So much for the Yarmouth ski team being invincible.

While the Clippers were once again phenomenal in 2010, another local team stole the thunder at last week’s Class B state meet.

Thanks to some last-day heroics, the Falmouth boys edged out Yarmouth for the combined championship. The Clippers did win the girls’ crown. Yarmouth swept the Alpine titles, while the girls were runners-up and the boys fourth on the Nordic side. The Yachtsmen boys were second in both Alpine and Nordic, while the girls finished third in Nordic competition and fourth in Alpine.

In Class A, Greely’s boys were seventh in Alpine and third in Nordic to place third combined. The girls finished runner-up on the Alpine side, sixth in Nordic and fifth combined.

In Class C, the Freeport boys tied for the Nordic title, while the girls came in third. In Alpine, the boys were third and the girls. Combined, the Falcons were second to Ft. Kent in both genders. The Merriconeag-Waldorf School in Freeport was the girls’ Nordic runner-up, while the boys’ team came in sixth. NYA’s boys placed third in Nordic.

Best for last

Yarmouth was expected to capture a fifth consecutive boys’ combined title, but Falmouth had other ideas.

On the first day of competition at Saddleback Mountain and Rangeley Lakes, the Clippers had 24 points in the Alpine giant slalom to 35 for the Yachtsmen.

Falmouth did produce the individual champion, Alexander Gowen, with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 21.2 seconds. Ben Weigel was second (1:22.0). Ben Hilfrank (14th, 1:29.2) and John Lake (18th, 1:30.8) also scored.

Yarmouth had six skiers in the top 11 and only needed its first four to get the job done. That group included Reed Wommack (third, 1:23.4), Drew Grout (fifth, 1:23.9), Adam Sampson (sixth, 1:24.8) and Matt Highland (10th, 1:27.1).

In the Nordic freestyle race, Caribou was first with 34 points, one better than Falmouth. Yarmouth (50) placed fourth.

The Yachtsmen got points from Eric D’Agostino (sixth, 15 minutes, 6.6 seconds), Jackson Bloch (eighth, 15:22), Tim Follo (ninth, 15:26.8) and Scott Talbot (12th, 15:36).

The Clippers were led by Cam Woodoworth (second, 14:19.3). Thomas Sullivan (10th, 15:27.8), Chester Jacobs (15th, 15:43.5) and Jackson Hall (23rd, 16:12.3).

The Alpine competition wound up last Wednesday with the slalom. Yarmouth was first with 26 points and wrapped up the Alpine title with 50 total. Falmouth was second in the slalom with 41 points and second in the Alpine competition with 76.

Wommack won the slalom with a time of 1:19.30. Sampson (sixth, 1:22.99), Grout (ninth, 1:23.73) and Highland (10th, 1:24.72) also scored.

For the Yachtsmen, Weigel was fifth (1:22.43), Gowen seventh (1:23.23), John Cooper Lycan 13th (1:27.16) and Hilfrank 16th (1:29.60).

Last Thursday, however, Falmouth stole Yarmouth’s thunder. In the final event, the Nordic classic race, Maranacook was first with 29 points. The Yachtsmen finished second with 38 points, while the Clippers were fourth with 51.

D’Agostino came seventh (17:01) and Follo was eighth (17:04.6). Talbot finished 10th (17:17.6) and Bloch came in 13th (17:35.9).

For Yarmouth, Woodworth came in third (16:22.2), Sullivan was 12th (17:30.5), Hall came in 15th (17:37.1) and Jacobs placed 21st (18:16.2).

Falmouth (73) wound up second to Maranacook (68) for the Nordic crown and Yarmouth (101) finished fourth, but more importantly, when all the Alpine and Nordic scores were tallied, the Yachtsmen edged the Clippers by two (149-151) to take the combined championship.

“It’s been a long time coming for us to win the combined overall class B title,” said Falmouth Alpine coach Tip Kimball. “The Alpine team has managed to take the title a couple of times in my eight years as head coach, but never the overall. This is huge for us. I am very proud of them.

“The boys finished runner up to Yarmouth coming out of the Alpine events, keeping us in the hunt with only an 11-point deficit. Freshman Alex Gowen and senior team captain Ben Weigel finished 1,2 overall in giant slalom, and both top 10 in slalom. Ben, being our only Alpiner also involved with our Nordic team as a skimeister contender, assured me that this year’s Nordic team was strong and that making up 11 points in the final classic event was a definite possibility. He was right. When the dust settled, the Falmouth boys owned the elusive combined overall title by two points. I was blown away!

“Our Nordic team has come a long way in the past few years and they deserve a ton of credit for bailing us out. My hat is off to them. It’s no secret that Yarmouth has had a strong Alpine and Nordic program for years and to finish in front of them is quite an accomplishment for any team.”

Longtime Yarmouth coach Bob Morse found plenty of praise to pass around following his team’s close call.

“The performance by the Alpine team is the second-best in team history,” he said. “They placed four skiers in the top 10 in the slalom and giant slalom. The boys’ Nordic races were the closest in the last 10 years. I, along with Alpine coach Bob Grout, Alpine assistant Bob Gross and Nordic assistant Ryan Jacobson are very, very proud of how all the skiers performed. We’ll miss our seniors, but we’re looking forward to the challenge of working with next year’s crew.”

In the skimeister competition, which includes results from both Alpine and both Nordic races, Falmouth’s Weigel was second.

On the girls’ side, Yarmouth was first in the giant slalom with 26 points. Falmouth (78) finished third. Natalie Aiken was the fastest Clipper (fourth, 1:29.08). Becca Bell (sixth, 1:33.8), Taylor Hornney (seventh, 1:33.86) and Smythe Eddy (ninth, 1:34.01) were the other Yarmouth scorers.

For the Yachtsmen, Sarah Weigel was 16th (1:40.26), Allie Lycan 17th (1:40.48), Elizabeth Carew 19th (1:41.16) and McKenzie Myers 26th (1:44.76).

In the freestyle, Yarmouth was tops with 33 points. Falmouth (69) came in third.

Bell was second individually (16:22.5). Alison Totta (eighth, 18:40.6), Olivia Conrad (11th, 18:42.9) and Caitlin Crawford  (12th, 18:44.7) were the other scorers.

For the Yachtsmen, Sarah Abramson finished third for the Yachtsmen (16:40.5). Catherine Hebson (15th, 19:01.7), Sarah Hemphill (19th, 19:29.2) and Olivia Hoch (32nd, 20:37) rounded out the scorers.

The Alpine competition wound up with the slalom where Yarmouth was first with 42 points and Falmouth came in fourth with 68.

Claudia Lockwood was fourth for Yarmouth (1:32.44). Bell (11th, 1:35.98), Natalie Aiken (13th, 1:36.61) and Hornney (14th, 1:37.09) also scored.

Falmouth’s scorers were Weigel (fifth, 1:33.31), Lycan (18th, 1:39.97), Carew (19th, 1:40.43) and Myers (26th, 1:48.21).

The Clippers won the Alpine title with 68 points. The Yachtsmen (146) placed fourth.

In the classic, Yarmouth (37) was second to Caribou (26), while Falmouth (62) came in third.

The Clippers got a runner-up showing from Bell (19:44.3). Totta came in eighth (21:35.4), Christina Defusco placed 12th (21:52.8) and Crawford was 15th (22:06.4).

For the Yachtsmen, Abramson was fifth (21:07.4), Hebson 16th (22:16.3), Hoch 19th (22:36.4) and Bloch 22nd (22:53.4).

Caribou won the Nordic crown with 60 points, while Yarmouth (70) was runner-up and Falmouth (131) placed third.

In the combined standings, however, it was all Clippers, as their 138 points were 90 better than Caribou. The Yachtsmen came in third with 277.

“The girls had an awesome performance,” Morse said. “Its their fourth state title in a row. Special thanks to the Yarmouth Ski Club and its continued support.”

Bell captured the Class B girls’ skimeister crown.

Surprise showing

In Class A, held at Mt. Abram and Black Mountain, Greely’s girls sprung a surprise on the first day, winning the giant slalom with 71 points (nine better than perennial powerhouse Mt. Blue). Maddie Whittier was the top individual (1:35.8). Catherine Ferguson finished 11th (1:41.5), Jordan Ouellette was 28th (1:48.6) and Kelsey Ouellette placed 31st (1:50.2).

In the freestyle, Greely had 145 points and was eighth. Audrey Parolin was the top individual (31st, 20:11). Kelsey Ouellette (34th, 20:41.6), Julia Isaacson (39th, 22:02.6) and Eloise Peabbles (41st, 22:10.1) were the other scorers.

The Rangers Alpine title hopes were dashed in the slalom the next day when they came in third with 80 points (behind Mt. Blue’s 47 and Edward Little’s 61). Kelsey Ouellette finished 14th (1:17.36), Ferguson was 16th (1:19.23), Jordan Ouellette placed 22nd (1:20.90) and Erin Cadigan was 28th (1:23.34).

Greely finished second to Mt. Blue in the Alpine competition (127-151).

The Rangers wrapped up Nordic with the classic, where they were eighth with 153 points. Parolin (31st, 22:56), Kelsey Ouellette (39th, 25:33.9), Peabbles (41st, 25:36) and Isaacson (42nd, 26:03.2) were the scorers.

Greely was the eighth-place Nordic team with 298 points. Mt. Blue won with 47.

Combined, the Rangers had 450 points, leaving them fifth. Mt. Blue (174) won the championship.

In the skimeister competition, Kelsey Ouellette’s 120 points left her second to Hampden Academy’s Molly Howe (88).

On the boys’ side, in the giant slalom, Greely (119) finished seventh. Luke Booth was third individually (1:36.4). Shane Delbianco (31st, 1:50.4), Richard Judge (41st, 1:53) and William Lones (44th, 1:54.9) were the other scorers.

In the freestyle, the Rangers had 50 points and were third behind Leavitt (26) and Mt. Blue (38). Sam Humphries was third (13:07.4), Connor Regan placed 10th (13:57.4), Booth finished 15th (14:27.7) and Cameron Mitiguy was 22nd (14:52.3).

In the slalom, Greely (139) came in eighth. Booth finished 10th (1:09.3). Lones (37th, 1:19.79), Peter Bailinson (42nd, 1:23.66) and Judge (50th, 1:28.22) were the other scorers.

The Rangers wound up seventh in Alpine with 258 points. Mt. Blue won the title with 73.

In the classic, Greely came in fifth with 62 points. Humphries was once again third (14:55.2). Regan (11th, 16:03.8), Mitiguy (21st, 17:21.8) and Booth (27th, 18:02.8) were the other scorers.

The Rangers wound up with 112 Nordic points, leaving them third behind Leavitt and Mt. Blue.

In the combined standings, Greely finished third with 370, behind Mt. Blue (155) and Leavitt (197).

In the Class A skimeister competition, Booth won the championship with 55 points.

Fit to be tied

Freeport has enjoyed its share of skiing success in recent years and added to the trophy case last week at the Class C meet in Fort Kent.

The Falcons boys’ team was fifth in the giant slalom with 88 points. Ryan Collet (fourth, 1:34.7), Christo Milholland (20th, 1:40.1), Owen Petherbridge (27th, 1:42.9) and Ian Morency (37th, 1:45.8) scored.

In the freestyle, Freeport (32 points) was a close second to Fort Kent (29). Scott Rose finished fourth (16:46.16). Henry Loughlin (fifth, 16:55.31), Maxwell Jennings (11th, 17:17.86) and Wade Bennett (12th, 17:27.26) also scored.

In the slalom, the Falcons moved up to third with 71 points. Collet was second (1:19.37), Petherbridge finished 18th (1:32.53), Evan LaMarre was 25th (1:40.32) and Chris Collins placed 26th (1:40.59).

Freeport’s 159 Alpine points left it third behind Fort Kent (59) and Livermore Falls (60).

In the classic, the Falcons were three points better than Fort Kent (31-34), which allowed them to pull even for the Nordic title (63-63). In the last race, Loughlin was fourth (19:21.8), Jennings sixth (19:46.6), Ross ninth (20:06.1) and Egan Spencer 12th (20:12.6).

In the combined standings, Freeport had 222 points, leaving it second, 100 points behind Fort Kent.

The Falcons girls’ team was also solid.

In the giant slalom, Freeport was fourth with 58 points. Malia Taggert (10th, 1:43.6), Taylor Enrico (11th, 1:43.6), Mia Thomas (14th, 1:45.4) and Sadie Russell (23rd, 1:52.4) were the scorers.

In the freestyle, the Falcons were fourth with 66 points. Lindsey Merrill (seventh, 20:56.6), Emily Martin (10th, 21:54.8), Ellie Soule (24th, 24:35.6) and Kiera Berkemeyer (25th, 24:40.3) all had solid showings.

In the slalom, Freeport came in third with 49 points. Enrico finished third (1:27.5), Taggart was 11th (1:35.7), Thomas 15th (1:38.6) and Russell 20th (1:46).

The Falcons finished with 107 Alpine points and came in fourth. Telstar won with 41.

In the classic, Freeport had 61 points to come in third. Martin finished fourth (24:02.3). Merrill (12th, 26:11.5), Brina Dillon (21st, 28:21.1) and Berkemeyer (24th, 28:30.4) also scored.

The Falcons had 127 points, good for third. Fort Kent won the title with 41.

In the combined standings, Freeport placed second to Fort Kent (122-234).

North Yarmouth Academy’s boys’ team impressed on the Nordic front.

In the freestyle, the Panthers came in fourth with 75 points. Camden Regan (10th, 17:14.66), Robert Field (18th, 17:59.66), Jake Susla (22nd, 18:12.22) and Evan Kendall (25th, 18:24.6) were the scorers.

In the classic, NYA moved up to third with 70 points. Regan was 11th (20:10), Field 15th (20:32.9), Susla 18th (21:01.4) and Chris Whiting 26th (21:53.3).

The Panthers finished with 145 Nordic points, good for third behind Freeport and Fort Kent.

NYA didn’t score as a team on the girls’ side, but Abbie McIvor finished third in the classic (23:37.3) and fifth in the freestyle (20:31.8).

Last, but not least was another strong performance by the up-and-coming Merriconeag-Waldorf School.

The girls’ Nordic squad had 60 points and came in second in the freestyle. Zoe Chace was runner-up individually (19:31.7). Emelie Chace (fourth, 20:26.2) and Teagan Wu (sixth, 20:55.8) also had top-10 finishes.

In the classic, Merriconeag had 55 points and was again second. This time, Zoe Chace came in first (22:51). Wu (third, 23:55.4) and Emelie Chace (fifth, 24:14.1) duplicated their top-10 finishes.

Merriconeag wond up with 115 points, leaving it second to Fort Kent.

The boys’ Nordic team placed sixth in the freestyle with 82 points. Juan Mesones led the way with a ninth-place finish (17:12.74). Benjamin McCrave (16th, 17:53.05), Jack Pierce (23rd, 18:13.88) and Phineas Samuelson (34th, 19:14.77) also scored.

In the classic, the squad also seventh with 120 points. Mesones was 17th (21:01.2). Pierce placed 32nd (22:26.5), Samuelson was 34th (22:42.5) and McCrave finished 37th (22:53.8).

In total, Merriconeag-Waldorf School was sixth in Nordic with 202 points.

In Class C skimeister competition, Freeport’s LaMarre came in fifth and Milholland was eighth on the boys’ side.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

The Falmouth boys’ Nordic ski team helped the Yachtsmen rally for a stunning upset win over Yarmouth and capture the Class B combined championship last week.

Top row (left to right): Coach James Demer, Ryan Tartre, Timothy Follo, Scott Talbot, Jackson Bloch, coach Jeff Walker.

Bottom row: Matt Goldstein, Eric D’agostino, Eric Hemphill, Ben Weigel, Jay Lesser.

Greely senior Luke Booth (left) won the Class A skimeister title last week. Senior Kelsey Ouellette was the Class A skimeister runner-up.

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