Boston College Athletics
Men's Skiing Qualifies for USCSA Nationals
February 27, 2007 | Skiing
Feb. 27, 2007
WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - The Boston College men's ski team qualified for USCSA Nationals in Winter Park, CO this weekend by placing third overall at the ECSC Regionals. The Eagles placed fourth in the slalom race on Saturday, Feb. 24 and took second in Sunday's giant slalom. The top five teams of the combined standings qualified for Nationals.
On Saturday, in the slalom race, senior Gregory Avallon placed fifth with a total time of 1 minute 33.73 seconds, freshman Stephen Fiorella finished seventh with a total time of 1:34.35, senior Thatcher Merrill took 13th in 1:35.95, and junior Shawn Radman placed 20th in 1:37.58.
Boston College placed fourth overall in Saturday's slalom race with an overall team time of 284.03 seconds. Plymouth State University took first with a team time of 274.8, Colby-Sawyer College finished second in 282.06, and University of Massachusetts placed third in 283.15.
In Sunday's giant slalom race, Gregory Avallon placed sixth with a total time of 2:10.12, Stephen Fiorella finished eighth in 2:11.88, Shawn Radman placed ninth in 2:12.04, Thatcher Merrill took 10th in 2:12.39, and sophomore Andrew Simmons placed 16th in 2:13.43.
The Eagles took second in Sunday's giant slalom race, with a total team time of 394.04 seconds. Colby-Sawyer College placed first in 386.42 and University of Massachusetts earned third place with a time of 397.64. Plymouth State University and Clarkson University rounded out the top five, respectively.
In the combined individual standings, Gregory Avallon placed fifth, Stephen Fiorella seventh, Thatcher Merrill 12th, Shawn Radman 15th, and Andrew Simmons 24th.
In the combined team standings, Colby-Sawyer College placed first, Plymouth State University second, Boston College and University of Massachusetts third, and Clarkson University fifth.
"The men skied well this weekend," head coach Peter Endres said. "I was especially pleased with their performance in the giant slalom. Each of our five skiers skied well to the finish line. Thatcher Merrill and Shawn Radman, starting late in the field first run, turned it on to have great results and help the team score. Stephen Fiorella also turned it up a gear and won the first run of the giant slalom, a season-first for him. Unfortunately, a mistake in the second run cost him the race. I think Stephen's first run win gives the entire team confidence in their abilities going into USCSA Nationals. The men are all skiing close to one another and all of them are capable of having terrific results."
The men's ski team returns to the slopes on Thursday, March 8 for USCSA Nationals in Winter Park, CO.
