Engineers Hold Steady at UConn Carnival

Kyle Backman Paces MIT's Efforts

Jan. 21, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - For the second week in a row Kyle Backman posted a top-15 finish for the MIT skiing team at the University of Connecticut Carnival held this past weekend at Cranmore Mountain. In the giant slalom, the men's team placed sixth while the women captured ninth. The next day in the slalom, the men dropped one spot as the women claimed another ninth-place ranking.

Backman kicked off the weekend by posting a time of 2:19.70, just five seconds behind the winner, to finish 15th in the giant slalom. Jacob Stultz registered a 24th-place ranking (2:21.87) as Tim Pier finished two spots behind him in a time of 2:22.10. Adam Bockelie crossed the line in 2:25.66 (36th), followed by Ian Wolfe (2:35.28, 47th), Darren Verploegen (2:35.47, 48th), Jake Muhleman (2:40.23, 55th), David Somach (3:02.39, 67th), and Fran Yaul (3:13.97, 69th).

Rachel Leuthold was the top finisher for the women's team as she notched a time of 2:40.72 to rank 49th. Alexis Dale claimed 57th place (2:51.33) while Jessica Stanley came in two spots behind her in 2:53.00. Jillian Reddy (3:07.24, 65th), Alyson Samson (3:16.53, 70th), and Destie Jo Prevenzano (3:23.59, 75th) rounded out the group.

Bockelie had the best outing for MIT in the slalom as he posted a combined time of 1:35.51 to secure 29th place. Michael Yurkerwich captured 33rd (1:37.37) while Wolfe (1:46.93) and Stultz (1:48.13) finished right behind each other in 44th and 45th place. Muhleman bolstered the squad's performance with a ranking of 53rd (1:55.53), which was followed by Verploegen (2:04.51, 59th) and Christopher Stephenson (2:16.06, 68th).

Leuthold recorded the top performance with a 40th-place finish in 1:51.16 while Stanley came in 50th with a total of 2:01.11. Dale posted a time of 2:08.20 (59th) as Reddy recorded a combined mark of 2:19.45 (67th). Samson (2:30.40) and Provenzano (2:38.98) finished two slots behind each other, in 72nd and 74th places, respectively.