McQueen, Galena capture state ski titles

Ayers siblings win individual crowns

McQueen’s boys and Galena’s girls captured the state ski championships Monday at Mount Rose, topping deep fields in both the slalom and giant slalom.

McQueen edged Galena 107–122 for the boys title, while Galena held off McQueen 112–121 to win the girls crown.

BOYS

McQueen’s boys were led by state champion Mason Ayers, who won in 58.25 (SL 25.26 / GS 32.99), followed closely by teammate Collin Havlin in 59.28 (SL 25.53 / GS 33.75). Schuyler Tindal added an 11th‑place finish in 71.47 (SL 32.86 / GS 38.61), while Bryan Colletti posted 78.44 (SL 37.08 / GS 41.36) and Benjamin Gallaher finished in 83.84 (SL 39.35 / GS 44.49). Evan Albers, Jameson Cook and Max Cooper completed only the slalom, while Payton McCarty, Miles Markie and Elizabeth Colletti recorded only GS times.

Galena followed in second behind Weston Ivans, who placed fourth in 64.34 (SL 29.90 / GS 34.44). Anshuman Vuppalapati finished in 71.09 (SL 30.72 / GS 40.37), Jacob Shapiro in 71.59 (SL 32.57 / GS 39.02), Cole Horgan in 75.33 (SL 35.91 / GS 39.42) and Karter Truax in 75.73 (SL 34.59 / GS 41.14). Matthew Oehlert (79.95), Brandon Houston (82.02) and Andrew Nelson (87.45) also scored, while John Cardinalli completed only the slalom and Sirisha Vuppalapati finished only the slalom on the girls side.

Manogue placed third, led by Evan Santos’ third‑place boys finish in 63.49 (SL 28.12 / GS 35.37). Christian Field posted 71.43 (SL 30.49 / GS 40.94), Eugenio Daoust 74.85 (SL 34.90 / GS 39.95), Ethan Fehling 83.04 (SL 39.08 / GS 43.96) and Sean Nelson 108.97 (SL 63.80 / GS 45.17). Several Miners completed only one run, including Gage Brown (SL only), Ronan Gini (GS only), Devante Mabunda (GS only), Emily Azzi (SL only), Avery Callahan (SL only), Lucy Miller (GS only) and Ana Miller (GS only).

Reno finished fourth with Gavin Wishart leading the Huskies in 67.34 (SL 29.75 / GS 37.59). Kai Hueber followed in 72.77 (SL 35.65 / GS 37.12), Ryker Grant‑Ofverberg in 77.56 (SL 36.98 / GS 40.58), Dawson Welch in 79.44 (SL 37.55 / GS 41.89) and Stella Dallas in 92.74 (SL 34.39 / GS 58.35). Vincent Murray, Carrick Krueger, Thomas Buehler, Riley Olsen, Luc Heck, Darius Ghardiede, Lucah Allen, Luciana DiLuna, Alexis Williams, Sawyer Haen and Tenaya Flesher each completed only one run.

Sage Ridge placed fifth behind Aiden Charles’ 75.90 (SL 37.85 / GS 38.05) and Ryan Sherven’s 76.53 (SL 37.60 / GS 38.93). Bennett Smith (80.95), Rowland Hill (82.63), Wes Kennedy (85.38), Forrest Gangloff (86.40), Dean Curis (89.45) and Nathan Sharma (106.21) all finished both runs. Lauren Sherven, Anastasia Treadway, Katherine Zlateva, Maggie Jensen‑Eykamp and Morgan Hayes contributed on the girls side, with Hayes also recording a GS‑only time earlier in the results.

Reed’s boys were led by Layton Hanifen in 70.44 (SL 31.02 / GS 39.42) and Hunter Haines in 70.65 (SL 31.11 / GS 39.54), while Braden Havelka added 92.90 (SL 46.57 / GS 46.33). The girls team saw Jacee Eldridge finish in 72.83 (SL 39.14 / GS 33.69), Tatum Cronin in 75.98 (SL 38.65 / GS 37.33), Kaylee Pearson in 82.00 (SL 40.94 / GS 41.06), Jaya Winters in 88.52 (SL 45.21 / GS 43.31), Peyton Bowden in 92.67 (SL 43.66 / GS 49.01), Erin Murphy in 93.94 (SL 46.92 / GS 47.02) and Kylie Fackrell in 98.52 (SL 50.18 / GS 48.34). Bailey Brown did not finish either run.

Debbie Smith CTE’s Zachary Johnston placed eighth in 70.71 (SL 32.70 / GS 38.01), and Eric Pippin finished in 79.54 (SL 37.22 / GS 42.32). Charlotte Carden posted 75.86 (SL 38.22 / GS 37.64), while Avery Pearson completed both runs in 96.71 (SL 48.80 / GS 47.91). Noah Hintz finished both boys runs, while Olivia Flocchini recorded only a GS time and Gabriella Sheridan completed only the slalom.

Spanish Springs’ boys were led by Liam Norland in 93.51 (SL 46.14 / GS 47.37) and Travis Leighton in 105.39 (SL 53.70 / GS 51.69). Jade Sorenson (85.23), Hailey Exline (86.87), Elizabeth Hejmanowski (90.81) and Riley Richards (91.83) paced the girls team, while Rylee Cook completed only the slalom and Aiden Guinan and August Hernandez each completed one run.

Hug’s Josie Flocchini finished 14th in the girls race in 73.43 (SL 39.11 / GS 34.32), and Ellivia Oziminski added 77.70 (SL 39.89 / GS 37.81). Wooster’s Ben Brown posted 81.49 (SL 39.89 / GS 41.60) and Levi May 83.34 (SL 40.23 / GS 43.11), while Nelalyn Toledo‑Unciano finished in 102.06 (SL 49.86 / GS 52.20). Damonte Ranch’s Jaxo Sames (84.50), Andrew Nelson (87.45) and Carter Michela (SL only) represented the Mustangs.

North Valleys’ Christopher Alejandrez finished in 86.05 (SL 40.96 / GS 45.09), Milo Drlik in 91.35 (SL 45.14 / GS 46.21) and Mia Laird in 101.25 (SL 49.41 / GS 51.84). The remaining programs rounded out the field with multiple one‑run finishers.

GIRLS

Galena’s girls title came behind Maren Paidakovich’s third‑place 64.21 (SL 35.64 / GS 28.57) and a deep lineup including Olivia Scott in 67.97 (SL 37.45 / GS 30.52), Millie Denton in 69.22 (SL 37.09 / GS 32.13), Brooklyn Beerman in 72.88 (SL 38.21 / GS 34.67), Sophia Arraiz in 74.58 (SL 39.34 / GS 35.24) and Ella Shapiro in 75.64 (SL 39.63 / GS 36.01). Several teammates completed single runs.

McQueen’s girls were led by state champion Meila Ayers, who won in 59.21 (SL 32.83 / GS 26.38). Adele Colletti finished in 67.76 (SL 36.56 / GS 31.20), Elizabeth Cushard in 69.26 (SL 37.31 / GS 31.95), Emilia Clements in 75.87 (SL 37.85 / GS 38.02), Adeline Clements in 82.30 (SL 41.04 / GS 41.26) and Annabelle Hourihan in 87.62 (SL 39.66 / GS 47.96). Several Lancers recorded one‑run results.

Manogue’s girls placed third behind Avery Cronin’s runner‑up 61.64 (SL 33.76 / GS 27.88) and Emilla Hsu’s fourth‑place 65.19 (SL 34.79 / GS 30.40). Elisabeth Higginbotham posted 72.02 (SL 38.62 / GS 33.40), Kennedy Brown 75.24 (SL 39.09 / GS 36.15), Scarlett Squires 75.60 (SL 40.38 / GS 35.22) and Paige Johnson 80.34 (SL 41.03 / GS 39.31).

Reno’s girls finished fourth with Serena Palmer in 71.00 (SL 37.32 / GS 33.68), Tonya Giller in 72.04 (SL 37.19 / GS 34.85), Rowynn Coyle in 73.98 (SL 38.82 / GS 35.16), Liepa Etchegoyhen in 77.73 (SL 39.63 / GS 38.10) and Lisa Wang in 79.14 (SL 37.05 / GS 42.09). Several Huskies completed one run.

Reed rounded out the top five with Eldridge, Cronin, Pearson, Winters, Bowden, Murphy and Fackrell all finishing both runs. Sage Ridge, Spanish Springs, Debbie Smith CTE, Wooster, Hug and North Valleys completed the field with multiple full‑run and single‑run competitors.

Individual Ski Results

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