Mountain Valley’s Nick Newman bends a gate on his second run of the day on his way to a second place finish during the state championship slalom race at Black Mountain in Rumford in February.

Nick Newman capped off his senior year with an outstanding Class B State Championship alpine meet at Black Mountain.

His first place in the giant slalom with a two-run time of 1:34.42 and a second-place time in the slalom with a time of 1:23.33 helped the Mountain Valley Falcons to a runner-up finish for a state title to Fort Kent.

Newman’s performance at the state championships and winning the Mountain Valley Conference’s slalom champion has led him to be named the Sun Journal’s Boys’ Alpine Skier of the Year. He also had a couple other victories in the regular season.

“It was a matter of keeping focused and knowing what my goals were — doing everything I can to reach those goals,” Newman said. “I put endless hours on the hill every weekend and every day we practiced during the week. It’s dedication and studying film.”

He said he studied a lot of film on U.S. Ski Team members Ted Ligety and Mikaela Shiffrin to learn new tricks of the trade.

Coach Mark Thibodeau, who has been helping Newman for the past six years, said they have been building up to his senior year since Newman’s freshman season.

“The last four years, he has been building up to this year,” Thibodeau said. “His goal this year was to be the top skier in Maine out of the shootout, and he achieved it.”

Newman didn’t let the pressure didn’t get to him.

“I think he’s mature beyond his years, when it comes to succumbing to any type of pressure or allowing that to happen to him,” Thibodeau said.

Newman said he doesn’t plan on skiing in college. He instead will major in engineering, and wants to focus on his studies.

First Team

Miles Pelletier, Mt. Blue, Sr

Maxx Bell, Edward Little,

Carson McEvoy, Gray-NG, So.

Charlie de Haas, Winthrop, Sr

Nick Newman, Mountain Valley. Sr.

Curtis Gauvin, Mountain Valley, Jr

Second Team

Jacob Beauchesne, Mountain, Valley, Sr

Hunter Bolduc, Mt. Blue, Jr

Thomas Bancroft, Oxford Hills, Fr

Eli Yeaton, Mt. Blue, Fr.

Leighton Girardin, Edward Little, So

Kyle Mooney, Edward Little, Jr

Honorable Mention

McGuire Anaszewski, Winthrop, So.

Colby Van Decker, Oxford Hills Fr

Ryland Van Decker, Oxford Hills, Sr

Sam Smith, Mt. Blue, So

Machaon Henderson, Mt. Abram, Sr.

Lucas Alley, Spruce Mountain, Sr