races. Sectionals are used to crown  Individual and Team Champions for our designated area within NY State (Section 5). The races are also used to qualify individuals and teams for the State Championship. The top 12 overall finishers will move on to the State Championship as well as the top Men's and Women's team. 

Having a single race to determine who makes it to the State championships is always going to be an arena of excitement, nerves, pressure, jubilation, accomplishment, disappointment, and exhilaration. This year was no different. 

Though we are untied through our friendship, training, team and sport RNR athletes compete for almost every school within the section so the level of competition is high. Each year it becomes more and more apparent that if you are not at least thinking about skiing 365 days a year your going to be at a disadvantage. The sport is to demanding physically, technically, and mentally to excel at if your only thinking about it 3 months of the year. 

Don't believe me? Then just look at the  results they speak for themselves.  

I will start with the boys !  All of the boys skied really, really well. Gavin led the way and won the individual title, but Tommy was hot on his heels only 6 seconds back ! Langton finished strong and rounded out the podium just edging Marco by .9 seconds. Peter was next in 5th place ! We were off to a good start going 1-5 but it only got better. Jack came in 7th followed by Josh in 8th and then with one of his best races EVER Scott was in 9th ! If your keeping track that's 8 skiers in the top 9 ! What a day ! Derrick, Rob, and Chris were just out of it finishing 13th, 14th and 15th. Tim had a great race finishing in 17th with Wes just behind him in 18th Ryan just missed the top 20 finishing 21st. All in all it was a great day for everyone !  14 in the top 21 I will take it ! These results are not only a reflection of our program but also that of the high schools that these guys ski for ! Without the support of those coaches and programs I would not be able to do what I do and I really appreciate that ! 

(Langton, Gavin, and Tommy)

Next up it were the girls ! Not to be outdone Riley was gunning for the win and came up just short finishing 1.7 seconds behind here HF-L teammate Hanna. Jenna had a great race and joined Riley on the podium in 3rd. Colleen was the next one across the finish line in 6th ! 3 in the top 6 another great start ! Then came the real excitement when Katie, Sara, Magie, and Madi went 9, 10, 11, and 12th to secure their spot at the State Championship ! Katie D also had a great race finishing in 21st just missing the top 20 !  Booooom 7 in the top 12 almost matching the boys with 8 making it to states.

When it was all said and done 15 of the 24 athletes qualifying for states were participants in this years summer program ! That's pretty awesome stuff. It was great to see everyone having a good day when it really counted but a few things really stuck out to me. Gavin coming back from a disappointing season last year to Win a sectional title, Tommy absolutely throwing it down to finish 2nd only 5 seconds back from Gavin, Scott having the race of his life and finishing 8th and getting Fairport back in to the big show ! On the girls side it was a great battle between Hanna and Riley one that anyone watching should feel privileged to watch ! Two young ladies just hammering on each other to find out what the other one has ! Jenna making it a clean sweep for HF-L on the podium, Colleen battling back from an injury to have a great race, Sara getting the Webster back to the big show !!! and Katie making it to states after finishing 13th two years in a row ! ! Awesome Stuff

Monday was the relay ! There was not to much excitement after the 1st leg of the boys race. Peter and Josh had great lead-off legs for there respective schools but Tommy dropped the field on the second leg and left nothing to doubt tagging off to Gavin to bring home the relay win as well as the sectional crown to the Pittsford Mendon Boys Team ! 

(Pittsford Boys Sectional Champions)

As with the boys race the HF-L girls did not leave much to chance going 1,2,3 in the relay and securing the sectional crown as well. 

(HF-L Girls Sectional Champion )

Congratulation to all of those athletes who have qualified for the State Championship and also to those who have come to the end of another great season !