Regional Championships 2017: Making History!

WHOA - what a weekend!  As I walk around campus, I'm constantly stopped by other coaches to congratulate us on our performance this past weekend at Regional Championships, and both mine and Jason's emails were flooded with congratulatory notes.  Our team skied out of their mind, and it's such a good feeling to end the regular season on a high note.

Friday's race saw warm temperatures and sloppy snow conditions, but our fitness shined.  Eli Hoenig won the men's race for the first individual cross country event nordic win in Williams College history!  Braden Becker wasn't far behind Eli, finishing in 2nd place, making that two podiums in one day.  Jordan Fields finished 6th, Nick Gardner 9th, Jack Schrupp 12th (5 in the top-12!), and Luke Costley 24th!

The women continued to build upon the men's finishes, with Sonya Jampel skiing to a career best 14th place, Carmen Bango in 16th, and Ingrid Thyr in 17th place.  Hannah Cole finished 23rd, Tsaina Mahlen 26th, and Hannah Benson in 33rd.  Their results helped the nordic team as a whole win the day!

Eli, on his way to winning the 10k classic!!

Braden finished 2nd, for a career best!

Highlighting how close and supportive our team is, the men headed out to cheer on Luke to the finish - with shirts off of course!

When you realize you finished 1st and 2nd!

Coaches being coaches.

Celebrities.

Sonya had her best result of her career, finishing 14th in the 5k!

Carmen skiing to 16th place!

Ingrid finished right behind Carmen in 17th place!

Podiums!!

Friday night, at the EISA dessert banquet, Jason was awarded the EISA Nordic Coach of the Year for the second year in a row!!

Saturday's mass start skate races again saw warm temperatures with some added rain, but the team persevered.  In the men's race, we had all six guys finish in the top-20, with Jordan Fields garnering a career best 2nd place, and Eli finishing on the podium again for 3rd!! Braden finished 7th, Nick 9th, Jack 15th, and Luke 20th.  In the women's race, Carmen impressed with a 12th place finish, Hannah Cole finished in 14th, and Hannah Benson in 15th!

Jordan Fields coming into the finish for a career best 2nd place!

Eli, making it 4/6 men's podiums!

Senior boys at the finish!

Best men's team in Williams College history.

Carmen crushed to a 12th place finish!

Hannah Benson (R) and Ingrid skiing in the lead pack. 

Benson capped off her Senior year strong with a 15th place finish!

Can't thank the parents enough for all of their hard work!

More podiums!!

Senior class: Coach Jason, Hannah Cole, Eli Hoenig, Hannah Benson, Luke Costley, Tsaina Mahlen, Jordan Fields, Coach Perry, missing Hans Halvorsen.  Gonna miss these guys and gals!