Write up and photo submitted by Coach Matt Holman.
SWAIN -- The Batavia Alpine Ski Team competed in a two-run slalom race on Wednesday. This changed from a previously scheduled giant slalom race because conditions were prime for snowmaking on the headwall of Wheels Run due to the high temperatures and rain forecasted for the weekend.
Heavy snow in the early afternoon, wind and cold; ski racing conditions were near perfect at the 5:30 p.m. start. The course wore well, but still testing each athlete's skiing ability and the importance of a freshly tuned pair of skis.
Eighth-grader Lily Wagner successfully passed the advanced placement test early this week and will now participate as a varsity racer for the rest of the season. This gives Batavia a full girls varsity team, which finished in fourth place.
Senior Aubrey Towner was the team's top individual finisher in sixth place. Junior Lily Whiting was 14th and Lily Wagner was 15th.
Zack Wagner finished in 14th place on the boys' side.
Eighth-grader Ethan Bradley placed 10th, the first modified top-10 finish in his young career. Elijah Abdella (eighth grade) was 20th, and seventh-grader Abby Bestine was 23rd.
A big thank you to the BHS Ski Club and advisor Mr. Metler along with the Ski Team parents and alumni for helping host the race.
The Batavia Ski Team will next race at Swain on Saturday, Jan. 12th.
Photo: First-year Modified Skiers Abby Bestine, Brody Swinehart, and Elijah Abdella after receiving their team jackets.
