Acritelli named Sun Journal’s Alpine Girls’ Skier of the Year

Spruce Mountain’s Allison Acritelli flies through the first run on the slalom course at Black Mountain during the Class B Alpine Championships that she won.

Allison Acritelli was key to Spruce Mountain’s Class B Alpine Championship title in February. The junior had a sixth-place finish in the giant slalom and finished first in the slalom event on the second day.

The Phoenix edged Yarmouth by one point to claim the Class B title, thanks in large part to Acritelli’s efforts.

“There are a number of newcomers to the team, but we all had skied together in the past, so I knew we could ski together as a team again and do well,” Acritelli said. “Knowing we were getting better as the season went on, it helped push me to ski better, too. After the team win at states, I went to the shootout focused on wanting to make the state ski team. Making the state team to ski at (the Eastern High School Alpine Championships) in (New Hampshire) was the best.”

Acritelli’s two run total in the slalom was 1:33.77, which was about two seconds faster than Abbie Tyler of John Bapst.

She had several several top 10 finishes in both disciplines throughout the year, including a fifth-place finish in the slalom at the KVAC/MVC Championships. For her accomplishments, Acritelli is the Sun Journal Girls’ Alpine Skier of the Year.

“Before ski season even started I had surgery that required a long recovery for my body to heal,” she said. “It was hard for me to transition into preseason and the actual ski season. Skiing is all about going big or going home and leaving it all out on the course. It was hard to get into that mindset thinking about the surgery recovery process I had just been through. This was why I think I was timid in the beginning of the season, but got into my groove mid-year.”

She’s already looking forward to her senior season. It will be an important year for her skiing future, since she wants to ski competitively in college.

“She’s already looking at the Fischer catalog trying to see on what next year’s skis will look like,” Spruce Mountain coach Bill Acritelli, Allison’s father, said. “She will always read up on them. She’s definitely looking toward her senior year, she had a a good junior year for sure. Not too many kids can call themselves a state champion as a junior. It’s pretty special to her. Like I said, she’s very humble about it.”

First Team

Caroline Burns, Oxford Hills, Jr.

Victoria Beliveau, Edward Little, Sr.

Kaitlyn LeClerc, Leavitt, Jr.

Allison Acritelli, Spruce Mountain, Jr

Samantha Herrick, Edward Little, Sr.

Jocelyn Stevens, Mt. Abram, So.

Second Team

Emma Berube, Mt. Abram, Jr.

Paige Dutterer, Telstar, Sr.

Madeline Timberlake, Spruce Mountain, Jr

Marielle Pelletier, Mt. Blue, So.