CHARLEMONT – The sport may tend to take many of its athletes on a downward trek, but the Westfield High School ski team is trending up right now.
Westfield skier Jenna Rothermel completed another successful run at Berkshire East, finishing second on slalom in Tuesday night’s Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference race. The Bombers’ girls’ placed second, their best finish in nearly three years.
Westfield (180.49 total team time) just edged out Northampton (180.7). Agawam claimed first with a 173.35.
Rothermel navigated a somewhat icy course for a silver medal-worthy 36.32. Agawam’s Jillian Scherpa was first in 35.85.
Rebecca Stephens (5th overall, 40.14), Hannah Giffune (20th overall, 48.25), and Natalie Mitchell (55.78) rounded out Westfield’s scoring times.
“They had a great night, a great showing – awesome numbers,” Westfield ski coach Monique Piotte said. “All four contending team times were wonderful.”
Gateway’s Caitlyn Bodoh finished 12th overall in 44.27.
BOYS’ RESULTS
Neil Sheehan finished seventh overall on the Giant Slalom for Westfield (23.96). Bombers’ Liam Sheehan (21st overall, 25.34), Matt Walsh (26.63), and Liam Flaherty (27.1) were 2-3-4 for the team, which was third overall (103.03).
“It was a very strong showing. I’m very pleased,” said Piotte, whose Bombers’ boys are having one of their finest seasons in recent memory. “It was well worth the wait.”
Gateway took first in the South Division with a combined time of 106.09. Austin Herman led the Gators with a division best 23.68 (4th overall). Teammate Chris Burke was seventh in the division with a 26.11.
