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South Tahoe alpine ski wins TBSL overall title

Anthony Gentile
agentile@tahoedailytribune.com
Rose McDonough navigates the slalom course at Diamond Peak last Wednesday. McDonough was South Tahoe’s fastest skier on the girls side, placing seventh overall.
Courtesy Harry Lefrak / Lefrak Photography |

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The South Tahoe alpine ski team delivered consistent performances throughout the 2014-15 regular season — and that consistency led to the Tahoe Basin Ski League overall title. The Vikings’ boys and girls team each finished second, securing the overall crown in last Wednesday’s regular season finale, a slalom race at Diamond Peak.

South Tahoe finished second overall at Diamond Peak to end the regular season with 2,916 points. The Vikings won the team title by 146 points over North Tahoe — the Lakers had the top boys team and Incline finished as the top girls team.

“If the team has learned nothing else, I hope they learned that by pushing comfort zones and believing in what is possible they will become better not only as athletes but as amazing young adults,” Vikings head coach Kristi Leonard said.



Senior Austin Allen was South Tahoe’s top boys finisher last Wednesday, placing second by skiing a 56.49. North Tahoe’s Quinn Earley took first place with a time of 55.75.

Junior Alec Jobbins came in seventh at Diamond Peak, skiing a 59.62. Sophomore Tristan Deatherage (14th, 1:04.83) and senior Grant Swift (17th, 1:06.18) also earned points for the Vikings.



Eight STHS skiers took the hill in the boys race. Junior Trenton Leonard (20th, 1:09.70), freshman Logan Langemeier (23rd, 1:11.60), senior Bryce Kortge (25th, 1:13.32) and junior Garrett Knudson (35th, 1:27.53) rounded out the Vikings’ contingent.

In the girls race, sophomore Rose McDonough was the Vikings’ fastest skier — she finished the course in 1:09.06 to place seventh. Incline’s Belle Johnson won the event by skiing a 59.07.

Senior Natalie Allen finished one spot behind McDonough, placing eighth with a run of 1:09.15. Senior Abi Killebrew (12th, 1:13.33) and freshman Lyndsey Allen (17th, 1:19.95) also earned points for South Tahoe at Diamond Peak.

The Vikings’ girls team had seven skiers compete last Wednesday. That group included senior Teagan Grant (20th, 1:22.17), junior Cassie Flynn (28th, 1:32.22) and senior Jade Child (30th, 1:34.84).

In the boys junior varsity race, South Tahoe took the top five spots. Freshman Weston Swift, sophomore Lex Merrifield and junior Noah Solomon swept the podium for the Vikings.

Individually, South Tahoe placed five boys in the top 10 for overall points on the season. Jobbins took second with 269 points, Deatherage placed third with 263, Austin Allen was sixth with 241, Langemeier finished eighth with 211 and Leonard ended up 10th with 199.

On the girls side, the Vikings had three skiers in the top 10 led by McDonough’s 244 points and third-overall finish. Natalie Allen came in ninth with 187 points and senior Mikaela Clothier took 10th with 185.

“I’m very proud of our athletes in their individual places for league points,” Leonard said.

Last Wednesday’s race was the last regular season for South Tahoe assistant coach Mike Shreve. After stepping down after 20 years as Vikings head coach after last season, Shreve stayed on as an assistant to Leonard in her first year coaching the team.

“I don’t know what I would have done with out his guidance and support,” Leonard said. “This is a sport that takes years to develop as an athlete and as a team — he turned this team over to me with a strong foundation to continue to enhance and build future athletes.

“Between his strong foundation, our school’s support and the inspiring drive of our athletes, they pulled off a great season.”

South Tahoe returns to action today, when it begins the postseason with divisional duals at Alpine Meadows. The Vikings conclude their season with state in all three disciplines, which will be held Feb. 24 and 25 at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort.

See more photos from last Wednesday’s race at http://www.lefrakphotography.com.


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