UVM launches the nukes

While RMISA schools Colorado and Utah exchanged fire in the opening two weeks of NCAA competition, Eastern schools sat patiently awaiting the start of the EISA carnival circuit. When racing finally kicked off today (Jan. 20) with the Bates College Carnival at Sunday River and Black Mountain in Maine, the University of Vermont could not be limited to standard ammunition.

On the opening day of the Bates Carnival, Vermont didn’t just fire the missiles; they launched the nukes. Of a total twelve podium spots up for grabs, Catamount racers locked up eight and scored a head-turning 531 points.

Bill Reichelt, director of skiing and head alpine coach at UVM, remarked on the day, “We picked up where we left off last year with a 500 plus day. It’s always satisfying to be successful on the first day of the year. The highlight was definitely the first-years doing so well because it’s always an unknown heading into carnivals how they will perform in the new environment.”

Lucy Garrec (UVM) won the women’s 5km freestyle race and was joined on the podium by teammate Caitlin Patterson. It was Garrec’s first collegiate freestyle victory, and after the race she noted, “I felt like the [5km freestyle] course suited me and allowed me to be light and quick.” Sophie Caldwell of Dartmouth finished third.

The Big Green retaliated in the men’s 10km freestyle race when Sam Tarling took second, Eric Packer third, and Gordon Vermeer fourth for Dartmouth. Race winner Patrick Johnson has returned to his Middlebury team evidently strong this season, and Vermont’s Franz Bernstein found the podium in third.

The giant slalom races were show stealer for UVM who swept the men’s podium with Bobby Farrell, Kevin Drury, and Sean Higgins. In the women’s race, UVM finished first and second with Kristina Riis-Johannessen and Elli Terwiel, respectively. Marie-Elaine Lepine of the University of New Hampshire finished third.

Team scores at the conclusion of the first day of the Bates Carnival:
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT – 531                 
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE – 418           
UNIV OF NEW HAMPSHIRE – 347           
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE – 334           
COLBY COLLEGE – 268           
BATES COLLEGE -254           
WILLIAMS COLLEGE – 235           
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY – 208           
HARVARD UNIVERSITY – 190           
ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE – 136           
COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE – 71           
BOWDOIN COLLEGE – 56           
PLYMOUTH STATE COLLEGE – 51           
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE – PRESQUE ISLE – 41          
BOSTON COLLEGE – 30

Photo of race winner Lucy Garrec by C.J. Feehan