SALEM NEWS SKIER OF THE YEAR
OWEN McLAIN
St. John’s Prep Senior
Maybe it’s just natural talent. Maybe it’s on the slopes at Franconia Ski Club in New Hampshire, where his biggest influence in the sport, Olympian Bode Miller, also skied. Maybe it’s rising to the top among similarity talented teammates.
Or perhaps it’s a combination of all three of those things that help Owen McLain shine on the ski slopes. Now a three-time Salem News all-star, he becomes the fourth Eagle in a row to garner Skier of the Year honors.
Hailing from Manchester-by-the-Sea, McLain captained St. John’s Prep to its fifth consecutive alpine ski state title this winter. He was a major reason why, taking second place in the slalom at the event in a time of 49.70 seconds.
McLain was first in the North Shore Ski League with 164 points (out of a total 175), placing first overall once, second twice and in third place three times. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder also won the NSSL Interscholastic Meet.
He had his best performance of the winter at the Eastern High School Championships, which showcased the top 10 male and female skiers form 13 different states. McLain again shined by claiming first overall, second in the slalom and fifth in the Giant Slalom.
An excellent student with a 4.6 GPA, McLain will be headed off to Notre Dame in the fall.
VICTOR BARANS
St. John’s Prep Freshman
Fine freshman season was highlighted by a second place finish in the slalom race at the Alpine State Championships in 57.79 seconds … Also qualified for Interscholastic Race, finishing in sixth place … Had two other second place finishes during the North Shore Ski League season for the Eagles … The 6-foot, 145-pounder also does crew in the fall and rows in the spring at St. John’s Prep … Has his sights set on Harvard and would love to keep skiing in college … Outstanding in the classroom with a weighted GPA of 4.66 … Mikaela Shiffrin and her continued ability to make ski racing history serves as an inspiration to him, along with his crew friends.
EVIE BERNARD
Hamilton-Wenham Senior
Multi-year varsity contributor ranked ninth in the final North Shore Ski League standings … Authored three top ten finishes … Clocked 23.45 for sixth overall at the Interscholastic Race … Placed 20th in the GS with a time of 58 seconds over two runs at the state finals … Also placed in the top 40 of the slalom at state finals … One of the best girls lacrosse players in school history as well … Her team’s nominee for the Salem News Student-Athlete Award will play lacrosse at UPenn.
COURTNEY CUNNINGHAM
Pingree Freshman
The 14-year-old from Hamilton finished second overall in the Central Massachusetts Ski League out of 80 skiers … Chosen as Highlanders’ team MVP … Won slalom in two races and finished second four other times … Named honorable mention in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) … Hoping to one day play college lacrosse … Carries an A-minus average in the classroom … Said her siblings push her to be at her best on and off the hill.
TYLER DURGAN
Masconomet Senior
The Chieftains’ most consistent racer this season … Team captain clocked 23.88 for 19th in the slalom at the Interscholastic Race in the North Shore Ski League … Ranked in the top 30 of all competitors in the North Shore Ski League … Displayed outstanding leadership for the team’s young racers … Honored with the Brian Hart Schwartz Award.
COLTON FRIEDLANDER
St. John’s Prep Senior
Essex native took fourth place in the giant slalom in 57.95 seconds at the State Alpine Championships, earning valuable points for St. John’s Prep to help propel his school to the team crown … Finished eighth overall in the North Shore Ski League standings … Had multiple Top 10 finishes in league races … Three-sport captain also runs cross country as well as spring track for the Eagles … Pursuing a mechanical engineering tract in college … Excellent student has 4.3 GPA … Mom has taught him to learn from athletic disappointments, recalibrate and focus on what he can do better while using a positive mindset, dedication, and proper preparation to succeed.
HAYDEN LUCK
Pingree Junior
Took first place overall in the Central Mass. Ski League (CMSL) … Chosen as Pingree’s boys MVP … Took first place in multiple races for the Highlanders … Earned U19 Most Improved Award with his Pico Ski Team in Vermont … Excels in the classroom as well with a 91.15 average … Plans on studying STEM in college, likely engineering … Feels that Mikaela Shiffrin is not only the world’s best skier, but draws inspiration from her work ethic, consistency and ability to overcome challenges.
COLIN MCCAUGHEY
Hamilton-Wenham Freshman
Won the giant slalom at the Interscholastic Race with a time of 22.36 seconds … Also fourth in the slalom, one of two racers to place in the top five in both disciplines … Came in seventh place overall in the North Shore Ski League standings … Had 124 total points over seven races … Came in sixth place in the slalom at the state championships with a time of 52.46 seconds … Also finished in the top 20 in the GS at states with a time of 59.29 … One of the top alpine ninth graders in the state.
MAREN MCCAUGHEY
Hamilton-Wenham Junior
Top racer in the regular season for the Generals placed eighth in the final North Shore Ski League standings … Placed second in the fourth race of the season … Clocked 23.73 in the GS at the Interscholastic Race … Qualifier for the state championships, placing 64th in the GS (61 seconds) as well as 80th in the slalom (62 seconds) … Multi-sport standout is also a tremendous softball player for the Generals.
HANNAH MITCHELL
Masconomet Senior
Recognized as one of the top female racers in school history at Masconomet … Two-year leader and team captain also won a team state title as a tenth grader … Finished fifth overall in the final North Shore Ski League standings … Incredibly consistent and never gets rattled, coach Ryan Quinn said … Had a second and a third place finish during the season … Placed in the top 10 in seven of eight races … Placed in the top 20 in both the slalom and GS at states … Received Brian Hart Schwartz Award.
ANDREW PELLEGRINI
St. John’s Prep Junior
Individual season highlight for the West Newbury native was claiming fourth place in the Giant Slalom (57.95 seconds) at the State Championship meet as the Eagles captured the crown … Consistent contributor to his team’s unbeaten season in North Shore Ski League competition … Also mountain bikes for St. John’s Prep in the fall and plays on its rugby team in the spring … Has a 3.25 GPA … Plans to look at different military academies after high school graduation … Bode Miller is a skier he’s long looked up to.
DAVID PALMER
Masconomet Senior
Captained the Chieftains to another excellent season on the slopes … Had his best performances at the end of the season, putting together three top ten finishes in North Shore Ski League action to earn himself a place in the state championships … Placed 22nd at the state finals in the giant slalom as well as 26th in the slalom … Ranked 15th among all North Shore Ski League boys … Received Masconomet’s Coaches Award … Team’s top finisher at Interscholastic Race, placing fourth in the GS and seventh in the slalom.
EMILY STEARNS
Masconomet Junior
One of the top rising skiers on the North Shore and beyond qualified for the state championships … Finished sixth overall among girls in the North Shore Ski League standings … Finished the top ten in all eight regular seasons … Top mark was a third place showing and recorded three top 5’s … Came in second in the slalom and fifth in the GS at Interscholastic Race … Placed 53rd in the GS at states … Captain-elect for next season earned the Team Award.
HONORABLE MENTION
Hamilton-Wenham: Sawyer Hancock, Zach Smith, Molly Ryan.
Masconomet: Ben Gaudin, Jr.; Violet Malinowski, Sr.; Ada Paglierani, Jr.; Nolan Zamagni, Jr.
Pingree: Asher Norris, Soph.; Liam McCollum, Soph.; Lucy Kasanek, Soph.
St. John’s Prep: Anderson Trickett, Fr.; Dylan Pelletier, Soph.