Patrick Wachsmuth wins D-II slalom crown, GS runner-up to lead Bow boys’ Alpine to third

By DAN ATTORRI

Monitor staff

Published: 02-14-2023 10:24 PM

Bow didn’t have the same depth this season as in years past, but the Falcons had a respectable showing at the Division II Alpine championships. Senior Patrick Wachsmuth defended his D-II slalom title and matched his 2022 runner-up finish in the giant slalom to lead the boys to third place on Monday at Crotched Mountain, while the Bow girls finished seventh on Tuesday at Cranmore.

Hanover won its third straight boys’ title with 780 points (391 from slalom, 389 from GS).

Kennett opened up a bit of lead over Bow through the morning GS, 361-352, but thanks to Wachsmuth’s win in the afternoon slalom, the Falcons outscored the Eagles, 360-355.

Kennett’s combined score of 716 edged Bow (712) for runner-up honors, while Pembroke finished 12th with 301 points.

Competing against powerhouse ski towns like Hanover and Conway’s Kennett High School, Bow head coach Mike Sampo was realistic about his team’s chances, but he had high hopes for Wachsmuth.

“Patrick hasn’t lost a slalom race this year, so I was really hoping he would win the state championship,” Sampo said. “He came through big. He has really improved on his GS as well.”

Wachsmuth was the only skier to break 35 seconds on the slalom course, and he did it twice, clocking 34.41 and 34.85 seconds for a combined time of 1:09.3, ahead of runner-up Owen Smith of Hanover (1:10.5).

Hanover’s Ethan Munson won the GS in 1:06.6, with Wachsmuth finishing second in 1:07.1.

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Seth Lowne (seventh slalom, 12th GS), Collin Atwell (14th GS, 14th slalom), Carter Aubrey (24th slalom) and Aaron Barrieau (32nd GS) were the other scoring skiers for the Falcons.

“We didn’t have the depth this year, so I was really pleased with how the boys skied on Monday,” Sampo said. “Each boy did exactly what I asked them to do. They were consistent. I was thrilled with a third-place finish. Nobody was going to beat Hanover this year. We knew going in we had no shot, so we were hoping for a respectable finish, and Kennett narrowly beat us.”

It was a similar story on the girls’ side, with Kennett winning its 19th D-II title in the last 21 years, leading the pack with 767 points. Hanover (743) was the runner-up, with Bow (577.5) finishing seventh and Pembroke (501) finishing 11th.

Merrimack Valley’s Violet Webb (third GS, sixth slalom) was the only competitor for the Pride (14th, 193 points) and qualified for the Meet of Champions by finishing in the top 10.

Kennett’s Ashley Garside won both the GS (1:01.04) and the slalom (1:04.59) as the Eagles dominated both disciplines with 385 points in the GS and 382 in the slalom.

Sophia Coombs (22nd GS, 29th slalom), Sarah Lavigne (31st GS, 31st slalom), Vivian Madden (39th GS, 42nd slalom) and Ava Gadbois (26th slalom, 40th GS) scored for the Bow girls.

Colby Pope (48th GS, 49th slalom), Dylan Hawkins (39th slalom, 59th GS), Samuel Nereson (62nd GS) scored for the Pembroke boys, while Mackenzie Hawkins (33rd GS, 39th slalom), Elizabeth Duchesne (40th slalom, 44th GS), Emma Parsons (46th slalom, 50th GS) and Madison McAlpine (50th slalom, 54th GS) led the Spartan girls.

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