GHS Alpine Race Team Excels in State Championships

On leap day last week, the Greenwich High School Alpine Race
Team participated in the State Championship, their final tournament of the 2024 season.

The Championship event pitted the best of all the CISL Connecticut Schools, both large and small, for a modified Giant Slalom event. Fourteen high schools competed in both the Men’s and Women’s categories, with 264 athletes carving the Southington, CT slopes.

When asked about the season, Coach Dunne reflected, “The paths to success are determination and perseverance,” virtues displayed by the Greenwich racers throughout the 2023/24 season.

At the championship showdown, strong individual performances from men’s Captain and senior Tommy Ybarra (21.98, 24.02 combined 46.00, 13th place) and women’s sophomore Mariam Fahimi (21.81, 22.16, combined 44.97, 4th place) set the tone for the night.

Another notable performance on the men’s team was junior Owen Benison (23.96, 22.10, combined 46.06, 15th place). Meanwhile, on the Cardinals Women’s team, senior Captain Maggie Ybarra finished with a 23.89, 26.16, combined 50.05, 47th place. The race also yielded personal records for sophomores Alexandra Marder (24.82, 26.17, combined 50.99) and Caroline Dolan (24.83, 27.08, combined 51.91).

Commenting on the season Tommy Ybarra said, “When we first started the season, we had high hopes for the boys team. We wanted to change the culture of the Greenwich Ski Team…We
focused on ideas like the ‘pursuit of excellence’ and the ‘willingness to succeed.’ I am really happy with how the season went and if I were to do it again, I would do it with the same boys, the same exact way.”

The Greenwich men ended the regular season in first place, and at State Championships, saw some impressive individual runs.

Commenting on these individual runs, Ybarra said, “I guess it was the fact that some may not race again or the feeling that this will be our last moment as a team on Mount Southington, but everyone exceeded their past performances and set a new bar for next season.”

The women’s team steadily improved all season, starting in 6th place in the large schools and ending the regular season racing in 4th place. At State Championships the girls came 8th out of the 14 competing schools.

Fourth-place trophy winner and all-state racer, Mariam Fahimi said, “The team’s performance improved as each race passed, I am so proud to be part of this group of talented skiers. I would like to give a huge thank you to Coach Jay Dunne, a true inspiration to the whole team. His commitment is invaluable.”

While the regular season has now concluded, Tommy Ybarra and Mariam Fahimi were among the twelve men and women racers to qualify for Team Connecticut at the Eastern High School Championships set to take place later this week at The Mount Valley Ski Club at Attitash Mountain, New Hampshire. Here’s hoping winter lasts a little bit longer.