STANDISH, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College men's alpine ski team registered a breakout 2021 campaign which culminated in the program claiming a share of the coveted Ricker Cup, an honor bestowed annually upon the top combined men's and women's program in the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) Reynolds Division.

The Monks notched seven runner-up finishes during the program's second season as a varsity program. St. Joe's was led by freshman Liam Strobeck (Charlotte, Vt.), who notched five individual podium performances, a tally that included four top finishes as the first-year standout racked up 480 points last winter, the second-highest total in the Reynolds Division.

Freshman Aidan Wolfinger (Bedford, N.H.) finished sixth in the Reynolds standings with 245 points while first year Caleb Gorton (Goffstown, N.H.) placed 10th with 180 points and sophomore Tucker Davis (South Berwick, Maine) finished 12th overall with 159 points.

COACH MARGOT COSENTINO:

"This season our men's team came to work hard and ski fast," adds Head Coach Margot Cosentino. "Placing second in the Reynolds Division for the season was exciting, however, it left the men's team eager to fight for the top team finish next winter. Having a young team gives us the advantage of having most of these young men for three more seasons."

"The men achieved many personal bests this season and posted four USCSA podiums with all four individuals scoring points to add to the team total. I'm proud of how these young men worked together and supported each other to make the best of a unique season. We were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to train and race as much as we did, which played an important role in the individual improvements made by our men's team."

"I'm excited to welcome back all our male athletes next year as well as our new recruits!"

INDIVIDUAL RECAPS:

Freshman Liam Strobeck (Charlotte, Vt.) 

Kicked off his college career in style by finishing with the lowest combined time (49.80) of any individual in the first event after posting a 24.81 time in the first slalom and a 24.99 in the second stint and recorded the second-fastest combined time (49.05) in the second slalom race with a 24.40 effort on the first run and a 24.65 time on the second at Gunstock Mountain on January 10th…Earned two individual wins after being the fastest men's racer on the mountain with a 1:15.04 (37.43, 37.61) time on the first course and a 1:13.66 (36.68, 36.98) performance on the second at Shawnee Peak on January 30th…Notched a 1:41.89 (51.10, 50.79) composite time to collect top individual honors for the second-consecutive week in a USCSA event at Sugarloaf on February 14th…Finished fourth with a 1:10.95 (36.22 – 34.73) performance at Titcomb Mountain on February 18th…Placed second with a 1:13.00 (36.50 – 36.50) effort in the first heat and posted the top time in the first run (36.17) of the second race at Titcomb Mountain on February 21st…Won both giant slalom races with a 1:07.50 (33.76 – 33.74) time in the first event and a 1:18.43 (39.58 – 38.85) in the second at Shawnee Peak on March 7th.

Freshman Caleb Gorton (Goffstown, N.H.)

Posted a 54.77 combined time with a 27.09 effort on the first run and a 27.68 trek on the second and registered a 51.70 (26.04, 25.66) combined time in a pair of slalom events at Gunstock Mountain on January 10th…Was fifth (1:18.92 – 39.32, 39.60) in the first race and sixth (1:20.13 – 39.83, 40.30) in the second at Shawnee Peak on January 30th…Posted a 52.17 time on the first run but posted a DNF on the second trek in a USCSA event at Sugarloaf on February 14th…Placed 12th (1:13.50, 37.33 - 36.17) at Titcomb Mountain on February 18th…Finished sixth with a 1:17.41 (38.80 – 38.61) performance in the first race and was seventh with a 1:20.05 (40.04 – 40.01) time in the second event at Titcomb Mountain on February 21st…Finished eighth (1:25.57, 42.19 – 43.38) in the nightcap and notched a 35.32 time on the second run of the first race at Shawnee Peak on March 7th.

Freshman Aidan Wolfinger (Bedford, N.H.)

Logged a 54.79 (27.11, 27.68) composite time and notched a 52.73 (26.16, 26.57) composite time in two slalom events at Gunstock Mountain on January 10th…Placed third (1:18.97 – 39.43, 39.54) in the first race and seventh 1:20.28 – 39.98, 40.30) in the second event at Gunstock Mountain on January 10th…Placed third (1:18.97 – 39.43, 39.54) in the first race and seventh 1:20.28 – 39.98, 40.30) in the second event at Shawnee Peak on January 30th…Finished fifth (1:46.48, 53.21 – 53.27) in a USCSA event at Sugarloaf on February 14th…Was 31st with a 1:17.05 (39.38 - 37.67) composite time at Titcomb Mountain on February 18th…Was seventh with a 1:18.55 (39.15 – 39.40) time in the first slalom and finished fifth with a 1:19.30 (39.16 – 40.14) effort in the second at Titcomb Mountain on February 21st…Was fourth with a 1:10.83 (35.51 – 35.32) effort in the first race and finished sixth (1:24.76, 42.58 – 42.18) in the second event at Shawnee Peak on March 7th.

Sophomore Tucker Davis (South Berwick, Maine)

Notched a 1:02.70 (30.77, 31.93) combined time and posted a 1:01.45 (30.26, 31.19) performance in two slalom events at Gunstock Mountain on January 10th…Placed ninth (1:58.29, 58.91 – 59.38) in a USCSA event at Sugarloaf on February 14th…Placed 10th (1:29.16, 43.93 – 45.23) in the opening slalom and was eighth with a 1:29.30 (44.97 – 44.33) performance in the closing race at Titcomb Mountain on February 21st…Posted a 38.15 time on the first run of the first event at Shawnee Peak on March 7th.