Wilton High Ski Team: Fast Racers, Fast Season

WLTON, CT — Wilton High's ski team is fast on the slopes – and its season is fast, too. The team raced three times in one week with impressive results.

The condensed schedule is due to COVID-19 delays. The final race will be March 11.

Michael Kaulins, Wilton boys coach, said of the shortened season: "It’s a challenge when you have a season with back-to-back races and no time to practice, but thankfully we've got the raw talent and were able to post some great nights on the hill."

Competing in Class S of the Connecticut Interscholastic Ski League, the Warriors raced at Mt. Southington on Feb. 25, March 2 and March 4. Here are some highlights (scores are combined two-run times):

Feb. 25 Race

Warrior Boys:

• 3rd place (281.13) out of 6 teams, after Weston (2nd; 273.65) and Hand (1st; 272.04)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 90 skiers: Senior captain Ryan van Heyst (3rd; 43.76); senior Kiel Polito (17th; 46.16); junior captain Ryan Leung (18th; 46.58); freshman Owen Theoharides (20th; 46.98); freshman Daniel Zoubarev (36th; 48.49); sophomore Connor Sweeney (44th; 49.13); junior Eli Ackerman (45th; 49.16); freshman Max Mirota (46th; 49.42); freshman Harry Polito (47th; 49.93); and sophomore Spencer Trooien (58th; 52.04)

Warrior Girls:

• 2nd place (281.91) out of 7 teams, after a team of top independent skiers from multiple schools (274.65)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 90 skiers: Senior captain Kira Howard (5th; 44.49); sophomore Isabella Furman (8th; 45.62); junior captain Sophia Polito (12th; 46.82); senior captain Alexandra Magnusson (16th; 47.28); junior Abby Kyle (19th; 47.93); sophomore Sloane Sullivan (24th; 49.77); junior Casey Vanderwall (27th; 50.1); sophomore Samantha Mims (30th; 50.7); sophomore Katie Brandt (41st; 53.25); senior Caitlin Murnane (48th; 54.2)

March 2 Race

Warrior Boys:

• 3rd place (310.24) out of 6 teams, after Hand (2nd; 307.2) and Weston (1st; 304.11)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 87 skiers: Senior co-captain Christian Theoharides (3rd; 48.88); Ryan van Heyst (5th; 49.12); Kiel Polito (12th; 50.72); Ryan Leung (14th; 51.52); Connor Sweeney (27th; 54.11); junior Amir Sabovic (31st; 54.7); Max Mirota (35th; 55.89); Eli Ackerman (38th; 56.15); Harry Polito (40th; 57.15); senior William Poirier (43rd; 57.74)

Warrior Girls:

• 1st place (313.76) out of 6 teams, followed by Weston (334.1) and Laurelton Hall (351.79)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 88 skiers: Isabella Furman (5th; 49.69); Kira Howard (6th; 49.99); freshman Karolina Bukowski (7th; 51.4); Sloane Sullivan (11th; 53.48); Abby Kyle (53.95); Sophia Polito (22nd; 55.25); Casey Vanderwall (24th; 55.86); freshman Kate Rusin (39th; 60.79); Katie Brandt (41st; 61.17); junior Julia Peterson (44th; 62.89)

March 4 Race

Warrior Boys:

• 2nd place (273.73) out of 5 teams, after Weston (271.73)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 82 skiers: Christian Theoharides (1st;42.7); Ryan van Heyst (4th; 43.56); Kiel Polito (12th; 45.28); Ryan Leung (14th; 45.82); Connor Sweeney (26th; 47.74); Daniel Zoubarev (28th; 48.11); Eli Ackerman (34th; 48.76); Harry Polito (39th; 49.71); senior Quinn Wiseman (42nd; 50.78); Spencer Trooien (48th; 51.51)

Warrior Girls:

• 2nd place (286.02) out of 6 teams, after a team of top independent skiers from multiple schools (278.49)
• Top 10 Warriors out of 76 skiers: Kira Howard (5th; 45.04); Karolina Bukowski (7th; 46.3); Isabella Furman (8th; 46.5); Abby Kyle (14th; 48.43); Sloane Sullivan (20th; 49.72); Samantha Mims (23rd; 50.03); Casey Vanderwall (24th; 50.51); Caitlin Murnane (25th; 50.93); Katie Brandt (34th; 53.14); Kate Rusin (36th; 53.47)

Bill Howard, Wilton girls coach, said: "The past week presented less-than-ideal racing conditions due to warm weather but our Warriors fought hard and achieved some excellent scores. We're grateful to have a season at all, considering COVID-19, and are excited for our final race next week."