Mt. Blue’s boys’ and girls’ teams grab the early edge.
By Randy Whitehouse
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – A soft blanket of overnight snowfall assured a slow start to the first half of the KVAC skiing championships Wednesday, but the competitors could be in for a very exciting finish when the event concludes Saturday.

While the Mt. Blue boys swept their events and ended the first day of the two-day competition poised to defend their conference title, the girls’ side went from interesting to very intriguing as the day unfolded.

After a one-year absence, the Mt. Blue girls reintroduced themselves to the conference elite, dominating the giant slalom thanks to a 1-2 finish by Tory Gray (1:16.59) and Keelin Cyr (1:17.18). The Cougars (25 points) lead second place Maranacook by 11 points heading into Saturday’s finale at Titcomb. Oxford Hills is third, 23 points back, followed by Edward Little, 38 points behind. Defending champion Leavitt trails by 60 points.

The young Cougars, who failed to win the state title for the first time in a dozen years in 2003, were supposed to be in a rebuilding year with a roster boasting no seniors, one junior, two sophomores and a wealth of freshmen. But their depth helped them overcome the absence of one of their competitors and a fall by another during Wednesday’s race.

“It’s pretty awesome coming back from last year,” said Cyr, the team’s lone junior. “We barely had enough skiers (last year). If one fell, we weren’t able to place. This year is a lot easier. We can lose a skier and still do really, really well.”

Cyr held a .04 lead over Gray after the first run of the day, but Gray posted the best time of the day, 38.25 with her second run to take the event. Amy Gifford of Maranacook (1:18.72) finished third, followed by Edward Little’s Catherine Comeau (1:20.88) and Maranacook’s Jen Gifford (1:21.45).

“The first run, there were a lot of bumps everywhere and the ruts came up, so it was kind of tough,” said Gray, a freshman. “But the second run was a lot faster.”

Gray’s older brother Nick, a junior, won the boys’ giant slalom (1:12.67), topping teammates Jordan Stevens (1:13.32) and Buzzy Cyr (1:14.24). Oxford Hills Erich Ouellette placed fourth (1:14.63), followed by Caleb Button of Skowhegan (1:15.33).

Paced by Gray, Stevens and Cyr and a seventh-place finish by Chet Farnum, the Cougars’ took a commanding 36-point lead over Oxford Hills (48 points). Leavitt (75) is third, Camden Hills (92) fourth, and Maranacook (96) fifth.

Saturday’s girls’ nordic promises to be exciting, as Edward Little and Leavitt ended the first day in a flat-footed tie with 32 points apiece. Maranacook (40) isn’t very far behind. Oxford Hills (53) and Mt. Blue (62) are fourth and fifth, respectively.

Mandy Ivey of Oxford Hills won the 5K with a time of 17:19.3. Sarah Gardner (17:24.2) led the Red Eddies with a second-place finish. Leavitt’s Emily Jacobs (17:52.4) and Lauren Fereshetian (18:03.1) finished third and fourth, respectively. Jordanne Dunn of Maranacook (18:12.2) placed fifth.

The Mt. Blue boys will try to protect a 12-point lead in the nordic championships Saturday after winning the 5K freestyle yesterday with 27 points. Maranacook (39), Leavitt (57), Messalonskee (68) and Edward Little (73) will give chase.

Ben Koons of Messalonskee (13:25.9) dominated the freestyle, besting Mt. Blue’s Wes Hines (13:51.8). Maranacook’s Ed Hunter (13:58.1), Mt. Blue’s Matt Dunlap (14:10.7) and Messalonskee’s Nils Koons (14:21.4) rounded out the top five.

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