Wilton High Girls Ski Team Wins States In Class S; Boys Claim 3rd

*News Release Submitted by Rachel Leung*

The Wilton High girls ski team is once again – for the second consecutive year – the Class S State Champions. The girls secured the title on Thursday, Feb. 10, at Mt. Southington with a three-second lead over Daniel Hand High School. They also placed third overall in the state behind Class L rivals Fairfield (1st) and Ridgefield (2nd) out of 12 teams. Wilton boys took third place in Class S behind Weston (1st in Class S and overall) and Brunswick Academy (2nd in Class S) and sixth overall out of 13 teams.

This year’s season of the Connecticut Interscholastic Ski League (CISL) was a blur, lasting only a month, with six races total including States. “It was a challenge,” Michael Kaulins, Wilton boys coach, said. “With an abbreviated race schedule and weather cancellations, we lost most of our on-mountain practice time – but the Warriors did what they always do. They met the challenge head on and strategized to win.”

Wilton Girls Season Highlights

The Warrior girls were strong from day one, placing first out of 13 teams in all but one of their regular season races (they took second place on Feb. 8, closely behind Hand). Their top three scorers were freshman Gabby O’Meara followed by senior captains Abby Kyle and Sophia Polito.

In the States race, O’Meara led the team, finishing seventh overall out of 120 skiers with a combined two-run time of 46.38. She was followed by Kyle (23rd ; 47.68); Sophia Polito (29th; 48.42); junior Sloane Sullivan (35th; 49.07); freshmen Paige Leung (39th; 49.54) and Georgia Polito (40th; 49.59); junior Samantha Mims (44th; 49.94); senior captain Casey Vanderwall (50th; 50.41); and sophomores Molly Kaeyer (55th; 50.9) and Kate Rusin (68th; 52.45).

Additional Warriors who skied on varsity during the regular season were freshmen Claudia La Orden Oro and Kellogg Pettibone. The JV Warrior girls had an impressive season as well; they were undefeated in all five of their races.

“I have been impressed by this team in many ways,” Wilton Girls Coach Bill Howard said. “Their enthusiasm for the sport has shown itself in their improvement through the season.”

Wilton Boys Season Highlights

The Warrior boys finished every race in the top 4 of 13 teams during their regular season. Their best showing was on Feb. 1 when they placed second after archrival Weston. Their top three scorers were freshman Connor Buchichio followed by senior captain Ryan Leung and sophomore Owen Theoharides.

At States, Buchichio led the team, finishing 15th overall out of 126 skiers with 44.36. He was followed by Leung (28th; 45.60); Theoharides (40th; 46.27); sophomores Max Mirota (54th; 47.08) and Daniel Zoubarev (55th; 47.24); senior Amir Sabovic (62nd; 47.64); freshman Hudson Hagmann (86th; 49.43); senior captain Eli Ackerman (87th; 49.49); and sophomore Jack Kelly (111th; 54.08).

Also skiing on varsity during the regular season was senior Ryan Gilman. The JV Warrior boys had a strong season as well, finishing second behind Weston in all five of their races.

Complete team results may be found at cislracing.org.

Wilton High 2022 Ski Team

(*States qualifiers)

Boys: Eli Ackerman* (captain); Ryan Leung* (captain); Connor Buchichio*; Charlie Fischer; Ryan Gilman; Hudson Hagmann*; Finn Kaeyer; Jack Kelly*; Jack Michael; Max Mirota*; Stephen Padilla; Andrew Partenza; Anup Pilla; Harry Polito*; Amir Sabovic*; Will Soucy; Luca Syzmanowicz; Owen Theoharides*; Spencer Trooien; Daniel Zoubarev*

Girls: Abby Kyle* (captain); Sophia Polito* (captain); Casey Vanderwall*(captain); Phoebe Bragg; Katie Brandt; Karolina Bukowski; Kaitlin Feldman; Olivia Feldman; Alexa Furst; Molly Kaeyer*; Claudia La Orden Oro; Scarlett Levy; Darien Lilly; Paige Leung*; Samantha Mims*; Sarah Morris; Gabby O’Meara*; Julia Peterson; Kellogg Pettibone; Georgia Polito*; Bella Ray; Kate Rusin*; Natalie Schlesinger; Nike Stefan; Sloane Sullivan*; Lora Stanicheva; Brooke Ulehla; Kaitlyn Vallerie

*News Release Submitted by Rachel Leung*