Despite only mediocre snow conditions for most of the season at Mountain Creek (in Vernon, New Jersey, the racers' home base)—and a bittersweet nor'easter that heaped fresh powder upon the state only after the season wrapped—Big Blue's ski racing team had a very successful season.

At the State Championship, where the girls qualified as a team for the first time in five years, they also captured the Non-Public State Championship title. They placed fifth out of 10 teams in the Slalom States Championship on February 27, and took eighth in the Giant Slalom Championship on February 28. Freshman Rosemary Collins placed fourth in giant slalom, and Annie Leithead '19 placed 14th. In slalom, Annie placed ninth, Rosemary, 11th, and Lindsey Hogan '18 took 17th. 

At Race of Champions on March 1, Rosemary earned a third-place finish in the state, taking home First Team All-State honors. Teammate Annie placed 15th, with Third Team All-State Honors. On the boys' team, Matthew Dispenza '20—the first boy to advance to ROCs in several years—took 13th, with Third Team All-State Honors. "The snow held up really well and the courses, while challenging, made for a great display of Big Blue skiing prowess," reported Assistant Coach and Upper School math teacher Julie Coxe. "It was a great day to culminate an already awesome season."

But for Rosemary and Matthew, who qualified to represent New Jersey in the Eastern High School Alpine Championships, the season wasn't quite over yet. The following weekend—just after winter storm Quinn delighted spring skiers with a generous snowfall—the pair headed north, to Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire. There, Rosemary and Matthew joined approximately 250 skiers (125 girls and 125 boys) from over a dozen states east of the Mississippi—from as far west as Wisconsin and as far south as North Carolina. Rosemary ended the competition ranked #49 in giant slalom. Matthew ranked #59 in slalom and #70 in giant slalom. It was the first time in the program's recent history that two skiers qualified for the prestigious event.

Head Coach Christine Larsen, who resides near Vernon, was impressed with the team's achievement. "The varsity ski team did a fantastic job this season of working together when it was needed. This was especially evident at the Steven Petro qualifier [on February 20], when the girls qualified for the State Championship. At States, they again showed how strong they really are by winning the non-public schools title." Following States, advancing three athletes to ROCs and two to Eastern Championships capped things off.  "It was truly an exceptional year for Pingry skiers," she added.

Contact: Andrea Dawson, Senior Writer, adawson@pingry.org