Prep gets its third ski title in a row

Masconomet trio powers to girls’ crown

PRINCETON — Two years ago at Wachusett Mountain, Tim Haarman helped lead St. John’s Prep to its first MIAA boys’ Alpine ski title in 14 years.

Tuesday, with the sun beaming on the very same hill, Josh Haarman helped finish what his older brother started, skiing to victory in the slalom (45.71 seconds) to secure the Eagles’ third consecutive state championship.

“It’s super awesome,” said Josh Haarman, a junior who has been racing at Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire since he was 5.

Haarman raced to sixth in the giant slalom, where sophomore teammate Owen McLain finished second (53.57 seconds). McLain also took silver in the slalom (46.49 seconds).

With the three-peat, Prep becomes the second boys’ team in MIAA history to win at least three titles in a row. It’s the Eagles’ sixth championship overall.

“Each team has its own character,” said St. John’s Prep 14-year ski coach Tim Broderick. “These guys, I can’t even watch them race, they’re too aggressive, makes me nervous.

“But they’re just the coolest cucumbers in the world. Nothing fazes them.”

Ashland/Medfield junior Tyler Zilinski won the boys’ giant slalom (53.53) after finishing 15th in the event last year. “Usually my strong suit is slalom,” Zilinski said, “but something happened today on giant slalom that just really clicked.”

Zilinski knew he had it right away, unleashing an enormous fist-pump the moment he crossed the finish line. “I heard the time to beat up top and was just super pumped,” he said.

Zilinski said he started skiing as a 2year-old and has been racing at Gunstock the last eight years.

In the girls’ championship, Pittsfield’s Eliza Mullen topped the podium in both events. Hingham sophomore Libby Rogers finished second in the slalom with a time of 49.41 seconds. Nashoba sophomore Jillian Bradford took silver (55.34).

Masconomet took home the girls’ team title to clinch the sweep for the North Shore League. It was the first championship in coach Ryan Quinn’s 18year tenure, as well as the first for assistant coach Leo Kraunelis in his 16 seasons on Masconomet’s staff.

“It feels amazing,” Quinn said. “So proud of these girls, they skied their tails off.”

Junior Amanda Schneider, the North Shore’s top skier, finished third in the slalom (49.36 seconds) and ninth in the GS (56.8 seconds) to lead the Chieftains.

“It was just really fun,” said Schneider, who indicated she emphasizes fun over results in her approach. “I think it helps, that being my focus every race.”

In her final run, senior captain Megan Riley finished the GS in 56.93 seconds to place 10th and help the Chieftains to victory. “It feels good to end on a really high note,” she said.

Sophomore Hannah Mitchell rounded out the three-person squad. They represented 26 teammates who didn’t make the meet.

“All 29 girls are so supportive of one another,” Quinn said. “We’re winning this for them.”

“They’ve been blowing up our phones,” Riley added.