RUMFORD – While the overall champions were all but crowned before Wednesday final portion of the Class C state skiing championships, several intriguing races, including that for skimeister, were still in the balance.

The Fort Kent boys, which wrapped up a tight alpine battle on Tuesday, completed the four-event sweep in dominating fashion on Wednesday, placing skiers in first, second, third and seventh to take the 5-kilometer classical race with 13 points, giving the Warriors their first state title since 1994, when they competed in Class A.

“As far as the boys are concerned, its really hard to pick one over the others as far as who really led the team,” Fort Kent coach Ben Paradis said. “From a physical standpoint, I’d have to say it was Blake Sherwood (nordic champion in both events). He’s worked hard all year and it paid off for him. From a mental standpoint, though, I’d have to go with Joe Theriault. He’s been our intellectual leader, staying cool between practices, and being motivated and on task at all times. And then of course there is J.J. Pinette, who skis all four events for us and does so very well.”

Pinette was awarded the skimeister award as the top over-all skier, besting 22 other skiers that attempted all four events.

The biggest battle in the boys’ race was really for second place. Madawaska had a strong showing in the 5-kilometer classical race on Wednesday to edge Freeport for second place in the Nordic combined race, but Freeport carried enough points over from the alpine events to edge the Owls for second overall with 261 combined points.

While 134 short of catching Fort Kent, the Falcons were better than Madawaska by just 42 over four events.

“Our wax was maybe a bit off for the boys today,” Madawaska Nordic coach Yvon Levesque said. “Overall, though, I think they all did a great job, and we had a great day for it.”

Wayneflete and John Bapst rounded out the top five in the combined Nordic competition, while overall Central Aroostook and John Bapst finished in fourth and fifth respectively.

Joe Gagnon of Jay was his school’s top finisher on Wednesday with a 16th-place finish in the 5-kilometer classical race.

Dave Martin and Zach Phillips both posted top-30 finishes for Winthrop.

Consistency pays off

The Madawaska girls ski team won just one event in this year’s Class C ski meet, but the eventual spoils were worth it.

With a third place in the giant slalom, a first place in the slalom, a third in the Nordic freestyle and a fourth in the Nordic classical, the Owls captured their fifth straight Class C overall title on Wednesday, a 12th in the last 15 years.

“As far as the Nordic team was concerned, we were missing a skier due to an illness today,” Nordic coach Yvon Levesque said. “That set us back a bit, but we had some points to work with. All this team really looks for is the overall championship. Everyone contributed to this one.”

The team’s total of 198 points was 84 better than fellow Aroostook County school Fort Kent, which rallied on Wednesday to finish in second. Livermore Falls, near second to begin the day, fell short of Freeport for third overall.

“The girls have been steady for three straight days,” Livermore coach Jeff Marceau said. “With seven of the eight girls skiing all four events, that was a tiring three days.”

The Andies were dominant in the skimeister standings as well, taking five of the top ten positions. Tricia Richard led that group at No. 4 overall.

As in years past, however, Rachel Gagnon of Jay, competing in her final ski tournament for Jay High School, won the girls’ skimeister competition. This time, however, she had company, as Jessica Ayotte finished in a tie for first with the two-time defending champion.

“It was really close this time around,” Gagnon said. “I’m just really tired right now. Every event counts for so much, and when you do well or badly in one event, it can affect your whole week. Today, I know I had to beat the other two (Jessica Harold of Freeport and Ayotte) to get it.”

Gagnon took second place in each of the Nordic events, and averaged ninth in the two alpine events. Ayotte, meanwhile, averaged sixth in the alpine events and 17th in the Nordic events.

Waynflete Academy also had reason to celebrate on Wednesday. The girls from the Portland school finished what they started on Monday with a sweep in the Nordic events, besting John Bapst by 21 points.

Bapst did finish in fifth overall in the Class C girls’ competition, and Melissa Nguyen and Maddy O’Brien paced the Winthrop Ramblers with top 10 finishes on Wednesday in the 5-kilometer classical race.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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