Moeckel sweeps to the top with sectional wins
When Matthew Moeckel is in the starting gate for a race, he said, he tries to hype himself up for the course ahead.
Although a lot of times it’s nerve-wracking, he narrows his focus to the race.
“From (the movie) ‘Cars,’ when Lighting Mcqueen would always say ‘I am speed,’ that’s kind of what I feel about it,” Moeckel said.
Moeckel was this year’s Section II overall champion, taking first in giant slalom and slalom and leading the Blue Streaks to another team championship to cap a strong junior campaign.
After a sophomore season that saw him win the slalom title at sectionals, then coming in 11th in giant slalom and slalom at states, Moeckel spent the offseason lifting weights even when the season was in doubt.
“I kind of saw it two ways. Either I’m preparing myself for a ski season or I’m just getting in shape,” he said. He wasn’t particularly disheartened at the possibility that there wouldn’t be a season because he knew he’d benefit either way.
“Matt really came alive this year,” Saratoga coach Megan Beck said. She credited his offseason work with his success this season.
“The bigger you are, you tend to go a little faster, and he was a lot stronger too,” she said.
For his part, “I don’t want to say that I’m a leader, but I guess I am,” Moeckel said. “I just really try and help my teammates as much as possible.”
First team
Evan Phelps, Sr., Ballston Spa:
A
Last year, Phelps did not finish the sectional slalom course. This year, he finished second overall at the meet, including a second-place time in giant slalom, less than a second behind Moeckel. Phelps also finished fourth in slalom to cap a solid season for the Scotties.
A Braden Kruk, Jr., Shenendehowa: Makes the jump from last year’s second team behind a strong third-place performance at sectionals. He finished third in both slalom and giant slalom.
A Nathan Rodriguez, Jr., Saratoga Springs: After not finishing last year’s giant slalom course at sectionals and coming in fourth in slalom, Rodriguez’s fifth-place giant slalom performance staked him to fourth place overall. He finished seventh in giant slalom. A Matthew Moeckel, Jr., Saratoga Springs: Bulking up in the offseason helped Moeckel speed down the slope and quicken his turns, and he took overall first at sectionals.
Second team
A Jeff Long, Jr., Schuylerville
A Tyler Munter, Sr., Saratoga Springs
A Ethan Huff, Sr., Ballston Spa A Neil Howard III, Fr., Taconic Hills
Coach of the Year
A Steve Jackson, Queensbury: After graduating 2020 Athlete of the Year Hunter Montgomery, Jackson still put his team in a position to take fourth place in slalom at sectionals behind upand-coming talent.