Editor's note: This story has been modified since it was origianlly published.
WINDSOR -- Alex White and Will Kirby have matched each other stride for stride the whole season. They each won two of the four league races, but they both picked up the biggest win of the season on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mount Greylock boys' Nordic ski team placed five in the top 15 and easily won its sixth MIAA Nordic ski championship in the past seven years.
"We weren't exactly convinced that we were going to win because we knew there was some competition out here," boys' coach Hiram Greene said. "So the guys just had great races, and they're thrilled about it and so am I."
"I'm a little disappointed just because for some of them, this would have been six years of being state champions," girls' coach Hilary greene said. "And so to finish their high school career [that way] would have been really special, but they all skied really well.
"We can't control what the other teams do. We can only control what we do."
Kirby (21 minutes, 49.1 seconds) led the Mountie charge with a fourth-place finish, despite a fall in the first half of the course. He said he felt comfortable early on and sported a smile about 200 meters before catching an edge at the Trela Shelter. He recovered
quickly and says he doesn't think it cost him any places.
"Honestly, I lost maybe 10 seconds, and it made me mad and I got really motivated,"
White went off in the third wave, one behind Kirby, and stopped the clock in 22:27.9, good for seventh place. Sean Houston, who has routinely held his ground just behind Kirby and White, did so again. He beat everyone in his wave (4) by more than 30 seconds to finish 10th (22:54.9). Freshman Matt Wiseman picked up the final points for Greylock with his 13th-place result (23:15). Jake Foehl, who had the difficult task of going off in the first wave, held steady for 15th (23:31.2) and earned displacement points for his team.
Caleb Raymond (26th, 24:20.1), Derek Wood (34th, 25:13.7) and Jonah Majumder (43rd, 25:46.5) rounded out Greylock's eight.
Hoosac Valley's Jared Haley and Justin Barnes who had been Hoosac's most consistent skiers all season had solid performances, as well. Haley crossed the line in 25:39.7, good for 41st, while Barnes stopped the clock in 26:28.8, good for 55th. Dan Butler was 59th in 26:44.7. Mitch Barnes and Tom Galisa finished backto- back in 112th and 113th, respectively. Galisa had Barnes in his sights coming around the final turn, but lost his balance. The soccer goalkeeper laughed it off and finished 8 seconds behind his teammate.
Font Resize
