Featured Image: Eastern Regional Athlete/ Tom Martin Sports Photos
By Kaitlyn Frye
Collegiate alpine teams across the United States wrapped up their United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) Regional Championships throughout February and early March, with standout performances and several dominant team showings across the Eastern, Far West, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, and Western regions. The regional events determine which athletes and teams qualify for the USCSA National Championships, where the country’s top collegiate club racers will compete for national titles.
Eastern Region
The USCSA Eastern Regional Championships kicked off February 14–15 at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, where strong individual performances highlighted a competitive weekend.
In the men’s giant slalom, Marin Vigneras of the University of Massachusetts Amherst captured the individual win, though UMass finished fifth in the team standings. Babson College took the team victory behind Elliot Perretta (3), James Rosenbloom (4), and Benjamin Hostetter (5). Clarkson University followed in second place with strong runs from Edouard Brochu (7) and Aleksa Lalic (10), while Ian Hanrahan (2) helped lead the University of Connecticut to third.
The men’s slalom saw Vermont State University Castleton secure the team win, powered by Sondre Andersen (4), Lucas Pons (7), and Nate Hazen (8). Hanrahan once again delivered for UConn, finishing second individually and helping the team improve to second overall. Babson placed third, led by Perretta (3), while Vigneras claimed another individual victory for UMass. Clarkson’s Aleksa Lalic (5) and Logan Schwartz (6) of the United States Coast Guard Academy also recorded strong results.
In the women’s giant slalom, Vermont State University Castleton topped the podium behind Emilie Stene (2), whose combined time of 1:46.83 helped secure the team victory. Babson finished second with Morrison Travis (4) and Julia Wiacek (5) leading the way, while Northeastern University took third behind Ellie Stram (11). Clarkson racers Ariana Welter (1) and Elyse Donaghue (3) also posted impressive runs.
Stene returned to the top step of the podium in the women’s slalom, leading Castleton to another team win alongside Eva Young (4) and Elisabeth Worster (5). Clarkson improved to second place with Elyse Donaghue (6) and Hanna Goetz (7) scoring well, while Babson finished third despite strong races from Quinn Dennehy (2) and Morrison Travis (8). Abby Horning (3) of UConn also had a standout performance.
Far West Region
The Far West Regional Championships took place February 28–March 1 at Bear Valley, where UCLA led the charge in both men’s and women’s racing.
In the men’s giant slalom, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) took the team victory behind Curtis Edmunds (1), Cameron Berg (3), and Dillo Radwan (7). The Claremont Colleges placed second with Luke Vlases (2) leading the team, while Stanford University finished third behind William Sayler (4).
UCLA also claimed the top spot in the women’s giant slalom, led by Margaux Vuillequez (6) and Gemma Hill (8). The Claremont Colleges finished second behind individual winner Kate Levy (1), while San Diego State University placed third, led by Anna Potter (2). Charlotte Courtois (3) of Stanford and Maya Hsu (4) of UC Davis also recorded strong finishes.
Mid-Atlantic Region
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships were held February 21–22 at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, where tight racing across multiple schools made for a competitive weekend.
Columbia University captured the men’s giant slalom team victory behind Mathias Habal-Shore (3). Villanova University finished second, led by Caleb Goldstein (12), while the United States Military Academy took third with James Lahrman (1) and Callum Donovan (11) leading the team.
The United States Military Academy bounced back in the men’s slalom, securing the team win behind another first-place finish from Lahrman. Villanova again finished second, with Goldstein (7) and Bradley Byrne (9) posting strong runs, while Columbia placed third with Habal-Shore (4) and Augie Goldberg (8) leading the effort.
Georgetown University dominated the women’s races during the weekend. In the giant slalom, Sophie Neff (1), Mia Lossius (5), and Megan Ryan (6) helped Georgetown take the team victory. The University of Virginia finished second with Laura Lee Baldwin (8) and Bori Kim (9), while Lehigh University took third behind Abi Masillo (2).
Georgetown continued its momentum in the women’s slalom, where Neff again claimed the individual victory. Lossius (5) and Neve Martin (8) helped secure another team win for Georgetown. Lehigh improved to second place, while Penn State finished third behind Aurora Railsback (7).
Mideast Region
The Mideast Regional Championships were held February 21–22 at Bristol Mountain, where Hobart and William Smith Colleges delivered a strong performance on the men’s side.
Hobart and William Smith captured the men’s giant slalom team victory behind Will Patton (1), Ethan Hine (2), and Zachary Wargo (6). Cornell University followed in second place with Antoine Marc (3), Moksh Patel (4), and Lukas Schemmel (10), while Syracuse University placed third.
The men’s slalom featured a tie for the individual victory between Cole Sachs of Colgate and Justin Shafritz of Skidmore. Hobart and William Smith secured the team win behind Hine (3) and Patton (4), while Colgate finished second and Cornell took third.
Colgate University led the women’s giant slalom, finishing first thanks to Carissa Dunlap (3), Maylia Lohman (4), Kate Goodrich (7), and Charlotte Morris (8). Hobart and William Smith placed second behind Aspen McAuley (1), while Syracuse University finished third.
Colgate continued its momentum in the women’s slalom, again claiming the team victory with Goodrich (1), Dunlap (2), Morris (4), and Lohman (9). Hamilton College finished second, while Cornell University placed third behind Abigail Miller (3).
Midwest Region
At the Midwest Regional Championships, held February 14–15 at Marquette Mountain, Northern Michigan University delivered a commanding performance, sweeping all four races.
In the men’s slalom, Northern Michigan filled much of the top of the leaderboard with Kyan Hopke (1), Noah Bindas (2), Cash Jaeger (3), Anthony Petkov (4), Connor Abraham (5), and Heathman Reed (7). St. Olaf College finished second, while the University of Michigan placed third.
Northern Michigan continued its dominance in the men’s giant slalom, led by Jaeger (1), Eli Heathman (4), Anthony Petkov (7), and Connor Abraham (8). St. Olaf again finished second behind Jackson Reents (3) and Kerem Haymana (6), while Michigan secured another third-place finish.
The women’s slalom also belonged to Northern Michigan, with Ashley Schaffer (1), Tommie Jo Springer (2), Madalyn Stern (5), and Blanca Srock (7) leading the team to victory. St. Olaf finished second, while the University of Minnesota Twin Cities appeared on the leaderboard behind Sophie Janzig (4).
Northern Michigan capped the weekend with another win in the women’s giant slalom, where Springer (1), Kaylee Byrne (2), Madalyn Stern (3), and Onalee Wallis (4) led the team. The University of Wisconsin–Madison finished second, while St. Olaf College placed third.
Western Region
The Western Regional Championships took place February 21–22 in Brundage, Idaho, where Rocky Mountain College dominated the competition by winning all four races.
In the men’s giant slalom, Rocky Mountain was led by Fredrik Straume (1), Jules Clerice (4), Nick Hansen Tibro (5), and William Mjelde (7). The University of Utah finished second behind Tj Weaver (2), while the Colorado School of Mines took third.
Rocky Mountain continued its strong performance in the men’s slalom, with Clerice (1) and Straume (2) leading the team to another victory. The University of Colorado Boulder finished second, while Montana State University placed third.
In the women’s giant slalom, Synne Gaustad Kvinlog (1), Linnea Olesen (2), and Elisabeth Grimkelsrud (5) powered Rocky Mountain to the team win. The University of Utah finished second, while Montana State University placed third.
Rocky Mountain completed its dominant weekend with another win in the women’s slalom, led by Kvinlog (1), Grimkelsrud (2), and Olesen (3). Montana State finished second, while the University of Colorado Boulder claimed third.
With regional championships concluded, top teams and individual qualifiers now turn their focus to the USCSA National Championships, where the season’s best collegiate racers will compete for national titles.
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