Skiing: Summit Boys and Girls Sweep State Titles

GRANBY – The Colorado high school skiing state championships wrapped up on Friday, and in the end, this year’s competition was all about Summit.

After sweeping the alpine events last week, the Tigers built upon their commanding lead throughout Thursday’s and Friday’s Nordic events at the YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch. The Summit girls took home the team trophy with a total of 647 points and the Summit boys claimed the team gold with a total of 682 points.

On the women’s side, Battle Mountain finished runner-up with a team total of 624 points. Middle Park (593) was third, Lake County (530) was fourth and Aspen (486) was fifth.

In the men’s team competition, Middle Park (628) was runner-up, Battle Mountain (589) was third, Steamboat (502) was fourth and Nederland (462) was fifth.

Capping off the Summit Tigers’ first team title, James Sowers won the men’s classic title with a time of 18 minutes, 26 seconds. Teammate Carter Niemkiewicz crossed the finish line second with a time of 18:49. The Tigers finished first as a team in the event with 167 points, edging Poudre (160) for first place.

In the women’s classic race, Battle Mountain’s Lindsey Whitton was the winner with a time of 22:36 to lead the Huskies into a tie with Lake County for first place in the event. Summit’s Ella Hagen was second with a time of 22:52.

On Thursday, Hagen won the individual title in the 5K skate with a time of 17:47. Poudre’s Cade Shortbridge won the men’s title with a time of 15:36, becoming the first skier from his district to win a state title.

This year’s women’s slalom title went to Summit’s Ella Snyder, who won the event with a time of 1:35.71. In the men’s division, Summit’s Seth Montgomery took home the gold with a time of 1:31.14.

In the giant slalom, Summit’s Elodie Olsen placed first with a time of 1:42.31. On the boys’ side, Montgomery was again the champion with a time of 1:40.78.