Marquette girls repeat in D-1

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Jan-Michael Stump
Jan-Michael Stump

February 24, 2009

TC girls win individual titles

By DENNIS CHASE The Record Eagle Tue Feb 24, 2009, 10:17 AM EST

TRAVERSE CITY -- It was not the start Marquette coach Christy Provost envisioned.

It was, however, a perfect ending.

After overcoming two mishaps in the first run of the slalom, Marquette pulled it together to successfully defend its girls Division 1 state ski championship Monday at Boyne Mountain.

The Redettes defeated top-ranked Traverse City Central 54-77 to claim the title. Traverse City West was fourth with 118.

"The girls did a great job," Provost said. "They made me really nervous in slalom. We lost two of our girls in the first run, so we really needed our whole team to finish. I had to radio up and tell them, 'Make sure you finish.'

"We were still on pins and needles during the second run because we needed everyone to finish again. It was a little rough, but they pulled together as a team and did an excellent job."

Even with the mishaps, Marquette was able to take a 27-34 lead over Central in the morning.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking after the first slalom run," Marquette's Sophie Rutkowski said. "We had two girls fall, but our sixth seed, Margaret Jameson, really pulled through for the team and had a great run."

Jameson finished 16th as the team's fourth counter. Brittany Barber was second (1:04.43), Rutkowski third (1:05.74) and Kelsie Coccia sixth (1:07.73).

The Redettes made only one mistake in the afternoon's giant slalom in placing four skiers in the top 11. Barber finished second (55.62), Piper Mlsna sixth (56.74), Rutkowski eighth (57.09) and Coccia 11th (58.64).

"This is the best feeling ever," Rutkowski said about winning the state championship. "The pressure was on, but we all did really well."

Especially in the giant slalom, a point of emphasis in practice.

"We've been working on it pretty hard the last three weeks because we've been struggling in giant slalom," Provost said.

Provost expected a battle with Central, which had won two out of three previous encounters.

"It was definitely difficult," Provost said. "There was a lot of competition."

Rutkowski agreed.

"Central's a really good team," she said. "We knew we had to go all out and ski really well to beat them."

Central's Maddey McLachlan won the giant slalom (55.34) after finishing fourth in the slalom (1:06.36).

"It was like redemption for my slalom," McLachlan said about winning the giant slalom. "I worked really hard throughout the season so it was good to see it pay off."

Mallory Weaver finished eighth, Ellen Whiting ninth and Sierra Olsen 13th in the slalom. In the giant slalom, Weaver placed 10th, Adrienne Bruder 15th and Cecily Olsen 17th.

The Trojans had just beaten Marquette in the regional.

"We knew they were going to look for revenge," Central coach Mike Waning said. "Both teams skied well. It's been a great season."

Traverse City West's Tori Lockwood captured the slalom title in 1:04.22.

"I'm excited because I've been trying to do that for four years," Lockwood said. "Brittany (Barber) is a really good ski racer and she's been skiing well all year. We've been going back and forth all year. Today, I was just lucky I guess."

For the Titans, Nicole Schroeder took 14th, Katie Clark 18th and Layne Simescu 21st in the slalom. In the giant slalom, Schroeder came in 14th, Simescu 20th and Clark 26th.

"Tori had a great day," Titans coach Ed Johnson said. "I'm really proud of her.

"And to finish fourth as a team is awesome. We're excited about what's coming (in the program)."