Alpine

Section Nine Alpine Ski Championships

Monticello’s Ryan and Haley Heins, Fallsburg/Tri-Valley’s Kendra Erts advance from sectionals

By RICHARD A. ROSS

TANNERSVILLE, NY — It’s been a stellar season for skiing, made even more special by the Monticello boys’ capture of the Division I title. It’s the second time in the last three years that the boys bested Onteora for the crown. That propelled the entire Montie team to sectionals.

Last year, five Sullivan County skiers made it to states. That included Monticello’s Richie Heins, Fallsburg/Tri-Valley’s John Bernstein, Monticello’s Haley Heins, Fallsburg/Tri-Valley’s Kendra Erts and Sullivan West’s Kassie Thelman.

This year, three would make it as Ryan Heins (76.62) took fifth overall. Haley Heins (80.49) matched her fourth-place finish of a year ago, beating her time in 2009 of 89.63. Kendra Erts (85.67) moved up to ninth from her tenth-place finish last season and sped up considerably from her prior time of 94.62.

Monticello’s Colin Bunce was hoping to make it to states, but he dislocated his shoulder on the giant slalom course. He popped it back in and the stalwart skier who had surgery on his torn ACL last February and rehabbed relentlessly to return to soccer and now skiing, missed states by one place as he came in 12th at 81.21.

Boys Results:

Team champion: Warwick.

Individual results (in addition to state qualifiers above): 12. Colin Bunce (Monticello), 81.21; 14. Drew Billard (Sullivan West), 81.79; 15. Brian Tedaldi (Monticello), 81.96; 20. Patrick Ripa (Monticello), 84.30. The top 11 finishers and Terrence Blaine (Warwick), by virtue of being part of the Section 9 winning team, qualified for the state meet on Feb. 23-24 at Bristol Mountain near Rochester.

Girls results:

Team champion: Onteora

Individual results (in addition to qualifiers listed above): 15. Lauren Elliott (Fallsburg/Tri-Valley), 88.14; 16. Kendall Menges (Sullivan West), 88.42; 18. Taylor Knapp (Monticello), 88.61; 20. Sarah Cooney (Fallsburg/Tri-Valley), 89.22.

The top 12 finishers qualified for the state meet on Feb. 23-24 at Bristol Mountain near Rochester.

Visit sportsinsightsny.com for much more on the ski sectionals and an album of photos.