PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Berthiaume '24
Monks Cap GS/SL Circuit 10th of 27 Programs Nationally
WILMINGTON, N.Y. – The Saint Joseph's College men's alpine ski team placed 10th with a 5:37.86 time in the 2024 United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) Slalom National Championship at Whiteface Mountain on Friday.
The 10th place effort is the best by a Monks' team on the national stage in five years as a varsity program. The SJC men's program has competed in the USCSA Championships for three consecutive years while the St. Joe's women earned a bid in 2022 and 2023.
The Monks, who finished 13th in the GS race on Wednesday, capped the week of scoring events with 23 combined team points, a total that was good for 10th out of 27 programs at the 2024 USCSA National Championships.
Vermont State University – Castleton, which placed three of the top seven individuals – including the top two, completed the GS/SL sweep with a 4:54.88 composite time while Northern Michigan University place second with a 5:00.37 effort and Clarkson University finished third with a 5:06.17 performance.
Castleton's Lorenzo Mencaccini earned an individual sweep after posting a 1:36.71 time in today's SL event. His teammate, Aksel Stroem-Hansen, was barely a second off the pace with a 1:37.85 effort and Aaron Grzelak of Northern Michigan completed the podium with a 1:38.13 time.
FOR THE MONKS:
- Senior Caleb Gorton (Goffstown, N.H.) capped his racing career with his best-ever USCSA National Championship performance, placing 26th overall with a 1:47.79 (53.34, 54.45) time
- Sophomore Logan Davis (Naples, Maine) finished 37th with a 1:51.39 (54.86, 56.53) effort
- Junior Jacob Morris (Woodstock, N.H.) was 54th with a 1:58.68 (1:01.51, 57.17) performance
- Sophomore Jack Price (Franconia, N.H.) placed 60th with a 2:02.17 time and had the 36th fastest second-run time, 55.57, after hiking during the first run (1:06.60)
- Sophomore Colin Rathbone (Groton, Mass.) participated in today's event but DNF'd on the first run
COMBINED INDIVIDUAL TIMES (GS/SL):
- Caleb Gorton – 25th (294.84)
- Jacob Morris – 34th (417.37)
- Jack Price – 38th (443.86)
- Logan Davis – 77th (1100.81)
- Colin Rathbone – T-121st (1980.00)
NEXT!
The Monks cap the week when they race in the dual slalom event at 9:00 AM.
It's not too late to rally around our outstanding student-athletes that have helped Saint Joseph's get to the national stage THREE years in a row! We thank you for considering a gift to support the team! This week-long event is a big part of the program's fundraising efforts and now is the time to make an impact for these high-achieving students! We're about halfway to our goal of $10,000 - click the 'Support the Monks!' button to make your gift.