Bromfield senior Jack Donaldson was the winner of the boys slalom event at the MIAA High School Alpine Championships last weekend, outskiing 127 competitors, taking home a gold medal, and qualifying for the upcoming eastern championship races. The championships lasted all daybat Wachusett Mountain Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Earlier in the season, Bromfield and alpine teams from seven other schools in the Alpha Division of the Mass Bay West Ski League competed in six races, three slalom and three grand slalom, to determine who would qualify for the states. The best times of each skier were totaled to determine who qualified for states.
Besides Donaldson, two other Bromfield skiers had qualified for the state meet, though they were not among the top 10 finishers. Sophomore Evelyn Bagley placed 73rd in giant slalom and 70th in slalom, while junior Callum Hammill was 49th in slalom and 90th in giant slalom. Coach Raymond McCarthy said Hammill was hindered by damaged skis in the giant slalom, but managed to finish the race. Coach McCarthy said Hammill’s performance did not reflect his capabilities but he “bounced back nicely” in the afternoon slalom.
Jack Donaldson races to a first place finish in state slalom event. (Photo by Isabel Barton)
Donaldson has worked for years to perfect his times and to stay on his skis for an entire race. His hard work paid off with a personal and state record time of 34.18 seconds, though he said records are not comparable due to the variation in terrain between meet venues.
Last year he finished 19th in giant slalom, moving up to 10th this year. He said, “I don’t always finish longer courses like that, so I was really happy to make it down without falling.” Later in the afternoon he won the slalom race. He didn’t have any mistakes on his way down the hill and said it “felt really good once I crossed the finish line.” He was happy with his ninth-place finish last year in slalom and said he didn’t expect to move up that far because he often makes mistakes that cost precious seconds. He was seventh to race out of 125 skiers and surpassed his expectations of how he would do.
Donaldson competes in a club ski team as well, racing against skiers he has struggled to keep up with during this season. He said “States was really rewarding because it showed me that I really can compete with those guys instead of just thinking I can.”
Though the season has ended for the Bromfield ski team, Donaldson will move on to the Eastern High School Alpine Championships at Attitash Mountain Ski Area in New Hampshire March 7-10. The top 12 skiers from girls and boys teams in each state east of the Mississippi River qualify for this competition.
McCarthy said Donaldson skied in a “very competitive field with all the best skiers in the state.” The Bromfield ski team had a great season full of personal and team growth, both mentally and on the slopes, that was reflected in their improved times throughout the six races. McCarthy said both the boys and girls had a lot of fun this season while also learning and improving their skiing techniques.
Aurora Abraham is a Bromfield senior.
