Wilton High Boys Ski Team Wins Class S for the Season; Girls Take 2nd

**News Release Submitted by Rachel Leung**

March 4, 2024

The Wilton High ski team has much to celebrate: After its last regular season race on Feb. 15, the Warrior boys claimed the Class S title and the Warrior girls took second place (behind Daniel Hand High School) for the season. Additionally, at the States competition last Thursday, Feb. 29 (a combined race of 13 teams from Classes L and S), the Wilton boys and girls both finished fifth. All races took place at Mount Southington.

“I’m very proud of our Warriors for their determination,” Mike Krudwig, Wilton boys coach, said. “The boys’ number one goal was to win Class S this year and they accomplished it through very impressive teamwork. Many skiers on the team contributed to the win.”

Bill Howard, Wilton girls coach, added: “The Warrior girls really worked together to achieve their wins as well. While skiing’s an individual sport, racing on a team requires skiers to strategize and troubleshoot the course together and motivate each other to do their best.”

Four Warriors earned All State honors: Sophomore Cooper Buchichio and junior Paige Leung earned First Team All State and juniors Kellogg Pettibone and Georgia Polito earned All State Honorable Mention.

States Race Highlights (Feb. 29)

Wilton boys finished fifth with a combined two-run time of 288.36. They were preceded by Weston in first place (Class S; 277.76); Fairfield Prep in second (Class L; 278.59); Brunswick in third (Class S; 282.11); and Fairfield in fourth (Class L; 286.57). Junior Hudson Hagmann finished first for the Warriors in 18th place out of 136 skiers followed by senior Daniel Zoubarev in 22nd; and senior co-captains Harry Polito in 34th, Owen Theoharides in 39th and Jack Kelly in 62nd.

Wilton girls finished fifth with a combined two-run time of 293.63. They were preceded by Fairfield in first place (Class L; 279.51); Hand in second (Class S; 280.24); Ridgefield in third (Class L; 284.92); and Staples in fourth (Class L; 289.75). Junior Paige Leung finished first for the Warriors in 16th place out of 128 skiers followed closely by junior Georgia Polito in 19th. Junior Kellogg Pettibone took 35th followed by sophomores Polina Popova (50th) and Lyla Theoharides (52nd) and senior co-captain Kate Rusin (54th).

Fifth and Final Class S Race Highlights (Feb. 15)

Warrior boys finished second behind Brunswick and ahead of Weston. Buchichio finished first for Wilton and in third place overall out of 140 skiers, followed by Zoubarev (11th); Owen Theoharides (14th); Hagmann (15th); and Harry Polito (16th).

Warrior girls finished second behind Hand and ahead of Weston. Leung finished first for Wilton and in fourth place overall out of 125 skiers, followed by Pettibone (14th); Lyla Theoharides (21st); Popova (24th); and Rusin (30th).

For complete race results visit www.cislracing.org.