MIT looks to continue its success in the postseason

Feb. 11, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A pair of top-10 finishes by Tim Pier at the Boston College Carnival this past weekend helped him clinch an individual spot for the upcoming United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Regional. In its final race of the regular season, the men's team placed fifth on both days while the women captured eighth and ninth place. The Engineers finished the year ranked sixth in the ECSC MacConnell Division while the women claimed ninth.

Entering the weekend, Pier was just one point ahead of his nearest competitor but his finishes of seventh place (1:35.35) and ninth place (1:31.88) sealed up his ranking. He also recorded the highest individual finish for the Engineers in recent history by placing 11th in the league standings. Following the regional race at Waterville Valley on Feb. 23-24, the top individual from a non-qualifying team will advance to the national championship.

In Saturday's slalom, Michael Yurkerwich snagged 22nd place (1:39.44) as Adam Bockelie claimed 28th (1:42.37). Jacob Stultz finished 33rd with a time of 1:45.10 while Jake Muhleman (45th, 1:57.83), Ian Wolfe (55th, 2:09.52), Christopher Stephenson (57th, 2:15.87), David Somach (59th, 2:19.58), Darren Verploegen (62nd, 2:25.97), and Frank Yaul (69th, 3:08.89) represented the Engineers.

Rachel Leuthold anchored the women's squad with a time of 1:50.28 for a 34th-place finish. Jessica Stanley claimed 42nd (1:55.27) while Alexis Dale placed eight spots behind her in 2:02.54. Maria Frendberg (64th, 2:30.28), Jillian Reddy (67th, 2:32.92), and Destie Jo Provenzano (70th, 2:40.31) closed out the race for MIT.

Following Pier's performance on Sunday, the remainder of the team finished closely together, separated by no more than nine slots. Bockelie (24th, 1:37.30) led off the group, followed by Yurkerwich (25th, 1:37.63), Stultz (30th, 1:42.44), Verploegen (39th, 1:48.30), Muhleman (46th, 1:55.23), Wolfe (57th, 2:05.43), Stephenson (60th, 2:10.33), and Yaul (64th, 2:18.76).

Stanley was the top finisher for the women as she notched a combined time of 1:59.04 for 43rd place. Dale came in next at 50th place with a total of 2:04.69 as Reddy (61st, 2:26.66), Frendberg (63rd, 2:28.72), Provenzano (65th, 2:37.69), and Alyssa Samson (71st, 3:10.99) rounded out Tech's contingent.

With the departures of Pier, Woody Hoburg, Stanley, Verploegen, and Stulz due to graduation, head coach Todd DuMond said, "These five seniors have been an invaluable part of the team and they have been great role models and leaders for the younger racers. Their presence will be greatly missed but they have left the team with one of the strongest freshmen classes in the program's history."