Skiing Excels In Giant Slalom At Gunstock

GILFORD, N.H. -- The men's and women's ski teams both turned in outstanding performances in the giant slalom event at the Saint Anselm Carnival at Gunstock on Friday. The women turned in their second straight sixth-place effort, while the men split into two squads to place fourth and 13th overall. For the first time this year, the event featured a special scoring system in which the top three racers in each unit comprised the team's final score.

Senior captain Alexis Vest-Burton continued her steller season with her second consecutive top-20 finish, as she placed 17th overall. Sophomore Franny Robertson also skied well, placing 20th overall for her fourth top-20 performance in her last five events. Senior captain Alyssa Sullivan followed close behind in 21st place, sophomore Hillary Reis added a career-best 33rd, first-year Jaclyn LaCavalla came in 55th, and first-year Sophie Komornicki placed 59th for the Beavers.

After a tough stretch of DNFs in his last three races, senior captain Keith Vella exploded back onto the MacConnell Division scene with a spectacular performance in the men's race, as he finished seventh overall - his second top-10 placing of the season. Fellow senior captain Max Winthrop continued tearing up the slopes with a 13th-place effort - his sixth top-20 performance in seven races this winter. First-year Mark Grundy also cracked the top 20 in 18th place, followed by sophomore Zach Breakstone in 37th, junior Greg LaFrance in 41st, sophomore Ricky Beneduci in 42nd, sophomore Ryan Drake in 46th, and senior Scott Kern in 58th.