Skiing

Alpine accelerators

Monticello boys win team title at first race of the year at Holiday Mountain

By RICHARD A. ROSS

BRIDGEVILLE, NY — Two years ago, the first ski race of the season wasn’t held until February 7 due to lack of snow and warm temperatures. Mother Nature has returned to form this winter with snow and cold, which is good news for the alpine skiers from Sullivan West, Monticello, Liberty and the combined efforts of Fallsburg/Tri-Valley.

On January 7, the boys and girls teams from those schools joined racers from Onteora, Kingston, Rondout Valley and Middletown for their first race of the new year. In the boys race, Monticello took first with a combined time of 1:47.12. Sullivan West was fifth, Fallsburg/Tri-Valley was sixth and Liberty was seventh. Fallsburg/Tri-Valley’s Ryan Erts (25.81) was second; Monticello’s Ryan Heins (25.85) was third; teammate Colin Bunce (26.02) was fifth; Sullivan West’s Drew Billard (26.47) took seventh; and Monticello’s Pat Ripa (26.81) was eighth.

The girls team title went to Onteora, with Monticello in second place. Monticello’s Haley Heins (26.23) finished second; Sullivan West’s Kendall Menges (28.37) was fifth. Fallsburg/Tri-Valley’s Lauren Elliott (28..42) was sixth and her teammate Kendra Erts (28.74) was eighth. Monticelllo’s Rebecca Wood (28.74) was ninth, with teammates Taylor Knapp (29.36) and Rachel Klein (29.94) taking 11th and 13th respectively. Sullivan West’s Kassie Thelman (30.02) was 14th.

Visit sportsinsightsny.com for an album of photos.