Barbara Lawlor, Eldora. On Friday, January 16, Nederland Middle School hosted the Colorado Ski League Association Giant Slalom Race at Eldora Mountain Resort. The Panther middle level ski team is large and talented, the future of our alpine ski program; and they are burning the slopes up.

Five of the boys' team all placed in the top 10 in one or both of their runs, a giant slalom course on LaBelle. Alden Soto did not finish his first run but took first place in his second run. Adler Mueller took second in both races and Carter Tomasko took first in his first run and third in his second run.

It was a cold windy day and the skiers did well not to be blown off course in the gusts. Visiting teams included Vail Middle School Clear Creek Middle School, Lake County Middle School and Summit Middle School.

Each race was scored separately; the times weren't combined for one result. Following are the times and places for each run.

Boys' individual times and places:

Alden Soto  DNF    37.72 (1)

Adler Mueller 40.93 (2) 37.98 (2)

Carter Tomasko  40.06 (1) 38.18 (3)

Talus Lantz   DNF  39.63 (4)

Kale Lantz    42.49 (5)   42.13 (8)

Scout Edmondson  DNF  42.74 (9)

Lars Luscher  47.45 (12)  46.51 (17))

Michael Crapsey  49.40 (16)  47.73 (20)

Kodiak Palmer   50.62 (25)   47.85 (23)

Zach Zdziebkowski 48.99 (15) 48.63 (25)

Jacob Delong  49.94 (19)  49.70 (29)

Parker Newby 57.13 (39)   57.14 (41)

Matt McGregor 1:10.63 (50) 1:16.55 (50)

The Nederland Middle School girls’ team had five girls who placed in the top 10 in both of their runs, coming out on top for the day. Rhyse Kuechenmeister took first place in both her runs. Air Soto was second and seventh; Peyton Pearson was fourth and third; Audrey DeFries was fifth and second; and Eve Colton was eighth and ninth. All of the girls completed both their runs.

Individual times and places:

Rhyse Kuechenmeister   39.09 (1)   37.38 (1)

Ari Soto  41.40 (2) 39.66 (7)

Peyton Pearson  41.86 (4)  39.28 (3)

Audrey DeFries 42.14 (5)  39.23 (2)

Eve Colton 44.97 (9)   40.24 (8)

Michaela Thompson   45.87 (12)   43.94 (13)

Jacey Dawson   46.85 (15)   45.27 (15)

Eileen Lanthier  52.24 (25) 49.99 (26)

Alex Sorokach   56.78 (34)  53.50 (33)

Abby Lanthier  1:00.26 (41) 56.14 (38)

The Middle Level Panthers will be competing in a slalom race on Thursday, January 22, at Ski Copper.