Traverse City Record-Eagle

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  • Jan-Michael Stump

    STATE SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
February 24, 2009

Redmen boys dominate slalom, win title

TC West third at state final

By DENNIS CHASE

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For more photos from the ski finals, with the option to purchase reprints, see today's photo gallery »

BOYNE FALLS -- Marquette relied on its strength Monday.

Deadlocked with Waterford after the giant slalom, the Redmen dominated the slalom to capture the boys Division 1 state ski championship at Boyne Mountain.

Marquette finished with 61 points. Waterford was second with 102 while Traverse City West was third with 115.

"The slalom is our strongest event," Marquette senior Dan Menze said. "We have a lot of confidence in it. We all ski it really well.

"Today, we did what we needed to do."

The top-ranked Redmen placed four in the top seven in slalom to seal the title.

"This feels amazing," senior Sam West said. "It was a team effort.

"We came into the year hoping to get it (state title). It was our goal. And today we pulled it off. It's exciting."

West and Menze led the way, finishing one-two in the slalom. West took third and Menze fifth in the giant slalom.

"It's great Sam won (slalom)," Menze said. "I won a state title as a sophomore. It's a great feeling. He really deserves it. He's worked hard all season."

West edged Menze 1:01.41 to 1:01.95 to win.

Joey Vermeulen placed sixth (1:06.28) in the team scoring while Isaac Smith was seventh (1:06.62). Waterford only had one skier finish ahead of Smith -- Marquette's fourth and final counter -- in the afternoon.

"After the first run in slalom we had really good positions while Waterford had a couple skiers struggle," Menze said. "We knew all we needed to do in the second run was stand up."

Waterford made it interesting in the morning, though. The teams were tied at 45 after the giant slalom, an event won by Waterford's Carson Hunter in 56.57.

For the Redmen, West took third (57.56), Menze fifth (58.03), Smith 13th (59.79) and Vermeulen 24th (1:00.84).

West and Menze did not ski for Marquette last season, opting to concentrate on USSA racing instead. But they were the difference-makers Monday.

"It was excellent having them back," coach Christy Provost said. "I'm going to be sorry to see them go."

Traverse City West, which came in ranked No. 2, struggled in the giant slalom and could not make a run at Marquette in the afternoon.

"We just didn't get the job done in the morning," West coach Ed Johnson said. "Marquette skied almost flawlessly the entire day. We knew if they skied like that, they would be tough to beat."

Cody Aiken paced the Titans. He was fifth in the slalom (1:04.16) and sixth in the giant slalom (58.04). Joey Caraccio, Ryan Bondy and Lee Batcha were 16th, 17th and 18th in the slalom. Bondy placed 16th in the giant slalom, Caraccio 18th and James Mikko 19th.

"All in all it was a good day," Johnson said. "We have a young team. I think we can definitely be here (state finals) again next year."

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