Preview of top Section 1 skiers and ski teams of 2018 Photos by Frank Becerra
The Section 1 ski season is off to a normal start.
That means weather – snow-wasting rain and school-closing snow – has kept many teams off the hills, both for practices and meets.
As of the mid-week, some schools had yet to compete.
But there are already clear indicators about who the top skiers and teams could be come February 14 when the State Championship-qualifying Section 1 Championships are held at Hunter Mountain.
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Below is a list of The Journal News/lohud-predicted top girls and boys teams and individuals.
Top Girls Teams
Brewster: The Bears finished second last year in the Section 1 girls team championship and return all their scorers in Sophie Lester, Keegan O’Connor and Charlotte Greene.
Fox Lane: Freshman Sarah Bassett could be the best skier on a very good team. That’s saying a lot because junior Lyla Zegelstein qualified for States last year. Senior Sonny Aryeh and junior Isabel Abt should also be strong contributors.
Mamaroneck: Yes, Mamaroneck suffered a huge blow when two-time Journal News/lohud Westchester/Putnam skier of the year Ellie Lundberg opted to attend Vermont’s Green Mount Valley School, a ski school, this year. But the Tigers, who finished an impressive third as a team at States last year, are deep. Lundberg’s sister, Meredith, and Daisy Patrick (seventh in Section 1 girls skimeister competition) both skied at States. They are back, as is team captain Caroline Allen. Eighth-grader Callie Roseberry, who recorded a second-place finish in a recent four-team meet, is a big addition.
Yorktown: It may take a huge day from everyone to win the section title but whether that happens or not, the Cornhuskers should be one of the area’s top teams. Expect big seasons from Vanessa VanTongeren, twins Marlee and Emma Georger and Olivia Cicinelli. VanTongeren could be one of the section’s elite skiers. Yorktown recently beat Fox Lane by just one second, which shows how close the top teams in the section are at this point.
Other teams to watch
Horace Greeley; North Salem/John Jay-Cross River
Individual Girls
Sarah Bassett, Fr., Fox Lane: Bassett, who’s skiing for the first time for the Foxes, has begun the season with a first- and second-place finish in meets featuring multiple schools.
Sam Burton, So., Horace Greeley: Ninth-place in giant slalom at States and 11th in slalom means Burton not only should again be one of the section’s top skiers but a big contender for girls skimeister, the top award representing best times in slalom and GS runs combined. She began this month with a win.
Sophie Lester, Sr., Brewster: A much better skier than she showed at last year’s States, Lester will no doubt ski this season planning a States return to prove that. She was fifth in the Section 1 girls skimeister competition in 2017 and is already posting top finishes.
Daisy Patrick, So., Mamaroneck: Seventh in skimeister as just a freshman, Patrick also had the seventh best combined slalom runs at sectionals.
Lyla Zegelstein, Jr., Fox Lane: Zegelstein was solid at States but has the potential of being better. Last year, as just a sophomore, she was a surprise runner-up Section 1 skimeister.
Others to watch
Taylor Calman, Ossining; Charlotte Greene, Brewster; Emma Hoesterey, Edgemont; Katie Lehnig, Peekskill; Meredith Lundberg, Mamaroneck; Keegan O’Connor, Brewster; Jessica Polvino, Clarkstown; Calie Roseberry, Mamaroneck; Alexandra Sawotka, Pawling; Vanessa VanTongeren, Yorktown.
Top Boys Teams
Fox Lane: While Mamaroneck and North Salem/John Jay-Cross River are probably the favorites, Fox Lane isn’t ready to concede anything, nor should it. Senior Simon Peck and junior Nick Lavion have earned spots on the “watch” list. But the Fox roster also includes high-quality skiers in sophomore Ryan Feeley, senior Adam Feeley and sophomore Ryan Hamilton.
Mamaroneck: The Tigers are stacked this year and their competition with North Salem/John Jay for the spot top should be close. Mamaroneck is led by Cole Lovejoy, Robby Lundberg, Charlie Roseberry and Jacob Teich.
North Salem/John Jay-Cross River: NS/JJ is a perennial powerhouse. Horace Greeley knocked it out of the catbird seat last year and then went on to do what no Section 1 team had ever done, winning the boys team championship at States. But Greeley graduated its top skiers. North Salem/John Jay returns a wealth of talent, including John Emerson, Christian Kappes, Tyler Reinke and Luke Devey.
Yorktown: Like their female counterparts, the Cornhusker boys are a very good team. The question is whether the Huskers can challenge the best of the best. That remains to be seen. But they’ve skied well so far with virtually no practices. Michael Ryan could prove to be one of the section’s best skiers. Other Yorktown skiers of note are Tim Woodard, Anthony Cicinelli and Chris Pinto.
Other teams to watch
Scarsdale
Individual Boys
Thor Adamec, Sr., North Salem/John Jay: Adamec had a forgettable States but the Section 1 Championships were a different story. He finished 10th in the boys skimeister competition and posted the ninth fastest giant slalom run and was 10th in combined slalom runs.
John Emerson, Jr., North Salem/John Jay: Emerson was known as much for his honesty last year as superb skiing. He finished second in the Section 1 boys skimeister competition. But at States, he selflessly reported himself for straddling a gate after seeing a video of his slalom run. That resulted in his disqualification, costing him a sixth-place finish. He also failed to record a GS time. Look for him to challenge for skimeister and to finish top-10 at States.
Nick Coeytaux, Sr., Scarsdale: Coeytaux finished seventh in last year’s boys skimeister chase. He also posted a strong 13th-place finish in a 63-skier field in slalom at States.
Christian Kappes, Sr., North Salem/John Jay: Kappes was 12th at last year's State in the giant slalom and 14th in the slalom. He also finished fifth among boys for the Section 1 skimeister crown.
Tyler Reinke, Sr., North Salem/John Jay: Reinke, who was third last year in the race for Section 1 boys skimeister, finished a very strong 10th in slalom and a solid 21st in GS at States.
Others to watch
Will Benningfield, Ardsley; Luke Devey, North Salem/John Jay; Dylan Goldstein, Tappan Zee , Ben Gordon, Byram Hills; Max Longhi, Nyack; Nick Lavion, Fox Lane; Chris McCarthy, Brewster; Simon Peck, Fox Lane; Charlie Roseberry, Mamaroneck; Michael Ryan, Yorktown.
Twitter: @HaggertyNancy